Memorial Day service starts at 10
Volunteers will place wreaths on gravestones of vets

The city's annual Memorial Day program will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, May 28 at Simi Valley Pioneer Cemetery, 1461 Thompson Lane.

The ceremony is presented by three local veterans groups, Simi Valley Disabled Veterans, Chapter 55; Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10049, and Marine Corps League, Detachment No. 597.

Korean War Army paratrooper Sal Ayala, commander of the local chapter of the DAV, will begin the program by raising the American flag during a rendition of the national anthem.

An invocation offered by Loren Southworth will be followed by a series of speakers including: Maj. Mike Shuster, U.S. Marine Corps; City Council members Barbra Williamson and Glen Becerra; SVPD Sgt. David Livingstone; Carl Swanson, Simi Valley Masonic Lodge; Mike Johnson, Simi Valley Elks Lodge, and Ron Cott, past governor of the Elks Lodge.

At the end of the speakers' portion, volunteers will place wreaths at the foot of the cemetery's monument to fallen Simi veterans.

The ceremony will end with a rifle salute by members of the Marine Corps and a rendition of "Taps" played by Marine Paul Mole Sr.

Following the event, attendees are invited to a free lunch at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, 480 Sinaloa Road, as part of the church's "Salute to Arms" Memorial Day program.