About 100 guests attended the city’s annual Veterans Day commemoration, held this year at the Turlock Public Safety Facility.

Mayor Amy Bublak, city councilmembers Cassandra Abram (District 3) and Erika Phillips (District 4), Police Chief Jason Hedden, Deputy Fire Chief Shanon Evans, and Yosemite Community College District board president Milt Richards were among the local dignitaries on hand to honor veterans.

“Our veterans live every day with the sacrifices they have made to defend and secure this nation,” said Mike Dunbar, representing Rep. Adam Gray (D-Merced). “We live every day with the benefits of those sacrifices.”

Dunbar set the stage for the keynote speaker, Capt. Chuck Roots, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam.

“As you know, the purpose of Veterans Day is not just to acknowledge the service of those who have defended our nation over the years, but most importantly, to be remembered,” said Roots. “When it became popular for people to say ‘thank you for your service,’ I really wasn’t sure how to respond to that because that was our job. That’s what we did. We didn’t do it for thanks, we did it because of love of country and because we wanted to make a difference.

“What I realized is that when people say, “thank you for your service,” they are helping to remember those who have served.”

That’s a sentiment shared by Bublak, with a minor tweak.

“I absolutely believe in service, whether it’s military, or fire and police, I believe that public service is so above most professions,” said Bublak. “So, instead of saying, ‘thank you for your service,’ I say, ‘thank you for my freedom.’ It’s important to me and I will always be here at this ceremony.”

The event got started with an opening prayer from Calvary Chapel Pastor Rob Monroe, himself a former U.S. Marine. 

After the presentation of the colors and the singing of the national anthem by Kailyn Walters, followed by another prayer from Toby Barnum, Monroe kicked off the event with a few brief remarks, and introduced the speakers.

The highlight of the event came when veterans in attendance stood for the playing of the song  — “The Army Goes Rolling Along” (Army), “Anchors Aweigh” (Navy), “Wild Blue Yonder” (Air Force), “The Marines Hymn” (Marines), “Semper Paratus” (Coast Guard), and “Semper Supra” (Space Force) — representing the particular military branch in which they served.