Hundreds Attend Oak Hill Park Memorial Day Service

Greg Sessions brought his family to Oak Hill Park on Memorial Day to recognize the thousands of men and women who fought, and some who died, in the U.S. military.

"I want my children to understand how important it is to honor what they've done," he said. "I want them to learn to pay their respects and appreciate their sacrifices."

Sessions was one of more than 400 people who attended the 20th annual Memorial Day observance at the park bordering Alamo and Danville, the site of a black-granite war memorial inscribed with names of fallen soldiers from the Tri-Valley. Organized by the Vietnam Veterans of Diablo Valley, the event attracted local and national elected officials and high-ranking servicemen and women.

Retired Top Gun instructor and Airforce fighter pilot Rear Admiral William Copeland Jr. delivered the keynote address, talking about the importance of preserving life. A sharply dressed U.S. Army band performed military tunes and marches as the soundtrack for the two-hour service.

The Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office lent their bagpipe brigade to play "Amazing Grace" in honor of those who died in foreign wars. The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 75 of Danville fired a .21 rifle salute before "Taps," echoed by two trumpets, played on opposite sides of the park pond.

Breaking the sound barrier overhead, a P-51 Mustang and P-40 Warhawk soared across the sky twice during the service.

As the proceeding drew to a close, names were read of those who died since last year in combat. A list of more than 10 soldiers from Concord, Dublin, San Ramon and other cities in the Tri-Valley.

A few families of soldiers killed in combat turned out today as well, including veteran and two-time Purple heart recipient Mark Crowley, of San Ramon, whose son, Marine Lance Cpl. Kyle Crowley, was killed in Iraq in 2004.

"Memorial Day is a day to rededicate ourselves to freedom's cause," said Bill Picton, the president of the All War Memorial Foundation and emcee of the service. "And we do that by recognizing the sacrifices others gave so we can enjoy those freedoms."