Marine Corps Update: Veterans Day Events, Ceremony Honoring Fallen Service Members
Tori J. Ross
3 min read
By Wayne Eggleston
It’s time to honor all veterans of all United States Armed Forces.
Originally called Armistice Day after fighting ended on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month between the Allied nations and Germany during World War I, known then as the Great War, the Day of veterans marked the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28. 1919. President Eisenhower changed the name in 1954.
This year at Park Semper Fi, we will be honoring all veterans on Sunday, November 14 at 2 p.m. The community is invited to attend and parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
The San Clemente Exchange Club will dedicate a beautiful plaque to General JK Davis, former Deputy Commandant of the US Marine Corps and resident of San Clemente.
The Marine Corps League will pay tribute to the 13 Navy, Navy and Army personnel who were tragically killed in Afghanistan at Kabul airport on August 26 during the evacuation of thousands of Afghan civilians and military personnel. .
Our Camp Pendleton lost nine Marines and a sailor from 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, while 17 others were wounded. The chaplain of 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment will give the invocation. Patriotic music will be provided by the Pete Jacobs Band
Park Semper Fi is designing a plaque to honor those killed on that fateful day, and it will be dedicated on Memorial Day in 2022.
In December, we will have a rendering of the proposed plaque, and those wishing to contribute their tax-deductible donations can visit marinemonument.com. We have extended our wall of honor to accommodate this plaque.
There are a number of very credible and worthwhile San Clemente non-profit organizations that support our military, and I want to give them credit.
Marine Corps League, South Coast Detachment 022 meets every third Tuesday of the month at Elks Lodge. They have been outstanding in supporting the families and Marines of 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment involved in the tragedy in Afghanistan.
They have been at Camp Pendleton each time various troops have returned with a welcome stand of refreshments and “goodie bags” full of everyday items.
You may know the San Clemente Military Family Outreach as the organizer of the distribution of 1,000 Thanksgiving turkeys to Marines/Sailors at Camp Pendleton, along with all the trimmings for a traditional holiday meal.
Their “number one job” is to meet daily requests for emergency aid, as well as diapers, food, clothing, gas, car repairs and other unexpected financial challenges. They are all 501(c)3 volunteers and an exceptional group.
A new organization also responding to the aftermath of the Kabul airport bombing is San Clemente Proud. Private Bella Collina San Clemente Golf Club has created a fundraising initiative to help families of fallen service members by inviting local businesses to donate a portion of proceeds raised on Veterans Day.
They partnered with our local 501(c)3 non-profit organization The Heritage of San Clemente Foundation, creator of the Marine Monument at Park Semper Fi and the Marine Corps League. The Foundation helps raise tax-deductible donations and will use the San Clemente-based Marine Corps League to distribute those funds.
We will work with the 2/1 Chaplain and Command to ensure that this outreach effort is distributed to benefit the families of our fallen.
G. Wayne Eggleston is a former council member and mayor of San Clemente, who once served on the city’s planning commission. He is the executive director of the San Clemente Legacy Foundation.
