by Breeanna Jent on 2013-11-14
The future Veterans Wall of Freedom in Grand Terrace's Pico Park was the home site of this year's Veterans Day remembrance ceremony, held at 11 a.m. Monday morning, Nov. 11 - Veteran's Day.
Welcomed at the event were residents, veterans, Veterans Wall of Freedom committee members, and local leaders including Mayor Walt Stanckiewitz, Council Member and Foundation of Grand Terrace President Darcy McNaboe, and Council members Sylvia Robles and Jackie Mitchell. The Grand Terrace Boy Scouts Troop 40 and San Bernardino Valley Young Marines performed several short ceremonies, including the presentation of the colors, the flying of the colors, leading the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance and the laying of the wreath.
A member of the American Legion Post 650 gave an invocation and Rachel Penny sang the National Anthem.
The Veterans Wall of Freedom Committee hosted the event at the future site of the Veterans memorial, six block letters that spell out the word "Freedom," with a flagpole - already erected at the site thanks to the efforts of Eagle Scout Austin Dietrich, who just last year dedicated the flagpole during the 2012 Veterans Day ceremony - flying the American flag as the centerpiece. The memorial is also interspersed with the flags of each of the six military branches: the Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corps and Navy, and the POW*MIA flag.
The committee is a subcommittee of the nonprofit Foundation of Grand Terrace, dedicated to enriching the lives of Grand Terrace residents.
Foundation president and City Council Member Darcy McNaboe welcomed guests to the ceremony that morning. She said, "We operate in the city of Grand Terrace to enhance the beauty and the life of those that live in Grand Terrace. To me, this is one example of a way that we can demonstrate that, by honoring those who have given us the opportunity to congregate in such a way today."
Guest speakers at the ceremony included Blue Ribbon Mothers organization representative Valerie Holmes and Grand Terrace City Mayor Walt Stanckiewitz.
Valerie Holmes is the mother of a son, Tyler, who is currently serving in the Army in Afghanistan, and whose son-in-law is a member of the seventh group special forces. Recently returning from Afghanistan, Holmes's son-in-law is stationed in Florida. She has been a member of Blue Star Mothers for one year.
She explained that families with family members serving in the military receive blue stars, which they display in the window during times of war or hostility. Gold Stars are shown to remember military members who have died in combat or while serving in the military.
Founded and written into Congressional Record in February, 1942, Blue Star Mothers welcomes mothers and fathers of currently serving military personnel, and also welcomes associates - or grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles or any other person who is related to a military service man or woman who wants to volunteer to bring these soldiers care packages and otherwise support active duty personnel.
This year, the group sent out 1,017 care packages to overseas military members, which equates to somewhere around $15,000, approximately, Holmes explained. The group also volunteers with the Veterans Administration locally in Loma Linda.
She said, "We educate the public on the needs of our returning soldiers. We educate the public on PTSD. PTSD is finally becoming one of those things people don't have to be ashamed of. In the past, those of you soldiers that are out here know that was something you just didn't talk about, but they've found that PTSD is not just soldiers. It's people: first responders, and people who have been involved in something violent. PTSD is something that is getting taken care of now, and our soldiers are being taken care of."
PTSD is an acronym for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, characteristic of those who have gone through catastrophic experiences.
Holmes said the group has helped her understand how to interact with soldiers returning from war. She said the group of mothers helped her when her son came back for a family visit, saying that because of the group, she knew "what questions to ask and what questions not to ask," she said. "It's a very great support group. Personally, the best decision I ever made was to join this organization."
Mayor Stanckiewitz was the second guest speaker of the morning, and he thanked veterans for their service.
A veteran himself, he said he looked up to his father, a colonel in the U.S. Army, who often gave speeches at events such as Monday's Veterans Day ceremony. "He would speak and I was so proud of him," said Stanckiewitz, admitting it had been a desire of his to speak at an event such as this. "I was very, very honored when (Committee Chairman Bob Lavin) asked me to speak," he said. "I salute all my brothers and sisters who have served this country and sacrificed to preserve our freedom. I pay special tribute to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice to this country. Please join me in pledging that we will never forget their service and sacrifices to their country."
The ceremony ended with the laying of the wreath, and veterans in attendance were asked to stand. Community members took the time to thank the veterans in attendance before leaving the park, where the American and POW*MIA flags flew high.
[END]
Veterans Wall of Freedom Memorial
Date: Monday, November 11, 2013
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Google Map
Event Location: Pico Park
Address: 21950 Pico St. Grand Terrace CA 92313
Description: Come join us in a Veterans Day observance. Honor those who have or are protecting our nation.
NOTES: Don Larkin is on the committee and is one of the founders; Bob Lavin is the chair of the committee.
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Quotes:
Darcy McNaboe:
Foundation of Grand Terrace: "Our veterans organization, who has pulled together this beautiful ceremony this morning, is a committee of our Foundation of Grand Terrace. We're a non profit 501C(3) and we operate in the city of Grand Terrace to enhance the beauty and the life of those that live in Grand Terrace. And to me, this is one example of a way that we can demonstrate that by honoring those who have given us the opportunity to congregate in such a way today."
Bob Lavin:
"As we all know, today is Veterans Day. Today, we honor all veterans, both living and dead. Veterans Day is largely intended to thank the living veterans for their dedicated and loyal service to our country. November 11 of each year is the day each year we ensure that veterans know we deeply appreciate the sacrifices they have made to keep this country free. With that, at this time I'm going to ask for the posting of the colors."
National Anthem sung by Rachel Penny.
Lance Corporal Alexander Perucho leads in pledge.
American Legion 650 Gabriel ???
Seven on the committee.
Blue Star Mother Valerie Holmes:
Thank you Bob, for inviting me. I know we already have a blue and a gold star on the front. I'm gonna tell you a little bit about it and explain to you why I have two. Service flags were designed in 1917 by a U.S. Army Captain who had two sons in the military. He wanted to show the world that he was very proud of his two soldiers. It was quickly adopted by the public and then the government officials read it into the Congressional Record Sept. 24 1917. A blue star is for a family member currently serving in the military at a time of war or hostilities when U.S. Armed Forces are involved. We have two. Our son, Tyler, is now currently serving in the U.S. Army in Afghanistan, and our son-in-law is part of seventh group special forces. He just returned from Afghanistan and he is stationed in Florida. These are displayed in the window during current times of war, so when people walk by, they know that you have soldiers serving in the military."
"Gold stars represent family members who have died in the military during combat or while they are currently serving in the military. Those came about when they used to take the Blue Stars and they would superimpose, they would put a gold star over the blue star, showing that these soldiers had passed away."
"Blue Star Mothers is a group that I belong to. They were founded and written into Congressional Record February , 1942. They had looked for moms that were looking to work for their soldiers while they were in the military. It was read into Congressional Service Feb. 6 of 1942, and in June 1960, we were chartered by the Congress, so we are Congressionally run organization.
Blue Star Mothers volunteered in WWII in hospitals, train stations, care packages, and were part of Homeland Security. 'Cause you know, nothing's worse than upsetting the mom of a military soldier, let me tell you. I belong to a group called Blue Star Mothers and we're Chapter 30 out of Corona, but we are an Inland Empire-based Blue Star Mothers. Blue Star Mothers consists of moms and, my husband is a Blue Star Dad. We have associate members who are aunts, uncles, grandparents, basically anyone who wants to come be part of the Blue Stars. We welcome all soldiers. We support active duty personnel. We send out care packages. Nov. 2, we packed our final care packages to go out for this year and our group send out 1,017 care packages this last year. That support came from Sam's Club, we stand out front, pass out fliers, look for donations - community donations, personal companies who have helped donate to send out these care packages. Sending out 1,000 care packages is approximately $15,000 to send those out, so just putting that out there.
"We educate the public on the needs of our returning soldiers. We educate the public on PTSD. PTSD is finally becoming one of those things people don't have to be ashamed of. In the past, those of you soldiers that are out here know that was something you just didn't talk about, but they've found that PTSD is not just soldiers. It's people: first responders, people who have been involved in something violent. PTSD is something that is getting taken care of now, and our soldiers are being taken care of."
"We also do speaking engagements. We help at the VA Christmas party and we help with the Veterans Administration over in Loma Linda. We try to educate and support our mothers. I have to say that I've belonged to Blue Star Mothers for a year and when our son came home for his first at-home visit, he had already had some PTSD issues and if it hadn't been for these moms and the education that I have learned, I would've expected a lot more of him when he got home. Like, I wanted him to hang out with me all the time, and wanted to hang out with his dad all the time, but that wasn't what happened. He hung out a lot with his friends, he spent a lot of time with his sister, which I was very happy to have happen, but I knew things to look forward to. They gave us things to look forward for and how to handle... questions to ask and questions not to ask. This group is a great program, and if anyone of you know someone who has Blue Star Moms out there, who has kids in the military or are starting to join the military, I have some pamphlets over tehre I can give you to have them contact us and just be part of our group. It's a very great support group. Personally, the best decision I ever made was to join this organization."
"I want to thank all our veterans here, our veterans who have passed away. My dad was in the U.S. Army. And all of those out there who have served. Again, thank you Bob, for inviting me. God Bless America and happy Veterans Day."
Walt Stanckiewitz:
"You know, when I was a kid growing up, I used to watch my father do these presentations. He was a colonel in the United States Army and he would be invited to these types of functions and he would speak and I was so proud of him and I would think, 'God, someday. I wish I could do that.' Well, I spent my time in the military but I didn't stay long enough to get the rank that my dad was and they don't look for captains to speak, they look for colonels and generals, so I was very, very honored when Bob asked me to speak, because here's finally my chance to speak at a Veterans Day event. And I'll be brief. You can tell this is emotional to me. It's my honor to speak to you this morning. I salute all my brothers and sisters who have served this country and sacrificed to preserve our freedom. I pay special tribute to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice to this country. Please join me in pledging that we will never forget their service and sacrifices to their country. May God bless all who have served and keep those serving today safe, and thank you gentlemen out there, with your hats. Thank you for coming. This day is for you, and for me, and for all of us who served to protect this country."
"I want to talk a little bit about democracy. Vets fought to protect our freedom of this democratic republic. The right to vote is one of the cornerstones of this country. Last week we had an election held here in this fine city and the results saddened me, to think this could be the last time we could meet at this site to recognize our veterans. But, that's how the democratic process works and that's what the soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, Coast Guard do: is to give us that right to exercise our choice."
"Thank you again for having me this morning, and God Bless all of our veterans. Thank you, Bob."