|
The annual Memorial Day Observance staged by the Mercer-Prieto VFW Post 2043 drew hundreds of people to Santa Paula Cemetery Monday where the crowd heard patriotic music, bagpipes and drums and words of respect and remembrance for those lost in war. VFW Commander Jerry Olivas (left) was featured speaker for the event. Above the Unitedd SAtates Flag is raised during the National Athem played by the Isbell Middle School Band.
|
Hundreds show they will ‘never forget’ by
attending VFW Memorial Day Ceremony
May 27, 2015
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Hundreds of people showed they will “never forget” those who served and died for their country including those missing in action and prisoners of war, the focus of a special remembrance at the annual Veterans of Foreign Wars Mercer-Prieto VFW Post 2043 Memorial Day Ceremony.
Santa Paula Cemetery hosted the event providing chairs, flags, shade, water and small American flags gifted to the crowd that heard a special tribute to MIA Jim Ray Cavender of Santa Paula.
Jimmy Ray was only 20 years old but an Army helicopter pilot when he and his crew were lost during a non-combat mission November 4, 1969 in Vietnam.
Janet and Bill Grant came early: “How many have we been coming to?” said Janet. “Probably as long as the VFW has been having them!”
Mayor John Procter and Vice Mayor Martin Hernandez were in the crowd as were Police Chief Steve McLean and Fire Chief Rick Araiza and their families; Santa Paula Fire personnel were also on scene with staged engines.
VFW Commander Jerry Olivas noted police and fire serve on the frontline of domestic emergencies, “And we also thank you for your service…”
He noted the event “would not be possible without the help and support of our community of veterans, including the help of Korean War Veterans of Ventura County Chapter 56 and their Commander David Lopez. We would be lost without their support.”
Olivas also thanked Pierce Brothers Santa Paula Cemetery and its Director Laura Cole for their “assistance to make all you comfortable,” for the event, which started with a patriotic concert by the Isbell Middle School Band directed by Scott Knef.
Others help make the annual event possible including the Motorcycle Riders of Ventura County “For all they do behind the scenes for our veterans,” and the visible efforts of assorted Scout groups that “came out very early this morning to place all these flags,” dotting the cemetery with red, white and blue that moved with the breeze.
Ventura County Fire Chaplain Kay Wilson-Bolton, who urged the crowd to help bring an end to war but also to “pray in the name of the great defender…”
Olivas told the crowd that MIA-POWs have often been overlooked except by their families and loves ones but the VFW remains committed to their comrades, including Cavender, whose brother James and sister-in-law Marsha were in attendance.
The Department of Defense has launched a major merger of its POW and MIA divisions devoted to accounting for and locating those who never came home whose fates are unknown.
“The department makes sure accurate information is provided to families,” on a regular basis to the families of MIA-POW, part of a vow “To fulfill the obligation to those who served our country…they will make sure they are accounted for and never forgotten.”
So far this year 13 veterans from World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam have been identified, “Each an important part of our U.S. history,” and efforts continue to locate and identify the 83,141 Americans lost to war and unaccounted for. That includes 388 sailors and Marines that are expected to be identified who lost their lives on the U.S.S. Oklahoma when Pearl Harbor was bombed, the action that effectively started World War II.
Olivas said that number could also include seven Santa Paulans that Lopez told him are Korean War POW-MIA and research has been launched to determine if the Ventura County residents were residents of the city.
What the POW-MIA flag represents is “very important to veterans and their families,” and Olivas said VFW meetings always feature an empty chair draped to represent the spirit of those unaccounted for.
VFW Quartermaster Rey Frutos talked about the wreath ceremony noting that it started for members “To honor and remember veterans killed in war,” and expanded to include family members and service organizations that wanted to show their respect.
Numerous organizations and individuals placed wreaths on and adjacent to the Grand Army of the Republic Monument including James Cavender on behalf of POW-MIAs.
Following the wreath ceremony the acclaimed Ventura Fire Fighters Pipes and Drums Corps performed “Amazing Grace.”
The corps, noted Olivas, raises money for injured and ill firefighters and for the families of firefighters who have passed.
There was the Roll Call of Santa Paula Veterans who died in World War I, World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam, 82 names called and poignantly answered with a rousing “Here!” by a member of the VFW.
Frank Osuna gave a dramatic reading of the famed poem by an anonymous author, “Freedom is not Free” which was followed by the Flag Folding Ceremony, which carefully demonstrated not only how the flag is folded but also the meaning behind each fold.
When the Folding Ceremony was completed the Flag was presented to James Cavender.
Dr. George Golden, Pastor of the First Baptist Church, Fillmore and Father Charles Lueras of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Santa Paula, offered closing prayers.
“Long live America!” shouted Vietnam war veteran Father Charles to preface his prayer. “It’s an awesome country!”
The VCFF Pipes and Drums performed again and then there was a 3-Volley Rifle Salute by VFW M-P Post 2043 and the KWVA-VC 56 Veterans Rifle Squad.
“Heavenly Doves” were released as Bugler Rudy Arellano played “Taps” to close the ceremony.
“It’s an honor for us to do this,” said David Garcia, the leader of the Rifle Squad and a Korean War veteran who belongs to both the VFW and KWV-VC.
VFW member Gordon Welsh was proud and delighted at the turnout, noting, “This is probably the biggest we’ve ever had!”
Garcia, Welsh and other uniformed members of the veterans’ organizations were stopped and thanked by members of the crowd as they left the ceremony that assured them their service will never be forgotten.
