A grand tradition on the Santa Monica Pier honored the nation’s veterans and members of the Armed Forces on Monday, giving United States heroes a show worthy of their service.
At the Pier, the Veterans Day ceremony brought out the big names, the big vehicles and a particularly big crowd full of veterans and their families. Many of the military’s most recognizable names were in attendance, such as the iconic West Point Drill Team, as well as a keynote speech from US Army Forces Command General Andrew Poppas.
Poppas, who was proud to be on the Pier and close to the original Muscle Beach on Veterans Day, thanked the crowd as well as his daughter for being in attendance. He noted that the country didn’t become a "land of opportunity on accident," with the nation being built by veterans' efforts going back centuries.
"I know you understand the commitment, the discipline and the teamwork it takes to prepare formation, and I know that you also understand courage, sacrifice and the resiliency it takes … to embrace your mission, to face your enemy, even though there are no guarantees of when, how that mission may lead to attack," Poppas said.
The general added that the military "doesn’t hold a monopoly on America’s warrior spirit," saying that spirit resides in everyone from local leaders to premier athletes. One of those athletes, former Los Angeles Rams offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth, called it an "unbelievable honor" to be a part of the festivities.
Credit: Thomas Leffler 
Credit: Thomas Leffler 
Credit: Thomas Leffler 
Credit: Thomas Leffler 
Credit: Thomas Leffler 
Credit: Thomas Leffler 
Credit: Thomas Leffler 
Credit: Thomas Leffler 
Credit: Thomas Leffler 
Credit: Thomas Leffler 
Credit: Thomas Leffler 
Credit: Thomas Leffler 
Credit: Thomas Leffler 
Credit: Thomas Leffler 
Credit: Thomas Leffler 
Credit: Thomas Leffler
In addition to his three All-Pro selections, Whitworth was selected as the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year in 2021, capping off a potential Hall of Fame career with a Super Bowl victory with the Rams. Despite him saying he’s "seen a lot of cool guys do a lot of cool things" during his football run, Whitworth admitted on this Veterans Day that his peers weren’t his heroes.
"My heroes are the men and women that serve our country," Whitworth said. "They give up and sacrifice for us to have the freedoms and the opportunities to sit exactly where we are right now."
One of his heroes was his college roommate, Lee Deal, who served in the 2nd Marine Division and was killed in action in 2006, three weeks after Whitworth was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals. Deal’s death put the football star’s life into perspective, he added.
"There wasn’t a single National Anthem that I didn’t stand there with tears in my eyes, realizing that I got to play a kid’s gamer for my life’s calling because of the sacrifices that he made to give me the opportunity to be safe, to enjoy and to chase my dream, and I will forever see Lee Hamilton Deal as my ultimate hero for that," he said.
Other Veterans Day remarks were given by Mayor Phil Brock and City Councilmember Gleam Davis, with the latter remarking that being a mother to a veteran made her a firsthand witness to "the pride that veterans have taken in answering the call to duty" as well as the sacrifices that "come with this calling."
The Veterans Day ceremony was kept lively by two flyovers from the 7-158th Aviation Regiment Army Helicopters and The Condor Squadron, as well as musical entertainment by the 300th Army Band and Miss USO Heidi-Marie Ferren. The future of the military was on display too, with Army Reserve Major General Dianne Del Rosso proceeding over a future soldier's swearing-in ceremony.
thomas@smdp.com
