Seen Around Town
by Lynda Millner
Veterans Day The Santa Barbara Choral Society performing at the Veterans Day program
I
f you want to be inspired and feel the true meaning of Veterans Day, you should go to the Santa Barbara Cemetery on that day. As brigadier general Fred Lopez, USMCR (retired) told the group gathered on the hillside, “In 1919, President Wilson named Armistice Day November 11 in honor of the World War I soldiers.” Today it is called Veterans Day in honor of all those who have served. Bagpiper Bill Boetticher in full regalia entertained before the program began. The colors were posted by military from the naval base in Ventura. David Gonzales sang a stirring national anthem and Jerry Gray said the invocation. One of my favorite parts is the musical tribute to all the armed forces, this time by the
Lieutenant John Blankenship, USN with brigadier general Fred Lopez, USMCR (Retired) at the Veterans Day celebration
The wreaths designating the different branches of service
Veterans Day program
Ms Millner is the author of The Magic Makeover, Tricks for Looking Thinner, Younger and More Confident – Instantly. If you have an event that belongs in this column, you are invited to call Lynda at 969-6164.
Santa Barbara Choral Society under the direction JoAnne Wasserman. The keynote speaker was Medal of Honor recipient SFC Sammy L. Davis, USA (retired). The main character in Forrest Gump was partially based on Davis. In his honor, the choir sang “Oh Shenandoah” because he used to play his harmonica in the fox holes of Viet Nam and that was the favorite song of
Reporter John Palminteri interviewing Art Petersen regarding his D Day landing in France in WW II
his commanding officer. Davis spends most of his year traveling the nation and speaking to schools, emphasizing duty, honor, and country as credos to live by. Two million kids have touched his medal of honor and learned what
he went through to earn it. Another speaker was general William Begert, USAF (retired) who joked that the Air Force is known for first building an officers club, then a golf course and lastly a runway. Lopez joked back, “Now, first you build a club, then a golf course, and then you
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