SAN DIEGO — David Root and Veronica Zerrer both have their names on the Veterans Wall of Honor.
They served before, during and after “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell," a United States military policy that prohibited gay, lesbian and bisexual Americans from serving in the armed forces.
The wall was created in 2011 after that policy ended by city committee member and LGBTQ activist Nicole Murray Ramirez, with the support of veterans Benjamin F. Dillingham III and Bridget Wilson.
Root played the French horn in the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged. He was inducted last year.
"I was serving in the military and I couldn’t be authentic. I had one foot in one community and one foot in another community. It was a challenge and I could have gone to jail," said Root.
Zerrer served 22 years in the U.S. Army and was inducted in 2016.
"I'm very proud. I'm a proud American and citizen of this country and it's my right to put my name forward so I can defend it," said Zerrer.
"This wall is important so we are honored for our military service, but we are not recognized for what we did as LGBT citizens and we are under appreciated, I believe. This gives us a chance in San Diego to honor people. It’s the only one in the world," said Root.
To qualify for a nomination, you must have proper paperwork to prove you were an honorably discharged veteran, and also make positive contributions to the LGBTQ and San Diego community.
The deadline is June 30 and the ceremony will be held on November 9, the Thursday before Veterans Day.
To nominate someone, click here.
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