Retired general to speak at Sonoma Memorial Day ceremony

The Sonoma Valley Joint Memorial Day Observance will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 28, at the Sonoma Veterans Memorial Park.|

The Sonoma Valley Joint Memorial Day Observance will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 28.

This year marks the 60th time this annual hometown event has taken place. The location will once again be the Sonoma Veterans Memorial Park located north of the Plaza and adjacent to the Sonoma Valley Veterans Memorial Hall. This year will also be the 13th anniversary of the unveiling of the Star of Honor fountain, which is now the centerpiece for the Sonoma Veterans Memorial Park.

Seating is limited and the weather is normally hot and sunny this time of year. Although pop-up tent canopies will provide shade for many in the audience, not every chair will be under these canopies.

All veterans are invited to wear their military uniforms (or appropriate attire) and participate in the Grand March at the opening of the ceremony. Veterans who want to participate are requested to muster in the parking lot at 10:30 a.m. beneath the flag of their particular branch of the armed forces.

The guest of honor and keynote speaker is retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Kent Hillhouse, who served as the Deputy G-1 on the Army staff at the Pentagon from 1996 – 2001 prior to his retirement from active duty. In this role, he was responsible for development, management and execution of manpower and personnel plans, programs and policies throughout the entire U.S. Army.

After graduating from San Jose State University in 1966, Hillhouse was commissioned a second lieutenant serving as an Armor-Cavalry officer. Between 1967 and 1968, he was engaged in heavy combat as a tank commander while serving with the 11th Armor Cavalry Regiment in Vietnam, during which he was wounded and decorated for gallantry under fire twice.

His non-combat duty assignments following his return home from Vietnam included being assigned to the 91st Infantry Division where he served in numerous command and staff positions culminating in the command of the Division.

A graduate of both the Army War College and the Army Airborne School, Hillhouse’s military awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, two Silver Stars, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.

The Master of Ceremonies will be local attorney Carl “Chip” H. Allen who is a former U.S. Navy Polaris submarine officer and a 1965 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland.

To honor the memory of five-star Gen. Henry “Hap” H. Arnold, who founded the U.S. Air Force and made the Sonoma Valley his home following the Second World War, the ceremony will conclude with an aerial fly-over consisting of various military inspired civilian aircraft flown by the Sonoma Skypark Aviators.

Immediately following the ceremony, the “Rotary Club of Sonoma Valley and the Rotary Club of Sonoma Sunrise: All-American Picnic” will be served free of charge at the Veterans Building.

Although the picnic is complimentary to veterans and their families and friends, a “Star of Honor” pledge drive will take place during the picnic for donations needed to maintain and improve Memorial Park and assist toward the expense of applying the names of local deceased veterans to the Star of Honor.

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