Paying tribute...

Archie McArthur, namesake of the Archie G. McArthur Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3783 in Ramona, was born on Oct. 30, 1922, the same day dictator Benito Mussolini took power in Italy, San Diego County Supervisor Dianne Jacob told a crowd of about 300 on Memorial Day.

A soldier in World War II, McArthur died on Anzio beachhead in Italy in September 1944.

Jacob, keynote speaker at Post 3783’s Memorial Day Ceremony at Nuevo Memory Gardens, shared McArthur’s story growing up in Ramona, graduating from Ramona High School, and joining the Army at age 17.

“He had dark hair and dark eyes,” she said. “From pictures, it looks like he was tall and lanky...His mother, Evie McArthur, must have been so proud.”

McArthur’s story reflects that of many men and women joining the military then, completing basic training, spreading out across the globe, “like other generations of Americans have,” said Jacob.

“So today we remember and honor Archie McArthur, Ramona boy, hometown hero, son of Evie McArthur. And we honor all our men and women who gave their lives so we can live in freedom,” she said.

When it comes to those who have died serving in the military, “we can never repay them,” she said. “We can talk about them. We can gather together on days like today. But words are not enough.

“The best way to honor them is to keep faith with the values they fought to defend: Freedom, liberty, love of country.”

When it comes to military service, “our little town of Ramona has contributed greatly,” Post Commander Doug Scholl said, noting the 594 U.S. flags that VFW members and Troop 768 Boy Scouts placed on Ramona cemetery gravesites for Memorial Day Weekend.

“Currently there are 24 service members from Ramona who have been killed in action,” he said. “I am very thankful that this past year we did not contribute another.

”...It is imperative that we as a nation, and as individuals, remember the heroes of the past, and support those who serve today.”

During the ceremony, Post Junior Vice Commander Dale Smith with Miss Ramona Shannon Singleton and Teen Miss Ramona Megan Kelly presented bouquets of flowers to one Gold Star mother and two Gold Star grandmothers whose son and grandsons, respectively, served in the U.S. Army and died in Iraq: Spc. 4 Ramon C. Ojeda on May 1, 2004; Cpl. Jeremiah Santos on June 15, 2006, and Pfc. Michael Jarrett on Jan. 6, 2010.

Continuing the post’s annual tradition, all those who served or are serving in the military stood and gave their name, branch of service and time served. Fifty-five men and women stood.

Scholl concluded the ceremony reminding those attending, “VFW 3783 is the biggest little post in San Diego County, where every day is a holiday, every meeting is a family reunion, and every meal is a feast.”

He invited all to follow them to two other ceremonies — one at the World War II monument on Ninth Street and one at the Vietnam Memorial at Schwaesdall Winery on Highway 67 — and to the Memorial Day picnic at the post on Kelly Street.