On Friday November 7, 2008 United States Veterans Initiative, better known as U.S. VETS held its inaugural “Honoring Those Who Serve Luncheon” at The Grand in Long Beach.  The event benefitted the veteran programs U.S.VETS operates at the Villages at Cabrillo and was attended by more than 300 guests.  Jerry Miller, former City Manager of Long Beach was honored along with Long Beach City Prosecutor Tom Reeves.  Reeves is one of the most recent additions to the U.S. VETS Advisory Board and two of the guests at his table were POW’s from the Vietnam war.

The luncheon was filled with community leaders and business representatives from all over the city and also included many young men and women in uniform, most of them veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.  Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Tom Johnson was in attendance and thanked these young servicemen and women for their service and thanked U.S.VETS for being a leader in services to our homeless and at-risk veterans.

Greg McCormack, the Site Director for U.S. VETS-Long Beach said, “The event exceeded our expectations.  U.S. VETS has been providing services for veterans at the Villages at Cabrillo for over 8 years and this is the first time we’ve held such an event.  Everyone was excited to participate and the help of our staff and our Advisory Board really made the event as successful as it was.  We are privileged to have the opportunity to Honor Those Who Serve.”

The keynote speaker Brigadier General James Combs gave a spirited and motivational keynote speech, especially pointing out the contributions of the National Guard, the “citizen soldiers” who are playing such a large role in this war.

While the attendees ate lunch Mike Murray, the Director of Government Affairs for Verizon, Vietnam Veteran, and the Chair of the U.S. VETS Long Beach Advisory Board, offered a toast to a fallen Marine comrade from the Vietnam War.  Mr. Murray encouraged other toasts to honor veterans and the military.

Mr. Murray then pointed out two Marines in their dress blue uniforms. Both young men carried helmets.  One of the helmets belonged to Bill Seal, who wore that helmet when he landed on Omaha Beach in 1944. Mr. Seal attended with his wife and grandson. The other helmet belonged to a Vietnam veteran who lives at the Villages at Cabrillo.

In order to offer a toast, attendees had to put a contribution in the helmet, anything from a dollar on up. What followed was an outpouring of emotion and respect coming from the attendees, all of whom, it seemed, were veterans, or had family members who had served in the military, or who have lost children and family in war. As the helmets went around the 30 tables, they were over filled with 5, 10 and 20 dollar bills, even a few $50’s were showing. Candy Saenz and Sara Rodriguez of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce gave a contribution $1,000 to the organization.  Ryan ZumMallen, editor of the lbpost.com announced that they will match the cash contribution given at the event.

The event was attended by the U.S.VETS President and CEO Dwight Radcliff, and National Board of Directors.  Michael Dolphin, Board of Directors member gave a toast thanking the people in the room for supporting U.S. VETS endeavors.

Proceeds of the event will be directed to the programs and services offered to veterans at the U.S.VETS Villages at Cabrillo facility where 525 veterans are housed.

Some of the Sponsors of the event included Verizon, Matson Navigation, the Port of Long Beach, L.A. County Supervisor Don Knabe, Valero Oil, the Long Beach Post, Forest Lawn and Tesoro. Tesoro presented U.S. VETS with a $10,000 check for the work they have been providing the nations veterans.

Some of the attendees included Mike Walter of the Long Beach Port, John Morris of Smooth’s, Bake Christian, Shaun Lumachi, Representatives from Mayor Bob Foster, Councilmembers Bonnie Lowenthal’s, Councilmember Tonia Reyes Uranga, Assemblymember Furutani and Lt. Governor Garamendi office were present. Boeing, Valero and Tesoro’s tables were seated with their veteran employees.

Steve Peck, Community Development Director for U.S. VETS, said, “I envision next year we will host a dinner.”

I had an opportunity to attend the event and what was truly amazing and heartwarming was when Mike asked for all veterans and active service personnel to stand, it really brought it home.  I come from a family of veterans and I was just honored to be in the room.

Host Mike Murray demonstrates the proper luncheon technique: Place donation in the helmet and give a toast.

lbpost.com co-founder Shaun Lumachi addresses the crowd.

Managing Editor Ryan ZumMallen announces that the lbpost.com will match the amount donated into the helmets.