"I have been doing it in the memory of my husband and other veterans for the last 10 years," she said.

Francis will be one of several hundred people taking part in a ceremony that the Saratoga Foothill Club coordinates on Memorial Day in downtown Saratoga.

Her late husband, Gus C. Francis, served in World War II and was a much-decorated veteran. He was a prisoner of war for 42 months in the Philippines. After the war, he was representative for the NATO countries to Greece and was based in Athens for many years.

The Memorial Day ceremony will start at the Memorial Arch at Blaney Plaza at 9:30 a.m. where Ellen Pradi, president of the Foothill Club, will make a presentation, followed by the flag raising by the Saratoga Girl Scouts Unit 18.

A parade will then go to Madronia Cemetery where the service begins at 10 a.m.

The Cupertino Symphonic Band will play the opening musical selections this year, followed by the presentation of colors and the Pledge of Allegiance by Boy Scout Troop 535.

"I believe it is one of the oldest Boy Scout troops in Saratoga. Andy Colb, one of the scouts in the troop, is the grandson of the first mayor of Saratoga," said Ann Monroe, co-chairwoman of the Saratoga Foothill Club.

Memorial boughs will be placed on 800 veterans' graves, after which guest speaker Lt. Col. Charles Ingalls will address the gathering. Ingalls is the commander of the 129th Rescue Squadron of the Air National Guard from Moffett Field Federal Airfield.

The Saratoga High School a cappella choir will also perform, under the direction of Jim Yowell.

"It is a longtime hometown American tradition," Monroe said. "Lots of people walk together from their neighborhood to attend the event. I have lived in Saratoga for 30 years and I have been part of event as long as I have been here, even before becoming active in the Foothill Club."