On Memorial Day, Councilmember Rita Lamb welcomed fellow dignitaries and a sizeable crowd to the Desert Memorial Park in Cathedral City to respectfully pay homage to America’s soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the United States military. Hosted by AMVETS Post 66 and Veterans for Peace Representative Tom Swann Hernandez, the service included reading of federal, state and local proclamations, blessings and prayers by religious officials, and the reading of soldier names. The memorial service and Councilmember Lamb, on behalf of the city council, also paid tribute to the 20th Anniversary of the LGBTQ Veterans Memorial that recognizes the contributions of the LGBTQ community who have served in the United State military. A RAND Corporation health survey in 2016, found that 6.1% of the active personnel serving in the military identify as being part of the LGBT community.
Additionally, Mr. Swann Hernandez presented an award to Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia who authored AB 2349 in 2018 that established the LGBTQ Veterans Memorial as an official state LGBTQ Veterans Memorial. The service completed as Will Paige laid a wreath at the LGBTQ Veterans Memorial and Taps was played in memory of those who served.
