With Veteran’s Day approaching, the members of the Luiseño Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution took the time to dedicate the All Veterans Memorial Bench at the Temecula Public Cemetery on Wednesday, Oct. 23.
The DAR chapter in Temecula held a meaningful event to dedicate a new bench at the cemetery, a project made possible by their year-long fundraising efforts. This bench now stands as a tribute to the brave military members laid to rest there, honoring their service and sacrifice.
Anna Anderson, Second Vice Regent and Membership Chair of the Luiseño Chapter, said at the dedication ceremony, “This is my end-of-term project to donate the bench to the Temecula Cemetery. The memorial bench honors all of our veterans in all branches of the military.”
She said the Luiseño Chapter invited all sisters in Southwest Riverside County along with all veterans organizations, city mayors and state and county officials and others to join in the dedication ceremony. Seen that morning were Mayor Bridgette Moore from Wildomar, Riverside 3rd District Supervisor Chuck Washington and representatives from the state congress members who presented certificates of recognition to DAR for the memorial bench.
The dedication ceremony began that morning with the Presentation of the Colors by three members of the Sons of the American Revolution, dressed in military uniforms from the era when American colonists cast off the rule of King George III in the late 1700s and declared independence. Each color guard member was a descendant of those original revolutionary patriots.
Cadets from the Paloma Valley High School Navy JROTC presented the colors of all the American Armed Forces with the veterans of those branches recognized. Two of the ROTC cadets stood guard at the bench until the dedication wreath was removed and open to view.
The initial invocation prayer and benediction was given by Allison Runion, DAR Luiseño Chaplain. Gwen Ciamaga, incoming Luiseño DAR Chapter Reagent, accepted the thank yous and recognitions from the officials attending.
Before the dedication ceremony closed, the retiring of the colors was made by the SAR Color Guard and Taps was played by Dawn Kubik from a distance in the cemetery.
The new All Veterans Memorial Bench can be found on the left of the cemetery entrance.
Tony Ault can be reached at tault@reedermedia.com.
