Memorial Day Celebration Honors Ultimate Sacrifice

At Paradise Valley Estates, Memorial Day begins with a celebration honoring the many men and women who died serving our nation. The annual program is organized by a volunteer committee and includes a number of residents, most of who are former retired military officers.

For the 2019 ceremony, scheduled for Monday, May 27 beginning at 10:45 a.m. in Rawlinson Hall, they will be joined by the Scarlet Brigade Bagpipers, the Paradise Valley Estates community chorus and the members of the Fairfield High School AFJROTC program.

The ceremony begins with a series of shared invocations, songs, remembrances, benedictions and other honorary protocols. Next, the group assembles to walk to the community flagpole, located at Bergerot Circle. The program resumes at the flagpole with a traditional flag ceremony. The American flag, which by decree of United States Flag Code flies at half-staff from sunrise until noon on Memorial Day, is briskly raised and flies at full staff from noon until sunset.

After the flag is raised, the spirited gathering continues over a celebratory lunch where the officers, spouses and special guests can celebrate together over a barbecue lunch with all the trimmings. We salute the volunteer team that plans this special program each year and welcome the opportunity to join them in honoring the fallen who gave their lives in service to a grateful nation.