MEMORIAL DAY 2020
Nellie Gail Ranch’s Gallup Park was the setting for 25 Tribute Banners honoring United States Marines who were killed in action, and honored each year at the City’s Half Marathon, 5 and 10K race. Due to cancellation of Laguna HIll’s annual Memorial Day Race, the Banners and the Marines on them would have been left unseen. But Nellie Gail HOA and staff, along with volunteers from Team Darkhorse, created a way for our city to honor them again this year.
Many of you came to walk among the banners, and reflect upon the sacrifice of these men. Among those who visited were USMC Major Joe Patterson and Sgt Michael Spivey both of whom deployed with and knew those Marines. — both expressed tremendous gratitude to us for honoring their friends. Two more among the visitors were the father and grandfather of Dave Reynolds, Laguna Hills Deputy City Manger. His father is a Vietnam veteran, and his 100 year old grandfather a WW2 veteran, both pictured here.
On Monday at 3:00 sharp, in solidarity with the grassroots “TAPS across American” movement started online, local musicians Tom Cunningham on trumpet, accompanied by, Mark Day played TAPS for those Marines. The familiar, beautiful and haunting notes drifted across the green grass, mingled with the birdsong, and touched the hearts of all who came to witness. Following the brief ceremony, Cunningham and Day stayed to play light jazz in a spontaneous celebration of love and life.
This spontaneous second performance was inspired by the words of Gold Star sister to Lt Robert Kelly, one of the Marines in the park, to all her friends on Facebook.
