Sandra Santos/Daily Journal Kem Smith and her father, Frank Martinez a Navy veteran, past commander, and member of the American Legion for 50 years, listen to speakers during a Veterans day commemoration in downtown Redwood City Wednesday.

No one likes going to war. No one wants to die before their time. Millions have made those sacrifices over and over again. Their commitment translates to our responsibility.

Those were the words of U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo, who urged a huge crowd at Courthouse Square in Redwood City yesterday morning to take care of those who have fought so bravely and served so admirably to protect democracy.

The Veterans Day celebration was dreamed up by American Legion Post 105 by Cmdr. Romie Basseto, who wanted to honor war veterans and service members in a dignified manner. Basseto hopes yesterday’s ceremony will become an annual event.

Approximately 300 people attended the event, including veterans from World War II, the Korean Conflict, the Vietnam War and Iraq. Assemblyman Ira Ruskin, D-Redwood City, former sheriff Don Horsley and Redwood City Mayor Rosanne Foust also attended.

Near the end of the ceremony, six military members became citizens of the United States in a naturalization ceremony.

Alexander Pumme, from Canada; Fiorela Boggiano, from Peru; John Mullen, from Ireland; Nan Zhang, from China; Mario Batz, from Germany; and Renata Xuereb, from Croatia were all naturalized yesterday in a ceremony conducted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Mullen followed the ceremony by leading the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance and many in the audience were moved to tears.

Speier led the crowd in a moment of silence for the victims of the Ft. Hood, Texas massacre that left 13 soldiers dead last week.

“Everyone who dons the uniform knows they can be called upon to sacrifice their life on the battlefield. No one, however, expects an assault from within their ranks while still on American soil,” Speier said.

About 18 percent of recent veterans are unemployed and it is the country’s responsibility to provide jobs and health care for them, Speier said.

She told the story of Rueben Santos, a Daly City resident, who served overseas in Kuwait, Kosovo, Jordan and finally in Iraq, where he was in fierce battles in Fallujah.

Santos was a cheerful person, Speier said, but suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. He recently took his own life, however, and Speier promised his family he would never be forgotten.

“Give us your best and we will give you our word. Your sacrifice will never be taken for granted. And when you come home — even if broken — we will stop at nothing to make you whole again. It is the very least our nation can do,” Speier said.

The spouses and children of service members who know their loved ones might not return home from war were also not forgotten.

“At this very moment service members are sacrificing their lives and losing their lives for this country,” Ruskin said. “The members of the 21st Assembly District would like to thank the families and remember the families of those who have loved ones who are missing in action who don’t know ... who live without a conclusion.”

American Legion Post 105 partnered with many groups to plan the first-time event, including the Woman’s Club; Peninsula Sunrise Lions Club; Vietnam Veterans of America, Steve Warren Chapter 464; Boy Scouts of America, Pacific Skyline Council; AMVETS Post 53; and several city departments.

Bill Silverfarb can be reached by e-mail: silverfarb@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 106.