BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK\/KBFX) \u2014 This Veteran’s Day will be the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.<\/p>\n
As we honor the service and sacrifice of World War II veterans, it’s always important to make sure that they are never forgotten.<\/p>\n
One organization is doing just that by locating the remaining World War II vets throughout the nation to properly honor them for their service.<\/p>\n
The Veteran’s Last Patrol host Honor Ceremonies for World War II veterans and they need the community\u2019s help locating World War II vets that are still alive here in Kern County.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’re reaching out in this program right now for this ceremony into the proud state of California, the state with the most World War II veterans, and it’s about 7,700,\u201d said Veteran\u2019s Last Patrol Honor Ceremonies Project Director, Barney Diamos.<\/p>\n
Veteran Last Patrol\u2019s team are determined to locate and honor World War II veterans, just as America celebrates the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of them were 16,17, 18 years old,\u201d said Diamos. \u201cThe lines went around the block at all the recruiting stations. I mean, that’s the kind of integrity these guys have. They were kids, and they left their farms and their wives and their girlfriends and their farms and kids, and they went to protect our freedom.\u201d<\/p>\n
One being Diamos\u2019 father, a Marine Stretcher Bearer, who inspired his son to research and recognize veterans who never received their medals.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen he passed away, I started looking up a few guys in his unit, and I started hearing that most of them never got their service medals,\u201d said Diamos. \u201cSo, that’s kind of become a passion of mine, that I researched their units, their campaign, and what they did there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Diamos partners with Veteran groups around the nation, including American Legion, Post 26 here in Bakersfield.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is something very rare,\u201d said Marine Veteran and current American Legion, Post 26 Commander, Peter Jaramillo. \u201cWe need to be able to enjoy those stories that they have to be told, because once they’re gone, those stories are gone with them until they’re being told, and they can be passed on from generation to generation.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to Veteran\u2019s Last Patrol, it\u2019s reported that 7,700 World War II veterans are still alive in California. Diamos and Marine Veteran Jaramillo need the community\u2019s help locating the ones in Kern County so they can be properly honored.<\/p>\n
\u201cI put together and build these shadow boxes, metal cases, and we do a ceremony for them and bring all their family and friends, and I just want them to be recognized for helping save the world from two of the most evil empires in history,\u201d said Diamos.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have our Veterans Day Parade,\u201d said Jaramillo. They’ll be coming very soon, and we’re trying to honor these veterans that have been in World War II and put them in our parade. And it’s very difficult. It’s always been very difficult, and to be able to find them and to be able to put them in the parade and have them being honored by the people that are here in Bakersfield, which in Bakersfield, California, they do so well on honoring their veterans is a great accomplishment in itself.\u201d<\/p>\n