Tree plantings beautify Flag Hill Veterans Memorial Park, and honor Yucaipa veterans

The beauty and serenity of Yucaipa's Flag Hill Veterans Memorial Park.
By Bob Otto / Staff Photographer

YUCAIPA - For Harriet Link, Flag Hill Veterans Memorial Park is the most beautiful and serene spot in the Yucaipa Valley.

Link is the president of Laureate Iota Kappa of Beta Sigma Phi, a worldwide women's service organization that does a whole lot of good deeds. Including planting trees on Arbor Day.

When it came to choosing a spot to plant her "Purple Smoke" tree, she didn't have to think twice.

"This is our community service project," Link said. "Flag Hill is so peaceful and serene. It will be planted in a spot where it will be framed by the snow capped mountains."

On Friday, April 24 at 8 a.m., Link with the help of Janet Morgan from Morgan's Creek Nursery, will plant her tree. But this isn't the first tree that Link has planted at Flag Hill. Last year, she also chose the little park at the corner of Fremont Street and Yucaipa Boulevard as the location for an Arbor Day tree.

Why? Because along with helping to beautify the park, Link, a Navy veteran (1958-'62), wanted to honor Yucaipa Valley veterans. And Flag Hill, with its tranquil setting, and upper section dedicated as a memorial to the military men and women from Yucaipa who lost their lives while defending our country, is a superb place for doing just that, she said.

But she does have a concern: Why - since the park is proclaimed a veterans park - aren't Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies held at the Flag Hill?

Instead, both veterans' ceremonies are held at Yucaipa Community Park.

"They should be held at Flag Hill because it is a veterans park honoring our veterans," she said. "Why is it at (Community Park)? I've been there (for Memorial Day and Veterans Day) and there were only a handful of people there. It should be back at Flag Hill."

The public is invited to Friday's event. The planting will take place at 8 a.m. sharp, said Link.

How do you feel about veterans' ceremonies being held at Community Park? Do you think veterans deserve to be honored at a "veterans park" instead? Do you think the city should bring back veterans' events to Flag Hill?

We welcome you comments, so please send us your thoughts.

bob.otto@inlandnewspapers.com.