The morning sun shone brightly at Union Cemetery as Brentwood’s Memorial Day ceremony, led by Veterans of Foreign Wars & Ladies Auxiliary of Sgt. Charles R. McCurtain VFW Post 10789, paid tribute to the men and women who have died serving in our nation’s armed forces.

Formerly known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day was established to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War, and expanded after World War I to include American casualties of any war or military action.

Speakers at the Brentwood event included Post Commander Nick Papadakos, Master of Ceremonies David Cooper, Reverend Leslie Harrold, Sgt. Vincent Sylva, Voice of Democracy essay scholarship winner La Tia Winfrey from Freedom High School, and Brentwood mayor Bob Taylor.

Also on hand were Boy Scout Troop 90/93, the Liberty High School Band, Select Men’s JAG, Women’s DIVA, and Pink Ladies.

The ceremony included the pledge of allegiance, presentation of roses to those who have lost a veteran family member, placing of the wreath, rifle salute, and closing benediction. The observance ended with the song “Wind Beneath My Wings” augmented by the flyover of a U.S. Air Force Lockheed C-5 Galaxy out of Travis Air Force Base.

To view more photos from the event, click here to visit the Multimedia page.