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Orange County Board Honors Veterans, Highlights Upcoming County Veterans Cemetery
Summary
The Orange County Board of Supervisors opened its Nov. 5 meeting with Veterans Day recognitions, praised local advocates and announced plans for the county’s first veterans cemetery while urging continued support for veteran mental-health, housing and employment services.
The Orange County Board of Supervisors opened its Nov. 5 meeting with a Veterans Day recognition, thanking local service members and advocates and highlighting county efforts to support veterans.
Vice Chair Doug Chaffee said Orange County is home to about 100,000 veterans and that the board hopes a planned Orange County Veterans Cemetery will be a lasting symbol of county support. "This cemetery is a symbol of our commitment to honoring veterans, their memory, and the valiant service they gave the nation," he said.
Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento, who identified himself as the county supervisor for the 2nd District, said veterans continue to face challenges including mental health needs, homelessness and unemployment and urged continued county action. He gave city-level veteran counts for District 2—Tustin, Garden Grove, Orange and Anaheim—and highlighted local advocates including Bobby McDonald and Francisco Barragan.
Nick Berardino, introduced by the chair as president of the Veterans Alliance of Orange County, thanked the board for its support and said the alliance would present the board with a medal in recognition. "This board stood shoulder to shoulder with us," Berardino said, praising recent county efforts.
The board paused for a national-anthem performance and group photos before moving to the regular agenda. County officials reminded veterans that services are available through the Orange County Veterans Service Office.
The meeting set a hard stop time and continued with the day's agenda items.
