Memorial Day ceremonies honored veterans across the Bay Area Monday.
In San Francisco, a ceremony at the National Cemetery in the Presidio is marked the 50th anniversary of the escalation of the Vietnam War.
Great America in Santa Clara honored veterans in a ceremony at 9:45 a.m., followed by a barbecue and fireworks.
One of the oldest ceremonies in the Bay Area took place at Oak Hill Memorial Park in San Jose.
On Monday, Lance Cpl. Travis Layfield, Second Battalion, Fourth Marines, was honored at Oak Hill, along with every other service member who made the ultimate sacrifice. Layfield was killed in action in Iraq.
Young and old were there to say thank you, including fellow Marines.
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"Today is his birthday, and I just wanted to honor Travis Layfield today by letting him know that we’re here because of him," retired Marine Art Medina said. "And here to let him know we haven’t forgotten him.”
The Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America presented the 21-gun salute at Oak Hill--a solemn remembrance for those who did not make it home.
A few miles south of the memorial, flags adorn Old Almaden Road, a tribute to another Bay Area hero -- Pat Tillman.
The Tillman monument sits at the base of the old Almaden Quicksilver mines.
"It's awesome. They have flags here year-round," hiker Chris Rotondo said. "It’s cool that they honor him year-round.”
In the East Bay, the U.S.S. Hornet Museum in Alameda hosted a Memorial Day ceremony from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
In Point Reyes, the National Park Service and U.S. Coast Guard honored veterans with a ceremony at the historic G Ranch Cemetery at 10 a.m.
