Results tagged “Assemblyman Paul Cook” from Yucaipa Now

Fallen heroes absent but not forgotten on this sacred day for veterans

Photos By Bob Otto / Staff Photographer

YUCAIPA - Thomas Arredondo stood back soaking in the scene before him. He watched as people strolled among the hundreds of graves adorned with small American flags marking the permanent resting place of Calimesa and Yucaipa veterans who fought and died in service to their country.

The former Infantryman of the Army's First Infantry Division served in Vietnam from February 1967 to February 1968. He was one of the fortunate ones to come home alive, he said.

On Monday Arredondo paid his respects to those who didn't come home alive. He was one of about 500 who attended the Memorial Day Commemoration at Desert Lawn Funeral Home and Memorial Park in Calimesa.

"I come every year to remember and honor the men who died and didn't come home," said Arredondo of Mentone. "I had an uncle who was killed in Korea. He was only 18. I lost four or five of my friends and my bunker buddy was killed by either shrapnel or a bullet. I never want to forget them."