Veterans Honored at El Toro Memorial Park Service

Submitted by Tom Cagley

The annual Veterans’ Day Observance was held at El Toro Memorial Park in Lake Forest, on Monday.  It was an impressive ceremony attended by well over 100 people, a few dozen of them wearing uniforms or medals reflecting military service.

Judy Deeter, a member of the Mission Viejo DAR Chapter served as Mistress of Ceremonies, and kept the program moving.  Naturally, for any military event, the colors are required to be posted to start things off, and this was done by three separate service organizations. There was one United States flag posted for each of the three cities: Lake Forest, Laguna Hills and Laguna Woods.

Howard Bender, a Pearl Harbor survivor, led the crowd in the pledge of allegiance, followed by a rendition of the National Anthem, sung by John Huntington. Ms. Deeter introduced several guests on the platform and in the crowd.  The beginning of Veterans Day was explained, how it came about because the last shot was fired at 11 a.m. on the 11th day of the 11th month, to end World War I. It was originally called Armistice Day, because World War I ended with an armistice.  In 1954, the name was changed to Veterans Day, to recognize veterans from all wars.  As each war period was announced, veterans who had served during those periods would stand and be recognized.

A keynote address was given by a Vietnam War veteran. Sergeant John Adame had served in the 9th Infantry Division in Vietnam, and recounted the history of his military service, and how it all focused on brotherhood.  He even quoted some Shakespeare to the delight of the attendees.

Toward the end of the service, mayors from the three cities place wreathes in front of the flags, and Rabbi Dennis Linson said a prayer.  An honor guard from the VFW Edward J. Kearns Post 6024 of Mission Viejo provided the traditional rifle salute, followed by Echo Taps, from Ray Sanchez and Tony Sawyer of the Freelancers Alumni Corps.  Rev. Christopher McCullough, himself a retired Marine from the Vietnam era, was to have given the benediction, but was too ill to attend, so his wife, Kathryn McCullough, the Mayor Pro Tem of Lake Forest, filled in for him.