BARSTOW, Calif.-More than 200 Soldiers from the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment visited veterans at the Veterans Home of California in Barstow, Jan. 7.
The Soldiers, stationed at nearby Fort Irwin, started off the new year by participating in the 14th Annual Foot March to the Veterans Home. The Soldiers marched through the streets of downtown Barstow to the Veterans Home.
"I think everything with our Veterans here in town is important because I just see Barstow as a very pro-military town," said Barstow City Council Member Tim Silva. "Me personally, I'm very appreciative of the freedoms me and my family can enjoy because of our military."
The event allowed the Soldiers the opportunity to visit the Veterans and let them know that they are not forgotten. For residents and families of those at the home, the event wraps up the holiday season and starts of a new year at the home on a high note.
"It's nice, I like it. My dad was a veteran so I used to do this a lot," said Pvt. Jonathan Werner, G Troop, 2nd Squadron, 11th ACR. Werner, a native of Quincy, Ill., spent lunch chatting with an Air Force Veteran who shared his experiences in Vietnam. He said the experience is just part of being a Soldier. "This is what I joined for; to serve my country. I do what I can for everybody's freedom."
The event also provided a way for Soldiers to give donations to the Home's Morale, Welfare and Recreation fund. The Home received a $2,304 donation into that fund. The Blackhorse Soldiers held formation at the Barstow Amtrak Station and marched east through a portion of downtown Barstow on Main St. before heading south on Barstow Road, up the hill to the Veterans Home. The formation was led by Col. Antonio Aguto, Jr., and Command Sgt. Maj. Martin Wilcox, the Regimental commander and command sergeant major.
"Thank you for allowing us to honor you today; it is truly an honor for us. It does us good to be here eating lunch with you," Aguto said as he addressed the Home's Veterans, staff and his Soldiers. "Being in the Army is all about the stories. It's all about the stories that we share, it's all about the stories that we create, and it's all about the stories that make up ourselves. Veterans, please share your stories."
As the formation of Soldiers walked the streets of Barstow, they were greeted by passers-by and onlookers. Barstow residents waved flags and cheered on the marching Soldiers.
"Oh, I love it. I've been coming here for close to seven years now and every time I hear about the march, I want to be here," said Rob Voss, a Veteran who served with the 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam. "It's a big morale boost. You don't have to be in the Army to enjoy Soldiers marching up and doing their cadence calls."
As a city council member and the son of a veteran, Silva said he took a little bit of pride in seeing his fellow Barstow citizens come out and support the Regiment.
"I watch it every year. My staff and I step out of our office and watch it every year on Barstow Road," he said. "It feels great. I'd like to see more of us just stand out and take a break as (the Soldiers) are marching down Main Street and Barstow Road. Hopefully we can see that in the future. But the ones that do come out, it's a good thing to see."
As the formation marched closer to the Home's driveway, its residents came out and greeted the Blackhorse Troopers with smiles and waving flags.
"It's always a great thing to see," said Don Baxter, a Veteran living at the Home. "It's good for us to see the Soldiers as they march up, it makes us feel proud."
For the next march, the 11th ACR plans to return the march to a two-day event with the march starting at Fort Irwin. Due to past deployments and rotational training commitments, the march was cut down to a three-mile march.
During the lunch, Rocky Chavez, the Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs for California, wished the Regiment a happy birthday on its upcoming 110th birthday later in February. He also pledged a promise to the Blackhorse Veterans present.
"There are 2 million veterans in California, every year 30,000 (Veterans) return to the state of California having served the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and the Coast Guard," said Chavez, himself a former Marine. "These young people coming back want to live the American dream for which they have fought for. I dedicate to you (Soldiers) the 2,400 employees of the California Department of Veterans Affairs. If you decide to stay in California, (they) will be there to serve you to ensure you have the opportunity for an education, jobs and to meet your health care needs. We know that the best citizens of a free country are those who have served."
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