SALUTING OUR VETS AS WAR LOOMS, AMERICANS ARE GRATEFUL.Byline: James Nash, Grace Lee and Susan Abram Staff Writers With the threat of war looming in Iraq, people across Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, paused Monday to commemorate war veterans both living and dead. This year's Veterans Day ceremonies marked two anniversaries: the 60th anniversary of the first successful U.S. offensive in World War II, the liberation of the South Pacific island of Guadalcanal; and the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Vietnam Veterans Memorial, war memorial in Washington, D.C., built 1982. Designed by the American sculptor and architect Maya Ying Lin, it is a sloping, V-shaped, 493-ft (150-m) wall of highly polished black granite that descends 10 feet (3. Wall in Washington, D.C. At Forest Lawn Forest Lawn is the name of a number of different places:
Davis, a Vietnam veteran This article is about veterans of the Vietnam War. For the French psychedelic musical group, see Vietnam Veterans. Vietnam veteran is a phrase used to describe someone who served in the armed forces of participating countries during the Vietnam War. , said his administration is committed to helping veterans find jobs and, in the case of the state's estimated 50,000 homeless veterans, places to live. ``Today, we stand on the shoulders of those veterans and walk in their footprints,'' Davis said. Hundreds of people also took part in Veterans Day services in Burbank, Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. and the city of San Fernando San Fernando, city, Argentina San Fernando (săn fərnăn`dō), city (1991 pop. 144,761), Buenos Aires prov., E Argentina. It is a district administrative center in the Greater Buenos Aires area. . A common theme was the continuing sacrifice of veterans in an era of elusive, shadowy enemies who strike at civilian targets as well as military ones. During an annual Veterans Day ceremony in Burbank's McCambridge Park, retired Dr. Ralph Wendell Coffelt received seven encased en·case tr.v. en·cased, en·cas·ing, en·cas·es To enclose in or as if in a case. en·case  ment n. medals for his service as an Army medical doctor during World War II. More than 200 people sat or stood in front of the park's War Memorial for the ceremony, which included a rifle salute and patriotic music performed by the Burbank Community Band. Letters of thanks, from soldiers in Afghanistan, and Burbank schoolchildren schoolchildren school npl → écoliers mpl; (at secondary school) → collégiens mpl; lycéens mpl schoolchildren school who sent care packages, were on display, as well as pages of laminated articles and notes by Burbank veterans. With war on Iraq a possibility, Mayor David Laurell and other dignitaries urged prayers for peace. They asked that the community remember the lives of those chosen to fight in America's wars, both past and present. ``While we can never truly repay them, we can honor them and respect them,'' Laurell said. ``Let us commit to never leaving an active member of the service or their family far from our thoughts and prayers.'' In Simi Valley, Vietnam veteran Forrest Frields told an audience at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Center for Public Affairs that the families of soldiers also deserve recognition. ``The wives, families and children of those who went to war stood next to us, shoulder to shoulder,'' said Frields of Thousand Oaks, who served in the 1st Air Calvary Division and the 101st Airborne Division. ``They gave us the strength and energy to do what had to be done in order to come home.'' Frields said that, with the country's preparation for a possible war in Iraq, the next year would see new veterans. ``God willing, they will be small in number. ... May we give them the support they deserve and need,'' he said. At the Forest Lawn Memorial Park ceremony, mortuary officials announced that they would begin building a pathway with 11 exhibits honoring veterans next year. The first exhibit will depict a soldier being medically evacuated by helicopter as enemy troops fire on the aircraft. Forest Lawn representatives also said they were compiling a video library of interviews with the veterans of several wars. While looking back at the Korean War Korean War, conflict between Communist and non-Communist forces in Korea from June 25, 1950, to July 27, 1953. At the end of World War II, Korea was divided at the 38th parallel into Soviet (North Korean) and U.S. (South Korean) zones of occupation. , Vietnam War Vietnam War, conflict in Southeast Asia, primarily fought in South Vietnam between government forces aided by the United States and guerrilla forces aided by North Vietnam. and the Guadalcanal campaign and other World War II battles, several people who spoke at Forest Lawn said the future will demand more sacrifices from men and women in uniform. While none of the speakers specifically mentioned Iraq, they pointed to dangers still lurking in corners of the world. Tony Provenzano, who fought for the U.S. Army at Guadalcanal and now lives in North Hollywood, said the country is ready for whatever challenge comes its way. ``If they need me, I'll go back and fight,'' he said. CAPTION(S): 6 photos Photo: (1 -- color) Participants stand during the placement of the wreath ceremony at Veterans Day events at Forest Lawn in Hollywood Hills on Monday. David Sprague/Staff Photographer (2 -- 3 -- color) Capt. Bill Gardner, left, District 7 Color Guard of Simi Valley, salutes during the Rancho Tapo Community Park Veterans Plaza dedication Monday. Dr. Ralph Wendell Coffelt, right, receives his medals from Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Pasadena, during a ceremony at McCambridge Park in Burbank. Charlotte Schmid-Maybach/Staff Photographer John McCoy/Staff Photographer (4 -- 6) Members of the New Directions Vietnam Veterans Chorus, left, perform at Forest Lawn on Monday. Celebration USA's Catch the Spirit Singers, bottom left, perform a military medley at Forest Lawn, dressed in uniforms of the armed forces. Carlos Guardado, 11, below, of Boy Scout Troop 649 of Simi Valley, shows his colors at the Rancho Tapo ceremonies. David Sprague/Staff Photographer Charlotte Schmid-Maybach/Staff Photographer |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion