Laguna Beach honors its service members with ceremony on Veterans Day
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Laguna Beach celebrated its service members Wednesday, as the community observed Veterans Day with a ceremony at Monument Point in Heisler Park.
City officials, dignitaries and uniformed personnel were among those in attendance for the event, hosted by American Legion Post 222.
Frank Daniel, a United States Marine Corps veteran and the adjutant for the local post, began the ceremony by referring to Veterans Day as a day of “celebration,” “remembrance” and “recognition.”
He also called attention to an empty chair, representing the service members still missing in action.
“They are unaccounted for, but they are not forgotten,” said Daniel. “... We need to make sure that we remember them, think about them, and pray for their repatriation back to this country.”
Col. Susan Malone, a former Laguna Beach resident, retired Marine, and one of the first two women to enter the FBI Training Academy in Quantico, Virginia, in 1972, did the honors as the keynote speaker.
“Only a few Americans choose the dangerous but necessary work of fighting our nation’s enemies, foreign and domestic, whether on the battlefield directly, or the wars waged by our intelligence experts and public servants working to defend our homeland,” Malone said.
“I believe that when our chapter of history is written, it will be a saga of selfless generations, of veterans — veterans who were and still are willing to stand up and fight for our nation, to defend those who cannot defend themselves, to thrive on hardship [and] sacrifice expected of an elite military class of people, whatever service you were in, or serving in civilian capacities, serving in our communities, as our safeguarding first responders. You ably shoulder the legacy. You are true heroes, today and tomorrow.”
Bree Burgess Rosen, whose nonprofit performing arts organization No Square Theatre holds performances at American Legion Hall, sang the national anthem.
The Laguna Beach Honor Guard presented the colors, and Laguna Beach Scout Troop 35 led the Pledge of Allegiance.
“To the veterans here today, thank you,” Mayor Mark Orgill said. “Each of you has your own story of service, and each deserves our respect and gratitude. We also recognize your families, who have shared the service and responsibilities that come with serving your country.
“We remember those who are no longer with us, and we hold their families in our hearts. Here in Laguna Beach, we’re fortunate to have veterans who continue to serve through their work, their volunteerism, and their care for their neighbors. May our gratitude extend beyond today in how we listen, how we support our veterans, and how we care for one another.”
