The Central Coast Veterans Memorial Museum hosted their annual Veterans’ Day ceremony and community barbeque on Nov. 11, 2025. SLO county band and the Morro Bay White Caps provided live music.
“This event is about honoring our veterans and we heard from some great speakers today. We’re able to honor our veterans from different eras and different branches and it was an incredible community event,” District 4 County Supervisor Jimmy Paulding said. “I think it’s important now, more than ever, that we continue to remember those who have either paid the price– the ultimate price– or are continuing to serve our country. It’s events like these that help bring the community together to honor our veterans.”
Former White House Presidential Communications Officer John Krause was the ceremony keynote speaker. Krause is very passionate about education and honoring those who served.
“This day reminds us, not just of the sacrifices of our veterans and their families, but it also reminds us that we cannot forget history and we cannot discount the magnitude of historical events because they always seem to come around and revisit,” Krause said. “We are destined to repeat history if we don’t learn from it.”
There were several veterans honored, including Robert Angel, Toni Homen, Marty Black, Brett Pelch, James Murphy, and Pete Pepper.
Robert Angel served in the U.S. army in the Korean War from 1951-1953 as a corporal machine gunner.
Toni Homen served in the U.S. Army in the Gulf War era from 1980-1999 as a chief warrant officer and helicopter pilot. She earned her wings as a helicopter pilot in 1986 and was one of only two women in a class of 60 with just 37 graduating. She supported emergency fire response missions and flew night vision systems.
James Murphy served in the U.S. Air Force from 1939-1962 as a captain. He survived the Bataan death march and two POW camps and was transported to Japan in one of their Hell Ships. He also survived his capture by the Japanese in April 1942. He is now 105 years old.
Marty Black served in the U.S. Navy in the Cold War era from 1973-1994 as a captain and naval pilot. He tracked Soviet submarines.
Pete Pepper served in the U.S. Army from 1960-1968 and was an Army officer. He earned three bronze stars in his military career.
Brett Pelch served in the U.S. Army from 1986-1991 as an E4 specialist and machine gunner. He also drove for a battalion commander.
“For me today, it’s a special day of pride, admiration, and recognition for the sacrifice that our veterans and their families make day in and day out in serving our country,” U.S. representative Salud Carbajal said. “Today was extra special because we celebrated a number of veterans that have demonstrated distinguished service during their time of service.”
President and Museum Director, Bart Topham, hopes that everyone who attended gained more understanding and appreciation for veterans. He also wanted to remind the veterans how important they are.
“I hope that those who didn’t serve get a better understanding of what veterans have sacrificed to them,” Topham said. “I want to remind the veterans how important their sacrifices have been. It doesn’t matter what branch they were in or what duty they performed, what their job was– that doesn’t matter– it’s the fact that they swore an oath to the constitution and stood up for our citizens of our country.”
