The Sonoma Valley Veterans Memorial Park Cemetery, dedicated seven years ago, has given rise to a growing Memorial Day tradition that this year will include tributes to North Bay Tuskegee Airmen and a Japanese-American World War II hero.
Across Sonoma County, there will be tributes to the families of those who died in service to country, as well as those currently serving. They are part of a 53-year practice of joint Memorial Day observances by local American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts.
The Honor Star - a granite centerpiece with the engraved names of all of Sonoma Valley's fall veterans from 1776 to current day - has renewed enthusiasm for the commemoration.
In seven years, the gathering has grown from a couple of hundred to about 1,500, said organizer Gary Magnoni, commander of the American Legion Post 489 and a veteran of the Vietnam and Persian Gulf wars.
"We get a lot of compliments on our ceremony," Magnoni said. "We do it right, the way it's supposed to be done. That's kind of comments we hear."
The event, which starts at 11 a.m. at 126 First St. in Sonoma, includes band music, bagpipers and buglers, a rifle squad, and honor guards.
Tributes will be made to William Smith, a local Revolutionary War veteran whose name is inscribed on the star monument; Frank Masuoka, a military intelligence officer during World War II who went, unarmed, into a camp of Japanese soldiers to persuade them to come out when the war was over; and North Bay representatives of the World War II-era Tuskegee Airmen, the nation's first all African-American aviation force.
The keynote speaker will be Major General Richard Hearney, a Petaluma native who retired as assistant commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps.
Also set to speak is USMC Col. William Peacock, who once served as Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs.
The event will close with a vintage plane flyover, followed by a free barbecue with live music.
Other Memorial Day events include:
SANTA?ROSA: 10 a.m. Santa Rosa Memorial Park, 1900 Franklin Ave. Music by the Alive Music Orchestra begins 30 minutes before the ceremony, which includes an honor guard, patriotic melodies by the Redwood Chordsmen, presentation of memorial wreaths and a rifle salute.
The keynote speaker will be Chief Warrant Officer Terry Hart, a recipient of the Bronze Star and 2012 Outstanding Warrant Officer of the Year. Supervisor Shirlee Zane will make a special presentation.
ROHNERT PARK: 10 a.m. Rohnert Park Community Center, 5401 Snyder Lane. Procession down the Avenue of the Flags. Music by the Rohnert Park Choral, with the Rohnert Park Community Band, beginning at 9:30 a.m.
PETALUMA: 11 a.m. Cypress Hill Memorial Park, 430 Magnolia Ave.
Speakers, color guard. After the ceremony, hot dogs and refreshments will be served at the Petaluma Veterans Memorial Building, 1094 Petaluma Blvd. S. 762-6683.
HEALDSBURG: 10 a.m., Oak Mound Cemetery, 601 Piper St. Presentation of colors, laying of wreaths, 21-gun salute and taps. Amerian Legion, Sotoyome Post 111.
GEYSERVILLE: 11 a.m., Olive Hill Cemetery, 849 Canyon Road. Color guard, 21-gun salute, taps and speakers. American Legion, Sotoyome Post 111.
WINDSOR: Noon at the Shiloh District Cemetery, Shiloh and Windsor roads. Color guard, 21-gun salute, taps, service and speakers. American Legion, Sotoyome Post 111.
CLOVERDALE: 10 a.m. Veterans Memorial Building, 205 W. First St. Ceremony honoring fallen veterans, led by the William Russell Ledford American Legion Post 293.
YOUNTVILLE: 10 a.m. Memorial Day ceremony at the Veterans Home of Yountville cemetery, 260 California Dr.
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