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CELEBRATING THOSE WHO MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE -- PIERRE CLAEYSSENS VETERANS FOUNDATION ON MEMORIAL DAY 2023

Ceremony Speakers:Colonel Robert Long, Commander of Space Launch Delta 30 Vandenberg Force Base, LT Christia Sandstedt, CGC, USCGC Blackfin

The 2023 Annual Memorial Day Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation (PCVF) Ceremony at the Santa Barbara Cemetery was a beautiful way for all veterans and community members to remember those who gave the greatest sacrifice for our country on Sunday, May 29, 2023. It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces joining together to show their respect for the men and women of our armed services who did not return.

LT John Blakenship, USN (former) & David Gonzales, Sergeant, Santa Barbara Police Department (ret.)

“We are humbled as we remember all of those who served our Country and died protecting it,” said VFW Lifetime Member and PCVF co-founder Lt. John Blankenship (USN, former) who welcomed the huge crowd gathered again this year for the free ceremony where members of the UCSB ROTC Color Guard opened the program. David Gonzales, Sergeant, Sant Barbara Police Department (ret), sang and lead the audience in our National Anthem, while The Santa Barbara Choral Society directed by JoAnne Wasserman and The Prime-Time Band directed by Paul Mori entertained throughout the special remembrance to those who gave their all for our Country.

Guest speakers this year included Colonel Robert Long Commander of Space Launch Delta 30 and Western Launch and Test Range, Vandenberg Space Force Base, and LT Christia Sandstedt, CGC, USCGC Blackfin who both gave very thoughtful and touching remarks. The Gold Coast Pipe & Drum Band directed by Bill Boetticher played some of their well-known favorites, and representatives from each branch of the service gathered to perform the special Wreath Ceremony. Unfortunately, due to our fogged in coastal conditions in Santa Barbara The Condor Squadron were unable to flyover this year.

Among the many veterans standing to be honored during the "Marine Hymn" at Santa Barbara Cemetery ceremony was Peter Jordano, a proud former U. S. Marine who was born and raised in Santa Barbara, who said “This was the Best Memorial Day Ceremony Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation has ever held to honor those who made the greatest sacrifice!”

Guests generously donated to the cause during the event, and anyone wishing to make donations to Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation can visit: www.pcvf.org.

Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation is committed to honoring the men and women who have served in uniform at any time. PCVF does this by supporting veterans and active duty members, and related partner organizations, in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, as well as preserving military history and legacy. The Foundation works to uphold Pierre Claeyssens’s vision that those who have served are “Never Forgotten.” PCVF is funded entirely by private donations. For more information, visit pcvf.org or call (805) 259-4394.

Viking® (www.viking.com) announced that its the Viking Saigon℠, has begun its new season in Southeast Asia. Purpose-built for the Mekong River, the 80-guest ship sails between Kampong Cham, Cambodia and Mỹ Tho, Vietnam as part of Viking’s popular 15-day Magnificent Mekong itinerary. With the 2022-2023 season now underway, regular sailing dates are available through March 2023; the 2023-2024 season begins in July 2023.

“The fascinating cultures of Vietnam and Cambodia have always made this region a favorite destination among our guests,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “We are also pleased to welcome back to Southeast Asia our first guests since early 2020. With arrival of the Viking Saigon, we look forward to introducing even more curious travelers to this iconic waterway in the coming years.”

Purpose-built for the Mekong River, the new Viking Saigon hosts 80 guests in 40 outside staterooms. Featuring the clean Scandinavian design for which Viking is known, all staterooms have hotel-style beds and floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors with a Veranda or French Balcony. Guests on the three-deck Viking Saigon also enjoy a Spa & Fitness Center, Infinity Pool and open-air Sky Bar on the Upper Deck.

During this 15-day journey, guests explore the cultural treasures of Vietnam and Cambodia with 16 guided tours. Hotel stays in Hanoi, Siem Reap and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) bracket an eight-day Mekong River voyage on this unique itinerary, during which guests can enjoy exploring the Old Quarter of Hanoi and attending a performance by Apsara dancers; tasting the distinctive fresh ingredients from bustling markets and local restaurants; wandering the Khmer temple complex of Angkor Wat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; visiting Ta Prohm, where jungle vines embrace ancient ruins; and seeing the sights of Phnom Penh by cyclo rickshaw. On the river voyage portion of the itinerary, guests can discover silk towns, fishing villages, monasteries and floating markets.

Viking is offering special savings on select river and ocean voyages, with a limited-time $25 deposit as part of the company’s 25^th Anniversary Sale. Call Viking toll free at 1-855-8-VIKING (1-855-884-5464) or contact a travel advisor for details.

Viking was founded in 1997 and provides destination-focused journeys on rivers, and lakes around the world. Designed for curious travelers with interests in science, history, culture and cuisine, Chairman Torstein Hagen often says Viking offers experiences for The Thinking Person^SM. Viking has more than 250 awards to its name, including being the first cruise line ever to be simultaneously named the #1 Ocean Line and #1 River Line in Travel + Leisure’s 2022 “World’s Best” Awards. Viking was also rated the #1 River Line and #1 Ocean Line by Condé Nast Traveler in the publication’s 2021 Readers’ Choice Awards. For additional information, contact Viking at 1-800-2-VIKING (1-800-284-5464) or visit www.viking.com. For Viking’s award-winning enrichment channel, visit www.viking.tv.