A little rain didn’t deter the crowd who turned out Monday morning for the annual Memorial Day ceremony organized by the Davis Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6949.

The ceremony took place at the Davis Cemetery on Pole Line Road where, earlier that morning, Boy Scouts from around the area had placed 565 American flags on the graves of veterans.

The prelude, featuring the Davis Brass Ensemble, started at 9:30 a.m. and the posting of the colors and the singing of the national anthem signaled the start of the ceremony at 10 a.m. Hundreds of seats were filled, and some attendees even had to stand in the light rain that occurred on and off throughout the ceremony, but no one really seemed to mind. Everyone was there to pay tribute to veterans who lost their lives during one of America’s conflicts.

Fifty-four Davis natives who were killed in action were honored when former Davis City Councilman Ted Puntillo, who now serves as veterans services officer for Solano County, read aloud their names. Puntillo himself is a Vietnam veteran.

The keynote speaker was Yolo County Supervisor Don Saylor, who was instrumental in naming John Barovetto Park on Alhambra Drive after a U.S. Army captain from Davis who was killed in action during the Tet Offensive in Vietnam in 1968. In addition to serving his country with distinction, Barovetto also was a philanthropist who brought food and supplies to the village of Chu Lai as part of Operation Helping Hand.

Saylor spoke about his deep respect for veterans and his gratefulness that so many Davisites come to the event every year.

“This is a great show of respect for past soldiers and present soldiers, who are out in present-day conflicts,” Saylor said. “This is such a moving expression of our community.”

It was the music — provided by soprano Carol Ann Kessler, the Davis Brass Ensemble, the Davis Children’s Chorale and the Davis High School Madrigals — that really tied the ceremony together.

John Kraft, the father of one of the Madrigals and a former Air Force officer, introduced the choir’s fourth song — or rather, a series of official songs from each branch of the military. The Madrigals asked veterans from each branch to stand up and sing along with their song.

Guests were invited to stay after the ceremony and enjoy a barbecue provided by the Davis Professional Firefighters Association.

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The crowd listens respectfully as keynote speaker Don Saylor, a Yolo County supervisor from Davis, delivers his address during Monday’s Memorial Day ceremony at the Davis Cemetery. Sue Cockrell/Enterprise photo

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A local resident rides his motorized scooter past the Avenue of Flags as he arrives for Monday’s Memorial Day ceremony at the Davis Cemetery. Sue Cockrell/Enterprise photo

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Southeast Asia veteran Doug Griffith of Davis, a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6949, reflects on lost comrades during Monday’s Memorial Day ceremony. Sue Cockrell/Enterprise photo

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Irene Montgomery of Davis and her grandson Dominic Sanguinetti of Moraga wander among the gravestones at the Davis Cemetery as they wait for the 2013 Davis Memorial Day ceremony to begin Monday morning. Montgomery’s husband died earlier this year. Sue Cockrell/Enterprise photo

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