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A Veteran’s Day ceremony was held Monday morning at Veteran’s Park. The ceremony was lead by the Mercer-Prieto Post 2043 and the Korean War Veterans Chapter 56. Above, Rey Frutos (back) stands at parade-rest while John Rodriquez (holding American Flag) and Roger Harvey (holding POW/MIA Flag) stand by the Korean War Memorial at Veterans Park. |
Veterans Day Observance held at Veterans Memorial Park
November 14, 2012
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
New rules from Caltrans reportedly caused the annual Veterans Day observance to be moved from East Ventura Street, where each year guests have faced the names of generations of Santa Paulans lost in war.
Instead, the observance was held inside Veterans Memorial Park on the opposite side of the Mercer-Prieto VFW Post 2043-sponsored monument due to a required $300 permit fee to close the street adjacent to 10th Street/Santa Paula-Ojai Road, which is the state designated Highway 150.
The veterans from Mercer-Prieto VFW Post 2043 and Korean War Veterans Ventura County Chapter #56 carried on with their program honoring all who have served, and especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice. The Santa Paula High School Band under the direction of Jerry Cruz and the Isbell Middle School Condor Chorus led by Donna Nelson provided a patriotic concert leading up to the observance.
VFW Post Commander Gerald Olivas welcomed the large crowd and noted the event is to honor “every man and woman who has proudly worn the uniform,” defending the nation. “Today we honor the countless sacrifices veterans have made... we owe them so much,” and still owe thanks and gratitude to those thousands who are deployed throughout the world.
The VFW is dedicated to assisting families of those serving overseas and, Olivas said, all Americans “will forever be grateful to all” who answer the call of duty. “Today and every day we thank them for their service.”
Assemblyman Das Williams, described by Olivas as a “strong, strong advocate for veterans,” spoke of his own family’s experience with the military and war. His grandfather served in the Dutch Navy during World War II, and Williams not only learned about patriotism and service to one’s county from his grandfather, who was a POW, but “I also learned a lot about forgiveness from him.”
Proactive remembrance must be embraced for all veterans, whether for those still serving and needing to retain stateside benefits and homeownership, or those who “die in the street every year from alcohol abuse and exposure” due to a lack of care. With the shrinking military, Williams said fewer Americans than ever now know someone in the military, and such lack of knowledge is a “danger to society,” becoming unaware of duty and sacrifice and subsequently less aware of the veterans’ challenges when they return home.
Three VFW Post veterans were also featured speakers: Tim Santana, Delton Lee Johnson and Rey Frutos.
Post Chaplain Santana, who had earlier offered the invocation, said, “I’ve lived in the great city of Santa Paula for 30 years.” Santana served 1944-1946 in the Army during World War II, and said he was trained for the horse cavalry - “Yes, that’s what they did!” he noted - and served in Manila. When the war ended Santana, a member of the 8th Regiment 1st Division, was transferred to Japan where he served until being discharged.
Johnson was a Navy Corpsman during the Korean War, a conflict that lasted three years and killed more than 54,000 Americans and left about 8,000 MIA. Vietnam, he noted, lasted more than a decade and American deaths were about 57,000. Johnson, who specialized in physical therapy, said he served mostly on troop ships, and “did my best to save lives; that was my job.”
“I call this beautiful city of Santa Paula the center of the universe,” said Rey Frutos, but he had to leave it behind right after he graduated from high school and received his “congratulatory telegram” from the Army draft board. Frutos served in Vietnam in the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment tank corps, rising through the ranks to Blackhorse Tank Commander. He said he only remembers “bits and pieces” of his duty, except for the interactions with village children whose trust was important to obtain.
While working for the Santa Paula Elementary School District, Frutos emotionally relayed how a Vietnamese counselor said he owed “thanks to Americans... they are the ones who gave us an opportunity and a life.” He added the families of those that serve should also be honored on Veterans Day, and Frutos presented bouquets of flowers to his mother Consuelo and wife Carmen.
Olivas and KWVA-VC56 Commander David Lopez placed wreaths at the Veterans and Korean War Veterans memorials. VFW Quartermaster Adjutant Richard Ruiz then read the names of those Santa Paulans killed in World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
“Ninety-nine percent of our war dead,” he noted, “went through the Santa Paula school system, elementary and high school.” When the Veterans Memorial was dedicated in 1987, Ruiz said the VFW made all whose names appear honorary members of Post 2043.
Ruiz urged that after the ceremony the crowd go around to the side of the monument facing the street to see the listing of those who made the ultimate sacrifice, as “It will give you chills to read the names.” In the silence following the Rifle Salute, “Taps” played by trumpeter Rudy Arellano signaled the end of the observance.
Those attending the reception hosted by Soroptimist International of Santa Paula and its President Heidi Juarez were able to enjoy light refreshments as well as additional musical entertainment.
