ANAHEIM, Calif. (Nov. 11, 2022) — Veterans and community members came together Friday for a moving Veterans Day tribute in downtown Anaheim.
The Anaheim Veterans Day Ceremony featured inspiring remarks, an emotional poem, stirring music and the pageantry of a Marine color guard set amid the Anaheim Veterans Monument across from City Hall.
Col. Sean P. Dynan of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit based at Camp Pendleton delivered a keynote address stressing how our military heroes past and present — even with all they do and have done for our nation — are just like us with the same challenges, struggles, interests and joys.
Col. Dynan stepped in as Anaheim's adopted Marine unit, the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, is on deployment in service of our nation. The 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit Color Guard also was on hand for the event with a presentation of colors.
Charlotte Van Steenergen, who as a child in the Dutch East Indies was imprisoned in a World War II Japanese concentration camp, delivered a heart-wrenching but ultimately inspirational poem about her lifechanging experience, which she summarized as "meeting god in hell."
Navy veteran Bobby McDonald, president and CEO of the Black Chamber of Commerce, served as the event's emcee, recognizing veterans in attendance from each branch of our nation's miltiary.
The Esperanza High School Choir delivered vocal renditions of the National Anthem and Military Medley.
The Anaheim Veterans Day Ceremony is an annual event. We look forward to seeing you at 2023's event.