Letter to the Editor: Thanks from a veteran to the children

Editor's note: We received this letter via email today from Ken Woytek, a Menifee resident and veteran who attended Monday's Veterans Day celebration at Wheatfield Park:

I just felt compelled to share my appreciation for the ceremony Monday, as it was truly memorable.

First, I was surprised and pleased to park on the east side of Menifee Road when a young mom with two tykes stopped me and my girl to offer me a fresh Starbucks because of my USAF ballcap, which I accepted black. Minutes later, after transiting the crosswalk to the park perimeter, my girl tripped on the idle "road closure" sign base and the coffee flew into the air, dousing my pants leg and landing mostly upright for recovery and continued enjoyment.

Another young mom with two little people approached to inquire how they could help us out of the mishap. Talk about your shock and awe, of the best kind! Classic millenials they most surely ain’t.

The formal program was solid, starting with Senior Advisory Committee member Linda Blanche, who nailed the gist of the holiday in rare form. Mr. Molina was casual and at ease with anecdotal remembrances as the keynoter, though I was mildly thrilled with his tally of vets succeeding in civilian enterprise or as celebrities. He missed some true pioneers like Rickenbacker of Eastern AL, or Jimmie Stewart, or Clark Gable, or Lee Marvin of IwoJima fame, or Charles Durning of Normandy beachhead. Even Audie Murphy is unknown to Menifee youth. I guess he and that audience are too young to relate to such giants of heroism, but his contemporary examples of transitioning service members was illuminating to the crowd, especially to Jason Hendrix.

The real crowd pleasers were the young essayists who wowed their attending families and friends, my wife and me, and all the rest with their enumerations of (super)heroes without capes in their own worlds and words. Definitely a reassuring glimpse of what the USA can expect from those future citizens and military volunteers, right?

But the capper for me occurred on my way back to my parked car. As I started to leave, a young mom and her 3- or 4-year-old son beckoned to me, so that the child could thank me for my service and wish me a happy Veterans Day. In all my years since enlistment in 1953, never ever has such a small guy cared enough to voice such thoughts and grab my hand with sincerity. My wife wept and I scarcely could breathe or drive away from the sentimental episode.

All such children and younger people really made my day, and I thank you for the opportunity to teach me much about America’s future in which I have so much invested.

Faithfully and gratefully,

Ken Woytek