Although it has been difficult to have in-person events this year, Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation (PCVF) is managing to keep the Veteran’s Day spirit alive with Night at the Drive-In!, an event at which they will honor World War II veterans Art Peterson and the late Ugo D. Arnoldi.

Every year, PCVF has its in-person Military Ball to show appreciation for all veterans; but this year, due to COVID-19, the foundation changed switched to a drive-in event to fit social distancing guidelines.

The revamped event will have a gourmet barbecue boxed dinner, and a movie screening of “Memphis Belle,” in addition to the tradition of honoring veterans from the Santa Barbara community. A few surprises are planned as well.

“We are proud to be able to have a Veteran’s Day event for Santa Barbara since we can’t have our annual Military Ball. We are excited to show support for our local veterans during Night at the Drive-In! and it is with our highest honor to show appreciation for Art and Ugo during this event,” said PCVF co-founder Lt. John Blankenship (USN former).

First, PCVF will honor World War II veteran and Santa Barbara native Peterson, who is 96. Peterson was a paratrooper in the Army’s 101st Airborne Division. On D-Day, June 6, 1944, he was involved in the largest seaborne invasion in history.

Peterson fought in some of the biggest battles in the European war, even though he had a hard time getting into the military. He was just 17 years old, and finishing up high school when the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor plunged the U.S. into World War II.

Peterson was sent to basic training at Camp Roberts, on the San Luis Obispo/Monterey county Line. While there, he volunteered as a paratrooper and was set to Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. His unit, Fox Company, arrived in England in late 1943 for final training before the invasion.

It was while he was in England, Peterson said, that he had some of the toughest duties of the war — helping to recover the bodies of British civilians killed during the Germans’ incessant bombing of London.

Though he came through D-Day unscathed, Peterson wasn’t so lucky three months later as the 101st Airborne pushed into German-occupied Holland.

He was preparing to jump out of a plane with his unit when a bullet came through the floor of the plane, and hit him in the leg, severely wounding him. His sergeant ordered him not to jump, and to take the plane back to England.

Next, PCVF will honor Arnoldi, who also served on D-Day, and was a machine gunner and a driver as Gen. George S. Patton was breaking out of Normandy.

Arnoldi was drafted into the army in June 1943 at age 18, and took basic training at the Fort Riley, Kansas Cavalry School. He was then transferred to Fort Jackson, South Carolina, for further training.

Early in 1944, Arnoldi was sent to England to prepare for the D-Day invasion where he was stationed on the Salisbury plains, once called the Cloth of Gold due to the lavish tournaments held by early English kings.

When the 3rd army broke out of Normandy in early August, its movement across France proceeded quickly. Resistance stiffened as they began to approach the German border. By early September, the 3rd army was near Metz, Germany, and just south of Luxembourg.

Several months later, Arnoldi boarded a ship for the U.S. and left the army on Jan. 10, 1946.

Arnoldi returned to Santa Barbara, went to the Santa Barbara Business College, and became the bookkeeper-accountant for his parents, who owned Arnoldi’s Café and a masonry company. His family still owns the property but is no longer in the restaurant business.

Peterson’s and Arnoldi’s families will proudly stand in place this Veteran’s Day for the courageousness and heroic acts of service they provided for the nation.

Night at the Drive-In! will be held Wednesday, Nov. 11 at Goleta’s West Wind Drive-In, 907 Kellogg Ave. Gates open at 4:30 p.m.; there, attendees will pick up a boxed dinner and proceed to their parking space.

The program, which begins at 5:30 p.m., will feature a stage show presentation; silent digital auction; and screening of the World War II film “Memphis Belle,” which stars Matthew Modine and Santa Barbara’s Eric Stoltz.

General admission tickets are $50 per person; $10 for children ages 10 and younger. Veterans and active duty service members can buy scholarship tickets at a reduced rate. General admission tickets may be purchased online.

To learn more, visit https://www.pcvf.org/veterans-day-weekend. For more about PCVF, visit www.pcvf.org or call 805-259-4394.