MOSS LANDING — Prunedale resident Donald Albertson served in the U.S. Army in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and later served in the National Guard in South Dakota.
When the retired colonel was recognized for a lifetime of service on Monday during a ceremony in the Castroville Public Cemetery, he kept his remarks short and to the point.
“I just did what I had to do,” he said.
Albertson was one of two living veterans who were honored for their service during the annual Memorial Day Avenue of the Flags Ceremony.
Around 50 people attended the ceremony.
Louie Montaño, a military veteran who helps to organize the event, was recognized for those efforts, and for his service.
“It’s an honor and a privilege to be able to do something for our country,” he said. “I continue to do the best I can.”
The event includes speeches by elected officials, but is punctuated when veterans read the names of the U.S. military service people who have been killed while serving.
Congressman Jimmy Panetta said that everyone in the country should acknowledge “our responsibility as Americans.”
“All of us know that our founding fathers made it clear: That we are a nation of we the people,” Panetta said. “Therefore it’s left to we the people to determine our democracy, to determine our destiny.
“Being American means that every battle, every war, every day we bear the burden to serve to fight to protect those numerous rights set out in our constitution.”
Senator Bill Monning told the audience that honoring veterans killed in conflicts, and fighting for American principles, are struggles not limited to U.S. service people.
As an example, Monning pointed to two men who were stabbed to death when they tried to stop a white supremacist from directing an anti-Muslim rant at two women on a Portland, Ore. train on Friday.
Rick Best, 53, an Army veteran, and Taliesin Myrddin Namkai Meche, 23, were killed. A third man, Micah David-Cole Fletcher, 21, was taken to the hospital with serious stab wounds.
“…We all have a duty to stand up and protect those privileges that many people die for,” Monning said.
Diana Jimenez, chair of the North Monterey County League of United Latin American Citizens, said she helps with the ceremony every year by placing flags in the cemetery to honor the service members interned there.
In doing so, Jimenez said she takes the time to read their tombstones. This year, she said, she noticed that several generations of single families are often represented.
“It just occurred to me what a sacrifice those families made – their mothers and their fathers,” she said. “We owe a debt of gratitude to them, and we must never forget their sacrifice.”
