Thank you for being here on this warm day.

I'm Kevin Wilk, Mayor of the City of Walnut Creek, and on behalf of the Walnut Creek City Council, I want to welcome you to our 2026 Memorial Day observance.

For Americans, Memorial Day should be the most important and solemn of our national holidays.

It is a day that we remember and honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice by laying down their lives for our country.

As we begin, I'd like to ask everybody to please stand for the presentation of colors, the singing of the national anthem, and for the pledge of allegiance that'll be led by Mayor Pro Tem Matt Francois.

Color guard, please present the colors.

Good morning.

Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Please be seated.

At this time, I would like to thank the Walnut Creek Police Department Honor Guard, the Walnut Creek concert band under the direction of Matthew Sadowski, and Mayor Mayor Protevin.

They do deserve an applause.

They're right.

And Mayor Pro Tem Matt Francois for leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

I'd also like to recognize any former mayors and council members who might be here today.

If any of our former Walnut Creek City Council members have joined us, please stand up.

We have former Mayors Noella Haskew and Kathy Hicks.

Anybody else out there?

And please welcome Congressman Mark Desonyer.

State Senator Tim Grayson.

County Supervisor Ken Carlson joining us on the stage.

And representing Assembly member Anna Maria Avalafarius, and I'm not sure if she's here yet.

I know she was going to be coming.

Uh when she comes, we will then introduce her as well.

And we have a number of representatives for a congressional state offices.

Alas in the sand.

And if you could do that or wave your hands.

Any of our representatives from uh from our Congress office, State Center, or Assembly members.

And we also have, I know Sharice Cowan is here representing Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer Kahan.

And I would like to recognize all the veterans who are with us today.

Would you please rise?

Thank you for your service to our country.

Our invocation today will be delivered by Rabbi Jenny Shabon from Congregation Benay Tikfa.

Elected and civic leaders, people of the city of Walnut Creek, I am honored to offer these words of blessing on this sacred day of memory.

On this memorial day, this Yom Hazika on, as we say in Hebrew, we vow to remember with gratitude and love those who have served to defend our nation, those who have risked their own lives for our protection, and above all, those who died serving our country.

At a time in which our country and world are deeply divided.

Their memories call us to ask ourselves, who are we meant to be?

How do we honor those fallen soldiers through our own righteous actions?

Holy one, we thank you for the numerous blessings you have bestowed upon our nation.

Out of the many nations of the world, our country has been blessed with a singular opportunity to demonstrate how peoples of many faiths and heritages can live side by side and enrich one another's lives through friendship and the sharing of our unique traditions.

We pray for protection for all those who are serving our country and who have committed their lives to keeping us safe.

Source of life, spread your sukkat shalom, your shelter of peace over them and over their families, and grant us, oh God, the ability to work to create a land of peace and justice for all.

We pray that freedom will dawn for the oppressed in our nation, and that this city of Walnut Creek will continue to be an oasis of love and dignity and holy alliances.

May the day come soon that we find the courage to realize the words of your prophet Isaiah, let nation not lift up sword against nation, nor learn war anymore.

Amen.

For Americans, Memorial Day is the most solemn of our national holidays, as we unite to honor those who gave their lives in service to our country.

Beginning with the American Revolutionary War, the United States has been involved in numerous conflicts over its history.

The deadliest, of course, was the Civil War.

Between April 1861, and when the first shot, when the first shot was fired at Fort Sumter, South Carolina, and April 1865, when Union and Confederate troops laid down their arms at Appomattox Courthouse in Virginia.

Our nation lost some 625,000 lives.

More American losses than those from all other wars and conflicts combined, and 100 times more than the number who died during the American Revolution.

The casualty figures were so large that nearly every American was directly touched by the conflict.

Over time, the families and friends of soldiers who lost their lives began to honor the sacrifices of the fallen by spending one day each year decorating their graves.

In time, entire communities began to come together on these remembrance days.

What was originally called Decoration Day, and we now call Memorial Day was first observed on May 30, 1868, when flowers were officially placed on the graves of more than 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers who were buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

After that, and for the next 50 years, Memorial Day was observed every year on May 30th to honor those who died during the Civil War.

Then after World War I, where 100,000 military lost their lives, the holiday was changed to honor Americans who die fighting in any war.

Today marks Walnut Creek's 36th Memorial Day observance.

It is a day for us to come together and pay our respects to all who made the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf.

And today it is especially an honor to recognize those from Walnut Creek who lost their lives while serving our country.