Lake County supervisors host veterans groups, accept plaque listing county residents killed in action and hold DoD‑authorized honors ceremony

At a meeting of the Lake County Board of Supervisors, local veterans organizations presented a veteran appreciation plaque and a plaque listing Lake County residents killed in action, and the county held a Department of Defense‑authorized military funeral honors ceremony on the courthouse front steps.

Veterans and representatives of local veteran organizations described services they provide in Lake County and the significance of the new plaque, which the presenters said lists the county residents killed in action since World War I. "Our mission is briefly to introduce several of these organizations and highlight the services they provide for Lake County Veterans in our community as a whole," said David Wall Smith, who introduced the plaque presentation. Presenters then read names on the plaque and described the plaque’s display plans.

The plaque lists Joy Medeiros as the first recorded Lake County KIA from World War I and, according to presenters, includes 29 additional names. "This will be posted out in the lobby on the veterans wall," Dave Wall Smith said. After the presentations inside the chambers, the meeting participants processed to the courthouse front steps for a Department of Defense‑authorized military funeral ceremony led by the Lake County military funeral honors team.

Why it matters: local veterans organizations provide direct services to veterans and their families and act as community touchpoints for benefits, housing help and memorialization. Several groups used the event to summarize ongoing programs and to ask for continued public support.

Representatives from multiple county veteran organizations spoke during the meeting. Cindy Stobo described the Joy Medeiros Veterans Museum and its mission "to be a repository of veterans' history and veterans' artifacts," and Jenny Cravens of Operation Tango Mike described volunteer care‑package work and family support the group provides, including assistance to families of local service members killed in action. Ken Shaw of VetConnect described efforts to assist homeless veterans and to provide a local supply inventory to avoid long trips for basic gear.

The Lake County military funeral honors team described the honors they provide, including playing taps, firing the three‑volley salute and folding the flag into a triangular memento. Stephen Boone of the honors team said the group has executed the ceremony for families more than 2,000 times. "These services help families cope with the loss and secure some closure," Boone said.

County staff thanked the presenters. "Your meaningful work is deeply appreciated," Matthew Rothstein, chief deputy county administrative officer, told the assembled veterans and volunteers. Supervisor Sabatier also addressed the room, thanking the veterans and the volunteers for their work and noting the county’s relatively high veteran population and community reliance on these organizations.

The presentations closed with a group photo opportunity in the chambers and an orderly procession to the courthouse front steps for the DoD‑authorized military funeral honors ceremony. County staff organized the logistics and asked presenters and board members to gather around Rick Mayo for a photograph before proceeding outside.

Ending: The event combined memorial recognition — the plaque and the reading of names — with an opportunity for veterans groups to summarize services they provide to Lake County residents. The Department of Defense‑authorized ceremony on the courthouse steps followed the indoor presentations.