The Valley Chronicle - Seniors go all out for Memorial Dayng

Country Lake park residents hold 19th straight celebration

[caption id="attachment_11319" align="aligncenter" width="576"] Contributed photo
Raising the flag on Memorial day.[/caption] ■ By Dennis Fletcher / Contributed Memorial Day is a favorite time for residents of Country Lake Manufactured Home Community in San Jacinto. Residents gather around their lake for several important and traditional festivities including changing of the colors and the annual rubber duck race. The morning started with the changing of the colors by the West Valley High School’s ROTC, commanded by CWO Walton. Ron Ernst, president of the men’s club at Country Lake, narrated the ceremony and gave a detailed explanation for those in attendance of each step of the folding of the American flag. “We displayed 67 American flags tagged with the military member’s name and service branch on the lawn below the flag-raising ceremony,” Ernst said. They represented both living and deceased members of families in the U.S. armed forces known by park residents, with funds raised from sale of the flags going to the National Guard. Residents then moved to the rapidly moving brook that flows into the lake where the annual rubber duck races have been staged for the last five years. Monetary prizes went to buyers of the 100 ducks entered into five different heats. Following the rubber duck race, a barbecue was held on the lawn by the lake for the all of those in attendance. Hamburgers were prepared by Mike Olin, president of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) at Country Lake, and sponsor of the Memorial Day BBQ. Proceeds from the BBQ went to maintain and upgrade fire fighting equipment that belong to the CERT program at Country Lake Manufactured Home Community, a senior-resident park located at 21100 State St. in San Jacinto.