By Eliz Dowdy

The sun broke through the clouds for the occasion as the media groups positioned their mini-microwave vans to broadcast the commemoration services.

The National Anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance were led by active duty personnel. A Joint Services Color Guard presented Colors, and the parade of Colors for the various veteran and fraternal organizations followed.

Military, civilian, political and celebrity guests were acknowledged by Voight. They included Lt. Governor Abel Maldonado; Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villariagosa, and a special visit by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, First Lady Maria Shriver and their four children. The Governor spoke briefly about the meaning of the day, and encouraged the attendees to bring their children so they may understand what the day truly means. That is why he brought his whole family to share the remembrance of those who gave the last full measure of life to maintain the freedoms we sometimes take for granted. He said it especially meant a lot to him as an immigrant to this country where he has accomplished things that would have been elusive in other countries.

National, state, county and city proclamations were read; the theme of the remembrance was: “Remembering the War Correspondent,” those individuals who travel with the troops into the war zone and tell their stories. The keynote address was delivered by Vietnam veteran/embedded journalist, Gordon Dillow, who traveled with the first Marine invasion forces into Iraq. He spoke of the heroism, the fears and the solidarity of troops on the front line, their anguish when a comrade is killed or severely wounded and their determination to succeed. These are not rare men and women. They grew up with aspirations for a long life and all the amenities that are a part of that lifestyle, but their plans were interrupted by the call to action for their country. The program speakers occasionally had to pause as a flyover of World War II aircraft flew low in formation over the assemblage.

Staff Writer for the Precinct Reporter Group, Eliz Dowdy, her daughter Agyna, and granddaughter Veronica were interviewed by NPR radio station KPPC, 89.3 on their attendance of three generations at the remembrance ceremony

The following actors read selected excerpts from articles written by war correspondents from the Mexican War, to the present: Powers Booth, Robert Davi, Robert Forester, Gerald McRaney, William Lucking, J.R. Martinez, Joseph C. Phillips, Lee Purcell, and Jon Voight. Musical selections were performed by the USAF Band of the Southwest stationed in Ventura County.

The conclusion of the commemoration included the playing of taps (Day is Done), the restoration of the flag to full staff, a rifle salute and the retirement of Colors by the Joint Services Color Guard.

Carnations were distributed to the attendees, and at the close of the ceremony they were collected in baskets and scattered in the Pacific Ocean in memory of those resting underneath the earth in West Los Angeles with the traffic from the 405 freeway nearby and the hustle and bustle of the surrounding streets.