WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA

Events, News

Our dear friend and news colleague Lynn Crothers DuPratt had the honor of planting the first wreath of Wreaths Across America at Lancaster Cemetery. Lynn dedicated the wreath in honor of our beloved, recently deceased Managing Editor and Antelope Valley Press sage and columnist Vern Lawson Sr. Lancaster Cemetery is our Arlington where our veteran brothers and sisters take their rest. Vern was a WWII veteran, died Oct. 19 at age 96. He trained as B-24 Liberator air crew, flight engineer. He was spared shipment out of U.S. by the atomic bomb and observed VJ Day in Denver, saying “I was kissed by every pretty girl in sight. It was wonderful.” Vern raised a family, lived honorably and was still writing his column until just before his health failed. Salute to Vern, and profound gratitude to Lynn and Cemetery Manager Dayle DeBry for nominating Vern for the honor, nearly 80 years of service to America. t was a beautiful ceremony today, with plenty of support from City of Lancaster and volunteers from Lockheed Martin who prepared hundreds of Veterans gravesites for their holiday wreaths in remembrance of their service. Valley Press friends on site: Allison Gatlin Claudia of Andrew Clark, Jim Skeen, Kim Cullen Rawley, Clavito LC, Evelyn Kristo, Lynn Crothers DuPratt. A mini reunion, more to come. Jin Hur with Uno Hur and family and Juan Blanco & Atherine Blanco of Coffee4Vets were on hand along with Dave Corbin, Phillip Waln, Brent Waln and American Legion Riders 311 were on hand as well as Chris Chandler, Alfredo Paniagua and Marine Corps League Detachment 930. Philip Roberts and Mako, and Dean Brown of AV Veterans Community Action Coalition were there, with Christine Ward from Rep. Mike Garcia, Brandon Roque from Sen. Scott Thomas Wilk Representative from Tom Lackey and Lancaster City Council members Raj Malhi and Ken Mann. Helping Dayle was Karla Archuleta.

MEMORIES VETERANS MILITARY BALL 2021

Events

A MEDAL for WWII veteran Louis Moore. A SALUTE for Army veteran Gwendolyn Thornton. A TOAST for late Marine veteran Jerry Lawrence and the other AV veterans who passed since the 2019 Veterans Military Ball. WWII veteran Lou Moore was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for his service. The award was authorized by Congress for Chinese-American veterans of World War II. Similar Congressional Gold Medals for service have been awarded to the Tuskegee Airmen, Japanese-American WWII veterans, Navajo Code Talkers, and Women’s Air Service Pilots, women who volunteered for flight service to free men up for combat flying duty. The award was presented to Moore this week by Maj. Gen. Robert B.F. Lee and Mr. Moore’s representative in Congress, Rep. Mike Garcia, R-Santa Clarita. Also honored at the Veterans Military Ball hosted by Coffee4Vets was Army veteran Gwendolyn Thornton of the state Employment Development Department. Thornton has worked tirelessly for years to place veterans, many with disabilities, in “real jobs, good paying jobs.” Also saluted was Marine vet Jerry Lawrence who died in 2020 as the pandemic lockdown began. Lawrence innovated the “You Are Not Forgotten” program to honor veterans at end of life. Because of Covid restrictions Lawrence himself could not be properly memorialized until this week of Veterans Day 2021. Top Tier sponsors at Hellenic Center were High Desert Medical, Group Team Boeing, and City of Palmdale. Click on the images to view gallery.

Mobile Vietnam Memorial Wall

Events, News

ON THE ROAD AGAIN – The Antelope Valley Mobile Vietnam Memorial Wall is on its way to Destination El Centro for its Veterans Day presentation in that patriotic Imperial Valley Community. Escorted by American Legion Riders and Patriot Guard Riders the half-scale monument to the 58,000 plus Americans killed during the Vietnam War was built entirely by community grass roots support. The AV Wall will return to the Antelope Valley presentation in 2022. Click on the images to view gallery.