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Honoring those who gave all for their country as well as thanking all who serve was the theme of the annual Veterans Day Observance staged by Mercer-Prieto VFW Post 2043 and Korean War Veterans Ventura County Chapter #56. |
Veterans Day Observance honors those who serve
November 16, 2011
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Honoring those who gave all for their country as well as thanking all who serve was the theme of the annual Veterans Day Observance staged by Mercer-Prieto VFW Post 2043 and Korean War Veterans Ventura County Chapter #56. Friday’s observance featured a keynote address by Chief Deanna M. Robinson, a decorated Seabee who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and is being deployed to Africa.
Friday’s Veterans Day Observance this year fell on 11-11-11 and was held coincide with the 11th hour that World War I was officially declared ended. It was held at Veterans Memorial Park, where the names of all Santa Paulans who lost their lives in war - ranging from World War I to Vietnam - are listed on the monument.
David Garcia of Santa Paula was again in charge of the Combined Rifle Squad. Wearing a KWV jacket, Garcia said he also belongs to the VFW and has attended Veterans Day observances “for a long, long time.... I’ve lived in Santa Paula for 80 years,” and had spent the day before the event at Barbara Webster Elementary School talking to students about the wars.
Garcia got a particular kick out of the Barbara Webster School visit, as, “I’m an alumnus! The VFW gives presentations at all the schools and we can talk all we want, but the kids really get the a big charge out of the rifle squad!”
VFW Post Commander Jerry Olivas welcomed the large crowd and thanked those that make the annual presentation possible, including VFW Adjutant/Quartermaster Richard Ruiz, who organizes and coordinates the observance, KWV Post Commander David Lopez, and Eddie Layton of the 101st Airborne. Mayor Fred Robinson and Councilmen Rick Cook and Bob Gonzales were also in attendance.
“But the most important aspect of Veterans Day is to thank veterans for their patriotism, love of country and willingness to serve,” even if it means making the ultimate sacrifice for their country, Olivas said. “To all those veterans in our audience today, thank you for your service.”
Chief Robinson, said Olivas, has spent more than half her 11 years in service overseas, and she “accepted this assignment to come and speak to us,” although she has an extremely demanding schedule.
“When I spoke to Jerry I asked him what I should talk about,” and Chief Robinson said she rejected his suggestion that she speak about herself. “I do like to talk about my family” that for many generations has served in various branches of the service, including in times of war when, Chief Robinson said, several lost their lives.
The word “’veteran’ defines the words that define them,” and since the Revolutionary War, Chief Robinson said, “each has given something, life or limb or personal experience,” for the love of country. And when each veteran serves, Chief Robinson said it could be compared to writing a check to America that can be payable in many ways including with the veteran’s life.
Quartermaster Ruiz called the names of those Santa Paulans lost in action, and Rey Frutos called out “Here!” for each of them, eight from World War I, 46 lost in World War II, 17 in the Korean War and 13 lost in Vietnam. Commander Olivas and Korean War Veterans Ventura County Chapter President David Lopez placed wreaths at the park’s Veterans and Korean War memorials.
Also taking part in the ceremony was Post 2043 Chaplain Tim Santana, who offered the invocation; the Santa Paula High School Band, led by director Douglas Kadansky; the Isbell Middle School Condor Chorus, directed by Donna Nelson; and the American Heritage Girls/St. Sebastian School led by Melissa Wodzinki.
Nelson told the crowd the chorus would dedicate the song “’The Power of One’ to all veterans because you made a difference to each of us.” Later, when the SPHS Band struck up the “Marines’ Hymn” with its famous “From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli,” a gray-haired former Marine stood at attention and saluted throughout the song.
“Taps” played by bugler Rudy Arellano followed the Rifle Squad Salute by VFW and KWV members. Soroptimist International of Santa Paula, led by President Barbara Kroon, again provided a reception with refreshments following the ceremony.
