Traditional Memorial Day events at Santa Nella military cemetery on hold, due to pandemic

Memorial Day events that had been scheduled for this weekend at San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery in Santa Nella have been canceled, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The cemetery, located at 32053 McCabe Road, will be open for visitation from sunrise to sunset on Memorial Day weekend, but events, ceremonies and group flag placement will not take place, according to a news release from the cemetery.

Friends and family will still be allowed to place flowers and small flags at grave sites.

“San Joaquin National Cemetery is committed to observing Memorial Day 2020 in a manner that honors those who sacrificed for our Nation while protecting the health and safety of visitors and our team members,” Frederick Bryant, San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery acting director, said in the release.

Visitors are asked to keep safety in mind while visiting the cemetery, including abiding by federal, state and local guidelines including the use of face masks and social distancing.

The public is urged by the cemetery to consider visiting Friday, Saturday or Sunday, to avoid any possible crowds on the Memorial Day holiday.

Cemetery staff will hold a small observance closed to the public which will be photographed and posted to the National Cemetery Administration’s website as well as Facebook and Twitter pages.

Officials say those wishing to pay tribute to veterans can now do so virtually, at the National Cemetery Administration’s Veterans Legacy Memorial website.

The site, which launched in 2019, contains memorial pages for each veteran and service member who is interred in a Veterans Administration national cemetery.

Online visitors to the Veterans Legacy Memorial are able to leave a comment and tribute on a veteran’s page, in order to voice memories and appreciation for their service. Comments will be reviewed for appropriateness before being posted.

Cemetery staff will not be able to assist in locating a grave site, as contact between staff and visitors will be limited. Officials say visitors should “Know Before You Go,” regarding grave locations they choose to visit over the holiday weekend.

A grave site locator kiosk at the entrance to the administrative building will not be operational, due to concerns over sanitizing and social distancing, according to the release.

A mobile grave locator is available for use on mobile devices and a code will be placed on the kiosk to assist visitors in linking to the site.

This story was originally published May 18, 2020 at 5:38 PM.