CULVER CITY, Calif. — As veterans transition out of the U.S. military, many lead active lives protecting our country from inside by patrolling city streets, dousing flames, and saving lives. These men and women have many leadership qualities that create our first responders.

Lt. Pete Hernandez has been with the Culver City Police Department for the last 21 years. For him, it was a natural transition after completing his six-year enlistment with the U.S. Marine Corps in 1998.

“I’ve seen a lot. I’ve seen a lot of change too in that 21 years, but I wouldn’t change anything,” Hernandez said.

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Hernandez said during his enlistment he was deployed twice overseas and worked as a heavy machine gunner and as an infantry battalion before he transitioned his career into a first responder with the Culver City Police Department.

“It’s all kind of a call of duty where you go and join with the service because it’s just something you can’t really define, but it’s something you can’t ignore either. So it leads you into the recruiter’s office, it leads you into boot camp, and it leads you over to your unit, and I think that’s what brought me to police work in general,” Hernandez said.

Five-hundred flags at the Veterans Memorial Park in Culver City shared the names of veterans and first responders who serve like Hernandez. The flags were sponsored by community members, businesses, and organizations like the Exchange Club of Culver City and the Culver City Chamber of Commerce for the first Tribute to Heroes - Field of Valor event.

Proceeds from each flag will be donated to the New Directions nonprofit that aims to connect homeless veterans with needed services. In 2018, more than 38,000 veterans experienced homelessness in the U.S., according to the The 2018 Annual Homeless Assessment Report. The event raised about $25,000 for the cause.

“The freedoms we enjoy and just the lifestyle we’ve been all able to have has been 100 percent based on the sacrifice of veterans and continuing to today the sacrifice of our first responders. The fact that we’re able to have this event is humbling and we’re really proud of it and really looking forward to growing it in the future,” said Colin Diaz, president/CEO of the Culver City Chamber of Commerce.

As Hernandez walked through rows of flags at the park, he found a flag dedicated for his line of work. 

“Just to show that kind of love and respect for the first responders in the city is a big deal. I’m glad to be a part of it,” Hernandez said.

The flags remained standing tall in a city that won’t waiver in appreciation for all those who have served and those who spend each day answering the call of duty.