I recently watched a ‘60’s classic surf movie, “Big Wednesday.” The one with Jan Michael Vincent and Gary Busey. Being an avid surfer my entire life, like many of my friends, t we thought he surf movies of old were corny and silly. Only, in this movie, I came away with something more than just watching a bunch of kids playing at the beach. It hit home in many ways.
I lived during that era.
What really impacted me was when the boys came up with schemes to dodge the draft. The overhead shots of the hundreds of men dressed in their skivvies going through the process of being accepted or denied entering the military got to me.
In those moments I wasn’t watching a lighthearted surf movie, I was thinking of how many of those young men would be dead or wounded before they completed their first year of service. I became emotional. I was eligible for the draft at the tail end of the war, but I knew way too many who died or had been seriously wounded. And if that didn’t get them, it was the PTSD.
I was one of the characters in the movie and so was by brother-in-law. By the third time my brother-in-law had been wounded in Vietnam, it was serious enough for the army to finally send him home. He carried pieces of shrapnel in his body his entire life. A happy-go-lucky eighteen-year-old surfer kid who came back home a wounded and scarred man.
Soon we’ll be celebrating Veterans Day again. Something a lot of us make a point of remembering but way too many don’t even pay attention. When those soldiers came home from Vietnam they were treated like dirt through no fault of their own. You should think that hatred would have healed over the last decades. Yet even today there still linger those who detest the military and what it stands for. Some of those haters went on to work in government and continued with their loathing of the miliary while “serving” the public.
Pelosi is one of them.
Where have we gone wrong why not every person in this country doesn’t respect and honor our past and present soldiers? All the silly marches in the streets. The vulgar behavior. Those who were glad a man like Charlie Kirk was murdered don’t get it. They can freely express themselves. Behave like animals. Attack the national guard and police and even feign shooting you in the neck. It’s the American military who protect your right to ensure your freedoms, despite the idiocy of so many.
Salute to the Vets in Solvang Park
Twelve years ago, my wife Dundie and I founded the Santa Barbara County Veterans Foundation and formed a 501c3. It was the brainchild of one Jerry Farmer who held the first Salute to the Vets outside a local Goleta bar. When we joined forces it exploded into an annual fundraiser where we would have upwards of a thousand attendees.
When Covid hit, like everything, there was a pause, but we’ve resumed the Salute to the Vets in Solvang Park. Last year caught us by surprise how well it went over. Not because we didn’t expect it. What we didn’t expect was the wonderful exposure of the honoring our veterans to all passersby and tourists who loved what they stumbled upon. Even foreigners saw what a great thing it was.
It was truly heartwarming.
Over the years SBCVF has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars and doled out the monies to local veterans and veteran organizations in Santa Barbara County. We have no paid staff, and we keep the money at home.
Though President Trump is probably one of the greatest supporters of our military, our veterans and current military have not been treated as well as they should have been over the years.
It’s bothered many of us why our government is willing to send kids to die but makes things difficult for them when they get home. Why does it take – and believe me, I’m more than happy to do it – private organizations to fill the fill the gaps our government has left open when it comes to our military?
That’s finally changing. President Trump has and is focusing on the men and women who put themselves on the line so we can feel safe in the country we so dearly love. Trump visits the troops but not like the last administration. Trump becomes one of them. He engages with the soldiers. They love him and he loves them, and they know it.
The military is once again focusing on merit, not DEI. You want to be part of the American fighting force; then you need to earn your place. It’s that kind of change that creates better morale. Better bonding. A better and stronger army.
No one wants war. We all wish we wouldn’t need a military. It would really be nice, in the words of Rodney King, “Why can’t we all just get along?”
Only, that’s likely never to happen. As long as you continue to have tyrants like Putin, Xi, and countries whose only purpose is to shout, “Death to America!”, we need to maintain a strong military and always remain vigilant.
Donald Trump is showing strength. The only language bullies and haters understand is that we’re bigger and stronger than they are, so back off.
America will be celebrating her 250th birthday. Made possible by all those who shed their blood to protect her.
Don’t let this Veteran’s Day slip by as just another blip on your radar. Show your gratitude. Make a point of doing or saying something to a veteran. Attend an event.
If you’re in Solvang on November 8, stop by the park and have a chat with a veteran. Have a beverage, enjoy lunch and listen to some music. And say thank you.
God bless America and our military.
Community Calendar:
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Hi Henry,
Thanks for this submission, it takes me back to those troubled times. Those of us during the rise of the Vietnam War were propelled to go to College to get the Deferment, not to get the education. Education is always good, war, potentially deadly! Most of us were barely out of the “pimple stage” when faced with the draft, but Uncle Sam was calling. I had been on a “Pre-Med” course when joining a Fraternity. Soon, I allowed beer to interfere with study, result-Drafted.
My military training led to “Combat Medic”-yikes!
Next stop, Vietnam? A miracle twist put me in touch with Westmorland! My MOS changed to EENT Specialist, final duty Station AFEES Boston Mass, giving Draft Physicals!
Instead of dodging bullies, I was dodging insults by Young men, just like me!
In order to obtain a discount on a flight home, I needed to wear my uniform. I’ll never forget getting spat upon at the Airport. Upon discharge, I put away my uniform for 30+ years. Yes, Trump has made a difference! 6 years ago, I became a Director of the Pierre Claeyssen Veterans Foundation and now wear my uniform proudly.
Many counties mandate their Citizens to enter their Military. Israel would not exist without that Call To Duty!
To remain the “Land of the Free”, we should consider mandatory Service!
Dana Newquist
Subject: A Heartfelt Salute and Thanks
Dear Henry,
I wanted to take a moment to thank you personally for your moving article, “Thanking Our Veterans on Veterans’ Day.” Your words carry deep truth and sincerity, and they echo the experience of so many of us who grew up in that era. Like you, I came of age on the beaches of the San Fernando Valley, a surfboard under my arm and a restless spirit looking toward the horizon. Less than two months after my 17th birthday, I stepped onto those yellow footprints at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego—and my life’s course was forever changed.
Your reflection on Big Wednesday hit home. Those scenes of young men facing the draft, uncertain and afraid, are reminders of the courage, sacrifice, and scars—both seen and unseen—that defined our generation. You captured that truth beautifully.
The work you and your wife, Dundie, have done through the Santa Barbara County Veterans Foundation is remarkable. Founding and sustaining such a nonprofit—with no paid staff and every dollar staying local—is a testament to your dedication and love for your fellow veterans. The Salute to the Vets in Solvang Park has become a beacon of gratitude and community, reminding us all that service and remembrance still matter deeply.
As Veterans Day approaches, I want to extend my thanks for your leadership, compassion, and voice. You’ve built something that honors not only those who served in uniform, but also the values that shaped a generation: loyalty, courage, and brotherhood.
With respect and appreciation,
Walt Hutton
U.S. Marine Corps Veteran
0351 - Semper Fi