Menifee City holds Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans ceremony at Paloma Valley High School

Menifee City held its annual Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans ceremony at Paloma Valley High School, where community leaders, clergy and student groups gathered to honor veterans of the Vietnam War. Gerald Saunders, retired sergeant major, opened the program and thanked elected officials, city staff, sponsors and Paloma Valley student organizations for supporting the event.

"To all the Vietnam veterans with us today, please know that your service has not been forgotten," Saunders said, framing the ceremony as the community’s effort to recognize veterans whose return home was not always met with public gratitude. He introduced Chaplain Jeff Seville, retired U.S. Navy commander, who offered an invocation that remembered those "who returned home carrying invisible burdens." Seville cited a figure of "2.7 million other veterans" while urging the audience to welcome them home.

Council member Dean Denius, Councilman Ben Dietrich and Council member Dan Temple each offered remarks thanking veterans and describing the ceremony as overdue recognition for their service. Councilman Dietrich singled out local veteran Ed Samuelson for recognition on stage. Bob Carwin, acting mayor, explained that the elected mayor is currently deployed with the U.S. Air Force Reserves and spoke on behalf of the city to thank veterans for their service.

Student groups from Paloma Valley High School provided the color guard and musical performances. Bailey Moran sang the national anthem and Anna Rodriguez performed the Armed Forces Medley; Saunders invited attendees to stand when their branch’s song played. Chaplain Seville and Ed Samuelson presented the Prisoner/Missing in Action table, explaining the symbolism of the empty chair, inverted glass, single rose, lemon and salt, and led a moment of silence for those still missing or held as prisoners of war.

The hosting Menifee Veterans and Military Family Advisory Committee — the committee meets monthly on the third Monday at 3 p.m. at City Hall — encouraged attendees to visit resource booths outside and gather for the annual group photo under the welcome-home banner. The program concluded with a final thank-you from Saunders.