The Cal State L.A. community commemorated Memorial Day on Wednesday with an emotional campus ceremony that included buglers playing Taps and veterans performing a 21-gun salute.
The ceremony honored service members who have given their lives to preserve freedoms that many Americans take for granted, speakers told the audience at the Student Union Plaza.
“Those freedoms did not come free. There was a price to pay,” said Cal State L.A. student Edward Tellez, who served in Afghanistan as an Army first sergeant. He recalled losing a good friend and fellow soldier who was killed six years ago.
Tellez said he was glad to be at Cal State L.A. and added that he looks forward to sharing his military experiences with fellow students, who will become the policymakers and civic leaders of the future.
University Provost Lynn Mahoney noted that 89 student veterans will be walking across commencement stages at Jesse Owens Stadium.
“We are proud of our veterans,” Mahoney said. “We are honored to serve them.”
The program concluded with a 21-gun salute by the Valley Memorial Team, which is made up of local veterans. Three buglers also played Taps.
The ceremony was sponsored by the Cal State L.A. Student Veterans Organization and the University’s Veterans Resource Center.
Photo: Veterans and others commemorated Memorial Day on Wednesday with an emotional campus ceremony. Below, video of the commemoration. (Credit: J. Emilio Flores).
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