10 a.m. Thursday at Keene; set up at 9:30 a.m.
U.S. Navy ceremony recognizes Cesar Chavez with graveside honors
Say Cesar Chavez and most people think farm workers. On Thursday, April 23, the United States Navy honors Cesar Chavez as the Navy veteran who served his country in the Western Pacific just after World War II. On the 22nd anniversary of his passing, active duty and reserve sailors will render military honors at Chavez’s gravesite at Keene, Calif., in the Memorial Garden of the Cesar E. Chavez National Monument operated by the National Park Service, which is sponsoring the event along with the Cesar Chavez Foundation.
The Navy Operational Support Center is organizing the formal ceremony, including a Navy bugler playing “Taps,” a rifle salute and folding of the American flag and its presentation to his widow, Helen Chavez. Latino veterans from across California will attend the gravesite ceremony. See: http://www.chavezfoundation.org/_cms.php?mode=view&b_code=003002000000000&b_no=3627&page=&field=&key=&n
Chavez belonged to generations of Latinos who returned home from the service after World War II, Korea, Vietnam and conflicts as recent as Afghanistan determined to see that the country for which they sacrificed fulfilled its promise of equality and freedom. The Navy launched its latest Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship and named her USNS Cesar Chavez in 2012. She is the only navel vessel named for a Latino. See: http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=66959 and http://www.latinpost.com/articles/10540/20140414/usns-cesar-chavez-cesar-chavez-us-navy-naval-ships-mayalasia-airlines-maylasia-missing-flight-malaysia-airlines-flight-mh370.htm
The Navy ceremony begins at 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 23, followed by a program in the adjacent Visitor Center that features exhibits (including photos of Cesar in the Navy), presentations and short films recognizing Latino veterans’ patriotism and sacrifices for their country.
Photographers and news crews are encouraged to arrive by 9:30 a.m. There is limited space on risers.
Who: Active and reserve U.S. Navy sailors, Chavez family, Latino veterans from throughout California, National Park Service
What: U.S. Navy recognizes Cesar Chavez with graveside honors
When: 9:30 a.m. set up; 10 a.m. ceremony, Thursday, April 23, 2015
Where: Cesar E. Chavez National Monument/National Chavez Center, 29700 Woodford-Tehachapi Rd., Keene, CA 93531
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