The 2024 Sonoma Memorial Day celebration continues its longstanding tradition of solemn remembrance. The event will begin with pipers and bands, followed by a festive All-American Picnic, honoring a tradition that has brought the community together for decades.

This year's keynote speaker is the esteemed Captain Brett Crozier, a retired United States Navy officer, known for his bold decision to prioritize the health of his 5,000 Sailors over his career during a 2020 COVID-19 outbreak aboard his aircraft carrier.

Raised in Santa Rosa, California, Brett graduated from the United States Naval Academy and served a distinguished thirty-year career in the Navy. His service included flying dozens of combat missions over Iraq and holding many senior leadership positions. He was the Commanding Officer of an F/A-18 strike fighter squadron, the command ship USS Blue Ridge, and the nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt. Since retiring in 2022, he has continued to serve as a nonprofit advisor focused on Veteran and Active Duty issues, and as an executive with a financial software startup in the Bay Area. He also authored Surf When You Can, published by Atria/Simon & Schuster in 2023. When not focused on nonprofit issues or the start-up world, you can generally find Brett and his family surfing, or skydiving when the waves are small.

A native of Sonoma County, Brett cherishes the memories of past Memorial Day events and is enthusiastic about being part of this year’s Memorial Day observance.