The Santa Maria Valley Chamber and city of Santa Maria invite the public to the 25th anniversary Veterans Day and Wreath Ceremony, 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11 at the Freedom Monument Veterans Memorial in front of the Abel Maldonado Community Youth Center, 600 S. McClelland St.
This year’s event will feature the dedication of a new memorial plaque honoring Cpl. Kenneth S. Adams, a Santa Maria High School graduate who was killed in Vietnam on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23, 1967.
The addition of Adams will bring the number of fallen Santa Maria Valley service members honored at the monument to 114.
Established in 2001, the Freedom Monument Veterans Memorial recognizes local service members who lost their lives in service to our country, from World War I to the present.
The memorial grounds include plaques and monuments honoring veterans, military service, and local veterans organizations.
Col. Adams served in the U.S. Army with 2nd Platoon, D Company, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 196th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division.
He was killed at age 22 during the Battle for Hill 63 in Quang Tin Province, east of Landing Zone Ross. The battle began after U.S. forces traced an apparent North Vietnamese Army radio transmission to the hill.
On Nov. 23, 1967, Companies B and D of the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment came under heavy small-arms and machine-gun fire from concealed enemy positions. Adams was among four D Company soldiers killed that day.
Adams’ military records listed Santa Barbara as his home of record. The official home of record is the primary evidence used to determine eligibility for recognition at the Freedom Monument, which explains why his name was not originally included, event organizers said.
Research by the Santa Maria Historical Society and its volunteers established that Adams’ family lived in Santa Maria and that he graduated from Santa Maria High School. Researchers found no evidence that he ever lived in Santa Barbara.
Because Adams enlisted in the Army in Santa Barbara, his enlistment location could have been recorded as his home of record. The exact reason for the designation remains unknown.
The new plaque will be placed near the Vietnam Memorial Plaque, recognizing Adams’ service and sacrifice and his connection to the Santa Maria Valley.
The 25th anniversary ceremony will feature remarks by Santa Maria Mayor Alice Patino, Santa Maria Valley Chamber president Michael Boyer, and a U.S. Space Force representative from Vandenberg Space Force Base.
Robert P. Hatch, co-founder of the Freedom Monument Veterans Memorial, will deliver the keynote address. Fellow co-founder Dave Cross will serve as master of ceremonies.
A central part of the program will be the reading of the names of all 114 fallen service members honored at the monument. The reading will be conducted by students from St. Mary of the Assumption School, continuing the tradition of involving young people in remembering those who served.
The Young Voices of Santa Maria Youth Choir will provide musical entertainment before the ceremony, and representatives of local veterans’ organizations, including Michael Stadnick Jr. and Dr. Joseph Skoda, will participate in the program.
The event will include a wreath presentation. Veterans’ organizations, community groups, businesses, families and individuals wishing to present a wreath are encouraged to participate. Those presenting wreaths are asked to bring their own wreath stands.
“We invite everyone in our community to join us to honor our veterans,” said Hatch. “This is a special occasion to show the community’s appreciation to all who have served to defend our country and protect the freedoms we enjoy.
“We should also reflect on the sacrifices made by our service members and celebrate their enduring legacy.”
The event is co-sponsored by the Santa Maria Valley Chamber, City of Santa Maria, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2521, and Santa Maria Valley Veteran Honor Guard.