Families and Friends Gather to Honor Vets

Mather, CA (MPG) - On November 11, hundreds of veterans, along with family, friends, and supporters gathered at Sacramento Veterans Administration Medical Center in Mather to celebrate Veterans Day. The theme of the observance was “Argonne to Afghanistan, 100 years of the American Veteran.” 

Retired Lt. Col. Bob Burns, U.S. Army, was the only veteran there to have served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam wars. Burns served as Master of Ceremonies for the event.

Col. Joseph P. Gleichenhaus, U.S. Army, California State Command Inspector General, provided the keynote address. Veterans Day, as opposed to Memorial Day, he said, honors all American veterans both living and dead, and is largely intended show appreciation for the living. “You’ve got a lot of very alive veterans out here today, and I do thank you for your presence,” Gleichenhaus said. “I thank you all for your service, the veterans who are here, whether you (traveled) or remained here at home, whether you saw combat action or not, you served. You volunteered or you honorably served and you provided a service to our nation and our way of life.”

River City Concert Band consisting of more than 60 volunteer musicians provided rousing and historical music to fit the occasion, starting with the National Anthem and ending with God Bless America, the audience joining in with those two songs. The band offered more music throughout the program, as well as before and after.

A number of people donated engraved bricks in honor of veterans that will be permanently affixed at the entrance to the VA Hospital. According to retired Lt. Col, U.S. Army Dr. Dawn Erckenbrack, now Associate Director, Sacramento Valley VA Northern California Health Care System, a total of 2,328 bricks have been placed in honor of those who have served, with room for a total of 8,000 bricks to grace the area.

Other dignitaries spoke to the crowd. In his address, Dr. Ami Bera, United States Congressman said, “On this Veterans Day, to all of the men and women who have served and protected and promoted the American spirit around the world, on behalf of a grateful nation, God bless all of you, and God bless the United States of America.”

Jim Nielsen, California State Senator, said about those who would disparage our flag, our pledge, and our National Anthem, “We need to stand up, all of us, and say ‘no’ to that. Thousands of our soldiers died simply to pick that flag up so it did not touch the ground. That’s what they felt about it. Renew your spirit of patriotism. That is a good thing, for we are a great nation.”

Dr. Lindsey Sin, Deputy Secretary for Women Veterans, California Department of Veterans Affairs read the proclamation from Governor Edmund G. Brown declaring this day Veterans Day. In part, the proclamation read, “This Veterans Day let us welcome all returning veterans with open arms and as President Eisenhower wrote in his 1954 proclamation, ‘Let us consecrate ourselves to the task of promoting an enduring peace so that their efforts will not be done in vain.’”

Gleichenhaus said that “Nobody prays for peace more than a service member.”  He gave his gratitude to the families who also sacrificed, civilians who served in danger of life and limb, and those who now provide equipment to the Armed Forces that helps save so many lives. In an interview afterward, Gleichenhaus said, “We are governed by civilian leadership and follow the instructions of our civilian leaders. I only hope that they make good decisions and provide us good, clear objectives so that we can accomplish them.”