Several organizations joined forces in Riverbank on Monday, May 25 as the city hosted a Memorial Day observance at the Veterans Wall in front of the Riverbank Community Center.

The program got underway at 11:30 a.m., with welcoming remarks from Mayor Rachel Hernandez.

“We are fortunate to have such a beautiful day for our Memorial Day celebration,” Mayor Hernandez said in greeting the crowd, seated in chairs on the lawn outside the Community Center on Santa Fe Street.

The Stanislaus County Sheriff Honor Guard presented the colors and the National Anthem was sung, followed by an invocation by Revered Charles Neal.

As part of the ceremony, the raising of the flag from half-staff was conducted by the Honor Guard, with special assistance from longtime local resident and veteran Edward ‘Fast Eddy’ Jones. There were three flags featured, with the American flag on top, the California state flag underneath that and the POW-MIA flag under the state flag.

There was the laying of a memorial wreath in front of the wall, placed by members of the Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District with special music for the ceremony including Taps played by Don Vasquez on the trumpet and Amazing Grace performed on the bagpipes by Michael Akard.

Sunny skies and a brisk breeze greeted attendees and after the benediction by Reverend Neal and some concluding remarks from Mayor Hernandez, all were invited to join in for some refreshments as well as take time to view the plaques on the memorial wall, honoring local service members lost in the line of duty.