‘Remember the sacrifice’: Monterey County pays tribute to fallen service members

Monterey County residents gathered at the Soledad Cemetery on Monday to honor the lives of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

The Memorial Day ceremony kicked off with presentations from Soledad High School's drill team and the color guard of the Navy junior Reserve Officers Training Corps program.

Dozens of families and individuals wore red, white and blue as they lay flowers on gravestones and held photos of loved ones who lost their lives during and after their military service.

For Jessica Jimenez, a local member of the Marine Corps, it was an opportunity to pay tribute to fellow comrades.

"I did lose two of my friends in the service and it wasn't for war," Jimenez said. "The war that we're fighting with mental health in the military, that's a big problem that a lot of people don't talk about. I just wanted to remember my friends here and pay my respects."

Jesus Trujillo, another member of the Marine Corps, says it's the fight and sacrifices of fallen service members that inspired him to also want to join the service.

He says those sacrifices are what opened the door of opportunity for many, including his own family.

"I've been overseas before and I've seen how people there live their lives and it humbled me a lot, because there's a big difference they way we live our lives here," he said. "My parents are immigrants and what they were able to accomplish here and give to me, I wanted to return it to my country."

Members of all military branches were recognized during the service.

In a speech, Soledad resident Susie Skinner shared some words to honor former military members, including her own family.

Skinner's family history in the military goes back as far as WWII. Her grandfather, Walter Skinner, was killed in action in 1945 and her brother Walter (Wally) Skinner was killed in action in Vietnam in 1968.

This year, much of the focus of her speech was on the women who served in the military and behind the scenes.

"I've been to Veterans Day services and Memorial Day services for many years and I had never heard a speech about women in the military before," she said. "My own mother was in the military, and many of my own family members. For women, they've never focused on them before, so I chose to do that."

Skinner described the story of the first woman who served during the Revolutionary War under disguise as a man.

She also read aloud the names of local women who devoted their time and labor to defending the country during war time. From the women on the front lines, to the women who repaired and built battleships and machinery, produced clothes and food for the military, and kept the workforce going.

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Skinner says she hopes their efforts won't be forgotten, especially among younger generations.

"I mentioned Rosie the Riveter and they didn't know enough about the history of the women," she said. "The women were pitching in to help the service men out at war, and we take nothing away from their sacrifices, but the women were out there leaving their kids at home to do these things and promote the country as well. I hope they remember the sacrifice."

This article originally appeared on Salinas Californian: Memorial Day: Monterey County pays tribute to fallen service members