Memorial Day Ceremonies Held On Both Ends Of Valley
Taps could be heard on both sides the valley. At Desert MemorialPark in Cathedral Cityat the Coachella Valley Cemetery in Coachella.
At the Memorial Day observance in Cathedral City, Col.George Aucoin,chief of staff at the Marine Corps Air ground Combat Center in 29 Palms, was the keynote speaker.
He has spent 32 years as a Marine, and it never gets any easier to learn about Marines killed in combat.
“It’s a very difficult fact of war that are those who lose their lives. And we pause today to remember that,” said Aucoin.
That’s whymembers of the Mojave Vipers, the local chapter of the motorcycle club, the Iron Horse Marines, made their presence known.
Michael Templetonspent 29 years in the Corps before recently retiring as a Sergeant Major. After threedeployments to Iraq, he knows all too well about the horrors of war.
“Ilost seven Marinesin my company and this is a day Iwish Icould spend in Texas,up in New York and Arlington, Va., where Icould actually be at the graves of those Marines I lost,” said Templeton.
For those that made it out alive, some guilt can seep in as they remember those whodidn’t return home.
Alfred Santillana was among the veterans on hand at the service in Coachella.
Santillana, who served in Vietnam, lost a brother in the war, not to mention several good friends.
“War is not easy.Especially when you’re seeing your buddy next to you. One minute he’s there and the following minute he’s gone, and you’re wondering why wasn’t it me,” said Santillana.
Since last Memorial Day, the Department of Defense reports 425 military members lost their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq. A reminderthat we can never take our freedom for granted.
“It would be nice if the general public would realize it and take a moment to reflect on the sacrifice these guys are making so that they can live the lives they’re living right now,” said Templeton.
