Post 96 volunteer Liz Rantala (center) delivers the Memorial Day service reflection at the Rose Memorial Park Cemetery in Fort Bragg, Calif., on Monday, May 25, 2026, saying, "Freedom is not free; it is paid for in blood by our veterans. They fought for us; for us they fell." Vietnam veteran Rick Cooper, a past commander of Fort Bragg American Legion Sequoia Post 96, and the Rev. Dr. Sally Swan, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary chaplain, stands by to the right. (Mary Rose Kaczorowski via Bay City News)

FORT BRAGG, CA., 5/25/26 — Under a gray sky and a lingering chill, about 50 participants—including veterans, families and community members—gathered at 11 a.m. Monday at Fort Bragg’s Rose Memorial Park Cemetery for a solemn observance of Memorial Day. They gathered to honor the men and women of the United States Armed Forces who lost their lives in military service to the nation.

The annual observance was organized with participation from local veterans and community volunteers, including American Legion Sequoia Post 96. Like many American Legion posts, Sequoia Post 96 supports veterans and their families through funeral and memorial honors, community service and civic events, youth programs, and assistance with veterans’ benefits and outreach. The post has been part of the community since 1931.

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Mary Rose Kaczorowski is a freelance reporter and occasional correspondent for The Mendocino Voice. She originated from the East Coast, and has worked in the nonprofit sector and public policy space from...