Veterans Memorialized in Lawndale
Lawndale Mayor Robert Pullen-Miles, host Congresswoman Maxine Waters, State Senator Laura Richardson during annual Memorial Day Remembrance at City Hall
By Kenneth Miller|Publisher
A pleasant eastwardly breeze pierced through a darting ray of sunshine on the southeast lawn adjacent to Lawndale City Hall on Monday May 25 as elected officials representing local, state and the federal government honored United States Military individuals who paid the ultimate sacrifice to America during an annual Memorial Day Remembrance.
Congresswoman Maxine Waters enjoys a chat with a Lawndale resident at the annual Memorial Day Remembrance event in Lawndale on May 25. (KENNETH MILLER/PHOTO)
Lawndale Mayor Robert Pullen-Miles was joined by State Senator Laura Richardson (CA-35) and Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D- 43) during a ceremony that lasted just under an hour, but delivered powerful messages resonated in arguably the most delicate moment in the history of our nation.
As the nation’s economy continues to be crippled by escalating gas prices caused by an essentially unauthorized attack on Iran, in the Heart of the South Bay a little city Lawndale invested in an occasion to pause and reflect.
No one at the event has been such a constant figure as veteran Congresswoman Maxine Waters who during her more than seven minute speech thanking Mayor Pullen-Miles and the City Council then praising Hawthorne High School Naval JRROTC and saluting everyone from Pastor Dwight Dudley for his invocation to veterans, while subtly taunting her milestone achievements evidence in the city itself and her End Veterans Homelessness Act, but as usual Auntie Maxine saved her best for last.
“I am going to take a chance on explaining to you how worried I am about our men and women who are in Iran. We don’t know why they are there, we weren’t not asked to participate. The constitution says that the President of the United State must involve the Congress of the United States In that kind of a decision,” said Rep. Waters.
Rep. Waters denounced the Trump Administration spending billions of dollars each day on an unauthorized war and urged the American people to keep pressing for answers while she fights to hold the president accountable.
California State Senator, and former United States House of Representative member Laura Richardson followed her mentor to the podium reflecting on her time in congress when she visited the hollowed grounds of Normandy then went on to pay homage to the 13 brave soldiers who lost their life in combat during the Iran war.
Lawndale Mayor Robert Pullen-Miles receives a precious gift from Lawndale resident during the annual Memorial Day Remembrance in Lawndale on May 25. (KENNETH MILLER/ PHOTO)
“The only thing harder than an election is following my mentor Congresswoman Maxine Waters, she is the best of the best, no one fights harder for us, no one speaks more truth to power which is what we need in theses day is speaking truth,” stated Sen. Richardson.
The ceremony befit with the raising and lowering of the flags, color presentation, pledge of allegiance and the national anthem beautifully performed on trumpet by Jason Hemmens, the Hawthorne High School JRROTC 21 Gun Salute, but few captured the essence of the occasion like the short of sweet keynote speaker Colonel Andrew C. “Andy” Dermanoski, Commander, Space Base Delta 3, Los Angeles Air Force Base, El Segundo.
Colonel Dermanoski said of our fallen veterans; “They are the very best of America. We stand today in solace of every man and woman across every branch of government who made the ultimate sacrifice as we enjoy our freedoms today the American way. We must always carry their memories in our hearts.”
