Veterans honored at the Santa Barbara Cemetery in a moving ceremony
SANTA BARBARA - Calif. - Veterans of all wars were remembered in an emotional ceremony at the Santa Barbara Cemetery Tuesday morning.
Congressman Salud Carbajal (D)-24th District paused more than once to collect his words when talking about the visit he made last June to Normandy, France on the 75th anniversary of D-Day.
"To see those rows of graves of brave men and women who gave their lives or freedom not only for us the United States but for our allies was humbling," he said.
Command Sgt. Major Jonathan Church U.S. Army (Ret.) said, "people really felt this ceremony."
Speakers at the Veterans Day ceremony went deep to recall the battles of the past and the message today for the active and retired military families, their friends and communities here on the Central Coast.
"For the community of veterans we must remain on watch as the guardians of our brothers and sisters for which we share the nation's uniform," said Petty Officer 2 Coby Dillard U.S. Navy (Ret.)
He stressed what it meant to serve, to sacrifice and to return to their communities to help where called upon. "The need is always present," he said.
"Everyone spoke from the heart and I think everybody felt what it is like to be a veteran today," said Command Sgt. Major Church.
This ceremony brought together many veterans who may only see each other once a year. Sgt. Richard Mosher who is an Air Force veteran spent time with friends as he left and like many there, reunited at this event and others throughout the year.
Some meet more often with the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Veterans attending were from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan.
There were also came personal notes from UC Santa Barbara students who attended to pass messages directly to the vets in attendance.
Collin Domino was one of the students who said, "our residence hall did an event and came together and wrote letters to the Veterans so we are going around and handing them out." He said what some of the vets accomplished was unbelievable.
The event included a rifle volley salute, two large cannon blasts, a bagpipe player, two bugle performers and the San Marcos High School Madrigal Singers.
