October 24, 2023
Revised October 29, 2023

Contact:
Tom Swann Hernandez
(760) 324-5670
tomswannhernandez@earthlink.net

MAYOR RITA LAMB HIGHLIGHTS ANNUAL VETERANS DAY CEREMONY

Cathedral City Mayor Rita Lamb highlights the annual Veterans Day Ceremony on Saturday November 11, 2023. The ceremony will be held at Desert Memorial Park 31-705 Da Vall Drive in Cathedral City at 10:00 AM. The event is being sponsored by American Veterans (AMVETS) Post 66 and Jon Castro Chapter of Veterans For Peace (VFP). The event is free and open to the public.

All of our nations war dead and veterans are being honored with a special emphasis on the 40th anniversary of the terrorist attack on the Marine Barracks in Beirut, Lebanon. Wikipedia says the following:

Early on a Sunday morning, October 23, 1983, two truck bombs struck buildings in Beirut, Lebanon, housing American and French service members of the Multinational Force in Lebanon (MNF), a military peacekeeping operation during the Lebanese Civil War. The attack killed 307 people: 241 U.S. and 58 French military personnel, six civilians, and two attackers.

A letter from Bill Kibler, Commander of AMVETS Post 66 in Nashville, Tennessee will be read. Bill served in Beirut with the U.S. Marine Corps. Amado C. Salinas of the American Legion National Legislative Council will also offer reflections on Beirut.

Master of Ceremonies will be AMVETS Post 66 Commander Tom Swann Hernandez. Rancho Mirage City Council Member Ted Weill, a Navy veteran is preparing a letter that will be read to the audience. Palm Springs City Council Member Christy Holstege will speak at the ceremony. Other elected officials have been invited as well.

The staff of Rep. Ken Calvert is presenting a Certificate of Recognition to World War II veteran Dorothee Irwin. An award will be presented to veteran Walt Seiler. Flowers will be given to cemetery district manager Kathleen Jurasky. Lee Wilson of the Fallen Heroes Project is introducing the Gold Star Family members. Each family member will receive a rose.

The Cathedral City High School JROTC will present colors. Steve Petersen will perform music. JB will sing the national anthem. Bryon Wirth will play taps.

Watson Connelly will read a special letter from late U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein praising the California LGBTQ Veterans Memorial. Father Charles Ara will give the invocation. Kip O’Connor will lead the pledge of allegiance. Corbett Brattin will recite the World War I poem “In Flanders Fields”. Mike Doran will make an announcement about the AMVETS Express.

AMVETS Post 66 dedicated the California LGBTQ Veterans Memorial in 2019. This is the second year in a row that AMVETS and VFP have organized the Cathedral City Veterans Day ceremony. We give thanks to our many sponsors.