'We Owe So Much to the Veterans'

Hundreds of people gathered at Veterans Park in Redondo Beach to honor the nation's military veterans Monday as part of the annual Veterans Day ceremony.

The event, which marked the third anniversary of the Redondo Beach Veterans Memorial, included a ceremonial raising of the colors, recognition of a pair of former prisoners of war from World War II and other dignitaries, speeches from elected officials, a wreath-laying ceremony and numerous presentations.

"If it wasn't for all the veterans … we wouldn't be able to have this kind of ceremony," Redondo Beach Mayor Steve Aspel told the assembled crowd at the beginning of the event.

Other speakers included Rep. Harry Waxman, a Democrat who represents the 33rd Congressional District; Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi, who represents much of the South Bay in the California Assembly; and Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Melvin G. Spiese.

"I know that we're not doing right by our veterans," Waxman said, calling the backlog at the Veterans Administration "inexcusable" to cheers from the crowd. He later added, "We owe so much to the veterans who have served our country."

"Today's celebration, and those in attendance, speak to the importance of taking pause and recognizing the service and sacrifice of our veterans," said Spiese, who focused his remarks on the current struggles in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Today we face a relentless and brutal enemy," he said. "The contrast between our enemies and us could not be greater, and the ideals for which they fight, and the idea of liberty and a free people represented by America could not be more stark. In truth, our current enemies hate us."

He continued:

"We have been a nation at war, even as we have grown weary of war—but the stakes are terribly high. As I speak, young heroes of all services are putting themselves at great risk for the safety and security of others in the greater Middle East. Although it has long been absent from our news, the fight goes on. Between Aug. 1 and the end of September, the army lost 20 soldiers in Afghanistan—precious lives, precious to their families, friends and loved ones, and precious to us as a nation by the courage shown to step forward and carry on the necessary work of actively providing for our security.

"It is important for us to remember that unlike any war we have faced in modern times, those who serve do so as volunteers. Our armed forces today are composed almost completely by those who have chosen to serve knowing our nation is at war. How remarkable that for a dozen years, young Americans have willingly put on the uniform of our nation with the real expectation that they will deploy to combat.

"As we gather here today to recognize and honor those who have served our nation in the past, we cannot let those who continue to deploy into harm's way be forgotten.

"Our current service members have not just been doing battle in the classical sense, but have also been helping to build a new democracy in a region of the world where freedom and justice are all too rare. These youngsters are the sons and daughters of liberty. They are the legacy of courage. They are the reason we can continue to enjoy our freedom and security at home.

"This has not been a war without question or controversy … We do not know what history will say about the current war, but what we can say is that the debate and argument surrounding this war—this ability to debate and argue—is a reflection of what is great in America. The debate within the free society is what our service members volunteer to protect and defend, and it is the strength of a free people."

Upon the conclusion of Spiese's remarks, wreaths were laid at the bases of each of the memorial's pyramids—one representing each of the five branches of the U.S. military—and the crowd sang "God Bless America."

WWII prisoners of war and army veterans Harry Corre and Bernie Waldow accepted a vintage 48-star United States flag on behalf of the Veterans Home in Westwood, Calif.

"It's a wonderful honor to be here among the veterans and all who served," said Corre.

Officer Brian Weiss of the Redondo Beach Police Department received the flag that previously flew above the memorial. A sergeant in the Marine Reserves, Weiss served in East Africa and Afghanistan.  

"We cannot rest with just thanking our veterans for their service," Muratsuchi told the crowd.

After the ceremony, 103-year-old Bea Cohen, the oldest living Rosie the Riveter, concurred.

"If it wasn't for them, we wouldn't be here today," Cohen told a reporter from NBC 4. "We need honor (and) respect for veterans."