MEMORIAL DAY VIEW GRAFFITI PREVIEW

By Middagh Goodwin

It is so very important that we remember all of those who served defending our freedom. What is happening in Ukraine now reminds us how important freedom and independence is and how fragile democracy can be without those that serve with honor. Take time to remember and even visit one of our local cemeteries and remember those that gave their all. The flag lined lanes will amaze and help remember how much these people mean to our country.

Memorial Day May 29

Hughson Memorial – Wreath Laying 8 am

Modesto 7th St Bridge - Wreath ceremony 8 am

Ceres VFW Ceremony - 10 am

Lakewood Cemetery – 1 pm

Annual memorial remembrance service and recognitions and honor guard with the Sea Cadets. Avenues of flags will line the street and graver markers will have flags. Acacia Park – Ceremony traditionally begins at 11 am on Monday May 30 Alumni and taps with a full flag ceremony and military honors. Flags will line the roadways. Santa Nella Cemetery – American Red Cross volunteers do a wreath laying

Columbia State Park- 1 pm

The 191st Army Band, “Band of the Wild West” Brass Ensemble - performance is on Main Street. Guest Speaker: Congressman Tom McClintock. Multiple activities for the entire family - horse rides, tours, dinning, sightseeing, and much more throughout the day. Directed by SFC Steve Trapp. Free to the public

Memorial Day Classic 5K – May 27

We honor those veterans who have given their lives to serve our country. Join in the Modesto Memorial Classic 1-mile and 5K walk/ run, May 27, in East La Loma Park. Local veterans will be cooking a pancake breakfast that’s included with each paid registration. Proceeds in part go to the Delta Vet Center. Sign up today or donate to the Delta Vet Center and to get more info www.facebook.com/modestomemorialclassic/ Take time this Memorial Day weekend to remember our vets. Please check back at www.modestoview.com

Some of these times are the traditional starting times and we will update as we learn more.

Are you excited for the upcoming festivities? We are just a month away from the start of the fun-filled Graffiti Summer, where we will be celebrating 50 years of the classic coming-of-age film American Graffiti by Modesto native George Lucas. The festivities start off with the MASRA Graffiti Classic at McHenry Village on Sunday, June 4th, a fun-filled day featuring hundreds of cars and, this year, featuring the Corvette Coral.

Be sure to mark your calendars for June 7th, where downtown is the place to be for Legends of the Cruise Walk of Fame and Park n’ Shine Car Show, with five new inductees which will be revealed in the May issue of the ModestoView. Come out and enjoy the music of Third Party and meet Mackenzie Phillips from American Graffiti.

Thursday, June 8th, kicks off MoBand with “Rock On” at Graceada Park with brand new seating in Mancini Bowl.

Friday, June 9th, is Cruise Night in

Modesto, where hundreds of cars with their paint polished and chrome shining will cruise up McHenry and through downtown. The event that started it all, the North Modesto Kiwanis American Graffiti Festival and Car Show, will once again take place at MJC West on Saturday the 10th and Sunday the 11th. Sign up for the Cruise or Car show at americangraffitifestival.com/

It’s always Graffiti Summer in Modesto!

You can pick up the Modesto USA Classic Car Museum Guide to Graffiti Summer for a complete list of events: graffitiusamuseum.com

Here are a few events to get you in the mood for Graffiti Summer:

May 13th, Howard Prep’s Classic Car Show at Howard Prep

May 20th, the 1st Annual Car Show & Reunion at Ceasar Chavez Park

May 21st, Boulevard Knights and Car Show at the State Theatre