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Santa Barbara veterans to be honored at Goleta drive-in Wednesday night

SB Drive-In Veterans Day photos
Jeanette Arnoldi holds up photos of her late father, Ugo Arnoldi, who served in the U.S. Army and will be honored Wednesday night.

GOLETA, Calif. - Santa Barbara's Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation will host a "Night at the Drive-In" event Wednesday night at Goleta's West Wind Drive-In, in order to safely commemorate Veterans Day amid the pandemic.

The Foundation says the event will feature a catered barbecue dinner, color guard, speakers and a screening of the movie Memphis Belle, along with some surprises.

“I feel it’s very important for our country that our defenders be honored,” said John Blankenship, who served as a Navy pilot in the Vietnam War and now is the Foundation’s founding director. “I mean you think about it, [as a veteran] you give part of your life, and sometimes you give your life. So this needs to be recognized.”

Groups will stay physically distanced in their cars as the Foundation honors U.S. veterans.

“In the Navy, we call it ‘Adapt and Overcome,’” Blankenship said. “So we’re adapting, and this is what we’re doing.”

The program will specifically highlight two Santa Barbara World War II veterans.

Art Peterson, 96, served in the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division--also known as the "Screaming Eagles." Peterson will not be at Wednesday's event, but will have family there representing him.

“He dropped into Normandy, dropped into Market Garden in September of ’44,” Blankenship said. “And then in the Battle of the Bulge. And so he’s highly decorated, and a dear friend.”

Ugo Arnoldi also served in the Army, spending time under the leadership of General George Patton. Arnoldi's family opened Arnoldi Café, a Santa Barbara staple, more than 80 years ago.

Arnoldi passed away in 2015, but will have family representing him Wednesday night.

“Dad was a very loving, hardworking man,” said Ugo’s daughter, Jeanette. “I always consider him as my hero from the greatest generation that ever lived… It’s an honor for me to be here for my dad and our family representing, and I thank the Foundation.”

Jeanette says over the years her father did not talk at length about his time in the service, but said he was proud to serve and would do so again.

She has previously attended the Foundation's military balls.

“And this is gonna be different,” she said. “But it’s still we’re all together and all united. So it’ll be very nice.”

There is still space available for more groups to join the event. To learn more or buy tickets, click here.

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Ryan Fish

Ryan Fish is a reporter, sports anchor and forecaster for NewsChannel 3-12. To learn more about Ryan, click here.

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