The ceremonies and speeches honoring those who perished in defense of their country had concluded, and a gun salute was conducted outside the front doors.
Then silently and almost as one entity, the crowd turned toward the balcony on the south end of the Stockton Civic Memorial Auditorium, where U.S. Army veteran Miguel Camarillo played a soulful and emotional version of “Taps,” on his bugle.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Luneta Post 52 hosted its annual Memorial Day ceremony on Monday, with a crowd of more than 200 coming to pay their respects. Included among the spectators were city and San Joaquin County leaders, elected officials and many veterans.
“It’s important because honestly a lot of veterans that raised their right hand and didn’t know what the future would bring,” VFW Post 52 Commander Tomas Bermudez said. “A lot of them paid the ultimate sacrifice for this nation. It is important for veterans Memorial Day to honor them, no matter whether in local towns or big cities. It’s always important to memorialize their lives.”
Camarillo, an Army veteran and post vice commander who served a deployment in Afghanistan, said he was honored to be part of the event.
“Every time we do it, whether it’s playing the bugle, the firing spot, posting the colors, it’s very emotional,” Camarillo said.
Mayor Fugazi was the opening speaker and stated how important it was to remember the veterans, noting the many Stocktonians who have given their lives in armed conflict. The go along with the other events at the remembrance, The Stockton Portsmen, a barber shop chorus, was on hand sing the Star Spangled Banner and America the Beautiful at the auditorium, which opened in 1925 to honor those who gave their lives while serving in the armed forces during World War.
Among those in the audience was Ray Bael and his wife, Edith. A 78-year-old Vietnam veteran, he said he tries to come to as many of these events as he can.
“We have to honor those we lost,” Ray Bael said. “It’s important to remember.”