Manhattan Beach: What's Patriotism? How Do You Support Veterans?

Thank you to our veterans. This immigrant owes everything to you. #VeteransDay pic.twitter.com/tPMLVfsB9e
— Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) November 11, 2020

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — Immigrant, actor, muscleman, businessman and politician Arnold Schwarzenegger visited the Los Angeles National Cemetery on Veterans Day and posted two compelling videos on Twitter. He wondered why more people didn't turn out to honor our veterans and thanked our service members for enabling our country to live a mostly war-free life for countless years.

Manhattan Beach Patch caught up with three prominent community members to ask them about Veterans Day. And, if you didn't catch the City of Manhattan Beach's virtual 23rd Annual Veterans Day Ceremony, during which two speakers, Mayor Richard Montgomery and former MB mayor and veteran Bob Holmes delivered riveting tributes to veterans, you can still do so anytime, 24/7 since it's posted online on YouTube and shown above.

But here's what Manhattan Beach City Council member Suzanne Hadley said:

“I am looking forward to watching today’s virtual Veterans Day celebration which will include remarks by Mayor Richard Montgomery and former Mayor and Vietnam Veteran Bob Holmes. I’m grateful the City of MB has taken the time to honor our veterans, and, despite Covid, to put together something special to commemorate their service.

Our city council has two active-duty servicemembers who are sons of current councilmembers. My son Jack Hadley is an Army first lieutenant stationed in Germany and serving as a platoon commander in the 173rd Airborne Division. My colleague Hildy Stern’s son Seth Stern is active duty in the Marine Corps. We have many amazing veteran residents of MB who have served in our armed forces including former mayors like Bob Holmes.

Today we thank all our veterans: past, present, and future. Because of their selfless service, we remain to this day the greatest experiment in freedom in the history of the world. The city of MB salutes and honors our veterans.”

Manhattan Beach resident and probable board member of the Manhattan Beach Unified School District Jason Boxer said:

"I’ll be reflecting by reading the work of Howard Zinn, a historian I was first exposed to at Mira Costa by the incomparable Bill Fauver. I have family both in the military and in the field of veteran’s healthcare, and I’ll be thanking them for their service. And I never would have thought to do this had you not emailed, but you inspired me! I’m going to write to my local officials and tell them I think our veterans deserve reliable and affordable healthcare, job training, and to be able to live a comfortable and dignified life after they finish serving."

Manhattan Beach resident and potential Manhattan Beach City Council member Joe Franklin said:

"I'm reflecting on the tremendous sacrifice made by our citizen military throughout our history. When thinking about our honored Veterans I reflect on our trip to Normandy three years ago. The horror of the invasion of Normandy is almost beyond belief and my respect and admiration for that generation of Americans who had the courage to fight there is boundless.

Here is a column I wrote about it https://www.dailybreeze.com/2017/06/04/my-turn-remember-the-fallen-heroes-on-d-day-anniversary/

I plan to visit our Veterans Memorial on the greenbelt at 11AM this morning to pay tribute to all those who served and laid their lives on the line to fight to create and protect our country."

How did you honor our Veterans yesterday? Feel free to answer in the comment section below.

We need to have a serious talk about patriotism. pic.twitter.com/RlNJb13Adu
— Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) November 11, 2020