Bay Area Honors Veterans with Parades, Ceremonies

Men and women who have served their country were honored Tuesday at Veterans Day events throughout the Bay Area.

In Hayward, festivities kicked off at 8 a.m. with a flag-raising ceremony, which was followed by the city's annual parade at 11 a.m.

Parade participants included U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, Hayward Mayor Mike Sweeney, members of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, three members of the Tuskegee Airmen, who were the country's first black military airmen, and others.

Mark Chandler, spokesman for the Alameda County Veterans Affairs Commission, said the annual parade pays homage to those who have served their country while informing the community of the high number of veterans in the Hayward area.

In San Francisco, St. Anthony Foundation was handing out gift bags to veterans this morning. The bags included socks, chocolate, energy bars, rain panchos and tea.

Foundation spokeswoman Francis Aviani said today's event was held not only to provide the gift bags, but to inform veterans of services and programs they are eligible for, and to connect people with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Veterans make up nearly a quarter of the homeless population in the country and there are approximately 2,075 homeless veterans in San Francisco, according to the foundation.

Officials from Veterans Affairs were on site this morning to talk about the award of more than 100 housing vouchers through the Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program.

The non-profit organization Avenue of Flags held a Veterans Day observance and discussion of veteran entitlements late this morning at the Golden Gate National Cemetery's Chapel in San Bruno.

Speakers were scheduled to discuss how to access veteran entitlements and navigate through Veterans Affairs.

At about 5 p.m., a group is expected to congregate for a peace vigil on a Lafayette hillside across from the city's Bay Area Rapid Transit station.

The event will be held on private property where thousands of crosses have been erected to memorialize soldiers who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Cheney Makes Rare Appearance

Meanwhile, Vice President Dick Cheney made a very rare appearance Tuesday, presiding over the final Veterans Day remembrance of his tenure.

Cheney hailed past and present U.S. troops as the backbone of a country and a force for "liberty, justice and peace" around the world.

"No single military power in history has done greater good, shown greater courage, liberated more people, or upheld higher standards of decency and valor than the armed forces of the United States of America," Cheney said in tribute to the military at Arlington National Cemetery.

"That is a legacy to be proud of," Cheney said, "and those who contributed to it must never be taken for granted."

The vice president spoke as President Bush thanked veterans, too, in a ceremony aboard the World War II aircraft carrier Intrepid in New York.

Cheney began his observance at the Tomb of the Unknowns at the storied Arlington cemetery, where he placed a wreath dotted with flowers and a ribbon of red, white and blue. Cheney held onto the ribbon for a few moments and then stepped back a few feet, placing his hand over his heart.

A bugler played "Taps."

In chilly weather, hundreds of people bundled up to observe the solemn moment, including camera-toting tourists and Cabinet members.

Cheney then spoke at the adjacent Memorial Amphitheater, which was ringed by U.S. flags and filled with thousands more people. Among those attending were military veterans from the conflicts that still rage in Afghanistan and Iraq.

"Veterans Day finds us once again as a nation at war," Cheney said. "The conflict began with a direct attack on the United States. After seven years the war goes on, but never again has the battle returned to American soil. We are safer than we were on Sept. 11th."

Cheney praised members of the armed forces and their families for enormous sacrifice. He said they have defended America's safety and spread its ideals around the globe. "America remains the best hope of those who suffer and live in fear," he said. "Our cause is liberty, justice and peace."

Finally, the vice president encouraged people to honor not just fallen troops, but American soldiers who are still here.

"They have fought our wars, defended our shores, and kept us free," Cheney said. "May God keep us ever grateful for their service."

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