The Memorial Day weekend is a busy time for Veterans in the Santa Ynez Valley. It begins the prior week when the community is invited to the American Legion meeting to decorate the crosses and stars of David that will be places on the graves of veterans buried in our local cemeteries.

On Saturday, veterans and members of the honor society and football team from the Santa Ynez Valley High School gather at Oak Hill Cemetery to decorate over 800 graves while others decorate the graves at Solvang and St Marks Cemeteries.

Monday begins with a firing detail from the American Legion visiting each of the local cemeteries for a brief memorial service for the vets buried there. Check recent posts for the schedule.

Later Monday morning, the VFW presents a program at the Solvang Park at the corner of First and Mission. A band plays patriotic music and local vets and a senior officer from Vandenburg AFB speak about their experiences in the military and what it means to America.

Monday afternoon, veterans and friends return to the cemeteries for gather up the grave decorations and pack them away for another year. The public is invited to help.

VFW Post 7139

American Legion Post 160