Orange County Salutes America's Heroes

Orange County unions led by the non-profit organization Veterans and Labor, along with veterans and community leaders, organized a Veterans’ Day community celebration to pay tribute to our American heroes and their families.

This annual Special Veteran’s Day Fair celebration, was held this past Wednesday, November 11th 2015 at the OC Fair and Event Center. Offering free food and drinks, Veterans and Labor lures and attracts the community to come together to honor and celebrate the bravery of these fellow veterans.

This one day event not only brought veterans from different wars together, but it also brought together military equipment displays, and the opportunity for veterans to receive housing and medical assistance from many non-profit organizations.

Two military trucks and one military boat owned by Jon LaFleur, a former Vietnam veteran, were parked for display. The six wheel, five ton Military trucks and Military boats caught everyone’s gaze. Eight feet wide and 14 feet long, these monstrous trucks and boat can be a challenge to transport to these special events. Both of LaFleur’s Military trucks were used in the Vietnam War; the war LaFleur bravely fought. The military boat was used in World War I, and LaFleur thought it would add more value to his military vehicle equipment collection. It’s a great way to show off his patriotism.

LaFleur has been coming to the annual Special Veterans Day Event for the past 2 years. He thinks these events are very important to the community because they help bring awareness, its a way to show appreciation, and it teaches the upcoming and new generations about what veterans, like himself, have done. The freedom Americans now possess is granted by these honorable veterans who have risked their life in combat.

“This is my second year out here and I think it brings awareness to you guys about us, veterans, and what we have done for the country, and appreciation to us, and I think that this is a good thing because if we don't have a younger generation learning about what veterans like myself have done, they may not so much be interested in the same thing, and if that happens we don’t have a country anymore. The freedom that you have now to be doing whatever you want to be doing, could be gone.”

World War II military equipment was also put on display. Bayonets, grenades, guns, and bibles were placed on three tables, and a tent that was used specifically in World War II was also open to the public. “Woah these guns are so cool,” said eight year old Steven Mota as he was playing with his older brother. The accessibility the Veteran’s Fair offers to the public is highly appreciated by the community. “It brings everyone together, it’s a great way to learn more about our veterans, that have sacrificed so much for us,” says Orange County resident Martha Castillo.

The Veteran’s Fair also provides housing and medical assistance through different programs. Sixty booths were set to handout flyers and information about the different programs offered for veterans and their families. One program that provides this type of assistance, is “The Soldier’s Project.” This organization has helped veterans and their loved ones work through the psychological trauma that war leaves behind, by providing free, confidential and ongoing mental health treatment. In the last 11 years, “The Soldier’s Project” has been ranked as one of the best non-profit organizations for veterans.

Jeremy Brewer, the volunteer coordinator of community engagement for “The Soldier’s Project“ explains that the program offers a lot of different benefits for veterans and their families. They offer many great things such as free therapy sessions, to the veterans and families that have suffered from severe war trauma . “ We are not government funded, but this a program that allows veterans to have someone to talk to and not worry that what they have to say will go on permanent record. Everyone in this organization donates their time for the benefit of our veterans.”

Veterans and Labor brings the Orange County community together to just simply celebrate and say thank you to these veterans from different wars. To thank them for their bravery, sacrifice, and commitment to our country.