Calimesa and Yucaipa veterans honored during Memorial Day Commemoration
Fallen heroes absent but not forgotten on this sacred day for veterans
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."
Remembering, honoring, and cherishing the memories of those veterans who died for our country's freedom was on the minds, hearts and voice of many who came to pay their respects.
Republican Assemblyman Paul Cook of the 65th District served as an infantry officer and retired as a Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps after twenty-six years. He addressed the veterans seated before him by thanking them as one veteran to another.
"(In combat) the guy to the left and the guy to the right counted on you," Cook said. "All you knew was that you had a job to do. There were no time outs. We should never forget what so many have given us so that we have our way of life."
Yucaipa Mayor Dick Riddle said that this is a sacred day for all veterans; that the liberty we enjoy was not given to us. "Our veterans fought to obtain it and we continue to fight to keep our freedom," Riddle said.
Representing the City of Calimesa, Councilmember, Ray Quinto, a Vietnam veteran, thanked the veterans by saying that America has had freedom for hundreds of years because of people like you. "And because of people like you we continue to be free," Quinto said.
Dorothy Pressley comes often to Desert Lawn to visit the grave of her husband, David A. Pressley, who died in 1974. She had a flag placed by his grave marker and she gingerly pulled long blades of grass to better see his name and the simple beauty of his small marker.
"I come every year to pay tribute to him and to appreciate him," Pressley said of her husband who served in the Army in WW II. "Coming here makes me feel closer to him."
The ceremony also included the Posting of Colors by the Yucaipa High School Air Force JROTC, a moving solo by Tom Shalhoub singing, "God Bless the USA," that brought a few tears, the singing of "God Bless America," by the Sanctuary Choir, directed by Nick Diliberto, and the placing of the Wreath in which a reverent silence fell over the gathering.
And when Yucaipa VFW Post 7347 Post Commander Gary Martin rang the bell during the Roll Call of the Dead, heads bowed in honor of Calimesa and Yucaipa's fallen heroes.
Names such as Jack King, Bobby Martin, and Jack Russell were read off a long list of veterans who died in service to their country.
"Absent," Martin said solemnly after every name was announced as he rang the bell.
Absent, but never forgotten on this sacred day for veterans.
2 Comments
Leave a comment
About this blog
Yucaipa Photos
| Get Yucaipa Now News Have news alerts sent straight to your email, subscribe here: |
Outstanding event to honor our fallen heroes and veterans, the joint Yucaipa and Calimesa committee deserve all the credit for a wonderful Memorial Day. All the participants: the singers, the speakers, the bagpipe player, the ROTC presentation of our Flag, the young Cub and Boy Scouts at the laying of the wreath, the flyover and the haunting playing of taps, were perfect. Desert Lawn Cemetery is a great place to hold this event with the small flags marking each grave site of a deceased warrior. Bob Otto, you out did yourself in posting your coverage so quickly. It is a great joy to get home and discover your article and photos already on line.
In the years I've attended and reported on Memorial Day ceremonies in Yucaipa / Calimesa, this was by far the best, and a decent turnout. Having it at Desert Lawn was much better than at Community Park. Community Park is just that, a park where people come for fun, BBQ's, games and family gatherings, not for memorial ceremonies. I also think the younger generations would attend if we could somehow educate them of the tremendous sacrifice that our veterans have made for our country. It would be great if teachers could take on this task (of inspiring students to attend Memorial Day ceremonies), but they've got enough on their plates as it is. Thanks for the comment Jim. It was good to see the two cities working together along with the other volunteer organizations. Bob Otto