Veterans and community members gathered at the Santa Barbara Cemetery Wednesday morning to remember those who served in the United States military.
The ceremony was adorned with flags, flowers and military personnel equipment. The event was presented by Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation.
The UC Santa Barbara ROTC Color Guard, the Gold Coast Pipe Band, the Santa Barbara Choral Society and the Prime Time Band all performed.
Barney Melekian, retired U.S. Coast Guard Reserve officer, gave the keynote speech. Melekian is a former Santa Barbara police chief, who also worked in the Obama Administration.
“Veterans Day is about thanking that broader number of men and women who give their time and talent and served this country in the armed forces in numerous capacities,” Melekian said.
Patricia Rumpza, retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant, led the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by David Gonzales, a retired sergeant for the Santa Barbara Police Department, who sang the National Anthem.
Music filled the air during most of Wednesday’s ceremony. The Santa Barbara Choral Society sang, “The Gift to be Free,” and the Prime Time Band played, “Journal of a Soldier,” among other songs at the event.
The Santa Barbara Choral Society sang, “Armed Forces: Pride of America,” which featured the official anthems of the U.S. army branches.
The song included anthems from the U.S. Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Space Force and Coast Guard. Veterans who served in these branches stood up and sang along to their respective anthem.
By noon, T-34 planes from the San Diego Salute flew over the ceremony to close out the event.
Melekian’s keynote speech, which later garnered a standing ovation from the crowd, reflected on his 25 years of active military duty for his country.
He served in the U.S. Army as a tank commander in the late 1960s. Melekian was discharged in 1970 and went on to work for the Santa Monica Police Department for 11 years.
Melekian’s police captain was a Lieutenant for the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve, and helped him join the Coast Guard in 1974. Melekain worked out of a station near Oxnard.
In late 1990, Melekian was called to active duty in Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Storm. He said at age 42 he did not expect to be sent to the front lines.
“I said goodbye to my children at LAX at 6 in the morning, not knowing when I would come back,” Melekian said.
Melekian said his focus this Veterans Day was on the men and women who served in the reserve like he did.
“When the country calls 911, all of those reserves step forward, answer the call, and hope that they will be able to return to their normal life one day,” Melekian said. “Almost always not knowing how far off one day actually is.”
After Melekian’s speech, military representatives from each branch of the U.S. Army stood in front of their respective “service reefs.” The reefs symbolized those who died in each of the conflicts throughout history.
“To be killed in war is not the worst,” said Retired General Frederick Lopez, the emcee of Wednesday’s ceremony. “To be forgotten is the worst.”
