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From YouTube: Cupertino Veterans Day Ceremony 2018
Description
Full television coverage of the annual Cupertino Veterans Day Ceremony, recorded November 11, 2018 at Cupertino's Memorial Park. This 12th anniversary observance of Cupertino Veterans Memorial includes a special tribute to Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, as well as tributes to active duty military and first responders. Guest speakers include Retired Admiral Eric T. Olson, USN and Captain Mathew Illowsky, US Air Force. Produced by KMVT, Mountain View. (90 min.)
A
A
The
honor
guard
that
you
just
saw
is
from
Santa
Clara
University,
and
that
was
a
special
surprise
and
treat
for
one
of
our
speakers
Matt
a
Walski
who
actually
went
to
Santa,
Clara
University,
so
Matt.
That
was
for
you
and
I
didn't
even
know
they
were
coming
until
a
half
an
hour
ago,
and
actually
it
was.
A
B
A
They've
always
been
here
with
their
fire
trucks
and
with
their
honor
guards.
We
especially
wanted
to
acknowledge
them
this
year
because
of
all
that's
been
going
on
the
last
year,
the
last
two
years
really
with
all
of
the
fires,
including
the
two
or
three
that
are
going
on
in
California
right
now,
shootings
that
happened
a
couple
of
days
ago,
maybe
a
week
ago
in
Southern
California.
A
A
A
A
We
have
a
representative
from
Evan
Lowe's
office
I
believe,
although
I
haven't
seen
him,
so
maybe
he's
not
quite
here
yet,
but
he
has
asked
me
to
oh
there.
She
is
okay,
someone
from
Evan,
Lowe's
office
and
I
will
be
doing
a
presentation
for
for
Evan
to
the
veteran
of
the
year
for
the
28th
Assembly
District
a
little
bit
later
in
our
program.
A
A
A
Former
mayor,
Councilwoman
Savita
Biden
nuttin
I,
actually
learned
how
to
pronounce
your
name.
How
many
years
did
it
take
me?
We
have
vice
mayor
rod,
sinks,
see
back
there
and
I
think
that's
it
unless
they
missed
someone.
Okay.
At
this
time,
then
I
would
like
to
ask
our
mayor,
Darcy
Paul,
to
come
and
say
a
few
words
of
welcome.
B
Thank
you
very
much
sandy
on
behalf
of
the
city
of
Cupertino.
As
our
mayor
this
year,
I
would
like
to
thank
all
of
our
armed
services
for
all
of
your
efforts
in
defending
our
liberties
and
making
sure
that
we
have
the
ability
to
pursue
our
freedoms,
pursue
our
happiness,
not
just
here
in
Cupertino,
but
in
our
country.
Our
armed
services
have
always
stood
for
our
ideals
and
the
American
Dream
is
still
very
much
alive.
B
You
can
see
it
here
in
Cupertino,
where
we're
having
many
thorough
and
vigorous
discussions
we'll
keep
on
having
those,
because,
of
course
these
are
parts
of
our
freedoms.
So
thank
you
very
much
for
everything
that
you've
done,
that
you
will
continue
to
do
and
the
city
of
Cupertino
thanks
you
for
your
service,
your
honorable
service
and
the
service
that
you
provide
to
us
so
that
we
can
have
these
types
of
privileges.
Thank
you
very
much.
A
We've
been
privileged
to
have
some
very,
very
special
speakers
over
the
years
I
remember
when
we
dedicated
this
memorial
in
2007.
This
is
our
12th
year.
By
the
way,
this
is
our
twelfth
of
Veterans
Day
ceremony
when
we
dedicated
it
in
2007,
the
Secretary
of
the
Navy
came
all
the
way
out
from
Washington
to
dedicate
it.
A
Little
bit
about
him
during
Admiral
since
38
years
in
uniform,
he
was
engaged
in
several
overseas
contingency
operations
and
commanded
at
every
level.
His
last
assignment
was
commander
of
the
United
States
Special
Operations
Command,
which
is
responsible
for
training,
equipping
and
deploying
all
Special
Operations
Forces
from
the
Army
Navy
Air
Force
and
Marine
Corps.
A
He
was
the
first
Navy
sail
to
rise
to
four-star
rank,
a
senior
member
of
the
United
States
national
defense
team.
He
is
credited
with
developing
the
specialized
forces
that
have
accomplished
some
of
the
most
notable
military
operations
of
the
last
decade,
the
raid
on
Osama
bin
Laden,
prominent
among
them.
An
earl
Olson
is
also
remembered
as
an
officer
who
cared
deeply
about
the
men
and
women
who
served
under
his
command.
He
initiated
and
supported
many
programs
to
help,
particularly
those
who
were
seriously
injured
in
training
or
combat,
and
also
their
families
and
caregivers.
A
The
Special
Operations
Coalition
has
been
described
as
the
gold
standard
for
connecting
those
in
need
with
those
willing
to
help.
He
is
also
proud
to
have
run
the
Boston
Marathon
as
the
guide
for
a
blind
service
member
twice:
Amer
Olson,
left
military
service
in
2011
and
now
stays
busy
with
board
work,
teaching
and
serving
nonprofit
organizations
and
I've
passed
right
over
captain
Vera
Montes.
Who
is
here
to
open
it
with
a
prayer
so
Admiral
Olson?
Would
you
just
for
one
moment:
let's
let
him
come
forth
and
pray
for
us
so.
A
A
You
know
that
last
year's
the
first
year
that
he
missed
it
so
Joe
and
I've
known
each
other
since
1990,
when
he
showed
up
literally
at
the
curb
of
my
house
the
day
that
my
husband
died,
of
a
massive
coronary
and
took
my
eight-year-old
son
under
his
wing
that
big
wing
and
and
and
talked
to
him
and
calmed
him
down
and
calm
and
we've
just
spent
very
good
friends
ever
since
so
I'm
honored
to
have
captain
Vera
Montes,
please
come
forward
Joe.
Thank
you.
D
Yeah,
actually
so
yeah
twelve
years
and
like
sandy
said
I
would
have
been
here
12
straight
years,
but
I
missed
last
year.
I
had
some
commitments
down
in
LA
that
I
had
to
go
to
and
I
missed
last
year
and
I
was
bummed
about
that
and
I
saw
sandy
at
a
function,
probably
about
a
month
and
a
half
ago,
and
sandy
came
up
to
me.
You
know
like
she's
this
tall
and
I'm
this
tall
and
she's
like
she's
doing
this
right
and
I'm
like
I
will
be
there.
I
will
be
there.
D
E
D
Of
a
pit
bull,
she
said
you
will
be
here.
I
said
yes,
ma'am,
yes,
ma'am
I
will
be
there
and
I
started
thinking
about
it,
because
when
I
said
yes
I'll,
be
there
I'll
be
there
I
got
you
I
got
you
on
this
I
started.
Thinking
of
the
term,
I
got
you
and
as
I'm
thinking
about
that
term,
I
think
of
all
the
people,
active
retired,
Armed,
Services
emergency
responders,
who
put
on
the
uniform
when
they
put
the
uniform
on
they're.
D
Saying
I
got
you
that's
what
they're
doing
armed
services
all
over
the
world
emergency
responders,
whether
they're
here
or
up
near
Chico,
or
down
in
LA
or
running
into
buildings
down
in
LA,
where
there's
shootings
when
they
put
that
uniform
on
they
are
saying
I
got
you
and
I
appreciate
that
sandy
I
got
you
on
this.
So.
C
D
D
So
much
for
this
time,
I
pray
God
that
you
would
be
with
the
ceremony
that
you
would
just
just
allow
us
to
focus
on
on
the
people
that
put
the
uniform
on
and
they
say
they
got
us
and
we
we
know
that
and
Lord
God
I
believe
it
I
pray
that
you
would
be
with
this
service
right
now
this
ceremony,
and
that
you
would
just
richly
bless
us
you've.
Given
us
great
weather,
we
have
people
that
are
here,
the
ones
that
are
here.
These
are
the
people
that
you
want
here.
D
A
Aren't
they
wonderful,
that's
the
Jill
Denny
is
the
choir
director
of
the
Mountain
View
High
School
Choir,
and
they
were
here
last
year.
They
enjoyed
themselves
so
much
asked
to
come
back
this
year
and
then,
of
course,
they
weren't
able
to
be
here,
but
they
sent
their
music
and
they're.
Just
a
wonderful,
wonderful,
choir
donna
and
I
early
on
when
we
decided
to
build
this
memorial,
wanted
to
make
sure
that
the
children
of
our
community
we're
very
involved,
and
so,
as
you
walk
around
and
read
the
pavers
particular
admiral
Olson.
A
If
you
get
a
chance
to
do
that,
you'll
see
that
all
25
of
our
schools
had
fund
raisers
from
ice
cream
socials
to
pizza
nights,
to
just
about
everything,
to
purchase
a
paver
and
left
a
message
for
our
veterans
and
every
year
we
have
a
school
choir,
come
and
sing.
As
part
of
this
event,
and
this
year
you'll
see
the
Boy
Scouts
and
the
Girl
Scouts
are
here
passing
out
programs.
A
We
try
to
keep
our
young
people
involved
and
over
the
years
what
we
have
found
out
is
that
many
of
them
have
no
idea
what
our
veterans
and
our
first
responders
really
do
to
keep
them
safe.
They
also
don't
really
have
a
very
good
idea
of
the
kinds
of
career
options
that
are
available
to
them,
so
after
our
programs,
normally
Don
and
I
will
both
experience
some
of
their
young
people
coming
up
to
talk
to
us
about
what
they
learned
and
how
they
were
inspired
by
today.
A
A
We
gather
here
every
day,
the
million
dollars
it
took
to
build
this
memorial,
Donna
and
I
raise
from
private
donors
during
a
time
when
the
military
wasn't
the
most
popular
subject
in
this
country,
and
we
did
not
have
any
problem
doing
that
at
all
and
every
year
people
come
to
listen
and
to
participate
in
our
Veterans
Day
ceremony.
So
again,
I'd
like
to
welcome
you
and
thank
you
for
coming
to
share
this
day
with
us.
F
Thank
you
for
induction,
but
thank
you
more
for
all
that
you
have
done
all
the
energy
and
passion
that
you've
put
into
this
memorial
for
so
many
years
and
I
think
everybody
here
knows
or
should
know
that
it
wouldn't
be
here
without
you
and
Thank
You,
Donna,
axelsson
and
and
Corky
for
inviting
me
allowing
me
to
be
with
you.
You
have
poured
your
souls
into
this
place.
In
this
event,
Mayor.
F
C
F
This
is
a
meaningful
tribute
that
over
the
years
has
become
a
great
and
powerful
event,
I've
heard
about
it,
often
and
I'm
very
glad
to
be
here
this
year.
Thank
you
for
having
me
forgive
me
for
not
being
in
uniform,
I've
been
out
of
service
now
well,
over
seven
years,
I've
only
used
worn
my
uniform
one
time
in
that
seven
years
for
a
special
occasion,
but
had
I
been
to
this
event
in
previous
years
and
seen
the
spirit
that
is
here.
I
just
might
have
considered
wearing
it
today.
This
is
clearly
a
periodic
patriotic
day.
F
It's
certainly
an
important
celebration
of
service
and
a
high
tribute
to
those
of
you
who
serve
or
have
served
in
our
military
forces
in
our
law
enforcement
units
in
our
fire
departments
and
as
first
responders.
We
set
aside
this
year
every
day
to
honor
you
and
all
others
who
have-
and
this
is
an
especially
notable
year
for
this
event,
because
today
is
the
100th
anniversary
of
the.
F
The
catalyst
for
Veterans
Day,
major
hostilities
of
the
great
war
before
they
numbered
them
were
formally
ended.
On
the
11th
hour
of
the
11th
day
of
the
11th
month
of
1918,
when
the
Armistice
with
Germany
went
into
effect
and
Armistice
Day
was
celebrated
under
that
name
for
36
years
and
became
Veterans
Day
in
1954.
It's
a
day
distinctly
different
for
Memorial
Day,
a
much
more
solemn
day,
specifically
in
honor
of
those
who
died
in
service,
but
it's
impossible
to
celebrate.
F
Veterans
Day
without
a
heartfelt
remembrance
of
the
death
and
sacrifice
that
is
too
often
a
part
of
military
duty
in
time
of
war
and
I
know.
I
joined
many
others
here
today
and
offering
condolences
to
the
families
and
friends
of
lost
warriors.
You
have
our
sympathies
and
the
deep
appreciation
of
a
grateful
nation,
but
I
believe
that
for
most
military
members,
service
does
not
necessarily
equal
sacrifice.
Since
the
end
of
the
draft
in
1973.
Just
six
days
before,
I
was
commissioned
into
the
Navy.
F
All
military
service
members
have
been
recruited,
not
conscripted
and
all
have
made
a
choice
to
serve
our
great
nation
in
uniform.
After
comparing
other
options
or
opportunities
that
were
available
to
them
and
whether
serving
full-time
on
regular,
active
duty
or
part-time
and
the
National,
Guard
or
reserve
whether
across
the
world
in
combat
or
closer
to
home,
whether
for
a
single
tour
or
for
a
career
of
service,
they
have
learned
trained,
traveled,
followed
in
lead
and
typically
experienced
more
things
in
more
places
than
their
peers
who
decided
to
not
join
the
military.
F
It
certainly
wasn't
all
easy,
it
wasn't
all
fun.
There
was
inevitably
pain
along
with
growth
heartache
along
with
adventure,
but
through
it
all
they,
you
made
our
themselves
in
our
nation
better
and
given
that
most
of
America's
youth,
in
fact,
statistically
about
72%
of
America's
youth
in
the
eligible
age
range,
is
not
qualified
for
military
service.
We
should
all
be
very
pleased
and
proud
that
our
ranks
continue
to
be
filled
with
such
extraordinary
men
and
women.
Each
of
them
has
his/her
own
reason
to
serve.
F
It
might
be
a
family
tradition,
it
might
be
economics,
maybe
a
yearn,
to
learn
new
things
or
travel
new
places.
Some
are
running
from
something
and
some
are
running
to
something.
There
are
many
who
are
simply
Patriots
who
want
to
be
part
of
the
organizations
that
most
powerfully
symbolize
patriotism,
but,
in
my
experience
one
thing
is
certain:
no
matter
the
reason
for
initially
joining
the
military.
The
longer
one
serves
the
more
it
becomes
about
each
other
and
they
need
to
be
an
important
member
of
a
team
on
a
big
mission.
F
I
think
that
most
military
veterans
will
say
that
their
service,
particularly
in
the
darkest
times,
was
for
their
teammates
any
hardships.
They
suffered
the
risks
they
took
where
to
keep
their
teammates
safe
and
bring
them
home,
and
that
satisfaction
and
pride
that
they
felt
at
the
end
of
each
day
or
the
end
of
their
time
and
service
came
from
not
letting
their
team
down.
If
you
were
to
do
your
own
analysis
of
the
highest
awards,
this
nation
has
presented
for
valor
over
the
last
several
decades.
F
We
asked
a
lot
of
our
service
members,
but
in
my
view
we
asked
as
much
or
more
of
their
families
it's
an
old
adage
in
my
former
world
that
when
you
got
married,
it
had
to
be
to
someone
stronger
than
you.
I
always
knew
where
I
was
what
I
was
doing
and
that
I
was
okay,
my
wife
and
kids,
my
mom
and
dad
had
to
take
it
on
faith.
That
no
news
was
good
news.
F
Whenever
we
asked
something
of
our
service
members,
we
are
asking
a
lot
more
from
their
families,
and
this
will
continue
and
we
will
continue
to
ask
a
lot.
World
War
two
was
four
years
of
intense
warfare,
a
very
long
time
for
those
who
went
overseas
and
stayed
until
the
fight
ended.
The
Korean
War
was
a
bloody
and
frustrating
three
years
in
length.
F
The
United
States
troops
fought
in
the
dark
and
dangerous
jungles
of
Vietnam
for
about
ten
years
by
then
rotating
in
and
out
for
a
year
or
so
of
fighting
other
operations
tended
to
be
much
shorter,
lasting
from
a
few
days
in
Grenada
to
several
months
of
Desert
Storm.
There
were
veterans
of
World
War
two
here
today
and
I
would
ask
you
to
stand
or
if
you
prefer,
wave
or,
if
you're,
already
standing
wave.
If
we
want
this
pay
pay
special
tribute
to
you.
F
If
you're,
a
veteran
of
any
of
any
number
of
small
Wars
and
contingency
operations
from
places
like
Iran
and
Panama
and
Grenada
in
Haiti
and
Bosnia
and
Kuwait
and
Somalia,
and
many
other
forbidding
and
distant
places,
veterans
of
hard
fighting
of
soft
power
of
peacekeeping
and
disaster
relief
operations,
veterans,
who've,
taken
enemy
lives,
saved
the
lives
of
innocent
victims
of
brutal
leaders
and
terrorist
groups
or
of
nature's
fury.
Please
stand
in
white
or
wave.
F
And
now,
and
many
of
you
will
be
rising
again,
what
we're
focusing
today
a
bit
on
on
the
conflicts
in
Iraq
and
Afghanistan
or
both
so
if
you've
served
in
Iraq
or
Afghanistan,
including
those
who
supported
those
wars
from
neighboring
countries,
from
the
United
States
or
from
elsewhere
in
the
world.
Please
stand
or
wave.
F
It's
been
more
than
17
years,
nearly
a
generational
period
since
the
attacks
on
the
World
Trade
Center
and
the
Pentagon,
the
frequency
and
intensity
of
military
deployments
since
then
has
been
high
with
some
service
members
doing
back
to
back
to
back
to
back
deployments
or
deployments
for
extended
periods.
Overseas
they've
been
almost
everywhere
in
the
world
to
work
and
fight,
work
and
trained,
but
they've
been
mostly
to
Iraq
and
Afghanistan
to
work
and
fight,
often
with
coalition
partners
and
usually
under
extremely
demanding
circumstances.
F
Afghanistan
ruled
by
a
brutal
and
illegitimate
Taliban
government
was
the
origin
of
the
attacks
by
al
Qaeda
on
our
homeland.
The
American
response
was
Swift,
but
Afghanistan
became
a
combat
theater
of
complexity
and
confusion.
The
distances
across
mountains
and
over
deserts
were
long
and
difficult.
Usable
infrastructure
was
sparse,
we
didn't
know
the
tribes
or
the
families,
we
didn't
understand
the
languages
or
the
cultures
we
were
strangers
in
a
strange
land,
not
the
enemy
of
the
people.
We
went
to
help
but
not
accepted
as
their
friends.
F
Much
progress
has
been
made
in
areas
that
matter
in
Afghanistan,
like
the
building
of
an
army
and
other
security
forces.
The
improved
health
of
a
population
and
the
number
of
children,
especially
young
girls,
who
were
in
school,
but
the
Taliban
still
dominates
much
of
the
country,
and
it
is
at
risk
of
rebe
coming
a
stronghold
for
terrorist
groups
and
activity,
and
after
six
months
after
going
to
Afghanistan
in
late
2001,
we
went
to
Iraq
in
the
spring
of
2003
again
with
highly
capable
forces
to
fight
in
a
completely
different
context.
F
Again,
Iraq
was
more
of
a
developed
country
with
opposing
denominations
of
Islam,
the
Sunni
and
the
Shia,
whose
violence
was
held
in
check
by
a
brutal
dictator,
Saddam
Hussein,
who
himself
used
brutal
methods
to
control
his
population.
Again,
Americans
found
themselves
as
mostly
the
unwelcomed
arbiters
of
governance
and
justice
and
Iraq
is
not
yet
an
accepted
member
of
the
World
Order.
It
remains
a
base
of
operations
for
us
supported
operations
against
the
Islamic
state
in
war-ravaged
Syria
next
door.
These
wars
of
our
millennium
are
not
like
any
others
in
our
history.
F
Our
servicemembers
do
not
have
uniformed
enemies
to
fight
or
even
enemy
lines.
Anyone
anywhere
can
be
a
threat
in
the
nastiness
of
leaf
behind
devices
like
buried
mines
and
improvised
explosive
devices
means
that
one
can
be
killed
or
injured
well,
after
the
enemy
has
departed
from
an
area
and
mortars
and
snipers
can
put
our
people
at
risk,
even
when
they're
eating
or
sleeping
within
their
bases
for
those
who
leave
the
bases
to
operate
in
the
hinterland.
The
indigenous
population
is
mysterious,
the
terrain
is
unforgiving,
the
weather
is
always
too
hot
or
too
cold.
F
The
streets
are
broken
and
dusty,
and
no
one
outside
your
own
team
can
be
trusted.
It's
impossible
to
anticipate
who,
when
or
where
the
next
casualty
will
be.
It's
worth.
It's
it's
work,
that's
often
physically
and
mentally
grueling,
and
everyone
has
to
find
a
way
to
deal
with
it,
those
who
are
seriously
injured
or
those
who
lose
friends
and
teammates
to
injury
and
death,
or
sometimes
irrecoverably
impacted.
It
would
be
very
wrong
to
think
that
every
veteran
of
these
wars
is
a
troubled
human,
a
time
bomb
waiting
to
explode.
F
They
got
through
it
in
good
shape
and
they're
ready
to
take
on
whatever
comes
next
most
do
not
want
either
your
sympathy
or
your
charity,
but
they
do
want
and
deserve
the
quote:
you're
quiet
appreciation
and
a
fair
shot
at
the
same
opportunities
they
would
have
had
if
they
hadn't
served,
but
it
would
be
equally
wrong
to
believe
that
physically
or
emotionally
traumatic
experiences
do
not
sometimes
have
permanent
effects.
We've
all
seen
or
read
about
the
effects
of
traumatic,
brain
injury
and
post-traumatic
stress
disorder.
F
There's
still
a
lot
to
learn
about
them,
but,
what's
for
sure
is
that
they
are
real.
Unsub
veterans
need
help
as
I've
watched,
Iraq
and
now
Afghanistan
I
see
that
no
one
has
surrendered
and
no
one
has
claimed
victory.
Success
or
failure
will
ultimately
be
measured
in
gains
or
losses
of
Tyrael
territorial
control,
of
economic
prosperity,
of
political
stability,
of
local
security,
of
the
quality
of
life
for
the
citizens
and
the
opportunities
for
their
children.
F
The
numbers
in
Iraq
now
are
relatively
few,
and
the
numbers
in
Afghanistan
are
way
down
from
just
a
few
years
ago,
but
deployments
to
tough
places
to
do
hard.
Things
under
complex
and
demanding
circumstances
continue,
and
we
can't
expect
them
to
ever
end.
Well,
we
can't
expect
is
that
future
generations
of
Americans
will
serve
proudly
and
capably
to
protect
a
mirror
and
then
America
will
always
be
proud
of
those
who
serve
again
more
inclusively.
If
you're,
currently
on
active
duty
in
the
military
or
a
military
veteran.
Please
stand
and
wave.
F
F
F
We
are
all
better
off
for
your
service
and
you
will
get
much
from
it
as
well,
and
for
those
of
you
who
are
thinking
about
joining
up
I'll,
just
say
that
there's
a
world
of
adventure
and
opportunity
waiting
for
you
all
of
it
is
challenging
and
therefore
worthwhile
and
almost
all
of
it
is
exciting
and
good
to
the
families
and
loved
ones
of
those
who
serve
are
served.
You
have
earned
all
of
our
respect
and
appreciation
I.
In
many
cases
you
have
qualified
for
sainthood
to.
F
Cupertino
and
the
surrounding
cities
I.
Thank
you
for
making
the
great
neighborhoods
where
a
servicemen
and
women
are
joining
the
services
from
and
where
they
often
return
back
to
without
the
sports,
without
the
arts
and
entertain
without
the
safety,
security,
education
and
after-school
programs
that
you
all
provide
and
support.
F
We'd
have
a
lot
more
difficulty
recruiting
such
amazing
people
into
military
service
and
wrapping
your
arms
around
our
wounded
and
their
families
of
our
fallen
is
among
the
most
important
things
that
you
can
do
along
with
your
best
and
most
sincere
efforts
to
understand
who
our
veterans
are,
what
they
did,
what
they
can
do.
Your
heartfelt
thanks
mean
the
most
so.
B
A
A
A
A
A
Then
he
went
to
garden
gate
where
he
was
in
Donna
Axl
since
fourth
grade
classroom.
No
doubt
that
explains
it
all
man
right,
he
went
to
Kennedy
middle
school
and
then
he
was
in
the
program.
My
son
actually
was
in
also
a
joint
program
between
mana
Vista
and
Anza
College,
where
he
completed
his
high
school
captain.
Illowsky
commissioned
into
the
Air
Force
through
ROTC
detachment,
45
at
San,
Jose
State
University.
A
He
earned
a
Bachelors
of
Science
from
Santa
Clara
University
in
mechanical
engineering,
with
laude
honors,
a
master's
of
science,
also
from
Santa
Clara,
University
and
engineering
management,
and
in
additional
masters
of
science
from
the
Air
Force's
air
university
in
flight
test
engineering.
He
holds
a
civilian
commercial,
pilot's
license
and
instrument
rating.
He
is
a
graduate
of
the
United
States
Air
Force
test
pilot
school
and
has
piloted
23
different
military
aircraft,
including
the
kc-135
and
c-17
cargo
planes,
the
Blackhawk
and
Osprey
helicopters
and
the
f15
f-16
and
f-18
fighter
jets.
A
A
H
H
H
That
I'd
like
to
say,
is
thank
you
to
everyone
here
for
being
here.
Well,
I
need
to
say
that
the
views
expressed
during
my
speech
are
not
necessarily
those
of
the
airforce
I
can't
confidently
say
that
the
entire
military
and
all
the
first
responders,
who
keep
us
safe
value.
Your
support
tremendously
and
I'm
really
impressed
with
the
turnout
today
with
the
enormous
opportunity
in
Silicon,
Valley
I,
think
it's
known
that
people
from
this
area
are
underrepresented
in
the
military.
H
My
graduating
class,
at
Mauna,
Vista,
High
School,
had
over
500
students
and
I
believe
that
fewer
than
10
of
us
joined
the
Armed
Services
Junior
ROTC
is
a
high
school
program
that
has
often
people's
first
exposure
to
the
military,
but
there
wasn't
one
at
my
school
or
even
in
the
district.
For
me,
with
a
burgeoning
interest
in
joining
the
Air
Force
I
had
to
seek
out
individual
teachers
with
a
military
background.
One
of
them
was
John
Swenson
who's.
Here
today
he's
a
retired,
Army,
lieutenant
colonel
and
he
was
Dean
of
the
DeAnza
language
arts
department.
H
He
shared
with
me
the
fundamental
information
about
the
pros
and
cons
of
making
such
a
life-altering
decision
and
also
helped
with
the
logistics
of
joining
the
ROTC
program
at
San.
Jose
State
I'm,
not
sure
why,
if
I
would
have
been
in
this
career
at
all,
without
his
support,
Donna
axelsson,
it
was
just
mentioned,
we'll
keep
it
clapping
for
Donna.
H
H
H
I'll
say
it
again:
joining
the
military
is
a
big
decision
and
irreversible
and
I
wanted
to
be
applied
to
be
a
pilot
which,
due
to
the
high
cost
of
training,
requires
a
commitment
of
over
ten
years.
That's
a
long
time
to
give
up
control
of
big
things,
big
and
small,
from
where
you
live
to
the
type
of
job
you
do
to
your
haircut
in
college.
H
H
More
importantly,
this
area
offered
plenty
of
exposure
to
the
aerospace
field.
I
took
class
at
Moffett
Field
with
NASA
Ames.
So
when
graduating
college
I
was
well-prepared,
educationally
and
had
all
the
emotional
support
I
needed
to
press
forth
into
active
duty
that
was
critical
as
less
than
three
years
from
graduation
came.
My
very
first
combat
mission.
I
remember
that
day,
because
it
taught
me
perhaps
the
most
important
lesson.
H
I
keyed
the
radio
to
contact
the
joint
joint
terminal
attack
controller,
more
commonly
abbreviated
as
JTAG.
Since,
obviously,
it's
hard
to
say
who
is
the
Air
Force
member
embedded
in
the
army
unit
I
was
tasked
to
support,
but
after
I
keyed,
the
radio
I
didn't
get
a
response.
I
checked
the
frequency
and
radioed
again
waiting
impatiently
for
instructions
on
how
I
could
put
my
finely
tuned
skills
toward
making
the
world
a
better
and
safer
place,
but
still
no
response.
H
After
what
seemed
like
an
eternity,
I
received
word
through
my
leadership
that
everything
was
fine,
but
simply
the
jtech
was
asleep
and
he
called
me
when
he
woke
up
and
needed
my
support
and
from
that
event,
something
in
my
mind
clicked
when
had
gone
through
pilot
training.
The
single-seat
mentality
of
doing
everything
yourself
was
impressed
into
me.
Basically,
the
instructors
taught
us
when
flying
in
an
airplane.
The
pilot
doesn't
move
it's
the
world
that
moves
around
the
pilot,
but
then
in
actual
combat
in
Afghanistan.
H
That
was
no
longer
the
case
and
I
can
tell
you
from
having
flown
combat
missions
in
Iraq
there.
It
is
also
not
the
case.
In
fact,
in
most
recent
Wars
pilots
play
a
supporting
role
for
the
ground
forces
and,
by
sleeping
through
the
beginning
of
my
first
combat
mission,
I
believe
that
Jay
Tok
taught
me
more
about
aeronautical
warfare
than
had
he
given
me
an
actual
task,
but
when
I
did
start
getting
tasks
from
ground
units,
something
else
in
my
mind,
clicked
most
check-ins
I
did
with
ground
units
were
over.
The
radio
in
general.
H
Combat
situations
are
complex,
involving
the
positions
of
the
enemy,
friendly
objectives
and
more
and
a
full
checking
takes
time.
Sometimes
as
long
as
30
minutes,
some
aircraft
belonging
to
the
US
and
its
allies
are
so
fuel
limited
that
they
only
have
30
minutes
of
time
available
to
support
a
ground
unit.
It
doesn't
take
too
much
thinking
to
recognize
the
problem
there.
A
solution,
however,
is
not
always
apparent
to
everyone,
yet
I
believe
because
of
my
upbringing
in
Silicon
Valley.
The
idea
came
naturally
to
me
that
technology
was
the
solution.
H
Check-Ins
are
essentially
the
sharing
of
information
and
the
way
I
think
about
it.
The
sharing
of
information
is
the
essence
of
the
internet
and
therefore
Silicon
Valley,
as
I
become
as
I
became.
More
and
more
experienced.
I
saw
more
and
more
problems
that
could
be
solved
and
situations
that
could
be
improved
by
techni,
especially
software.
H
This
is
what
drove
me
to
become
a
test
pilot
making
the
decision
to
transition
away
from
the
operational
side
of
the
Air
Force,
where
I
was
flying.
Missions
to
the
development
side,
where
I
wouldn't
be
was
actually
easy
for
me
and
so
was
getting
into
test
pilot
school.
It
only
took
three
years
straight
of
applying
nine
letters
of
recommendation
and
putting
in
the
work
to
perform
as
perfectly
as
I
could
on
every
check
ride
in
order
to
compete
against
the
other
pilots
doing
the
same
thing,
but
it
was
worth
it
100%.
H
For
starters,
during
the
year-long
program,
I
got
to
pilot
a
mix
of
30
different
military
and
civilian
aircraft
and
when
I
say
a
mix,
I
do
mean
a
mix.
I
drop
bombs
from
an
f-16,
piloted
giant
cargo
planes
with
four
engines,
piloted
gliders
with
no
engines
landed
an
enormous
boat
plane
on
a
lake
spun
upside
down
in
a
competition,
aerobatic
plane
managed
the
radial
engine
of
a
world
war,
two
tail
dragger,
that's
the
t6.
H
Texan
won
for
the
World
War
two
vets
here
and
I
held
formation
and
a
Canadian
demonstration
team
jet
and
plenty
more
and
I
do
mean
more
at
700
miles
per
hour,
I
traversed
a
low-level
route,
just
200
feet
off
the
ground
at
an
f-15
experimented
with
different
control
systems
in
a
Learjet
evaluated.
The
instrument
approach,
system
of
a
1980s,
Czechoslovakian
ground
attack
plane
and
did
dogfighting
in
a
1950s
fighter
built
for
the
early
Cold
War
and
from
every
awesome
experience.
H
I
learned
more
about
how
technology
can
be
used
to
completely
change
the
profession
of
being
a
pilot.
The
first
helicopter
I
flew
was
the
r44
which
has
no
flight
control
software,
even
though
it
is
a
relatively
simple
aircraft.
Managing
the
competing
gyroscopic
forces
of
the
multiple
spinning
rotors
made
it
the
most
difficult
aircraft,
I've
ever
piloted.
Contrast
that
with
the
block
blackhawk
helicopter,
which
is
much
more
complex
with
two
jet
engines
and
a
65
feet
long
that
with
the
automated
stability
software
I
had
no
problem.
H
H
The
end
of
the
curriculum
of
test
pilot
school
I
visited
the
French
test
pilot
school
near
Marseilles,
where
I
flew
one
of
the
main
fighters
of
the
French
Air
Force,
the
Mirage
2000.
It
was
fitted
with
a
terrain-following
radar
and
flight
control
system
where
all
I
had
to
do
was
press
a
few
buttons
and
the
aircraft
autonomously
flew
up
and
down
over
the
rolling
hills.
H
This
is
officially
called
reducing
pilot
workload,
though
many
pilots
would
say
it's
freeing
up
the
brain
bytes,
which
allows
more
attention
to
be
focused
on
the
mission,
though,
on
that
flight
I
wasn't
on
a
mission,
so
it
freed
me
up
to
relax
and
enjoy
the
passing
sounds
and
castles
of
the
French
countryside,
but
I
also
found
that
software
doesn't
just
make
flying
easier.
Sometimes
it
makes
it
possible.
The
f-16
is
the
air
force's
most
numerous
fighter
jet.
Yet
the
airframe
has
a
negative
static
stability
margin
in
the
longitudinal
axis
for
those
non
test.
H
Pilots
here
that
essentially
means
the
position
of
the
wings
and
tail
make
that
plane
virtually
impossible
to
fly
without
control
by
a
human
pilot
and
the
aid
of
constantly
running
computers.
I
know
because
I've
tried
the
air
force
test.
Pilot
school
has
a
totally
unique
f-16
in
which
the
flight
control
computers,
which
keep
the
airplane
stable,
can
be
turned
off.
Flying
straight
novel,
wasn't
too
bad,
but
when
doing
more
complicated
maneuvers
I
had
to
switch
the
computers
back
on
or
I
would
have
ended
up
upside
down
and
tumbling
out
of
the
sky.
H
This
design
wasn't
a
mistake.
It
actually
makes
the
aircraft
more
maneuverable
and
more
fuel
efficient
and
now
everyday
f-16s
are
flown
without
incident.
Because
of
software
and
the
better
the
software,
the
more
unstable
designers
can
allow
an
aircraft
to
be
which
just
might
give
a
pilot
the
edge
to
drop
a
missile
or
excuse
me
avoid
a
missile
or
avoid
a
mid-air
collision.
H
While
aircraft
performance
can
always
be
increased,
there
always
be
room
to
make
them
fly
faster
or
turn
tighter
by
pulling
more
G's.
In
my
personal
opinion,
that
was
what
the
first
century
of
aircraft
development
was
about,
but
the
aviation
efforts
of
the
second
century,
which
has
only
just
begun,
will
be
less
about
hardware
and
more
about
software
nowadays
when
building
any
type
of
new
military
aircraft.
It's
virtually
inconceivable
to
do
so
without
software
heavily
augmenting
the
flight
control
system,
but
more
so
even
faster
growing
aspect
of
software
is
information.
Sharing.
H
Previously
there
were
limits
to
getting
information
quickly
from
airborne
aircrafts,
but
with
satellite
links
and
ever
increasing
bandwidth.
Barriers
to
sharing
information
are
being
shattered,
allowing
leaders
to
make
decisions
based
on
information
that
is
more
detailed
and
more
timely.
This
is
why,
as
a
test
pilot,
the
vast
majority
of
my
time
spent
is
on
software
upgrades
rather
than
hardware
upgrades.
Just
last
week,
I
was
at
China
Lake
naval
air
weapons
station
in
Southern,
California
piloting
two
test
flights,
both
of
which
were
exclusively
for
software.
H
They
both
went
well
and
finished
ahead
of
schedule,
which
was
good
because
it
got
us
out
of
the
way
of
the
film
crew
that
happened
to
be
there
filming
Tom,
Cruise
and
Top
Gun
I'm,
not
sure
if
I
was
in
the
background
of
that
movie,
but
I'll
have
more
chances
as
there's
plenty
of
software
flights.
In
my
future,
and
if
this
overall
trend
continues,
military
is
going
to
need
a
lot
of
pilots.
Excuse
me
a
lot
of
people
writing
software.
H
The
Silicon
Valley
has
potential
to
contribute
enormously
in
this
way,
but
it
will
take
people
like
you
who
come
out
and
support
the
military
to
inspire
future
generations
to
do
the
same.
Hopefully,
I'm
doing
that
right
now,
as
my
first
child,
who
is
five
months
old,
is
here
today
during
her
first
visit
to
Cupertino
and
though
we
live
in
Nevada,
my
daughter
is
definitely
getting
the
California
upbringing.
My
wife
is
also
from
California
and
I
had
I
had
no
idea
until
she
bought
them.
How
many
baby
books
there
are
delving
into
third
wave
feminism.
H
A
So
we're
not
asked
Donna
if
she
graded
you
or
not,
but
you
might
want
to
do
that.
Just
out
of
curiosity,
that's
great
I
ever
got
from
my
Speech
and
Debate
teacher
Carmen
Dale
Fernandez.
Who
really
was
the
teacher
and
was
one
time
when
she
came
to
my
I
think
it
was
my
second
State
of
the
City
address
and
hust.
Oh
he's
greatest,
when
we
were
speaking
and
she'd
had
this
little
piece
of
white
paper,
all
scrunched
up
and
she'd
sit
you
down
after
your
speech
and
she'd
go
over
all
the
things
she
did
wrong.
A
So
at
the
end
of
my
State
of
the
City
address
she
was
she
was
sitting.
Somebody
was
sitting
between
her
and
me.
She
reached
over
in
front
of
him
and
handed
me
her
little
typical
piece
of
paper
and
I
opened
it
up
and
it
was
blank
and
that
was
the
best
compliment.
I
ever
got
from
her.
She
said:
I,
wouldn't
change
a
thing,
so
I
bet
you
Donna's
gonna
say
that
too
hon
we're
gonna
move
now
to
what,
for
many
is
one
of
their
very
favorite
parts
of
the
program.
A
This
is
where
the
sough
family,
James
ax,
is
the
Navy
SEAL.
Looking
away
from
me
on
our
sculpture,
Matthew
axelsson
is
is
looking
in
my
direction,
and
so
this
is
a
part
of
our
program
where
the
sub
family
and
Donna
Axelsson,
representing
the
axelsson
family,
and
this
year,
our
third
bouquet
will
be
carried
by
Pauline
Besler.
Our
World
War
two
wave
who's
sitting
up
here,
also
as
they
take
them
and
take
their
flowers
and
take
them
to
the
sculpture.
So
we're
going
to
start
with
self
family
and
I.
A
A
We
are
ready
to
dedicate
one
today
and
it's
nice
to
see
some
of
you
here
from
Iraq
and
Afghanistan
and
for
the
Admiral
to
speak
to
that,
as
those
are
two
countries
that
we
are
fighting
now,
the
longest
war
I
believe
in
our
history.
You
know
one
of
the
things
that
I
admire
most
about
Donna
and
quirky
and
I've
known
them.
A
A
long
time
is
the
way
they
handled
that
awful,
awful
news
that
nobody
ever
wants
to
get
when
you
lose
a
child
and
when
they
heard
that
Matthew
had
lost
his
life
in
Afghanistan,
they
had
many
choices
of
what
to
do
with
that
and
what
they
did
with.
That
is
that
they
worked
very
hard
to
build
this
memorial
to
take
that
terrible,
hurt
and
turn
it
around
as
a
lesson
to
all
of
us
how
you
can
make
something
very
special
out
of
something
very
awful
I
respect
them
greatly
for
that
and
I
know
it's.
A
I
I
J
J
I
J
J
A
Every
year,
when
we
take
a
wreath
to
the
wall
of
Honor,
which
we
do
every
year,
I
usually
ask
a
different
group
to
escort
it
I'm,
going
to
change
my
mind
right
now.
I'm
gonna,
add
to
who
I
asked
originally
now,
since
we're
talking
about
the
wars
that
are
going
on
right
now,
and
primarily
Iraq
Afghanistan
and
any
of
the
other
outreaches
of
the
world.
Where
we
have
people.
A
B
A
A
C
A
A
A
Assemblyman
Devin
load
did
me
a
great
honor
about
a
year
ago
and
asked
me
if
I
would
help
him
select
a
veteran
for
an
annual
event
in
Sacramento.
That
I
was
not
aware
of,
and
the
Assembly
District
has
an
event
on
Memorial
Day,
where
each
assembly
person
gets
to
honor
a
veteran
from
their
Assembly
District,
and
he
said
you
know
sandy
since
you
seem
to
have
good
outreach
in
the
veteran
community.
Could
you
help
us
find
someone
each
year
and
of
course
they
said
I
would
be
absolutely
honored
to
do
that.
A
Could
we
could
we
start
off
with
one
of
our
World
War
two
veterans,
and
he
said
absolutely
and
and
I
also
thought
it
would
be
very
nice
to
start
off
with
one
of
our
World
War
two
women
veterans,
since
that
was
kind
of
a
time
when
women
really
started
to
make
inroads
into
military
service
and
to
really
be
accepted.
So
I
am
quite
honored
since
Assemblyman
Lowe
could
not
be
here
today
and
the
veteran
he
chose
for
this
year
could
not
make
it
to
Sacramento
for
Memorial
Day.
A
B
A
A
California
Legislature
Assembly
resolution,
whereas
throughout
the
course
of
American
history,
courageous
men
and
women
have
taken
up
arms
to
secure,
defend
and
maintain
the
core
principles
upon
which
our
nation's
freedoms
depend
and
Pauline.
Besler
is
one
such
stellar
individual,
who
was
honored
and
is
being
honored
as
the
2018
veteran
of
the
year
for
the
28th
Assembly
District,
where,
as
an
individual
of
immense
courage,
conviction
and
patriotism,
Pauline
Besler
served
with
honor
and
distinction
with
the
United
States
Naval
Reserve.
A
As
a
member
of
the
waves
trailblazing
women
who
provided
their
skills
as
administrative
personnel,
aviation
mechanics,
photographers
control,
tower
operators
in
intelligent
personnel
during
World,
War,
two
and
we're
as
well
serving
with
the
waves
waves
from
December
12th
1943
to
July
3rd
1947.
Pauline
Besler
was
assigned
as
a
yeoman,
in
which
capacity
she
performed
administrative
administrative
tests
and
upon
her
promotion
to
second
class
Petty
Officer.
A
She
volunteered
to
serve
as
a
flight
orderly,
one
of
only
32
flight
orderlies
in
the
Navy
who
helped
to
transport
and
care
for
returned
returning
wounded
veterans
and
soldiers
and
whereas,
as
one
of
more
than
80,000
women
who
served
in
the
Navy
through
the
waves
program,
Pauline
Bessler
is
proud
to
be
among
the
trailblazing
women
veterans
who
answered
their
country's
call
to
service
and
who
laid
the
foundation
for
future
generations
of
women
in
the
military.
Therefore,.
A
The
people
of
California
solemnly
remember
the
sacrifices
of
all
those
who
fought
as
valiantly
on
the
seas
in
the
air
and
on
foreign
shores,
to
preserve
our
heritage
of
freedom
and
in
its
appropriate
to
applaud
Pauline
Bessler
for
the
courageous
manner
in
which
she
served
and
sacrificed
in
the
safeguarding
of
our
democratic
principles.
For
this
generation
and
for
generations
to
come.
J
A
Sorry
about
that
I'm
gonna
give
this
to
her
daughter
to
take
that.
Could
you
carry
this
right
over
there
she's
right,
white
hat
right
in
front
there?
Thank
you.
It
was
an
honor
to
meet
Pauline
we've
become
good
friends
like
over
she's
at
Sunny
view.
I
go
over
and
visit
her
every
once
in
a
while.
She
likes
to
have
a
glass
of
wine.
A
At
this
time,
I'd
like
to
ask
navy
chaplain
Diana
Brady,
it's
kind
of
appropriate
that
we
just
gave
an
award
to
a
world
war,
two
wave
kind
of
started,
all
the
action
for
women
in
the
Navy,
and
then
we
have
with
us
every
year
since
the
beginning
also
Diana
Brady,
who
always
does
our
benediction.
For
us.
It
comes
from
a
Navy
family
herself,
a
navy,
chaplain
Diana.
Please.
E
Let
us
join
together
in
the
spirit
of
Prayer
Eternal
Father,
strong
to
save
open
our
hearts
and
minds
that
we
may
sense
and
truly
believe
you
are
here
with
us
today.
We
do
not
petition
you
to
hear
our
prayers,
for
we
know
you
are
listening.
Even
before
we
speak
in
faith.
We
know
you
are
ever
more
eager
to
hear
us
than
we
are
to
call
upon
you.
What
we
seek
from
you
today
is
wisdom,
courage
and
perseverance
and
faithfulness
in
all
things.
E
Forgive
us
when
we
are
arrogant
and
forgetful.
We
don't
mean
to
be
and
are
exceedingly
grateful
for
the
vastness
of
your
blessing
so
freely,
given
our
fear
is
that
we
are
unworthy
of
such
grace
and
goodness
today
we
celebrate
the
occasion
when
there
was
an
end
to
a
tragic
world
war.
It
was
a
truce
between
warring
factions
in
Europe,
including
great
cost
and
sacrifices
from
our
own
homeland,
but
it
was
more
than
just
cessation
hostilities.
E
E
E
We
thank
you
today
for
those
who
keep
us
safe
at
home,
our
law
enforcement
officers,
our
firefighters,
our
first
responders.
We
are
grateful
for
all
that
they
do
for
us
each
day
at
night
and
looking
back,
we
pause
to
honor
those
in
the
past
who
have
given
their
very
best
for
the
noble
cause
they
believed
in.
We
owe
them
a
debt
of
gratitude
that
we
can
never
fully
repay.
E
Looking
forward,
we
honor
those
who
continue
to
stand
the
watch
on
land,
sea
and
air
and
under
the
oceans
all
over
our
world.
Those
brave
Patriots
willing
to
join
in
the
noble
profession
of
bearing
arms,
young
men
and
women
who,
in
the
prime
of
their
lives
with
hopes
and
dreams
and
aspirations,
still
shoulder
the
burden
of
defending
the
principles
of
truth,
justice
and
freedom.
E
E
In
such
a
time
as
this,
your
faithful
servant,
Abraham
Lincoln,
spoke
to
a
war-weary,
deeply
burdened
and
disconsolate
nation.
He
said
my
fellow
Americans.
This
is
a
time
for
greatness,
greatness
of
soul,
greatness
of
faith,
greatness
of
thinking,
greatness
of
action
remind
us,
O,
God,
that
ours
is
a
time
for
greatness
amen,
so
be
it.
A
They
are
very
beautiful,
our
choir,
we
miss
them
in
person,
but
their
songs
and
their
voices
add
a
lot
to
our
program
today.
So
again,
I
want
to
thank
them
if
everyone
could
stand
for
god,
Bless
America
and
we
don't
have
the
choir
to
sing
so
we
get
to
sing,
but
we
have
someone
who's
going
to
play
it
for
us
and
then
stay
standing,
please
for
taps
by
Kenneth,
Weir
and
the
retirement
of
the
honor
guards.
Thank
you.
A
I'd
like
to
think
once
more
first
responders,
our
Fire
Department,
our
Sheriff's
Department,
our
military
honor
guard
and
our
choir
and
our
speakers,
the
Boy
Scouts
and
the
Girl
Scouts,
and
all
of
you
for
coming
and
invites
you
again
because
we
do
it
every
year,
11
11
11,
remember
the
11th
day
of
the
11th
month,
the
11th
hour.
So
please
come
see
us
again
and
go.
A
Please
take
some
flowers,
there's
flowers
down
here,
red
and
white
carnations
we'd
like
you
to
take
those
and
bring
them
on
up
to
the
memorial,
wherever
you
would
like,
say
your
silent
thoughts,
your
silent
prayers,
whatever
it
is
that
you
would
like
to
do,
and
thank
you
again
for
being
with
us.
Thank
you
all
our
veterans,
all
our
active-duty
military,
our
first
responders
for
keeping
us
all
safe.