Vets Day Breakfast Helps Honor Past

Since its inception, Veterans Day has been a time when service members from all branches take time to honor each other for their commitment to serving.

The California Disabled Veterans Business Alliance held a Veterans Day breakfast at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza here to do just that.

"This event was in support of the California Disabled Veterans Business Alliance so that we can continue to honor those who have served, are serving and that are going to serve," said Dr. Robert Brown, president of the CDVBA.

During the event, a group of Marine Corps poolees from Recruiting Station Los Angeles and poolees from other services stood in formation and took an oath to support and defend the Constitution.

"For many of us who started our service in Vietnam, there were many of us who left without a send-off and returned home without a welcome," said Richard Dryden, the executive director of the CDVBA. "The swearing-in is our way of recognizing them for serving our country."

Not only did the many veterans on hand witness the swearing-in, but many well-known celebrities also attended the event to include Jon Voight, Nancy Sinatra and Sylvester Stallone.

For the poolees who swore-in, the event served as a motivational tool as they prepare to face the various challenges ahead of becoming a Marine.

"Being able to swear-in in front of all these people felt really good," said Aaron Seal, a Marine Corps poolee from Recruiting Substation Glendale, Calif. "It made the whole experience that much more important."

Multiple speakers delivered words of encouragement, determination and heroism during the breakfast.

"To you young men and women who swore-in today, remember this: you belong to the greatest country in the world," exclaimed Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda during his speech.  "Don't ever do anything to embarrass it!"

Following Lasorda's speech, 81-year-old Medal of Honor recipient Tibor Rubin talked about his time during the Korean War and the time he spent as a prisoner of war after being captured by the Chinese. At the time of the war and his imprisonment, Rubin was still a citizen of Hungary. This was not the first time Rubin found himself in harsh conditions.  During World War II, Rubin was placed in a German concentration camp with his family.  He is the only Holocaust survivor to be awarded the Medal of Honor.

"Hearing about his struggles with all the camps he was in and having him fight for a country that didn't belong to him was motivational," said Staff Sgt. Nicolas Perez, a recruiter with RSS Glendale.

The breakfast also showed the poolees the support and respect they can expect to receive from the American population in regard to their decision to enlist in the Marine Corps.

"It helps with any indifference that they may have as far as people being supportive of their decision," Perez added. "It shows them that people will be supportive of them, especially when they come back from war."

"It makes me look forward to going to boot camp even more," Seal concluded.