Photo Gallery: Diamond Bar Salutes Its Veterans

A packed house of more than 200 people celebrated soldiers and sailors alike Thursday at Diamond Bar's annual Veterans Recognition Ceremony.

Members of all branches of the military were called to stand and received applause for their service. 

Diamond Bar Mayor Jack Tanaka, a retired U.S. Army reservist, wore his uniform to the ceremony. Tanaka introduced his fellow hosts, Diamond Bar Councilman Steve Tye and Mayor Pro Tem Ron Everett, as well as dignitaries, before welcoming the veterans in attendance. 

"As Americans, we enjoy many freedoms, freedoms for which we owe a tremendous amount of respect and gratitude to our veterans and their families," Tanaka said. "It is a privilege to be here today to pay tribute to all of our country's veterans but most especially you who are here present who are part of our Diamond Bar family."

The South Pointe Middle School Band, under the direction of Susan Willmering, played patriotic songs.  Charlotte Sauter sang the "National Anthem" and "God Bless America."

Veterans were called up to the stage to receive recognition during the event. 

The city also aired a video tribute featuring Diamond Bar residents talking about their experiences in the military. 

Veteran Gilmore Jones said growing up he had a fascination with war movies and use to pay to go see shows with money from his paper route.

He joined the service after high school for six years and then re-enlisted after going to college for 21 more.

"To me it was an experience and I enjoyed it," he said. "This is a great country. And you owe a debt to it."

Vietnam veteran Richard Guzman, who served as a petroleum specialist in the U.S. Army, recounted the humidity and the odor he smelled when he arrived, described bullets ricocheting around him when his unit was under attack, and shared that his mom would send him Kool-Aid because the water tasted bad.

His voice cracked when talking about how he and others servicemen were flown in at night so they couldn't be seen because the war had become unpopular. 

"I learned to love my country better. When you're over there and you come home, you kiss the ground," he said. "When you come here, you feel free."

Virginia Spandau, who served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, also was interviewed for the video.  Spandau, 91, attended Thursday's ceremony with her husband Ted, who served in the U.S. Army.

She said after the ceremony that her dad was a Navy pilot in WW I and she grew up around airplanes.

"If it could have been possible for women to fly, I would have," she said.

Spandau was attending college at USC when War World II began.  She recalled the blackouts across the Los Angeles basin and said she and 13 others she knew decided to join the Navy. She was sent to a naval air station in Atlanta and after graduation, they kept her on as an instructor. 

She recalled hitchhiking by Navy airplanes from Louisiana to California and upon arriving in the state she called home, the pilots of the six planes celebrated the homecoming with a dogfight. 

Spandau, who has lived in Diamond Bar for about 45 years, said she appreciates the city's tribute to veterans.

"I love it," she said. "We've come every year."