A historical moment in Culver City took place this past Sunday, July 10, at Stage 15 of Sony Pictures Studios when Michael Lynton, chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures Entertainment, introduced the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to an enthusiastic crowd of more than 1,500 veterans and military spouses, along with recruiters from more than 160 companies offering employment opportunities.
“Just a few weeks ago, Spider-Man was flying across the air over our heads,” Lynton said. “And nearly 75 years ago, Dorothy and Toto, the Munchkins and a good witch and a wicked witch were standing right here on a yellow brick road. A replica of Air Force One sat here for the movie of the same name. And Sir Paul McCartney rehearsed here for one of his tours.
“Today, more history is being made with this hiring fair and service project. They call Hollywood a dream factory, and here on this stage, we can make dreams come true for veterans and military families,” he said.
The event was titled, Mission Serve: Hiring Our Heroes Los Angeles and the overwhelming enthusiasm the employers have for the opportunity to hire military veterans and their spouses appeared obvious by their turn out. Employers included local Fortune 500 companies; Sony Pictures, Bank of America, CBS, Dell, HBO, Mattel, NBC Universal, Paramount Pictures and Time Warner Cable, among others, all eager to win over job candidates. These companies recognize the assets of hiring military veterans and their spouses, and know the value of skills acquired in the military, such as the ability to work unsupervised, the initiative to complete tasks and an attention to detail.
Prince William, a Royal Air Force flight lieutenant with the Search and Rescue Force, accompanied by wife, Duchess Catherine, followed Lynton at the podium. “This is the last event on our tour of North America, but to my mind, it is one of the most important, this is because it is about men and women who of their own freewill choose to put their life on the line for their Country,” he said.
“They are the front line of a remarkable relationship between the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada, which has safe-guarded our freedoms for a century. But Mission Serve is about something more than just men and women in uniform. It is about our other halves. The half that makes the loved one’s duty and sacrifices possible and worthwhile. It is about you: families, partners and friends,” he said.
Amity Anderson, a recruiter with local employer Time Warner Cable, said she was happy to be one of the last tables standing at the day’s end and that she had collected more than 300 applications and resumes, and planned to respond to each one by the end of the following week.
“About 13 years ago my dad, a Vietnam Veteran, and I reconnected,” Anderson said. “He shared some of his experiences with me that not only helped me understand him better, but opened my eyes to the lack of awareness and concern in our country. It was at that point I found my purpose in life. Since then, I have been working in human resources as a recruiter, focusing on employment for veterans.”
Anderson serves as vice chair on the San Fernando Valley Veterans Employment Committee, utilizing available resources to connect veterans to jobs and raise awareness in communities. “I have met several amazing people who dedicate a big part of their lives to this cause, but we need more,” she said.
In addition to Anderson and the several other Time Warner Cable recruiters were employees from other departments within the company, all former military veterans who enthusiastically volunteered to be at the event to personally share their appreciation to their fellow veterans and spouses.
This dedication to service by everyone involved made a significant impact as evidenced by Prince William’s closing remarks. “The idea behind Service Nation: Mission Serve, an initiative strongly supported by the First Lady and Dr. Biden, is simple, but truly inspirational,” he said.
“To help those returning from active service to open a new chapter in their lives and find employment when they retire from the military, Service Nation: Mission Serve, and all the companies and employers taking part today are providing opportunities which mean something very immediate and personal to us. Catherine and I both have friends back in Britain who could benefit from a brilliant initiative like this. As this is my last opportunity before we leave this afternoon, I would just say, on behalf of us both, how grateful we are to have been welcomed so warmly in the Golden State and the City of Angels. Thank you so much.”
