BY ALAN MILLER – PRESIDENT, THE WRIGHTWOOD VETERANS MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION
Throughout our nation’s history, America’s armed forces service members have answered the call to duty: to defend our freedom, to provide aid to steadfast allies, and to defeat aggressors. We can never fully repay our debt of gratitude to the countless Americans who died in battle or were wounded. Still, on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2024, we can thank the millions of American veterans living today. When the armistice ending World War I was signed in 1918, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, bells of joy rang worldwide as the most catastrophic war the world had yet seen finally ended.
The Wrightwood Veterans Memorial organization invites the Tri-Community to its Veterans Day ceremony to witness the solemn tradition of ringing the Armistice Bell, along with the rest of the program. The ceremony begins at 11 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 11, at Wrightwood Memorial Park at 1274 Evergreen Road. Marion Hall, a representative for the Quilts of Valor Foundation, will be on hand to present three special service members and veterans with beautiful, comforting, and healing Quilts of Valor. Sarah Bailey will have the honor of reading the names of the newest honor brick recipients, which have been placed at the memorial park. We are pleased to welcome our keynote speaker, retired U.S. Air Force fighter pilot Lt. Col. Bob Kay, to top off our Veterans Day event. Following is his bio:
Lt. Col. (retired) Bob Kay graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in the class of 1978. With 25 years of active duty service, he was a career fighter pilot with more than 5,500 flight hours in a variety of fighter aircraft (military: F-4D/E, F-117A, QF-106A/B, and AT-38; civilian: QF-4E/G, QRF-4C, TBM-910, King Air, and Sabreliner). He is currently a corporate pilot for Northrop Grumman. He and his beloved wife, Ellie, have seven children, with three sons graduating from three different service academies: Robert Jr., U.S. Naval Academy, 2011, Marine infantry officer and combat veteran; Jonathan, U.S. Air Force Academy, 2015, F-15E instructor pilot and combat veteran (soon to transition to the F-35); and Joshua, U.S. Military Academy, 2017, Ranger-qualified infantry officer.
We hope to see you there. God bless America!
