MILITARY

Cesar Chavez to get graveside military honors at California memorial 22 years after his death

Associated Press
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FILE - Cesar Chavez, civil rights advocate and United Farm Workers founder, is shown in this June 29, 1989 file photo. On Thursday April 23, 2015, the 22nd anniversary of his death, Chavez will get full graveside honors from the U.S. Navy at his memorial in California. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this file photo taken Tuesday Oct, 2, 2012, is the grave site where the Chicano farmworker leader Cesar Chavez is buried in the memorial garden in Keene, Calif. On Thursday, April 23, 2015 the 22nd anniversary of his death, Chavez will get full graveside honors from the U.S. Navy at his memorial in California. (AP Photo/Gosia Wozniacka, File) (The Associated Press)

Civil rights and labor leader Cesar Chavez is going to be honored for a different kind of service.

On Thursday, the 22nd anniversary of his death, Chavez will get full graveside honors from the U.S. Navy at his California memorial.

The idea for the ceremony came from a current Navy sailor who learned Chavez did not receive the honors at the time of his death, according to the Cesar Chavez Foundation.

The foundation is hosting the ceremony, along with the National Park Service, which operates Chavez's memorial.

Current sailors, veterans and Chavez relatives are expected to attend the formal ceremony that will include a Navy bugler playing "Taps," a rifle salute and a folding of a U.S. flag that will be presented to Chavez's widow, Helen.