Memorial Day 2025

Jessica Smithers slider, Uncategorized

Memorial Day is an American holiday, observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings, and participating in parades. Unofficially, it marks the beginning of the summer season.

We always appreciate volunteers to aid in planning, set up, and clean up. Please contact jess@daviscemetery.org if you would like to help.

This year’s Memorial Day Program is brought to you by the Davis Cemetery District and the Davis Odd Fellows. The Golden State Brass will perform a musical prelude at 9:30 am with the formal program beginning at 10:00 am. Musical performances by Carley Neill-Vann, The Davis Madrigals, and the Davis Youth Choir.

2025 Event Details: 

Monday, May 26th

9:30 am Musical prelude by the Golden State Brass

10:00 am Formal program begins 

Keynote Speaker

Artemis Riley, Army Veteran and Davis Cemetery District Groundskeeper

Speaker Bio

In 2003 I enlisted in the Army through their Delayed Entry Program (DEP) so that I could finish High School and graduate with a full diploma. I shipped out to Fort Jackson, South Carolina for basic training in April of 2004. Upon completion of my 10 weeks in Fort Jackson I was transferred to Fort Mead, Maryland for my Advanced Individual Training. My specific MOS was 45K (Electronic Armament Repair), the training lasted 16 weeks. My primary specialty would be diagnosing, troubleshooting, and repair of weapons systems on armored vehicles, mostly Abrahms and Bradleys, with the occasional Howitzer thrown in. I would also be trained to work small arms repair (45B) and fire system repair (45G). By the time I had arrived at my first active-duty station in Germany I had already been given 2 promotions taking me from an E-1 to an E-3 and then received my last promotion to E-4 after my first year in Germany. I spent just over 2 years stationed around Germany, While I was there, I helped to close down and return 2 of our bases to the German Government. In 2007 I was given an honorable medical discharge.
During my time in the Army, I volunteered for multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan but was never picked up on account of my MOS being a non-combat essential role and I was needed in their rear to help with equipment readiness. I did however get a temporary station with the German Army to train with them over a 3-week period, during which I earned both their PT patch and Weapons Certification (Schutzenschneer). Not long after that I was given orders to be deployed on a NATO training mission taking place in England involving 13 other countries. During the NATO deployment I worked closely with the Welsh Guard tank unit, Scottish BlackWatch (before being merged with the Royal Regiment of Scotland), and the 2nd Infantry Regiment French Foreign Legion. I earned multiple foreign awards during that training period. Before my exit from the Army, I earned an Army Commendation Medal and 2 Army Achievement Medals.

Full Program Coming soon!