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Post by Sharon W on Jun 14, 2018 10:49:59 GMT -8
The Peace Vigil members have been invited to this event: This Saturday June 16th at 3 pm the Crescenta Valley community is having a commemoration and celebration of the placement of the Vietnam memorial 50 years ago for those men who gave their lives in that conflict.(corner of Honolulu and Ocean View). The whole community turned out then(1968) and it would be nice for the community to do it again. The ceremony will only last a short while but remembering is also important. Also we are unveiling a plaque for Vito Cannella who wrote to President Johnson in 1967 to extend Flag day on June 14th(tomorrow) to Flag Week. So if you see flags up it was all to Montrose's own Vito. One of Vito's last requests was that we honor the flag that he was so proud of, coming from Italy as a young man he never forgot all that America gave to him. Refreshments will be served from Porto's and Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. And a booklet telling the story of those 24 men(created by Pam and Mike Lawler) that are on the Memorial will be given out. Hope to see you all there. And if you know of anyone else please pass this message along. |
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Brian
Administrator
Posts: 3,802
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Post by Brian on Jun 16, 2018 23:40:00 GMT -8
Eight Montrose Peace Vigil regulars attended the commemoration -- Sharon, Bill, Bruce, Elaine, John, Frannie, Anni and me -- as well as Katherine Terrien, who sings and plays guitar nearby during most of the vigils on Friday.
I wasn't at the dedication of the Vietnam War Memorial with its initial six plaques in 1968, but I remember another ceremony a couple of years later to add more plaques, where Assemblyman Newt Russell and Don Carpenter, publisher of the Ledger, spoke. The last name added to the wall belonged to Air Force Major Warren Spencer of La Crescenta, who died just before Christmas 1972 when Nixon was dropping more bombs on North Vietnam than the Allies had dropped on Germany throughout World War Two. The B-52 navigator's remains were returned to the U.S. in 1977.
On this Saturday during Flag Week 2018, a color guard of local Vietnam War veterans, now in their 70's, opened and closed the beautiful program. The only elected official attending was state Senator Anthony Portantino, who's not even up for election this year. Representatives of Rep. Schiff, Assembly member Friedman, Supervisor Barger and other civic dignitaries laid white roses on the memorial wall. I especially enjoyed the tribute to Vito Cannella and the loving words of his daughter, Grace Chase.
The large turnout obstructed the sidewalk on the northwest corner of Honolulu Avenue and Ocean View Boulevard. I watched pedestrians jaywalking around the hour long ceremony, but foot and road traffic was extremely light compared to what I'm used to seeing on Friday evenings. I took some photos that Anni will post in this thread.
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Post by Sharon W on Jun 17, 2018 8:56:11 GMT -8
Dignataries Glendale City Council members Paula Devine and Vartan Gharpetian,GUSD School Board member Shant Sahakian and CVTC President Harry Leon are elected officials too, albeit at a local level. I saw GUSD Board member Greg Krekorian in the crowd too. We were disappointed with remarks that noted the "Christian founding of our nation" and glorified war. The booklet featuring the biographies of those who are honored on the memorial wall was a good touch.
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Brian
Administrator
Posts: 3,802
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Post by Brian on Jun 17, 2018 13:27:32 GMT -8
Thanks for the correction, Sharon. I should have said that Portantino was the only elected official who spoke.
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Roberta
Member
Vigil founding member
Posts: 1,031
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Post by Roberta on Jun 19, 2018 10:50:09 GMT -8
I felt lucky to run into Steve Pierce at the Montrose farmer’s market this past Sunday so I could tell him directly that I had to miss the 50th anni thing because we were at our Father’s Day gathering. Given Sharon’s report, it is a good thing that I wasn’t there to hear those particular remarks. Dignataries Glendale City Council members Paula Devine and Vartan Gharpetian,GUSD School Board member Shant Sahakian and CVTC President Harry Leon are elected officials too, albeit at a local level. I saw GUSD Board member Greg Krekorian in the crowd too. We were disappointed with remarks that noted the "Christian founding of our nation" and glorified war. The booklet featuring the biographies of those who are honored on the memorial wall was a good touch. |
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