Berkeley To Honor Veterans On Veterans' Day
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Berkeley, a city known for its anti-war tradition, will honor its sons and daughters who have served in America's wars with a Veterans Day ceremony on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2003.
The ceremony will be hosted by Vietnam era anti-war singer/songwriter Country Joe McDonald, a Navy veteran. The event will take place at Martin Luther King Civic Center Park. It will begin at 11:11 a.m. - the same time when the guns fell silent in 1918 to end World War I. Veterans' Day, originally named Armistice Day, has its origin in that cease-fire. The inter-generational observance will include patriotic music by the Piedmont High School Bagpipers, Berkeley resident Joey Blake, a faculty member at Susan Muscarella's well-known Berkeley institution, The Jazzschool, as well as a veteran himself, laying of wreaths by veterans and families of Berkeleyans currently deployed, a ceremonial retirement of old flags by color guards from the UC Berkeley ROTC, Boy Scout Troops 14 and 19, Venture Scout Crew 26 and Cub Scout Pack 30, and the traditional playing of "Taps.". "This will be an opportunity for Berkeley citizens of all ages and political beliefs to come together to thank those men and women who have served in our armed forces, and to express our hope for a more peaceful world." says Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates, an Army veteran who, with McDonald, co-chairs the citizens' committee organizing the event. The Veterans' Day ceremony is being organized by a volunteer committee of Berkeley citizens and employees. No public funds are being expended. Tax-deductible contributions to defray the cost of the ceremony can be sent to the Berkeley Chamber Foundation c/o the Berkeley Chamber of Commerce, 1834 University Ave., Berkeley, CA 94703.
What: Berkeley Veterans' Day Ceremony
Preliminary Program
HISTORY OF VETERANS DAY – Presented by Ron Brill PRESENTATION OF COLORS – UC BERKELEY ROTC, AND BOYSCOUTS NATIONAL ANTHEM – Joey Blake, Local Performer and faculty member, Jazzschool, Berkeley. LOWERING OF FLAG TO HALF MAST – Presented by Ron Brill INVOCATION – Chaplain George Mendes, 11TH US Coast Guard District HISTORY OF FLAG RETIREMENT – Presented by Ron Brill TAPS WELCOME – Joe McDonald KEYNOTE SPEAKER – Mayor Tom Bates REMARKS BY SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS W.C. "Bill" Armstrong, WWII Veteran Shirley Issel, Berkeley Unified School District Board of Directors Others to be announced MUSICAL INTERLUDE
PEACE ON EARTH – Country Joe McDonald LAYING OF WREATHS BENEDICTION – Chaplain George Mendes, 11TH Coast Guard District CLOSING REMARKS AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL--Sung and led by Joey Blake, Local Performer and faculty member, Jazzschool, Berkeley.
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