By Raiza Giorgi

publisher@santaynezvalleystar.com

 

The Memorial Day ceremonies will be a little different this year as the COVID-19 restrictions are still in place where gatherings are not recommended. The VFW Post 7139 and American Legion Post 160 will still be honoring the valley servicemen and women by inviting veterans to help place the American Flags on the more than 900 graves of those who gave their service, according to Alvin Salge, Commander of the VFW Post 7139.

“We ask that everyone have a moment of silence at noon on Memorial Day to honor all the fallen veterans,” Salge said. 

There will be no Cemetery Ceremonies on Memorial Day. The Solvang Park and Veterans Memorial Hall American Flags will be lowered to half staff. 

flat fender friends

The Flat Fender Friends include, from left, co-founder Dennis Beebe, John Ramirez, J.C. Knapp, Terry Sims and Kevin Connor.

The Flat Fender Club Jeeps and Military Vehicles will have a drive through in Solvang with American Legion and VFW members at 10 a.m. on Memorial Day. They will begin their trek from the Solvang Vet’s Hall and travel through all the towns of the valley. 

They will leave from Solvang Park at 10:15 a.m. around Solvang to Santa Ynez along Sagunto to Meadowvale back to Edison St towards Los Olivos down Grand Ave, back down Alamo Pintado looping through Ballard and then back through Solvang to Buellton down Avenue of Flags stopping at the military flags.

“We will have a convoy of about eight jeeps with the flag flying and music playing. I rigged a sound system on my jeep so people will hear it for sure,” said Dennis Beebe, founder of the Flat Fender Friends. 

The Memorial Day remembrance includes a 229-year span in some 60 military actions that claimed 1.4 million lives. Sacrifice is meaningless without remembrance.

“America’s collective consciousness demands that all citizens be aware of, and recall on special occasions the deaths of their fellow countrymen during and after wartime. All Valley veterans, residents, and their families should honor veterans on this hallowed day,” Salge said.