Phil Waterford asked for a moment of silence.

One had expected to hear just the fluttering of flags as a hush fell over the thousands in attendance at Sunday’s Memorial Day Weekend ceremonies in the Woodward Park storm retention basin.

Instead you could hear the joyful din of youngsters in the distance as they scrambled over playground equipment, played football, and generally do what kids do.

“Do you hear the kids playing?” Waterford, who served as master of ceremonies asked. “Please don’t forget the reason we are here.”

The sacrifices that countless thousands have made through the years by giving their lives so others – including those yet to be born – could be free was a reoccurring theme of various speeches Sunday as well as chatter between those in attendance.

Earlier Derek McGinnis, a Navy corpsman for 11 years who suffered a traumatic brain trauma and had a leg amputated above the knee when an explosive device landed in his ambulance and exploded in Iraq during November 2004, shared his story with those in attendance. He told how Memorial Day 2005 was a pivotal point in his recovery.

He recalled how he angrily rolled his wheelchair across the path of colors that were being presented to honor those who had died serving their country. Afterwards, it hit him hard. He was being selfish and self absorbed and was turning his back on every military tradition that he had valued.

“What have I become?” he said he asked himself.

McGinnis said he was ashamed at what he had done and realized he could never adequately apologized to the men and women who have died serving the country that were represented by the colors he disrespected that day.

Several months later he had the privilege of placing 100 flags on a section of Arlington National Cemetery. He remembered looking at their names when it hit him.

“Who were they?” he asked himself. “What prompted them to be willing to sacrifice everything for me – for me?”

He vowed to repay the debt owed to the hundreds of thousands of American who gave their lives over the centuries from the Revolutionary Way to the Global War on Terror by being the best he could be by using his abilities to the best he could to “make them proud.”

His commitment was reaffirmed shortly afterward when he was running a 10K in connection with the Marines Marathon.

The finish line is at the base of the Iwo Jima monument. He recalled as he was tiring looking up and being in awe of the sacrifices made two generations before in one of the bloodiest conflicts of World War II credited with turning the tide for the Allies in the Pacific Theatre.

It prompted him to finish as strong as he could and to never forget the sacrifices others had made wearing the uniform.

“To this day, I still regret what I did when I rolled in front of the colors,” he said. “I can never get back that moment to show my proper respect.”

Today, McGinnis serves veterans as a readjustment counselor at the Modesto Vet Center. He also serves as an advocate for military and veterans initiatives through the American Pain Foundation.

McGinnis is also a competitive athlete participating in numerous triathlons and running races each year as a member of Team Semper Fi.

He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in social work at California State University, Stanislaus.

Part of the official ceremonies was the presentation of Gold Star banners to three area families who lost sons this past year in the Global War on Terror. The fallen are Army Sgt. Raul Moncada of Madera who was killed April 13, 2009; Navy Medical Corpsman James Ray Layton of Riverbank who was killed Sept. 8, 2009; and Spc. Kyle A. Coumas of Lockeford who was killed Oct. 21, 2009.

Air Force Major David Gore – who helps oversee the high-altitude unmanned reconnaissance of Iraq and Afghanistan from Beale Air Force Base northeast of Sacramento that provides critical intelligence to troops on the ground – encourages people to never forget sacrifices made on their behalf often by complete strangers.

“We should never forget the reason we have the freedom that we have,” Gore said. “Let’s (celebrate Memorial Day) 365 days a year.”

Congressman Jerry McNerney presented the Fleet Marine Force Medal to Manteca resident Christopher Braley.

Braley was deployed to Iraq in September 2007. As a Navy medic he was traveling with Marines on a patrol when gunfire broke out and an explosive detonated, sending shrapnel into his right eye and brain. Braley spent several months at the National Naval Center in Bethesda.It was there that President Bush presented him with a Purple Heart.

Since Braley has been working at Camp Pendleton he received the “Fleet Marine Force” pin. The Fleet Marine Warfare Insignia is a military badge of US Navy, which is issued to those naval personal who are trained and qualified to perform duited in support of the US Marine Corps. It is the most coveted warfare insignia within the Corpsman community.

His name was also placed on a Wall of Honor in the Naval Hospital. It is on a plaque honoring wounded warriors in the hospital. His name was the 12th placed there.

World War II veteran Earl Watson was recognized as the last survivor of the 1,800-member strong Black regiment that fought valiantly in the Battle of the Bulge.

Watson was clearly moved by the ongoing Manteca tributes to those who have served America as he called Manteca “the most patriotic community in America.”

The backdrop for the weekend activities and ceremonies that included everything from a USO Show, fun run, and display of military vehicles was the 5,800 white crosses representing those who have fallen so far in the Global War on Terror.