Memorial Day ceremony in SLO County honors fallen military members with flyover
By David Middlecamp and
Stephanie Zappelli
American flags fluttered softly in the breeze at the Paso Robles District Cemetery on Monday, where more than 250 people gathered to honor fallen servicemembers at a Memorial Day Ceremony.
The audience was filled with people of all ages, from gray-haired veterans to the young scouts who led the flag salute.
The Cuesta College Chorus opened the ceremony with the national anthem, and the Estrella Warbirds flew over the cemetery. Col. Dan Dow, who is also the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney, gave a speech at the event.
“It’s meaningful to me specifically because I had a friend that I lost when I was overseas,” he said of the ceremony.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Paso Robles Post commander Leo Castillo wiped away tears as he reflected on a fellow veteran, Mike Mitchell, who died on April 4, 2004, in Baghdad, Iraq. Castillo named his son in memory of his fallen friend. About 250 people gathered at the Paso Robles District Cemetery on Memorial Day to honor the sacrifices of service members on May 26, 2025. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com
The pair served together in Iraq in 2003 and 2004. Mitchell was killed in action on April 4, 2004.
“He was about two months away from getting married, and he was only in his mid-twenties, so it was one of those things where life was robbed from him,” Castillo said.
Castillo named his son in memory of his friend.
“He volunteered to go on that mission, so he did that on his own accord — which is honestly the biggest sacrifice anyone can make for others,” Castillo said. “That means a lot to me, to this day, and means a lot to my children.”
See photos from the ceremony below:
Linda Akin visited the graves of family members at the Paso Robles District Cemetery on May 26, 2025, while attending a Memorial Day Ceremony there. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com
About 250 people gathered at the Paso Robles District Cemetery on Memorial Day to honor fallen service members May 26, 2025. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com
Vietnam Veteran and Paso Robles resident Rex Thornhill took a moment to walk among the flag-marked graves of veterans on May 26, 2025. About 250 people gathered at the Paso Robles District Cemetery on Memorial Day to honor the sacrifices of service members. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com
About 250 people gathered at the Paso Robles District Cemetery on Memorial Day, May 26, 2025, to honor the sacrifices of service members. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com
Col. Dan Dow, who is also the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney, was the guest speaker at the Paso Robles District Cemetery’s Memorial Day ceremony on May 26, 2025. David Middlecamp dmiddlecamp@thetribunenews.com
This story was originally published May 26, 2025 at 2:29 PM.
David Middlecamp is a photojournalist and third-generation Cal Poly graduate who has covered the Central Coast region since the 1980s. A career that began developing and printing black-and-white film now includes an FAA-certified drone pilot license. He also writes the history column “Photos from the Vault.”
Stephanie Zappelli is the environment and immigration reporter for The Tribune. Born and raised in San Diego, they graduated from Cal Poly with a journalism degree. When not writing, they enjoy playing guitar, reading and exploring the outdoors.
