Vallejo Times-Herald - American Canyon commemorates Veterans Day

Since Americans should respect and honor the nation's veterans and active-duty military every day, every day should be Veterans Day. That was the message delivered by several speakers at this city's Community Center Gym on Tuesday.

"We should thank our veterans and service members for our safety and keep in our thoughts and prayers those who are in harm's way," Mayor Leon Garcia said, noting the city's long-standing tradition of honoring its military members. "And we should ensure they have access to the services they need and earned when they return."

American Canyon City Hall even has a "Wall of Honor" bearing the photos of its residents on active duty, he said.

It's a sentiment shared by U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson, a representative of whom read a statement to that effect on his behalf at Tuesday's ceremonies.

The gym, which was filled with an estimated crowd of more than 200, also hosted the American Canyon High School Marching Band, the middle school choir and a group of Napa Valley Montessori School children who led the assemblage in the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of the ceremonies.

American Canyon resident Jim Porterfield, who served in Southeast Asia in the early 1960s, attended the event in his U.S. Army uniform.

"It's a national day of recognition for those who served, and who serve now," he said. "All gave some and some gave all."

Members of the United States Army presented the colors and two city residents, Beth Marcus and Petty Officer Second Class Tonya West, spoke about their military experiences.

"I looked up the definition of a veteran, and read it's any person who wrote a blank check to the United States, up to and including their life," said Marcus, who said her brother was wounded in combat and an uncle was killed at Iwo Jima. She said she wishes she could have joined the miliary at a time when women could serve in combat.

"Today I honor those fighting for our freedoms and those who have died for it," she said. "We're not being bombed, we're not being tortured or beheaded, and it's our service members who are defending our right to continue living this way."

When you see a veteran – in uniform or holding up a sign at a stoplight asking for help – walk up and thank them for their service, she said. "It's never too late to give them that welcome home."

Thompson spokeswoman Edith Ramos said, "Let's also pray for peace and for the day war is a distant memory. As President John F. Kennedy said, 'humanity must put an end to war or war will put an end to humanity.'"