Sun Cities salute veterans

Jets thundered in the skies over Sun City Grand Wednesday, an 89-year-old veteran in Sun City West told of how he was blown out of his B-17 after it caught fire and, in Sun City, a man wounded in Vietnam said:

“We are often asked, 'Why do we fight?’ The answer is very complicated, but also very simple: We fight not for glory, but for the prize of freedom.”

Words similar to those of Rick Romley were heard Wednesday during Veterans Day services throughout the Sun Cities where men and women who have served America and are serving today were honored for their work to protect the nation.

SUN CITY
Romley, who is known to most Valley residents as the former Maricopa County Attorney, was the guest speaker for the Veterans Day ceremonies at Sunland Memorial Park. He said he was honored to address the veterans of Sun City, saying he believes it is America’s soldiers who truly exemplify the best of what the country has to offer.

“They come from all walks of life, with backgrounds as diverse as the nation they serve,” Romley said. “They are united by love of country, belief in freedom and faith in the future.”
Romley said to him and the other veterans he has known, war was something unavoidable, a duty they could not turn their backs on.

Romley spoke briefly about the stories of some of the men and women he met that morning before the ceremony began, and how touched he was by their experiences.

“I look around me and I see so many vets, and I am humbled by their courage,” Romley said. “There is little I can add to their stories but I can say this: We as a nation must always remember to honor our veterans. They have given us our freedom.”

Romley urged everyone in attendance to remember and to honor America’s war veterans, not just on Veterans Day but every day.

“I say to those who sacrificed their dreams to protect our country, a grateful nation remembers you.”

SUN CITY WEST
When he thinks of Veterans Day, Lowell Watts won’t forget any of his experiences as a pilot during World War II.
Watts, a Sun City West resident, was a prisoner of war for 14 months, right before the invasion of Normandy, France.

“Just imagine that you’re on a B-17, the engine is on fire, and you’re blown out of the aircraft,” he said. “Then you’re taken by people whose language you don’t understand to a jail, then into an interrogation room.”

The 89-year-old told a crowd of people at The Heritage Tradition in Sun City West about his life as a prisoner war during the retirement community’s Veterans Day program. American Legion Post No. 94 and Arizona American Ex-Prisoners of War Agua Fria chapter participated in the event honoring those who have risked their lives for the nation.

When he was captured by the Germans, Watts said he couldn’t believe some of the torture he and his unit went through.

“While we went through the ordeal, you begin to realize one of the most important things you had in America had been taken away — freedom,” he said.

At 24 years old, Watts remained in the German prison camp for more than a year, until the Russians liberated him.

“There were a lot of things that we thought we couldn’t make it through, but we did,” he said.

 “Whether you’re a prisoner of war, fought or just served, many people risked their lives to honor and protect our nation,” said Watts, senior director of the Department of Arizona American Ex-Prisoners of War.

Along with Watts, members of POW and ex-POW widows Anita Pitts and Jeanne Breese talked about the organization and how it has grown.

Pitts remembered when the chapter first began with 14 people before peaking with 109 members.

“I’m so proud of the members in this chapter and how they wanted to share their experiences,” Pitts said.
Ed Barranger, a World War II and Korean veteran, said he was glad Watts shared his story.

“This really brings home how some people really paid their lives for this nation,” said Barranger, master of ceremonies for the event.

SUN CITY GRAND
About 200 veterans, family members and Sun City Grand residents and officials spent Veterans Day under sunny skies, looking up as a flyover by the 308th Fighter Squadron from Luke Air Force Base saluted the men and women who have served the nation.

The annual ceremony featured addresses from Brig. Gen. Kurt Neubauer, commander of the 56th Fighter Wing at Luke, as keynote speaker and a speech from Naval Commander Marianna Magno, who is also a Sun City Grand resident, on the history of women in the military.

Neubauer reflected on the importance of veterans in shaping the country.

“On Veterans Day we need to give thanks to the millions of Americans who strengthen our nation with their example of service and sacrifice,” he said. “Without veterans like those of the American Revolution, we wouldn’t even have a country ... without veterans of the American Civil War, we wouldn’t have the country we have today ... we need to be humbled by the strong hearts of those who have served — veterans of the World Wars — the true heroes who forged a world that we’re all privileged to live in today. We should never forget the more than 11 million men and women from the conflicts of Korea and Vietnam, who had to earn this nation’s gratitude and respect long after they made their personal sacrifices.”

“On Veterans Day we should honor a new generation of defenders who defend our freedom. Soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, coast guardsmen, merchant marines, who are engaged in operations overseas today. Without them guarding all of us, we could be living in constant fear or we could be under control of enemies whose names I dare not mention in this audience,” he added. “I’d like you to take a moment to honor the men and women in uniform currently and the men and women who served in a uniform in the United States. They’re a special breed.”

The two-hour ceremony also featured a presentation of colors from members of the Carl Hayden High School Junior ROTC, military flag presentations, a POW/MIA presentation and several patriotic songs sung by Sun City Grand Music Club members from Jazzmatazz and Beach Bums.

A moment of silence was held during the ceremony to honor of the victims of the shootings at Fort Hood, Texas.