Schools, commerce and government once halted to
honor those who had served in “the war to end all wars.”
Following the example of the national
observance at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National
Cemetery, Washington, D.C., many Tustin, Santa Ana and Orange residents
gathered for memorial services and the placing of a wreath at the monument
guarding the entrance to the Santa Ana Cemetery. This done, solemnity gave
way to exuberant patriotism as everyone headed for the annual Armistice Day
parade.
The larger cities of the county eventually
took turns hosting a countywide event, replacing celebrations by individual
towns. Patriotic floats, open cars bearing proud heroes back in uniform with
medals gleaming on their khaki tunics, American Legion groups, marching
military units, soul-stirring bands, drum and bugle corps, all paraded with
the stars and stripes flying.
Applause and cheers greeted all the military
men whether they were veterans or recent recruits. Many of the veterans were
from Santa Ana’s National Guard Unit, Company L, which played an important
part in World War I, especially in the battle of Argonne Forest. Tustin had
a number of men serving in Company L, including Nelson Holderman, a Medal of
Honor recipient.
Those were the days when men, women and
children snapped to attention while the flag passed by. Males snatched off
their hats and caps, holding them reverently over their hearts. Females
stood erect, arms at their sides or placed their right hands over their
hearts. No one talked or even whispered. Old Glory commanded respect.
American Legion posts from throughout the county always took part in the
parades. The American Legion, the largest veteran’s organization in the
world with a membership of nearly 3 million wartime veterans in the United
States, District of Columbia and four foreign countries, was founded and
organized in 1919.
Tustin’s American Legion Post 227 was
established in March of 1964. For more than 40 years they have been active
in Tustin, sponsoring and supporting veterans and their families to promote
the awareness of the role veterans, both past and present, play in securing
the freedoms and liberties that sustain our country. This is done by
communication, fund-raising, and the sponsorship of programs and events such
as sending students to Sacramento for Boys and Girls State, disposing of
tattered flags, maintaining the War Memorial Building on the southwest
corner of First and Prospect and, in recent years, organizing a Veterans Day
celebration.
This year’s event will be held on Sunday,
Nov. 11. Grand Marshal Ed Alvarez will lead a procession of military
vehicles and color guards to Peppertree Park in Old Town at 1 p.m. A
USOstyle show will begin at 1:30 p.m. with entertainment until 4:15 p.m.
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