Lake Forest unveils early Veterans Day tribute video; brick-unveiling set for Nov. 10

Lake Forest's communications team presented a first cut of the city's annual Veterans Day tribute video during the Community Services Commission meeting on Nov. 5, saying the short film assembles photographs submitted by veterans and their families to recognize local service members.

"Every year our communications and marketing division has put together a video where we ask families of veterans and veterans themselves to send in a photograph," Communications and Marketing Manager Jonathan Volsky said, introducing the preview. Volsky said the city's program complements, rather than competes with, the large in-person ceremony at El Toro Memorial Park.

Volsky said the video highlights a range of images "—a soldier hugging his child when he comes home, couples, families"—and that this year's program will be paired with a brick-unveiling ceremony at Veterans Park on Monday, Nov. 10, at noon. "We've had about 47 families participate in that program for the initial unveiling," he said, and staff expect roughly 70 family members and guests for the first ceremony. Volsky invited commissioners to RSVP; Deputy City Manager McGovern said event staff (planning and office staff) will manage the guest list.

Commissioners praised the video. "The video is lovely. Thank you for sharing that," Commissioner Fuentes said during the meeting, and other commissioners said they planned to attend the noon unveiling even if only briefly.

Volsky said the city ties the video to the senior clubhouse and the banner program when posting online and that the tribute will appear on the city's channels on Veterans Day. He said the communications division produced the video with assistance from an intern, Max Bennett.

The commission did not take action on the presentation; staff reiterated that the city will continue coordinating with the El Toro Memorial Park ceremony and will make the video available to local partners on request.