Hundreds pay respects to military dead

Hundreds gathered on a sunny Memorial Day at the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno to remember thousands of servicemen and servicewomen from past and present wars.

There was special attention paid to San Bruno residents Dick and Angie Dunbar, for whom yesterday's service was dedicated. The Dunbars died tragically in a house fire last July and founded the Avenue of Flags Committee in 1977. The committee is responsible for the annual Memorial Day event at the cemetery.

"For most of my life Memorial Day has been special," said son Ken Dunbar. "It's still a family gathering except my parents are already here."

The Dunbars are buried at the cemetery along with approximately 138,000 servicemen and servicewomen and their family members.

Family, friends and past servicemen were on hand yesterday to remember those who served in time of war. Speakers included retired and current servicemen along with an eagle scout who was recently accepted into the Naval Academy at Annapolis. He will report to the school this summer.

There are currently 25 million Americans with veteran status, 16 percent have World War II status and are dying at the rate of thousands a day. Another 33 percent served in the Vietnam era, according to a recent article in Navy Times.

Still, thousands of recruits are signing up each day to fight the war on terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan. That fact wasn't lost on the crowd, who had to pass by a handful of war protesters while driving into the cemetery.

"The young men and women coming out today have the same sense of duty I know my father and grandfather had,' said Navy Cmdr. Roland Harris. "Let's remember the men and women here today, both living and passed away, that have given service before self.

To date, 3,794 troops have died in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Unless you have experienced the tears of joy and the embrace of an Iraqi citizen," it is hard to describe the positive influence American troops have had on the country, U.S. Army Maj. Howard Zimmerman said.

Regardless of views on the current war, one message was clear.

"Each fallen hero made the sacrifice only a chosen few are willing to accept," Zimmerman said.