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Pausing to remember their service
Comments 0 | Recommend 0Vets owed ‘debt of gratitude,' leaders say
BARSTOW • More than 150 veterans, military leaders and local officials gathered to pay tribute to current and former service members at the Veterans Home of California Barstow Wednesday.
Barstow veterans home resident Charles Ross said this year’s events at the home were particularly special.
Ross and the home’s residents were addressed by the 32nd Army Chief of Staff Gen. Gordon Sullivan, who gave an impromptu speech thanking the veterans for their past service as the group gathered in the main dining hall.
“I would be with you in a room like this for the rest of my life if I could do it,” said the 72-year-old general. Sullivan was also accompanied by local military officials, including Fort Irwin commanding general Brig. Gen. Robert “Abe” Abrams and leaders from the Marine Corps Logistics Base.
“We owe (veterans) a debt of gratitude,” Abrams said. The head of Fort Irwin noted that while today’s soldiers have the benefits of advanced technology and new training techniques, the older generations of soldiers looked to the heroism of past war heroes for inspiration.
“They have the example of veterans that came before them,” he said.
For Ross, in addition to hearing praise from leaders, the 60-year-old Vietnam veteran got to give a little something back to the crowd. The former musician, originally from the Mississippi gulf coast, belted out a rendition of “America the Beautiful” that silenced the room and garnered a standing ovation.
After the event, two UH-72 Lakota helicopters from Fort Irwin flew over Barstow and landed at the veterans home to usher Sullivan and Abrams back on post so Sullivan could tour soldier training.
Many of the same officials and veterans gathered earlier in the day at Mountain View Memorial Park where community members walked among grave markers of local service members. At the cemetery, Mayor Joe Gomez said the City Council will be considering a proposal to create a veterans park on Barstow Road at Monday’s meeting.
Contact the writer:
(760) 256-4122 or elee@desertdispatch.com
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