Veterans Week kick-off a major collaboration in Palo Alto

Standing at the gateway between downtown Palo Alto, Calif., and Stanford University is a World War I-era wooden building known as MacArthur Park. Many in the area know it as a popular restaurant. But they may not realize its significance to veterans.

On Nov. 7, to kick off veterans week, Palo Alto American Legion Post 375, the City of Palo Alto and Stanford University coordinated to shine a light on the building’s historic role supporting not only the veteran community but the area as a whole.

Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Raymond Powell, first vice commander for Post 375, played a large part in the event’s organization. He noted that cooperation between local stakeholders made the day unique. “This was the culmination of months of work between Palo Alto, Stanford University, and the post to put together the first joint Veterans Day event between the three entities in history.”

The ceremony had been an annual event for the City of Palo Alto until it was paused during the COVID-19 pandemic. Palo Alto city manager Ed Shikada noted, “We’re really pleased to be back here and also especially pleased to be here at MacArthur Park.”

The veterans memorial was leased in the 1980s to the MacArthur Park restaurant which maintains the structure and provides a room for veterans to meet.  

Laura Jones, executive director of Heritage at Stanford University, explained the significance of the building, a registered landmark. “It was designed by Julia Morgan during the World War I Camp Fremont training base occupation in this area.” During the war, more than 30,000 servicemembers were in Menlo Park and Palo Alto at Camp Fremont. The historic building served as the camp’s reception center.

In 1919, following the war, it was moved to its current location and served as the City of Palo Alto’s first community center. Afterward, it continued to function as a veterans center.

Stanford Senior Associate Vice President for Community Engagement Megan Swezey Fogarty said she was “really honored to be asked by the city manager for Palo Alto to collaborate on this veterans event at this very historic spot that connects the community with the Stanford campus. And it’s a special week as we all collectively honor veterans.”

Fogarty noted that Stanford has many veteran students and alumni who served. In order to recognize their contributions, Stanford planned to open its memorial auditorium on Veterans Day where visitors could enter and remember all of the school’s veterans.

U.S. Army veteran and Stanford student Tina Wong was master of ceremonies for the Nov. 7 event. She enlisted after high school and served as a medic in the 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, deploying to Afghanistan for nine months under Operation Resolute Support in 2015 and 2016. Wong said she was thrilled to be part of the event and what it means to share the story of service. “It’s a day and a week to really remember what service means.”

The ceremony started off with the City of Palo Alto color guard presenting the colors, followed by an introductory speech by Mayor Patrick Burt. The keynote speaker for the event was retired Navy Adm. Jim Ellis of the Hoover Institution, former commander of strategic command.

Blue Star Moms also bestowed a quilt on World War II veteran and past commander at Post 375 Chuck Wallin during the event.

First Vice Commander Powell expressed his appreciation for the turnout not just among veterans but the community overall. “One of the really exciting things about this ceremony today is that we got to bring the mayor here, we got to bring Stanford University here, we got to bring the community here and talk about the rich history of this building,” he said. “And, the importance of the veterans to the citizenry of Palo Alto and its community.”