Hundreds Gather in Tribute to Veterans

A retired Navy captain who served his country for more than a quarter-century, 83-year-old Elmer Holk stood tall and proud during Thursday’s Veterans Day service at Constitution Park in Camarillo.

Rose, Holk’s wife of 32 years, glanced over at her husband fondly as a bugler played a slow rendition of taps, the traditional military call performed at funerals and memorial services.

“It’s very worthwhile to me that such a thing is being dedicated to all of the people who served,” Elmer said as the sound of the bugle faded from his ear. “Lots of memories.”

Hundreds of people crowded the corner of Paseo Camarillo and Carmen Drive as American Legion and other veterans groups’ officials commemorated the 75th anniversary of Armistice Day with a ceremonial groundbreaking.

This year’s service was particularly special to most Camarillo-area veterans, as they finally are within sight of bringing to reality a goal months in the making.

Ground was broken with a golden shovel on Thursday for the Camarillo Veterans Memorial, a planned monument to be dedicated to the city’s sons and daughters who have served and will serve their country.

“I’m just thrilled,” said R. T. Lee, a retired chief master sergeant who spent 26 years in the Air Force and served in World War II and Korea. “The turnout is amazing. I’m so happy I almost don’t have words to tell you.”

Lee, the vice chair of the volunteer committee formed to bring the memorial to fruition, said the group now is within $10,000 of funding the $25,000 monument.

“We think it will be up by Memorial Day,” Lee boasted proudly.

Nearby, Roy Nichols was selling replica pins of the planned memorial and accepting donations by the handful. “I think we’ll probably beat that date,” Nichols said confidently.

Nichols unfolded a note he said was given to him earlier on Thursday that accompanied a $25 donation.

The letter offered support for the Camarillo memorial and recalled the death of a loved one killed in Vietnam.

“It’s thoughts like that that make me feel like it’s really worthwhile,” Nichols said, refolding and pocketing the single page.

Veterans Day celebrations also were held Thursday in other areas around the county.

The American Legion Post No. 339 drew more than 200 people to its hall in downtown Ventura for a pancake breakfast. “We made a lot of people happy,” said Cmdr. John Tinsley.

In Simi Valley, scores of people attended a service in Rancho Tapo Community Park. County Supervisor Vicky Howard joined a handful of other dignitaries for the occasion, which featured a string of speakers praising those who have served their country.

The 11 a.m. ceremony in Camarillo culminated a 24-hour honorary vigil and color guard that American Legion members began at the park on Wednesday, when the 30-foot flagpole was delivered.

A brass eagle sits atop the newly planted pole, which on Thursday briskly displayed an American flag flying above a black POW/MIA banner.

Walking the grounds around the site where the memorial is planned, a blue-eyed veteran in his 40s waved a black POW/MIA flag of his own.

“I think they’re running about 20 years too late,” said the man, who called himself Magic and said he worked for the U.S. government in Vietnam two decades ago.

“In 1973, American military personnel were hiding from the public, being humiliated,” he said. “Vietnam was really unpopular at the time. But this is better late than never.”