To remember and honor: UCLA connects veteran community at Memorial Day event

Surrounded by the sounds of brass excellence, UCLA recognized Memorial Day on Wednesday at an event that connected the university to veterans groups on campus and throughout Southern California.

Nine of the nation's best student trumpeters from the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music performed a rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner," both stirring and sparkling at the event.

Recognizing UCLA's connections to military service, Chancellor Julio Frenk spoke about the dedication of servicemembers on hand.

"Some have been shaped by their family stories or their understanding of their place in the world," Frenk said. "What I got in those brief conversations today was that they are all driven by a sense of service. Like generations before them, they share a commitment to something greater than themselves."

UCLA hosts 17 programs that advance career development, academic success and community building for the veteran community. Among them are the UCLA Veterans Resource Center, UCLA Veterans in STEM, the UCLA Veterans Healthcare Program and UCLA Veterans in Research. Additional programs and services include the UCLA School of Law Veterans Legal Clinic, the Veteran Family Wellness Center and UCLA Athletics Veteran Affairs Events and Resources.

UCLA is also home to one of the most active and distinguished ROTC programs in the UC system.

"The values we strive to uphold as a university - integrity, service, purpose - are reflected every day in the lives of those among us who have worn and will wear the uniform," Frenk said.

U.S. Army ROTC Cadet Albert Picon is among the next generation of those who will serve. Picon spoke in remembrance of UCLA alumnus Francis B. Wei, who joined the U.S. Army in 1941. Wei was killed in action three years later during WWII.

"It's great to acknowledge those who've gone before us," Picon said. "In this country, military service is a choice. To be one of those volunteers is an incredible act of service, and I appreciate taking this day to remember those who stepped up but didn't come home."

Picon, a sophomore at Cal State Northridge, is headed for boot camp this August. He'll return a year later to resume his engineering studies.

He was among dozens of military and military-affiliated students and veterans from UCLA and Southern California on hand for Wednesday's event.

The Memorial Day ceremony is followed closely by another UCLA tradition: the annual "Flag Pick Up" at the Los Angeles National Cemetery.

Held on Tuesday morning after Memorial Day, the flag pick up brings hundreds of volunteers to gather about 91,000 flags left on the markers of fallen service members.

Originally known as "Decoration Day," the Memorial Day tradition began in the Civil War era. Today, it remains a day of remembrance and reflection, with communities coming together in a spirit of remembrance. Memorial Day is Monday, May 25.