Flanked by flags and wreaths representing branches of the armed forces, Carmen Munoz, the manager of the Veterans Memorial Building, welcomed veterans and their families to the Memorial Day program at the Goleta Cemetery.
The event featured speakers, music and remembrances. It was presented by AmVets Santa Barbara Post 3, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1649 and Vietnam Veterans of America.
“To me, Memorial Day is a day to remember the people who didn’t come home, and I am so touched by the veterans who are here,” Munoz said. “I have to remember that these are their brothers and sisters. So, for them, it’s even more special.”
During his speech at the event, Assemblymember Gregg Hart shared an excerpt from a poem by Australian writer Ranata Suzuki and expressed how loved ones still have an impact even when they are gone.
“To the families of our service members who are no longer with us. You are the unsung heroes of our freedom,” Hart said. “Your strength and resilience inspire us all.
“As we commemorate the actions of our fallen sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, and friends and neighbors, let us commit ourselves to the values for which they fought. Their commitment to their country, their comrades, and their principles of liberty and justice have shaped the very fabric of our society.”
In his address, Goleta Councilman James Kyriaco discussed the lives that the fallen could have had if they had lived. He wondered aloud if they would have married their high school sweethearts, opened businesses, and whether those businesses would be run by their grandchildren today.
He expressed the importance of remembering veterans who have died, and also the need to deal with the issues affecting veterans who do return from abroad.
“Four years ago, when I spoke here for the first time, I wondered out loud about those who died fighting for our country overseas and what would they think seeing so many of their former armed service members languishing on the streets because of the scourge of veteran homelessness,” Kyriaco said.
In the keynote speech, Drew Wakefield told a story about a mother and father learning of the death of their child when a chaplain and two soldiers showed up on their doorstep.
Wakefield finished by asking members of the crowd to share photos of loved ones who were killed in action. Visitors stood to share photos and magazine clips of uncles, siblings, and friends.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are not here today for the living, we are here as living to pay tribute and honor them,” Wakefield said.
The National Anthem was sung by Dorothy Turner and the event featured music by bagpiper Bill Boetticher.
The memorial ended with a 21-gun salute, “Taps” and a presentation of wreaths to veterans of different military branches and affiliated organizations.
