Pasadena Says Thank You to Veterans and Service Members

The Condor Squadron flyover above the City of Pasadena’s 2022 Veterans Day Observances, November 11, 2022. [Photo by Paul Takizawa / Pasadena Now]

Mayor Victor Gordo opens the City of Pasadena’s 2022 Veterans Day Observances on November 11, 2022. [Photo by Paul Takizawa / Pasadena Now]

Colonel Quintin D. Jones at the City of Pasadena’s 2022 Veterans Day Observances, November 11, 2022. [Photo by Paul Takizawa / Pasadena Now]

Veterans honored at the City of Pasadena’s 2022 Veterans Day Observances, November 11, 2022. [Photo by Paul Takizawa / Pasadena Now]

The Pasadena Scottish Pipes & Drums at the City of Pasadena’s 2022 Veterans Day Observances, November 11, 2022. [Photo by Paul Takizawa / Pasadena Now]

Veterans in attendance at the City of Pasadena’s 2022 Veterans Day Observances, November 11, 2022. [Photo by Paul Takizawa / Pasadena Now]

The Blair High School band at the City of Pasadena’s 2022 Veterans Day Observances, November 11, 2022. [Photo by Paul Takizawa / Pasadena Now]

Members of the Blair High School Junior ROTC at the City of Pasadena’s 2022 Veterans Day Observances, November 11, 2022. [Photo by Paul Takizawa / Pasadena Now]

Members of the Blair High School Junior ROTC Color Guard at the City of Pasadena’s 2022 Veterans Day Observances, November 11, 2022. [Photo by Paul Takizawa / Pasadena Now]

Councilmember Felicia Williams at the City of Pasadena’s 2022 Veterans Day Observances, November 11, 2022. [Photo by Paul Takizawa / Pasadena Now]

Assemblymember Chris Holden at the City of Pasadena’s 2022 Veterans Day Observances, November 11, 2022. [Photo by Paul Takizawa / Pasadena Now]

Councilmember Gene Masuda at the City of Pasadena’s 2022 Veterans Day Observances, November 11, 2022. [Photo by Paul Takizawa / Pasadena Now]

Councilmember Tyron Hampton at the City of Pasadena’s 2022 Veterans Day Observances, November 11, 2022. [Photo by Paul Takizawa / Pasadena Now]

Councilmember Justin Jones at the City of Pasadena’s 2022 Veterans Day Observances, November 11, 2022. [Photo by Paul Takizawa / Pasadena Now]

Pasadena Interim Chief of Police Jason Clawson at the City of Pasadena’s 2022 Veterans Day Observances, November 11, 2022. [Photo by Paul Takizawa / Pasadena Now]

Lt. McConnell, mayor, Cl. Quintin D. Jones, former Mayor Terry Tornek at the City of Pasadena’s 2022 Veterans Day Observances, November 11, 2022. [Photo by Paul Takizawa / Pasadena Now]

Miguel Márquez at the City of Pasadena’s 2022 Veterans Day Observances, November 11, 2022. [Photo by Paul Takizawa / Pasadena Now]

Audience members at the City of Pasadena’s 2022 Veterans Day Observances, November 11, 2022. [Photo by Paul Takizawa / Pasadena Now]

Hundreds gathered at Pasadena City Hall to recognize veterans for their service to the United States and the community in a dignified ceremony held on Friday, Nov. 11.

The event was emceed by former Mayor Terry Tornek, a U.S. Army veteran. It began with opening remarks by Mayor Victor Gordo, who thanked past and current service members for their service.

“As we celebrate Veterans Day, let’s do so in honor of all of the men and women who have served in every capacity in our armed forces, ensuring that we enjoy the freedoms and the great life that this country affords us.”

“Let’s remember also that behind every veteran, behind every sacrifice made by every person who served this great country, is also a family that sacrifices,” he said.

Chaplain California State Guard Major Randy McConnell offered an invocation to start the ceremony.

In his prayer, McConnell asked for abundant blessings those who serve.

“We pray, Lord, that you would bless them for their unselfish service in the continual struggle to preserve our freedom, our safety, our country’s heritage for all of us.”

“Bless them abundantly, Lord, for the hardships that they faced, for the sacrifices that they made, for the many different contributions to America’s victories over tyranny and oppression.”

Following the invocation, those in attendance stood for the National Anthem, which was sung by Blair High School sophomore student Madeleine Harbison.

The keynote speaker was Col. Quintin Jones, Commanding Officer of 23d Marine Regiment stationed in San Bruno, California.

He began his speech by asking those “who had raised their right hand to support and defend the constitution” — all veterans and service members, whether active or reserve — to stand to be recognized.

He also thanked Blue and Gold Star families for giving up their sons and daughters, their husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, for the greater good and in service to the nation.

(A Blue Star Family is a military family with a loved one who is serving in the U.S. military during a time of conflict while a Gold Star Family is a military family which has lost a loved one during war.)

In his speech, Jones said the people should not forget those who fought for the nation’s freedom.

“What can we do as Americans so we never forget our defenders, or be forgotten as a nation as President [Calvin] Coolidge once quipped? Well, we can continue to do just this: Continue to honor our veterans on this special day — but not just on this day. We should do it every day. We can do this by giving a veteran a hand just as some have literally given in their conflict,” said Jones.

He mentioned the many ways the community can do to continue to honor the veterans for their service.

“If you are a business owner, hire a veteran. If a veteran can handle logistics and supplies and service, they can surely handle your supply chain. If they can fight fires on the fight line, they can fight fires in our neighborhoods.”

“If they can patch the wounded in the poppy fields of Afghanistan, they can surely save lives in the emergency rooms across this land. We also have to find opportunities for our spouses who hold down the house and take care of the kids while suppressing their dreams so that we can fulfill ours.”

He said members of the community can also help by speaking to those veterans dealing with mental health challenges due to the invisible wounds they obtained from the war.

“We can volunteer at a veteran’s home. Nothing brightens the day of a veteran who has lost it all than sitting down to just talk.”

“We can pay it forward by helping a veteran by random acts of kindness. We can, should and have to keep veterans’ issues of mental health, access to healthcare, suicide, homelessness, and unemployment at the forefront,” he said.

The ceremony also featured the Blair High School band, which played the anthems of each branch of the armed forces, Blair’s Junior ROTC, which provided the color guard and Pasadena Scottish Pipes & Drums which played “Amazing Grace” to honor the Blue and Gold Star families.

Notably missing from the proceedings was Pasadenan Ross Selvidge, a decorated combat veteran of the U.S. Navy, who passed away in October.

Selvidge faithfully participated in Pasadena’s Veterans Day event for many years. He had retired from service with the rank of commander after four years of active duty and 23 more years as a reservist. Selvidge had a family history deeply tied to military service.

Veterans Day has its roots in a proclamation issued by President Woodrow Wilson in November 1919, a year after World War I ended, designating Nov. 11 as Armistice Day. States soon started declaring Nov. 11 a legal holiday. Congress made it a federal holiday in 1938, dedicated to the cause of world peace.

In 1954, following World War II and the Korean War, Congress, at the urging of veterans service organizations, passed a law renaming Armistice Day Veterans Day. From 1971-77, Veterans Day was held in late October. A 1975 law returned it to Nov. 11, beginning in 1978.

In his Veterans Day proclamation, President Joe Biden declared, “Today, we honor generations of patriots who have earned the title of American veteran — a badge of courage that unites the finest group of former service members the world has ever known.

“With their selfless sacrifice, our armed forces have forged and defended the very idea of America — a promise of freedom and equality, democracy and justice, possibility and hope. We owe them an incredible debt that can never be fully repaid.”