IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers Sal Ayala and Chuck Overcliff For more than a century, Americans have gathered on Memorial Day to decorate the graves of fallen soldiers with wreaths and flags- in remembrance of their service to the nation.

In fact, the holiday was known as "Decoration Day" for almost 100 years until its name was officially changed by the federal government in 1967.

Still, citizens throughout the country, including local veteran leaders Sal Ayala and Chuck Overcliff, intend to uphold the traditions that were founded years ago.

This year, the two Simi Valley residents together built 43 new crosses to place on graves at the Pioneer Cemetery this Memorial Day.

"The crosses we (already) have were made way back- about 35 years ago- but they're getting so old," Ayala said. "The paint is coming off; parts of them are chipping off. So between Chuck and I, we wanted to make some new ones and renovate the old ones."

Every year, members of local veteran groups, including the California American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), the Marine Corps League and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) hold a Memorial Day ceremony at the Pioneer Cemetery, 1461 Thompson Lane.

With the help of local Boy Scouts of America, fellow veterans and family members of fallen servicemen, they place decorations on each soldier's grave to commemorate the men and women who've died in defense of the nation.

Simi Valley alone has become home to many who served in WWII, Korea, Vietnam and the Middle East. Ayala himself was an Army paratrooper in the Korean War. "We'd just like to give our thanks to all the veterans," he said.

This year's will event will begin at 10 a.m. Monday, May 26. More than 100 crosses and flags will be placed in the cemetery before the ceremony. Wreaths will be placed on the graves by family members and volunteers.

Following the event, veterans and their families are invited to a free luncheon and program- the third annual "Salute to Arms"- beginning 11:30 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 480 Sinaloa Road.

The program will include a tribute to the late Paul Molé, a wellknown restaurateur and Marine veteran who played "Taps" on his bugle at countless events throughout the city.

For more information on the luncheon, call Cherie Whitaker at (805) 584-1222.