Two days after a historically contentious election, the Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs of Santa Rosa provided a palate cleanser of sorts.

Aside from the lunches handed out at Thursday’s Veterans Tribute at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds, the event served up plenty of patriotism but zero partisanship.

That day, emcee Casey Williams declared, “we are not Democrats, we are not Republicans. “We stand united to honor our veterans.”

Among the veterans who gathered to honor and hear from more than 400 people, the keynote speaker was Brett Crozier, a 1988 graduate of Santa Rosa High School who attended the U.S. Naval Academy and then embarked on a 30-year career in the Navy.

First a helicopter pilot, then a fighter pilot, Crozier quickly rose through the Navy hierarchy. He was eventually entrusted with command of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt.

That promotion ended in April 2020, when a COVID-19 outbreak on the “TR” forced it to dock in Guam. With the virus galloping through the carrier (it eventually infected a quarter of Crozier’s 4,800 sailors and took the life of one), he sent an email to his superiors pleading for more help.

That email was leaked to the media, embarrassing the Navy and sealing Crozier’s fate. On his way to becoming an admiral, he had essentially sacrificed his career for the safety of his crew.

‘Maybe I need a nap’

Thursday’s luncheon began with a rousing performance by the Elsie Allen High School marching band, followed by the presentation of the colors by the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Honor Guard and a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance by of 100-year-old Ted Moneymaker, who fought in the Pacific Theater of World War II with the US Army’s 32nd Infantry.

Although it had been a while since he had recited the pledge, Moneymaker told the crowd that he thought he could get through it, “with one caveat,” he said.

“And the caveat is, you might need a nap in between.”

In keeping with the unit’s theme, Crozier shared the story of four high school friends, each of whom entered a different branch of service: Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard.

Throughout their lives, and even in death, they argued over which branch was superior. Finally, standing before the Pearly Gates, “they asked Saint Peter to resolve the issue, once and for all,” Crozier recounted.

After agreeing to take the question to his boss, St. Peter returned shortly after with an answer.

Reading “a little scroll,” Crozier said, the Almighty gently admonished the friends for quarreling.

“All branches are brave, noble and honorable. You all served with devotion and courage. Be proud of that service and forget about your petty rivalries.

always fi,

God.”

That punchline brought the house down, particularly delighting the Marines present: Semper Fi, short for Semper Fidelis (Latin for “Always Faithful”), is the motto of the Marine Corps.

Although Crozier is a Navy man, he embodies “Semper Fi,” always faithful to the well-being of his sailors.

As proof of this, and present on Thursday, was Jeremy Newton, candidate for District 5 of the Santa Rosa City Council. Newton returns to Crozier. The two Naval Academy graduates met in 2005. Crozier was an officer on the USS Nimitz; Newton, a fighter pilot, took off and landed F/A-18s on that aircraft carrier during the Iraq War.

Newton says “every member of the Navy” he spoke to supported Crozier’s decisions in 2020.

“We were always taught at the Academy, you do the right thing because it is the right thing. Not just when it is beneficial for you or when it is easy.”

At peace with your decision

Since those turbulent events four and a half years ago, Crozier has emphasized that he is at peace with that decision and has no hard feelings toward the Navy.

Remaining well above any partisan fray on Thursday, he made no mention, during his 20-minute speech, of the incident that cost him his command. Still, people asked him about it.

After standing in a line of people waiting for Crozier to sign copies of his book, Pam D’Angelo of Santa Rosa expressed her admiration to the captain for his selflessness.

“I wanted to make sure that whatever I did, I could live with it,” he told her. “I felt pretty good about it. I would like to say I would do it again.”

Like other attendees, D’Angelo felt her anxiety level, which spiked on Election Day, ease over lunch.

“It was very healing,” she said, to be around people who fought for their country — a reminder, she said, that people will make good decisions, like (Crozier) did.”

Also inspiring, comforting and timely was the invocation of the Reverend Emily Stockert, pastor of Two Rock Valley and Tomales Presbyterian churches. It included the hope “that our common life will be enriched, that the forces of truth and good will be strengthened; that we would share our prosperity and care for the most vulnerable among us.”