Bonnie Carroll
By Bonnie Carroll
The 2023 Annual Memorial Day Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation (PCVF) Ceremony at the Santa Barbara Cemetery was a beautiful way for all veterans and community members to remember those who gave the greatest sacrifice for our country on Sunday, May 29, 2023. It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces joining together to show their respect for the men and women of our armed services who did not return.
“We are humbled as we remember all of those who served our Country and died protecting it,” said VFW Lifetime Member and PCVF co-founder Lt. John Blankenship (USN, former) who welcomed the huge crowd gathered again this year for the free ceremony where members of the UCSB ROTC Color Guard opened the program. David Gonzales, Sergeant, Santa Barbara Police Department (ret), sang and lead the audience in our National Anthem, while The Santa Barbara Choral Society directed by JoAnne Wasserman and The Prime-Time Band directed by Paul Mori entertained throughout the special remembrance to those who gave their all for our Country.
Veteran Peter Jordano, US Marine Corp stands with other Marines during Marine Hymn at PCVF Memorial Day Ceremony 2023 (Photo: Bonnie Carroll)
Guest speakers this year included Colonel Robert Long Commander of Space Launch Delta 30 and Western Launch and Test Range, Vandenberg Space Force Base, and LT Christia Sandstedt, CGC, USCGC Blackfin who both gave very thoughtful and touching remarks. The Gold Coast Pipe & Drum Band directed by Bill Boetticher played some of their well-known favorites, and representatives from each branch of the service gathered to perform the Wreath Ceremony. Unfortunately, due to our fogged in coastal conditions in Santa Barbara The Condor Squadron Officer’s and Airmen’s Association, a unique non-profit organization founded in 1965 by a group of WWII fighter pilots, were unable to flyover this year.
Among the many veterans standing to be honored during the “Marines’ Hymn”at the Santa Barbara Cemetery ceremony was Peter Jordano, a proud former U. S. Marine who was born and raised in Santa Barbara, who shared “This was the Best Memorial Day Ceremony Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation has ever held to honor those who made the greatest sacrifice!”
LT John Blankenship, USN (former) with David Gonzales, Sergeant, Santa Barbara Police Department (ret.) [Photo: Bonnie Carroll]
Guests generously donated to the cause during the event, and anyone wishing to make donations to Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation can visit: www.pcvf.org.
About Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation
It’s US Marine Corps, not Corp.
The event was really wonderful except for 2 things:
the weather prevented the flyover and the echo bugle at the end during Taps was terribly flat.
Still, it is about remembering, and I really enjoyed the prayers, the speakers and the music!