Veterans Wall of Freedom Committee Hosts Veteran's Day Remembrance

The future Veterans Wall of Freedom in Grand Terrace's Pico Park was the home site of this year's Veterans Day remembrance ceremony, held at 11 a.m. Monday morning, Nov. 11 - Veteran's Day. Welcomed at the event were residents, veterans, Veterans Wall of Freedom committee members, and local leaders including Mayor Walt Stanckiewitz, Council Member and Foundation of Grand Terrace President Darcy McNaboe, and Council members Sylvia Robles and Jackie Mitchell. The Grand Terrace Boy Scouts Troop 40 and San Bernardino Valley Young Marines performed several short ceremonies, including the presentation of the colors, the flying of the colors, leading the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance and the laying of the wreath. A member of the American Legion Post 650 gave an invocation and Rachel Penny sang the National Anthem. The Veterans Wall of Freedom Committee hosted the event at the future site of the Veterans memorial, six block letters that spell out the word "Freedom," with a flagpole - already erected at the site thanks to the efforts of Eagle Scout Austin Dietrich, who just last year dedicated the flagpole during the 2012 Veterans Day ceremony - flying the American flag as the centerpiece. The memorial is also interspersed with the flags of each of the six military branches: the Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corps and Navy, and the POW*MIA flag. The committee is a subcommittee of the nonprofit Foundation of Grand Terrace, dedicated to enriching the lives of Grand Terrace residents. Foundation president and City Council Member Darcy McNaboe welcomed guests to the ceremony that morning. She said, "We operate in the city of Grand Terrace to enhance the beauty and the life of those that live in Grand Terrace. To me, this is one example of a way that we can demonstrate that, by honoring those who have given us the opportunity to congregate in such a way today." Guest speakers at the ceremony included Blue Ribbon Mothers organization representative Valerie Holmes and Grand Terrace City Mayor Walt Stanckiewitz. Valerie Holmes is the mother of a son, Tyler, who is currently serving in the Army in Afghanistan, and whose son-in-law is a member of the seventh group special forces. Recently returning from Afghanistan, Holmes's son-in-law is stationed in Florida. She has been a member of Blue Star Mothers for one year. She explained that families with family members serving in the military receive blue stars, which they display in the window during times of war or hostility. Gold Stars are shown to remember military members who have died in combat or while serving in the military. Founded and written into Congressional Record in February, 1942, Blue Star Mothers welcomes mothers and fathers of currently serving military personnel, and also welcomes associates - or grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles or any other person who is related to a military service man or woman who wants to volunteer to bring these soldiers care packages and otherwise support active duty personnel. This year, the group sent out 1,017 care packages to overseas military members, which equates to somewhere around $15,000, approximately, Holmes explained. The group also volunteers with the Veterans Administration locally in Loma Linda. She said, "We educate the public on the needs of our returning soldiers. We educate the public on PTSD. PTSD is finally becoming one of those things people don't have to be ashamed of. In the past, those of you soldiers that are out here know that was something you just didn't talk about, but they've found that PTSD is not just soldiers. It's people: first responders, and people who have been involved in something violent. PTSD is something that is getting taken care of now, and our soldiers are being taken care of." PTSD is an acronym for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, characteristic of those who have gone through catastrophic experiences. Holmes said the group has helped her understand how to interact with soldiers returning from war. She said the group of mothers helped her when her son came back for a family visit, saying that because of the group, she knew "what questions to ask and what questions not to ask," she said. "It's a very great support group. Personally, the best decision I ever made was to join this organization." Mayor Stanckiewitz was the second guest speaker of the morning, and he thanked veterans for their service. A veteran himself, he said he looked up to his father, a colonel in the U.S. Army, who often gave speeches at events such as Monday's Veterans Day ceremony. "He would speak and I was so proud of him," said Stanckiewitz, admitting it had been a desire of his to speak at an event such as this. "I was very, very honored when (Committee Chairman Bob Lavin) asked me to speak," he said. "I salute all my brothers and sisters who have served this country and sacrificed to preserve our freedom. I pay special tribute to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice to this country. Please join me in pledging that we will never forget their service and sacrifices to their country." The ceremony ended with the laying of the wreath, and veterans in attendance were asked to stand. Community members took the time to thank the veterans in attendance before leaving the park, where the American and POW*MIA flags flew high.