REGION: North County joins nation in celebrating Veterans Day 2008

By GARY WARTH - Staff Writer | Wednesday, November 12, 2008 6:19 PM PST ∞

ESCONDIDO ---- The sacrifices of men and women in uniform were remembered across North County on Tuesday as residents observed Veterans Day with parades, ceremonies and tributes both grand and subtle.

In Escondido, a ceremony in Grape Day Park began as a clock's bells tolled 11 a.m., a reminder that World War I officially ended in 1918 on the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month.

Retired U.S. Marine Scott Minturn reminded the 300 people gathered for the ceremony that the day originally recognized as the end of "The War to End All Wars."

"Of course, we know that didn't happen," he said.

Minturn rhetorically asked why anyone would interrupt their life and go to a foreign place where their lives would be in danger.

"They have a purpose to do this," he said. "Their purpose is to preserve our freedom."

Some speakers paid tribute to the ultimate sacrifice that veterans have made. Frances Mercado spoke proudly of her younger brother, Acosta Genaro, who was 26 when he was killed in Iraq on Nov. 11, 2003.

Speaking with former World War II prisoner of war Don Schloat by his side, local American Legion Cmdr. Joseph Watt described the subtle symbolism of a small dining table set before the crowd: a white tablecloth for the prisoners' purity, a red rose for blood, salt for the tears of family members, and a lemon slice for their bitter fate.

"Let us remember and never forget their sacrifice," Watt said.

Veteran Harvey Benne, commander of the John R. Simpson Veterans of Foreign Wars Post, recited lyrics to the Johnny Cash song, "Ragged Old Flag," adding his own original lines about the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"I've done a lot for the flag, and I'll do it again," he said. "I think the flag is my No. 1 friend in all the world."

Toward the end of the ceremony, Benne also spoke about following the examples veterans set for the rest of society.

"Heroism becomes contagious, yet too often in warfare, greed and brutality are epidemic," he said. "Too often, it is the latter which persist in the peace that follows. Let us strive to see the same spirit of self-sacrifice cultivated in peace as has been exhibited in war."

In Fallbrook, a crowd of about 1,000 gathered downtown to watch the town's annual Veterans Day parade and a flyover by a pair of Navy F/A-18 Hornets.

As the 10:50 a.m. flyover approached, people poured from storefronts and craned their necks toward the sky for a glimpse of the fighter jets.

It was the first time the Navy had performed a flyover in Fallbrook, and as the jets flew north over Main Street, hundreds of people gathered at Main and Alvarado Street broke into applause.

Later, children gawked at combat vehicles driven into town by Marine Corps personnel, while officials held an hourlong ceremony at Village Square that included music and stories of battlefield heroism.

Guest speaker Ken Pipes, a retired Marine Corps lieutenant colonel, told a brief tale of heroics from every U.S. conflict since the Civil War. He said he hoped to "shine a brief light on some of our heroes," then saluted the dozens of veterans who had attended the ceremony.

Meanwhile, a crowd of about 200 gathered at the Elks Lodge in Oceanside for another Veterans Day ceremony.

"Let's all take a moment to look back to our heroes from childhood,” said keynote speaker Dave Barr of Bodfish, in Kern County. "These men stood 10 feet tall to me."

Barr, a double amputee who has traveled the world on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, went on to question today's "heroes" ---- athletes and actors paid huge sums of money to play a game or a role, and who all too often behave dishonorably.

Barr asked whether uncomplicated heroes still exist today, and the crowd responded with a resounding yes, referring to the men and women who serve in the military.

The recital of the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Alex "The Flag Man" Kapitanski, who has become well-known locally for giving away or displaying more than 3.5 million American flags in ceremonies since he started as a Boy Scout in 1934.

Staff writer Tom Pfingsten and freelance writer Elena Cristiano contributed to this story.

Contact staff writer Gary Warth at (760) 740-5410 or gwarth@nctimes.com.