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A& OCVMP ORANGE COUNTY VETERANS MPMOM& PARK March 11, 2014 Irvine City Council 1 Civic Center Plaza Irvine, California 92606 Mayor Choi, Councilmembers, City Staff, and Residents of Irvine, My name is Zeke Hernandez, a neighbor - born in the City of Santa Ana. I am President of Santa Ana LULAC, the League of United Latin American Citizens; I am also speaking tonight as the Vice Chairperson of the Orange County Veterans Memorial Park Committee. I can say it is 100% certain that those speaking to you in favor of the resolution on the agenda this evening are speaking for all military veterans who have and are today serving our great country, these United States of America. I served in the U.S. Army Artillery Hawk Missle Air Defense (1966 -65); at the same time two of my brothers, John and Lee were fighting the war in Vietnam. Two members of our local chapter served in WWII - Ralph Perez was laid to rest earlier this year, and Jess Saenz still lives and continues to be active raising funds for student scholarships. I've had many conversations with Nam veteran Sgt. Roy Benavidez, a Medal of Honor recipient. A medic looked into his body bag, ready to zip it up, and quickly realized Roy was alive after wiping Roy's spit on his face - a sign that he wanted to come home rather than to die on foreign soil. Men and women in uniform continue the legacy of those before them, even prior to the founding of our nation. They lived for our country - it is with much respect and honor that we can truly say our lives and life are today is because of the great generations before us and of today's generation of the men and women in uniform. Today, a veteran can be buried to the north in LA, to the east in Riverside, to the south near San Diego. Just last week, another Medal of Honor recipient, Orange County's own Walt Ehlers was buried - not in OC, but in Riverside. Truly he was an "American Treasure ". If we only had a veterans cemetery in OC, then maybe one day perhaps, our American hero can come home where he belongs. I want to believe that council members can give meaning to those who have honored our country by serving in time of peace and war. To be able to look a person, a veteran in their eyes and say to them we have voted our conscience. We gave meaning to your service by choosing a plot of land from this base of operations where thousands served. To give peace to their families by strongly saying that as elected officials voted with honor to honor those who gave so much to the future of our great nation. That the City of Irvine places the highest of values to the land consecrated by those who gave so much so that others may live a great life in this Great Land. Thank You, ,U6 AdOW&W9Z 55D -21