Honoring Those Who Served

As the next U.S. presidency wavered in uncertainty Thursday, hundreds of people gathered in West Los Angeles at the nation’s largest Veteran Affairs hospital to celebrate those who fought and died to preserve American democracy.

A colorful morning parade of high school bands, elected officials and uniformed military marched and cheered their way through the grounds of the Veterans Affairs facility, waving flags and honking their horns along the way.

Veterans Day is Saturday, but celebrations were held throughout Los Angeles County on Thursday. Today, veterans will be honored with a special service at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills.

On Saturday, veterans will be honored in Orange County with ceremonies at the El Toro Memorial Park in Lake Forest and at Santa Ana College.

At the West Los Angeles ceremony Thursday, a World War II warplane buzzed overhead while nurses, doctors and patients, many in hospital gowns and wheelchairs, filtered outside to watch.

Hospital officials this year held the parade on a weekday at the request of their patients, many of whom live outside Los Angeles and come in for weekday medical appointments.

One patient watching the parade was Vietnam veteran Jose Fuentes, 51, of Los Angeles who lost both his legs to diabetes, after serving three years in Vietnam as an Army demolition specialist. He survived malaria, dodged bullets and arrived home safely in 1970. On Thursday, Fuentes mused on the lingering uncertainty over the presidential election.

“That’s the U.S. for you,” he said. “I believe that’s why we’re so strong, because we have the ability to laugh at ourselves.”

Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan, who is a Korean War veteran, and City Councilman Nate Holden, a World War II veteran, praised the courage and devotion of local vets.

“My heart is always with you,” Holden said. “We care about you. We love you. The government will never let you down.”

During his speech, Riordan called veterans “the soul and the spirit of our country. He pointed to 104-year-old World War I veteran Dennis F. Whatley of Bellflower, a man who enlisted in the Army at age 21 in 1916. His unit was among the first of the combat troops sent to France the year the United States joined the Great War.

“He’s ready to fight the next war,” Riordan said.

Hearing his name, Whatley raised his arms in a silent cheer.

At a ceremony Thursday at Los Angeles Mission College in Sylmar, American soldiers were praised for creating an atmosphere that has allowed the current election stalemate to take place peacefully.

“This wouldn’t have happened without the folks here,” Rep. Howard L. Berman (D-Mission Hills) said with a nod toward the veterans.

In Sylmar, honoree Sidney Levine, 82, of Van Nuys said it was “strictly luck” that allowed him to survive his European war experience, which included the invasion of Italy at Salerno with the Army’s 141st Infantry Division in 1943.

His original medals, including a Bronze Star, were destroyed in the 1994 Northridge earthquake.

Also recognized was John Z. Rojas, 78, of San Fernando, for his Army combat service in North Africa, Italy and northern France.

Beyond that, Rojas’ story is a mystery--perhaps the event’s most poignant testament to the sacrifices made by World War II veterans.

Surrounded by family members after the event Thursday, Rojas said the war left him severely shell-shocked; he still can’t remember what his honors are for.

“I try to think, but it just don’t come back to me no more,” he said.

Another honoree, Alexander Bookston, 81, of Sylmar, said he shunned decorations when he returned home after 22 bloody months of fighting in Europe. He decided to be recognized recently, however, after a granddaughter saw the film “Saving Private Ryan,” and began asking him to share details of an experience he hadn’t spoken about much.

“I never [cared] what they thought of me these 50 years,” Bookston said. “I left all the heroes over there, six feet underground.”