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# A city remembers the fallen
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/a-city-remembers-the-fallen/
- Published: 2007-05-29T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T00:52:59.000Z
- Author: Melody Hanatani
- Tags: Community, Pico, #archive-import

*Woodlawn Cemetery hosts tribute to deceased soldiers*

PICO NEIGHBORHOOD More than 7,000 miles from where U.S. troops are fighting the War on Terror, the residents of Santa Monica on Monday honored the current and past soldiers who have put their lives at risk to defend American ideals.

In a sign of solidarity amongst Santa Monicans, who frequently debate the war in the Middle East with passion and vigor, approximately 100 people came out in support of the troops during the city’s 69th annual Memorial Day observance ceremony at Woodlawn Cemetery, paying their respects to the servicemen and women who have died in America’s wars.

The Memorial Day observance is staged each year by a consortium of Santa Monica service organizations, including the Santa Monica Emblem Club, the local American Legion and the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks.

It was just one of many Memorial Day services held throughout the country on Monday, with one of the largest just a few miles away in the L.A. National Cemetery near UCLA.

The program was filled with musical performances by the John Adams and Lincoln middle schools choirs, as well as several renditions of famous patriotic songs by Jeanie Talbot, past president of the Culver City Emblem Club #154.

Several members of the U.S. Marine Corps and the Santa Monica Police Explorers Color Guard methodically walked down the aisle carrying the flags for the posting of the colors, which was followed by the presentation of the POW/MIA flag.

The nearly two hour-long service drew Santa Monicans of all generations. The older silver-haired crowd — some donning red, white and blue apparel — mostly sat up front, sniffing and wiping away their tears, perhaps remembering a loved one who had fallen in combat. Some youngsters, still not old enough to understand war, waved miniature flags throughout the ceremony.

“We gather here today to honor those in the past and pray for those in the future,” said R.A. Pickett, the exalted ruler of the Santa Monica Elks Post 906.

Memorial Day is about remembering, Pickett said, asking the audience to “remember the Alamo, remember Pearl (Harbor) and remember 9/11.”

Honored in this year’s ceremony was the family of former Santa Monica Police Officer Ricardo A. Crocker, who died in action during his second tour of duty in Iraq on May 26, 2005\. Crocker was serving as a major in the Marines at the time of his death.

State Assemblywoman Julia Brownley presented a framed letter to Crocker’s mother, Jeanette, and sister, Maria, signed on behalf of the state of California and the 41st District. “Our hearts and our arms will embrace Rick today and forever,” Brownley said.

Crocker served in the Santa Monica Police Department for 10 years. The news of his death was painful, but the police department has finally moved on from Crocker’s passing, said Capt. Mark Smiley as he presented flowers to Crocker’s family.

“We lost a great warrior in Iraq,” he said. The keynote speaker this year was 1st Lt. Colin Browning of the U.S. Marine Corps. The Minnesota native has served in two tours of duty in Iraq as a rifle platoon commander and an Iraqi army training officer.

Browning spoke of the feeling of pride he had in attending his younger brother’s commissioning ceremony at West Point on Saturday.

“I don’t know how I feel about having a brother in the Army,” he said, drawing a laughter from the audience.

Browning’s voice cracked at times as he spoke emotionally about the fellow members of his troop who never made it back home — a platoon sergeant and a lance corporal, among others. He relayed to the audience the importance of remembering that their loss was not in vain. Each one of those soldiers had a family and came to Iraq with a purpose, he said.

“Today is not about remembering the sorrow, but rather the greatness of the individual,” Browning said.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 29, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/052907.pdf?ref=smdp.com)