Reactions at 75th anniv of D-Day & WWII at L.A. National Cemetery last year

 There is a concern that the 75th anniversary of D-Day (2019) will be the last milestone (until 2024) for most of the living survivors. 

Chief Warrant Officer II Jeff Smith lead the 300th Army Band in each service-branch's anthem

Memorial Day benediction at L.A. National Cemetery ceremony delivered by Rabbi David Wolpe - introduced by Chaplain Dov Cohen

Rep. Ted Lieu's address to Memorial Day ceremony at L.A. National Cemetery

View from a ship on D-Day off the coast of France on June 6, 1944. 
(War footage from George Stevens Collection at the Library of Congress via AP)

What is the Kingdom of Belgium's interest in the U.S. Memorial Day and D-Day commemorations? Belgian Consulate Gen., Henri Vantieghem in interview.

Boy Scout Christopher Valdivia, 17, took a moment to read the name on a gravestone at
Los Angeles National Cemetery during the annual flag placing event in 2018 in preparation for Memorial Day.  (File photo by John McCoy/Los Angeles Daily News)

Mr. Greg Lee, Chairman of California State Commander Veterans Council and Calif. Commander of Jewish War Veterans sat on the stage as representative of California Veterans Associations. 

American cemetery in Normandy

In this exclusive interview, he reveals how did Jewish military casualties graves become able to be marked with Star of David tombstones.

Appreciative, Latin-American citizen thanks veterans, military, legal immigration on Memorial Day

Professional El Salvadoran pianist, Caleb Zelaya, expresses gratitude to America, stresses need for bold military to defeat tyrannies, restore freedom. Endorses Pres. Donald Trump's immigration policies - encouraging legal routes to citizenship.


Why Girl Scout, Lisa Lu, an L.A. Memorial Day Ceremony leader, is heading to West Point.

Apply the lessons of WWII to defend our nation - externally and domestically - on V-J Day, Fleet Week, & Sept.11th

Japanese leaders believed they could conquer America, but
Americans hung together to defeat their external enemy

"High Castle" portrays Imperial Japan and Germany's goal
of conquering American society under their tyrannical rule

At occasions for active-duty, veterans, and the L.A. public, we are shown that we can defend ourselves against external military enemies. But what about our own house turning against itself (liberal vs republican)? As author Philip K. Dick depicted in his book, "The Man in the High Castle" (adapted in 2015 for an Amazon TV series) Japan would have extended its Asian empire by conquering America had we not defeated them in World War II. Japan's unconditional surrender came as a result of American bomber planes dropping the atomic bombs which (bomb-race winner) America rolled-out before Germany could - above the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

FILE -- Thousands of people celebrate VJ Day on New York's Times Square August 14, 1945 after Japanese radio reported acceptance of the Potsdam declaration.  (AP Photo)

The Heritage Foundation's Ms. Kay Coles James wrote an opinion published in Fox News, Sept 2, 2018 entitled, "The end of World War II 73 years ago, offers us an incredible lesson today." 

"Sunday, Sept 2nd marked the 73rd anniversary of V-J Day – Victory over Japan, when World War II ended on Sept. 2, 1945 with Japan’s surrender to the United States in a ceremony about the battleship USS Missouri. It followed V-E Day – Victory in Europe – on May 8 that same year, when the Allies accepted the surrender of Nazi Germany.

If you’ve ever watched the classic film “It’s a Wonderful Life,” you may recognize these lines from the scene where an angel recounts George Bailey’s actions at the end of World War II:  “Like everybody else, on V-E Day, he wept and prayed. On V-J Day, he wept and prayed again.” 

When the movie was first released in 1946, audiences got the reference right away. They had just lived through that long and bloody clash of arms. They knew full well why people wept and prayed on the day when the war in Europe ended, and again when our hostilities with Japan came to a close. 

But 73 years later, it’s a different story. At a time when many aren’t even sure what “V-E” and “V-J” stand for, their significance seems to have faded from memory. 

Perhaps that’s because the images of a war’s end aren’t as stark as those that mark its beginning. Americans, after all, were jolted into the conflict by the horrific events and footage of Dec. 7, 1941, as Japanese fighter planes attacked U.S. ships docked at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. 

Japanese envoys Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu and Gen. Yoshijiro Umezu signed their names on the Instrument of Surrender aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay

The scene on Sept. 2, 1945 was much quieter. And yet what was being communicated – that the United States would be magnanimous in victory and not pursue a vindictive peace – spoke volumes. Such a stance is a proud fixture of American history.    . . .

An open-hands, open-hearts approach can work at home as well as abroad. In a time of rising incivility and escalating rhetoric, Americans would do well to follow Lincoln and MacArthur’s examples. To seek more peaceful ways to express our differences of opinion. Not to “repay evil with evil or insult with insult,” but to offer our blessings instead.

As the proud generations before us demonstrated, it’s never easy. But it very often is the right – and the smartest –thing to do.  And it’s what puts the “victory” in Victory Day."

Read the full essay on Fox News 

The ship of the Japanese surrender, the USS Missouri, was accompanied just miles away by the battleship USS Iowa which handled the US Navy's communication needs. 

Veterans' volunteer, Bob Donovan, resident of L.A.'s San Fernando Valley, helps organize the "Wings over Wendy's" fraternal group of airmen with a number of members (male and female) who served in WWII in the Pacific and European theaters of operation.

Bob Donovan intros S.F. Valley columnist, Dennis McCarthy

At Wings of Wendy's 16th anniversary luncheon of McCarthy's article, watch and listen to the story of how a L.A. Daily News columnist, Dennis McCarthy spurred the Wings over Wendy's expansion to over 300 members. Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) bestows journalist McCarthy a civic commendation and presents him with a flag which flew over the U.S. Capitol Building.

On Labor Day weekend, the Port of L.A. hosted L.A. Fleet Week. Fleet week is an opportunity for the American public to meet their Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard teams and experience America’s sea services. During Fleet Week, service members participate in various community service events, showcase capabilities and equipment to the community, and enjoy the hospitality of Los Angeles and its surrounding areas. 

The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Dewey (DDG105) is docked at the Port of Los Angeles.  

L.A. Fleet Week 2018 year attracted ships and crews from from the US Navy stationed in San Diego and the Canadian Navy from British Columbia, Canada. 

Mike Getscher EVP and CEO of the Pacific Battleship Center, which operates Battleship Iowa Museum, talks about the educational interest which the museum serves - especially during Fleet Week - which draws visitors of all ages to tour the moored ships.




Escorted tours were available on the USS Scout (a mine countermeasures ship), the USS Dewey (a guided-missile destroyer), the Independence-variant, Littoral combat ship USS Manchester (LCS 14), the "Alert" a U.S. Coast Guard cutter, and the HMCS Ottawa (a frigate from the Royal Canadian Navy). Servicemembers also toured on the USS Iowa Museum, as did veterans - who are given special recognition when they board, Mr. Getscher informed us.

LT Roy Chong from Honolulu, Hawaii, assigned to Littoral Combat Ship Squadron 1 (LCSRON 1) answers questions during Los Angeles Fleet Week (LAFW).  (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Janine F. Jones)

The Beach Boys, led by original member Mike Love, entertained servicemembers and the public in a concert along the waterfront.

Beach Boys' vocalist Mike Love (originally of Hawthorne, L.A. County) is accompanied by local L.A. actor John Stamos (of Cypress, L.A. County) who sang and played guitar and drums in the band's concert at Fleet Week

D-Day 74-years ago, they fought fascism in Axis-occupied Europe (and Asia)

B17 gunner SSGT Wilbur Richardson flew
2 missions on D-Day

"Operation Overlord" was the codename for the Battle of Normandy, the Allied operation that launched the successful invasion of German-occupied Western Europe during World War II. The operation was launched on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings (Operation Neptune, commonly known as D-Day)

French Consul General to California, Hon. Axel Cruau, inducted Californian D-Day fighters into Legion of Honor.



World War II veteran airmen recount D-Day invasion of Europe and engagement against Imperial Japan over the Pacific. Gunner SSGT Wilbur Richardson recalls how Gen. Eisenhower rescheduled their original June 5th launch.



French Consul General Christophe Lemoine commemorates the 100th anniv of US entry to WWI- by welcoming WWII veterans of liberating France to their 2017 Bastille Day celebration. 



Canadian-American businessman and historian, Eric Weider, discusses Canada's role invading Normandy and fighting Nazis to liberate Europe in World War II. Recorded at the French Consul's residence.



Mrs. Eric Weider is wowed by the World War II achievements of Knight of the French Legion of Honor, Jerry King, who was involved in Sainte-Mère-Église, a 10 Battle-Star earner. 



Michael Reagan on U.S. veterans; his father Pres. Ronald Reagan's legacy in Normandy; dismay at millenials' ignorance about Allies fighting to free Europe from fascism.



Filmmaker, Doug Stebbleton, discusses his documentary, "Heroes of the Second World War" at L.A. screening for veterans, including many World War II vets, in Los Angeles. He mentions their screening at the Airborne Museum in Sainte-Mère-Église, Normandy.

On 100th anniversary of US entry to WWI, French Consulate honors N. American WWII veterans

Christophe Lemoine, French Consul-General to Los Angeles, commemorates the 100th anniversary of US entry to World War I by welcoming North American WWII veterans of liberating France to their 2017 Bastille Day celebration at the French Consul's residence. 



Bob Johnson, an American Knight in French Legion of Honor has volunteered for over 18-years in veterans recognition programs.


Eric Weider, Canadian-American businessman and historian, discusses Canada's role invading Normandy and fighting Nazis to liberate Europe in World War II. 



Knight of the French Legion of Honor, Jerry King, a 10 Battle-Star earner who was involved in Sainte-Mère-Église in the Allies quest to liberate France impresses Eric Weider's wife Janet. 



Michael Reagan on U.S. veterans; his father, the late Pres. Ronald Reagan's legacy in Normandy; dismay at millenials' ignorance about Allies fighting to free Europe from fascism.



Filmmaker, Doug Stebbleton, discusses his documentary, "Heroes of the Second World War" at L.A. screening for veterans, including many World War II vets, in Los Angeles. He mentions their screening at the Airborne Museum in Sainte-Mère-Église, Normandy.

World War II pilots offer inspiration in defeating tyranny, 70-years after Allied victory

Veteran pilots of the mighty 8th Air Force of World War II, Allied resistance against Axis conquest, gathered on the 70th anniversary of D-Day at Van Nuys Airport.  The Heritage League of the 2nd Air Division organized this gathering where several pilots, both of the European and Pacific theaters of operation, shared their experience and attitudes with us about defending liberty from imperialism. Nazi Germany declared its surrender to the Allies 11- months after D-Day, Japan announced its surrender 13 weeks later on August 15, 1945, commemorated as V-J ("Victory over Japan") Day. The veteran pilots retell their experiences and share perspective on confronting tyranny today.

(Please advance through the playlist using menu controls). Actor and singer, Bill A. Jones, serves as host and introduces guest-speaker, Ms. Marte Cohn, a French nurse, who recalls how she survived the Nazi occupation as a result of kindnesses of French citizens (and her ability to transfer information to the Allies). 

Opponents rally to stop Obama's "Worse than Munich" Islamist Iran appeasement

Second Take on Iran by AIPAC: Congress Must Stop this Bad Deal

A second statement by AIPAC following review of the Iran agreement brings a strong thumbs down on the deal. 'A new, better deal is needed'

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee says in a statement that Obama's Iran nuclear deal falls short on all five areas it had concluded were critical: inspections, possible military dimensions, sanctions, duration and dismantlement.

The deal, AIPAC told its membership, “would facilitate rather than prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and would further entrench and empower the leading state sponsor of terror.”

AIPAC concluded that the deal would further destabilize the Middle East, including encouraging an arms race in the region.

In contradiction to what the negotiators and President Obama told the nation, AIPAC insisted that the alternative to the proposed deal is not war.

Calling on its members to inform their legislative representatives, AIPAC said the agreement must be rejected and sanctions on Iran must be maintained while efforts are made to negotiate “a better deal that will truly close off all Iranian paths to a nuclear weapon.”  (Lori Lowenthal Marcus in the Jewish Press).

Co-sponsor of Iran sanctions legislation, Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA) explains Iran is following the North Korea playbook and that sanctions must be used to bring Iran's regime to its knees.


Rep. Royce discusses Senate Democrats carrying water for Pres. Obama's stalling for duplicitous Iran at the 30 Years After Civic Conference in Beverly Hills.

Vice President Joe Biden will head back to Capitol Hill on Thursday to urge Senate Democrats to support the nuclear deal with Iran. (AP)   

The White House says Biden will discuss the deal with the Democratic members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin, the top Democrat on the committee, invited Biden to brief his party's senators.

The meeting will come a day after Biden made a similar pitch during a meeting with House Democrats. Biden has also been calling lawmakers, including Senate leaders, to discuss the deal.

Congress will have a 60-day window to review the deal and could pass legislation stopping Obama from lifting sanctions on Iran. The White House is focusing its outreach on Democrats in hopes they'll provide enough votes to stop Republicans from overriding Obama's likely veto.

Veterans of D-Day invasion of France (and a French spy who landed them) look back on the 70-year anniversary in Los Angeles

D-Day B-24 airmen Elmo Maiden, Bill Baird, and Wilbur Richardson (l-r)

The Heritage League of the Second Air Division (USAF) and Jane and Bert Boeckmann of Galpin Ford  enabled D-Day and WWII Veterans, friends and  families to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of D-Day at the 94th Aero Squadron in Van Nuys, California on  Friday, June 6, 2014. 

Bill A. Jones served as the Master of Ceremonies.  Special guest speakers included Marthe Cohn, the WWII French Nurse who Spied against the Nazis (who authored "Behind Enemy Lines"); Hon. Axel Cruau, Consul General of France, and Hon. Sabrina Yoong, Consul for the Consulate General of Canada.  

Interviewed here: USAF B-24 Pilot Lt. Col. Elmo Maiden, Staff Sgt. Gunner Wilbur Richardson; Capt. Bill Baird, a B-24 Pilot in the 13th Air Force who flew in the Pacific.   



Also interviewed in this playlist (advance with buttons on left), Mrs. Marte Cohn, a German-speaking French nurse who divulged Nazi secrets to Allied planners to enhance the effectiveness of the D-Day invasion of France. She documented her story in the book, "Behind Enemy Lines."

Engine-failure forced B-24 Pilot Lt. Col. Elmo Maiden and crew down in Europe