Community turns out for South Lake Tahoe Veterans Day ceremony

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A large crowd was at the American Legion Hall on Friday for the annual Veterans Day ceremony, one of the largest seen at the outdoor venue in South Lake Tahoe. Post Commander Tom Millham was master of ceremonies which had music from singers Davin Kangas and Jill Scharlow, and bagpiper Maria Delallo, speeches, a POW/MIA ceremony, and a Vietnam Veteran pinning from Daughters of the American Legion's local chapter.

Veterans Day is held on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. This was when the guns fell silent on the battlefields of World War 1 after Germany signed an armistice agreement with the Allies in a railroad car outside Compiegne, France. Nearly 20 million soldiers and civilians died during WWI (the Allies lost about 5.7 million soldiers while the Central Powers lost about 4 million soldiers).

Right as Sandy McKnight of the American Legion Auxiliary was reading a poem from her uncle, the Caltrans snow removal equipment was loudly working on US50. For those that couldn't hear, this is the poem from 96 1/2-year-old (she joked he loves the 1/2) WWII veteran Bud Peka who was in the Battle of Okinawa and was in Tokyo Bay when the armistice was signed on the Battleship Missouri.

Veteran’s Day 2022

They have fought in so many foreign wars,
those loyal sons and daughters we raised,
many served overseas for several tours,
for their sacrifices they must be praised.

Thousands were killed on land, sea and air,
so many came home wounded or with PTSD,
thousands POW/MIA are somewhere over there,
they all have served to keep our nation free.

In 1918, on the 11th month, 11th hour, 11th day,
the guns fell silent on the front in World War One,
many of those fighting men knelt down to pray,
giving thanks to God for the victory they had won.

Let’s honor all who served, been wounded or died,
in the all too many wars we have fought since then,
and the friends and loved ones who have cried,
we pray to God today, to never allow a war again.

Our wonderful nation must always remain strong,
for there are Despotic men who rule some nations,
they are threatening the use of the nuclear bomb,
they want to conquer the USA for world domination.

America, America, land of the brave and free,
we salute all Veterans on their special day,
for the sacrifices they made to gain our Victory,
let us bow our heads, to God for them we pray.

- Bud Peka 10/14/2022 from Owatonna, Minnesota

Mayor Pro Tem Cristi Creegan gave a quick speech, challenging attendees to let the City know what they'd like to see for veterans in the community, and how they can partner with the American Legion on programs to benefit the community.

Afterward, several people stopped by the Barton Skilled Nursing Center which is currently home to twelve veterans.