Every Memorial Day for the past 150 years, people have gathered across El Cerrito, Oakland, Berkeley, and other places in the Bay Area in solemn remembrance of those who have died serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. The whole team here at Sunset View Cemetery & Mortuary respect and honor these men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice to defend our freedom and safety.

The numbers are staggering, with well over one million Unites States military personnel giving their lives in true acts of heroism and courage. Dating back to the 1860s, Memorial Day stemmed from a desire to honor those who died in the Civil War. It’s estimated that more than 600,000 soldiers died from combat, starvation, accidents, and disease during that 4-year span. After WWI, the holiday broadened to honor all Americans who died fighting in any war.

Memorial Day is officially celebrated on the last Monday of May, with many remembering our fallen warriors by attending memorial ceremonies, lending a helping hand to our living veterans, and paying their respects at cemeteries nationwide. Whether or not you have a personal connection to someone who lost his or her life in military service, we encourage you to honor our veterans with a visit to Sunset View.  Our beautiful cemetery is like none other, with its panoramic views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the San Francisco Bay, and the downtown San Francisco skyline.

Sunset View was founded back in 1908 as a small, country cemetery in the Berkeley Hills. Since then, we have become the final resting place for generations of families – including military families. Our experienced team is honored to help families of veterans navigate the paperwork needed to make sure all appropriate honors and benefits are received.

We can also help arrange for burial in national cemeteries, coordinate services with military honors from all military branches, present a U.S. burial flag, and more. As a small way to say thank you for a veteran’s service, we wave the marker setting fee within our own cemetery for all military headstones.

Walking alongside the families of veterans is one small way our team extends its gratitude. This Memorial Day, we encourage you to take time out of your day to reflect on the sacrifices military men and woman have made and continue to make every day.

If you would like more information on Sunset View or the services we offer for veterans and their families, please contact us.