American flags lined up and down Main Street, and the Woodland Cemetary served as the perfect visual for the American Legion Yolo Post 77 Memorial Day ceremony, focused on honoring those we’ve lost.

Over 100 Woodland community members, veterans, and their families attended the Monday morning ceremony at the Woodland Cemetery, located at 800 West St., kicking off their holiday festivities beginning at 11 a.m. and running on for about 45 minutes.

After a rendition of the National Anthem, sung by Calum Fischer, 22, American Legion Second Vice Commander Dave Stoermer took the microphone. Stoermer introduced the ceremony’s first guest, American Legion Auxiliary member Sherry Eastwood-Falls, who read a poem titled Flanders Field that symbolizes the sacrifices of all fighting in the First World War. The poem continues to be a part of Remembrance Day ceremonies.

Following the Poem, Fischer came back up to perform “America the Beautiful” before Stoermer introduced the ceremony’s special guest Nathan Saylor, who amassed 22 years of service spread out over 29 years as an active duty member of the Army, and then the National Guard.

Following his emotional speech, American Legion Post 77 Chaplain Ted Hillyer performed the ceremony’s benediction, followed by a moment of silence and a final performance from Fischer. The Color Guard from American Legion Yolo Post 77 then performed a four-shot Rifle Salute and Taps to honor those who lost their lives in active duty.

“This event was very meaningful,” Hillyer, who served in the U.S Airforce from 1949-1953, said. “We had a great turnout, and our guest speaker had a very meaningful message of what Memorial Day meant to him.”

Hillyer mentioned that American Legion organized volunteers to set up flags along Main Street and at the cemetery. He estimated around 150 large flags were set up in the cemetery and about 2,500 smaller ones on the gravesites of the fallen.

“I think the community here is very supportive,” Hillyer said. “We know there is a number of vets around here either as members of Post 77 or just the fact that they wear a vest or hat or someway to distinguish the branch of service they served in.”