Fort Sam Houston cancels Memorial Day event as storms drench San Antonio Rainfall has threatened the solemn ceremony over the past few years, but this is the first time Fort Sam has had to scrub it.

Janie Ramos touches her father's headstone after the Memorial Day ceremony Monday May 25, 2015 at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Her father, Joe J. Ramos, served in the Army during World War II. Janie Ramos touches her father's headstone after the Memorial Day ceremony Monday May 25, 2015 at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Her father, Joe J. Ramos, served in the Army during World War II. Photo: John Davenport, Staff / San Antonio Express-News Photo: John Davenport, Staff / San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 12 Caption Close Fort Sam Houston cancels Memorial Day event as storms drench San Antonio 1 / 12 Back to Gallery

Fort Sam Houston said Monday that it had canceled its annual ceremony marking Memorial Day, saying heavy storms that broke earlier in the morning had left its grounds too saturated to hold the event safely.

The event was to start with a musical prelude at 9 a.m. in the cemetery's assembly area, and continue with the formal ceremony and a keynote speaker at 9:30.

Typically, Fort Sam enjoys sunny skies on Memorial Day, but the last several years have been the exception to the rule.

"This is the first year we've ended up getting rained out," said Bob Winkler, the cemetery's grounds maintenance foreman. "But it's rained on our ceremonies for the last four years in a row.

"It's been miserable, and the potential for all the flooding, especially as the rain Friday night and early Saturday morning dropped seven to nine inches, and now all of our creeks are flooding again, we just didn't want to take that chance," he added.

Another event featuring Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and retired Army Col. Bruce Candall later in the day appeared to still be on. Both men are to appear for a send-off of 100 Texans who will be headed to U.S. military academies later this summer. That ceremony, which will feature Crandall as the keynote speaker, is to start at 1:30 p.m. at Freeman Expo Hall.

About 450 people are expected to attend, including more than 100 academy-bound students and their families, as well as local elected officials, community leaders, and representatives from local veterans' organizations. Fort Sam Houston's 323d Army Band also will be on hand.

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