62nd VFW Memorial Day Service at Fresno Memorial Gardens

Surrounded by thousands of American Flags, radical gathered successful the Fresno Memorial Gardens to grant those who mislaid their lives warring for our country.

Wrapping fallen work members and their families successful prayer.

"We convey you again for this privilege to beryllium present contiguous and to grant those who gave their each for us," said Rev. Bob Small, who is simply a veteran.

"In the sanction supra each names, successful the sanction of your lad Jesus Christ, we bash pray, Amen."

More than six decades ago, the Avenue of Flags began with conscionable 35 flags framing the parkland entrance.

The contented started by VFW Post 5057 and has present grown to see much than 14 100 full-sized flags with thousands of others lining the headstones of the much than 25 100 veterans laid to remainder successful the memorial gardens.

Organizers accidental it's the largest show of freestanding American Flags successful the West.

It's a contented Richard Morrison carries connected with pridefulness and sadness.

"It tells maine that we've mislaid a batch of veterans, we've mislaid a batch of veterans conscionable successful this country alone," said Richard Morrison, VFW Post 5057.

VFW Posts, young cadets, and loved ones came from astir the region to contiguous wreaths for the ceremony.

Others went to the gardens to beryllium alongside their loved ones who served.

Lois Trapp donated her husband's emblem backmost to the gardens to beryllium flown connected Memorial Day.

"My husband, helium conscionable passed distant and went to eden with Jesus, truly recently, helium was a veteran, helium was successful the Vietnam clip period," said Trapp.

For Freddy Valdez, it's a contented he's carried connected since his begetter passed distant 3 years ago.

He says his father, Jose Valdez, was shaped by his work successful Vietnam and successful turn, that shaped Freddy.

"He talked astir the camaraderie that was determination with each his brothers determination that served with him," said Valdez.

"Always remembering, ever coming to spot them... It's precise important we retrieve those that person served, and again we wage homage to them contiguous and each time we should."

The flags were taken down Monday afternoon, but they are looking for volunteers to assistance connected Wednesday astatine 9 americium to assistance fold and store the flags.

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