A large turnout from the Clayton and Concord communities, joined by local elected officials, gathered at The Grove in Clayton on Memorial Day to honor those who served and made the ultimate sacrifice. Organized by VFW Post 1525, the ceremony featured retired Marine Lt. Col. Mike Hudson reading the names of Contra Costa County service members who have died in service since the Vietnam War. Attendees also heard moving remarks from Gold Star Mothers, who shared the lasting impact of their loss on their families. Marines lowered the American flag to half-staff, while Sea Scouts solemnly placed tags on the memorial monument. The following service members were honored. (Photos: Lt. Col Mike Hudson, Marines, Sea Scouts Tags placed on Memorial Monument)
Fallen Servicemen fron Contra Costa County since Vietnam War was recognized at the ceremony.
Vietnam
Specialist 4 Ronald Baker, USA
2nd LT Walter Raymond Boettcher Jr. USA
Specialist 4 Thomas Bush USA
Sgt Daniel Casey USA
Sgt Paul Coe USA
1st Sgt Orville Frits USA
Specialist 4 Frank Gonerman USA
PFC Raymond Hauser USA
Specialist 4 Daniel McKechnie USA
Specialist 4 Tom Melendres USA
PFC Michael McCullough USA
2nd Lt. Jerry Novakovich USA
PFC David Parks USA
PFC Ronnie Pimentel USA
Cpl Daniel Rezende USA
Specialist 4 William Scheidt USA
Specialist 4 Joseph Sherlock Ill USA
Sgt Bruce Sours USA
Specialist 4 Ollie Stapleton USA
Cpl. John Sterling USA
PFC Robert Ward UA
Capt Richard Callanan USAF
PFC Albert Alencastre
LCpl Randall Choate
LCpl James Flickinger
1st LT Edward Hayen II
LCpl Gerald McGinley
LCpl Willard Nelson
LCpl David Oberle
PFC Terry Stout
Sgt. Emii Ziss
Post 9/11
PFC Benjamin Tollefson USA
SA Jonathan V Veiner Vega USAF
Cpl Sean Langevin USA
Sgt John D Aragon USA
LCpl Sara Castro Mata USMC
SPC Ricky Wikle USA
Cpl Kyle D Crowley USMC
SN Luckey Danyelle USN
SSgt Daniel R Scheile USA
Maj James Ahern USA
Cpl Joshua Corral USMC
CPT John Hallet USA
Cpl Mick Bekowski USMC
Sgt Gabriel Guzman USA
SPC Joseph Graves USA
PFC Benjamin Zieske- USA
SSgt Stephan J Wilson· USMC
Pvt Nicholas Dodson USA
SPC Joseph C Norquist USA
SPC James J Coon USA
CPT Mark Pine USA
PFC Scott .Barnett USA
LCpl Erick Hodges, USMC
PO3 Vincent C Hernandez USN
Taylor Hannah USA
Kevin Dexter USMC
2nd Lt Peter Zhu USA