Saratoga celebrates Memorial Day in style

There is an immense silence as the American and Californian flags slowly rise to the top of the pole, pause, then float back down to half-mast. The young Girl Scout caller asks everyone to recite the Pledge of Allegiance in unison. The Redwood Middle School percussion starts up, and the march to the Madronia Cemetery begins. 

Saratoga’s Memorial Day Ceremony has taken place each year on the last Monday of May for the past 86 years and this year, was scheduled to be on May 26. It is sponsored by the Saratoga Foothill Club and is important to the city’s residents.

“This is the oldest and most valuable civic community observance of our city,” Foothill Club and Saratoga-Los Gatos Combined School District Board member Cynthia Chang said.

Many groups and organizations are involved, including the Girl Scouts, the Boy Scouts, the 4H Club, the Redwood Middle School percussion, the Saratoga High School choir and orchestra and, of course, war veterans.

“It’s such a great event that combines young and old families, civic groups, church groups and many others who get together in respect and recognize our collective debt to the veterans,” Chang said.

The ceremony begins in front of the Memorial Arch, which was dedicated in 1919 to Saratoga residents who died in World War I, with some words from the president of the Saratoga Foothill Country Club. After the Girl Scouts raise the flags and the Redwood percussion starts up, the procession makes its way to Madronia Cemetery where students and veterans speak about their experiences and express gratitude for the American soldiers who have served or are serving now.

One of the speakers this year was a 28-year veteran of the Army and Army Reserves named David M. Kennedy. He began his service in 1968 at the age of 25, eventually serving in Iraq. The other main speaker this year was junior Jennifer McAfee.

“It’s important to honor the U.S. veterans and their service and their sacrifice for their country in order to provide us with the freedoms that we enjoy every day,” McAfee said.