It wasn’t just another beautiful day in paradise. It was a day of thanking and giving honor to all the men and woman who serve our country. Residents and veterans gathered for the 14th annual Veterans Day Ceremonies held on Monday at Legacy Park. “Today, as you can tell, is quite possibly the event on the Malibu social calendar.” said Beth Neal, president of Malibu Chamber of Commerce who opened the ceremonies. The event was hosted by Pepperdine University, The City of Malibu, Wells Fargo, and the Malibu Chamber of Commerce. Captain Lawrence Vasquez served as the Master of Ceremonies and asked everyone to rise for the Presentation of Colors and for our National Anthem. Pastor Greg Hughes from Malibu Presbyterian Church led the ceremony in prayer thanking God for the men and women who fought for freedom and laid down their lives for others and our country. Malibu Mayor Joanne House said, “We must always remember that freedom isn’t free!” Emotions were high as singer, writer, and actress Melanie Williams belted out a tear jerking performance of the National Anthem. Boy Scouts Troop 224 stood up and made Veterans proud as they lead in the Pledge of Allegiance at the celebration. Captain Lawrence Vasquez, Master of Ceremonies, introduced the city council members who were present on Monday. They included John Sibert, Laura Rosenthal, Skylar Peak, and Lou La Monte. He gave special acknowledgement to Kara Seward from Senator Pavley’s office, Andrea Kune from Assembly Member Richard Blooms office, and Susan Nissman, from Los Angeles County Supervisor Zen Yaroslavsky’s office. Master Chief Oliver Thurmond told the group he wanted to be just like his Vietnam Vet and Navy Seal father who was his best f... ... middle of paper ... ... time the war ended, no one recognized him. He was a different person, addicted to drugs and hatred. Wilson said he was transformed six months after by finding God. For a second time, no one recognized the man before them. His entire demeanor changed as did his outlook on life. Wilson’s life was transformed. He is happily married for 49 years. Wilson is now the Pastor at the Oxnard Bible Church. When asked why he started Vietnam Veterans of Ventura, Wilson responded, “We don’t see ourselves as victims but as soldiers still making a difference in our communities.” Captain Vasquez closed the ceremonies and added, “When you see our colors on a flagpole, you recognize you are home!” God Bless America! The day was perfect. I am very proud to be an American. I am also very thankful for the men and woman who are selfless and will lay their life down for little old me.
The Vietnam War was a controversial conflict that plagued the United States for many years. The loss of life caused by the war was devastating. For those who came back alive, their lives were profoundly changed. The impact the war had on servicemen would affect them for the rest of their lives; each soldier may have only played one small part in the war, but the war played a huge part in their lives. They went in feeling one way, and came home feeling completely different. In the book Vietnam Perkasie, W.D. Ehrhart describes his change from a proud young American Marine to a man filled with immense confusion, anger, and guilt over the atrocities he witnessed and participated in during the war.
...o captivating. Additionally, it does make an extensive number of appearances at various ceremonies and great events, such as the opening ceremonies of sporting events and national holidays such as Independence and Memorial Day. However, “The Star Spangled Banner” embodies a much broader and more abstruse, cryptic connotation. It illustrates America’s attitude of perseverance when facing seemingly indomitable adversities or unachievable ambitions. It represents America’s unfaltering faith, traditional values, and ethical laws that have come to characterize America’s individuality. It signifies America’s past, a historic reminder that unites the people and instills, in their hearts, a profound sense of patriotism and glory. Most of all, “The Star Spangled Banner” symbolizes the truth of what America truly means–“the land of the free and the home of the brave”.
The patriotism swelled in my already overfilled heart. It doesn’t matter that our country is faced with humongous issues, and that Washington is more divided than ever. What matters is those men and women who gave their lives for this country. Every man, woman, child, white, black, straight, gay, Republican, Democrat, rich or poor, should pay their respects to those who rest in eternal peace at Arlington National Cemetery.
All the veterans in the novel seem to be haunted by the war in some way, even those who deny that they think about the war. These men reminded me of a study, which found that men who fought in Vietnam had difficulties reintegrating in U.S. society when they returned. In Vietnam, they had been acting out a “warrior” version of masculinity and lost that status upon returning. They did not know how to reconnect with normal masculine roles. Pete seems to be the best example of this observation, with his inability to keep a job and his supposed keeping of ears of t...
I chose the easy route of interview my grandpa (Dean Randel) who served in World War II as flight deck operator that signaled the aircrafts and got them ready for flight. He was station in San Diego on the USS Wisconsin which was of course a aircraft carrier. As I grew up he always told me stories of the good times he had with buddies and just living the good life. This is a first for me to sit down one on one with him and hear about what went on. Before I could even get a word in my grandpa ask me, “Do you know how Veterans Day was brought about?” I was so shock he was into doing this that I just shut my mouth and listened. He continued by saying in 1921, an American soldier -his name "known but to God "-was buried on a Virginia hillside overlooking the Potomac River and the city of Washington, DC. The burial site of this unknown World War I soldier in Arlington National Cemetery symbolized dignity and pride for all American veterans. Similar ceremonies occurred earlier in England and France, where an "unknown soldier” was buried in each nation’s highest place of honor (I later researched and found out it was in England, Westminster Abbey; in France, the Arc de Triomphe). These memorial gestures all took place on November 11, giving universal recognition to the celebrated ending of World War I hostilities at 11 a.m., November 11, 1918 (the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month). The day became known as "Armistice Day.”Armistice Day of...
Veteran’s day is a reflection of the peace and the warrior culture in the United States. While peace cultures strive for tolerance and positive peace, warrior cultures focus on aggression and domination and this Day demonstrates how both cultures are engrained in the American society.
At the very end of the concert, all of the choirs came together to sing, “ I hear America Singing!” It was a great way to end the concert with all of the singers coming
The Big Bucks Corporation and Consolidated Industries, two major corporations have just merged. The two companies have picked Nashville, Tennessee as their desired location for a six-day planning meeting bringing together the upper management, which will now consist of 250 executives. Nashville, Tennessee is a great location for a meeting, there is plenty to do and lots of DMCs that can help me plan companion programs, trips and tours for the wives of the executives. Destination Nashville, is a global DMC partner as well as the Gaylord Opryland Resort’s go-to for anything events related. They specialize in Meet & Greets, Tours, and VIP Activities, Shuttling and Transportation, Evening and Daytime customized services for all types of guests. Blue Spark Event Design has a Nashville location. They strive to create more for the guest traveler to Nashville and specialize in historical tours, sports tours, museum visits, and of course anything to do with country music. Blue Spark Nashville can also help companies with meeting planning, site selection, hotel sourcing and contract negotiation, registration, and if necessary audio visual requirements. Now, saving the best for last, The Key Event Group is Nashville’s premier DMC. They pride themselves on delivering creative, high impact events and have been doing so since 1978. In conjunction with their high impact events, they also do team building activities, Full, Half Day, Pre and Post meeting Tours, they visit historic Nashville sites, as well as plenty of sporting options. They too, specialize in Meet & Greets. I believe that each of these DMCs would make a great choice simply because they all offer pretty much the same thing. The only differences would be how long they have been oper...
After the two groups went back and fourth for a couple of hours it was finally time to say goodbye. The dallas council did the famous grito en honor of Mexico's idependence hitting the bell 3 times to announce our independence. It was an amazing experience to be able to be part of such
However, he didn’t know how lucky he really was until a few months later as the war started to sink in. He had made many friends. Some of them lived and are still alive to today. But like every war there are always going to casualties. In late July of 1967, his best friend Thomas died due to a gunshot wound to the chest. After watching his best friend die next to him he wasn’t ever the same. He struggled with PTSD for the next decade. He would picture his best friend next to him screaming for help and crying for his mom. That image is still scared into his mind. It got so bad that he tried committing suicide. Luckily, his son came in and stopped him. He was able to get help and treatment. He is very grateful for the people he has in his life to help him along the way. He will always remember his best friend and will always bleed red, white, and
It is beautiful to see so many loving family members and friends here to share in this occasion, especially those who have traveled some distances to
The speaking event is designed to inspire, motivate and connect the community. This year there will be eight speakers. Some of the speakers are local while some are coming as far as North Carolina. Speakers include a life coach, a philanthropist, a soul therapist and more.
Individualism is rampant in our world. More and more people are concerned with what they want, when they want it and how they want it. They put blinders on and go about their work, convinced that “looking out for number one” is the only way to succeed and find happiness. If everyone were to adopt this way of thinking and living, the world would become violently competitive, gloomy, and callous. However, if we open our lives and give service to those less fortunate than ourselves, we allow our hearts to receive immeasurable happiness. There are countless members of society, who make service and ultimately self-sacrifice a part of their everyday lives. One of the greatest examples the world has of a self-sacrificing person is Mother Teresa. She said, “In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love… It is not the magnitude of our actions but the amount of love that is put into them that matters.” Doctors Without Borders is a powerful humanitarian organization that was most recently volunteering in Haiti. Part of their mission statement reads, “…We unite direct medical care with a commitment to bearing witness and speaking out against the underlying causes of suffering. Our aid workers and staff protest violations of humanitarian law on behalf of populations who have no voice, and bring the concerns of their patients to public forums…” These are just two mainstream examples of people and organizations that live and work for others, to improve the quality of their lives.
In conclusion, going into the military was not an easy thing to do knowing that his life was on the line on the line. But he accomplished everything to the best that he could’ve done. Especially completing it with his whole entire squad making it out together. He told me “going into the military made him into the man he is today.” He told me that the military taught him many things mostly to be responsible and rely on his own at
A month later my dad and I hung up the Gold Star banner on our window and it said “1st Lieutenant Todd Weaver 101st Airborne Rangers” and under that it said “Lead The Way”.