A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.
– Joseph Campbell

The Vietnam War Memorial in Montrose was built during the height of the Vietnam War in 1968. It was the first Vietnam War Memorial in the state of California dedicated to soldiers that lost their lives in the Vietnam War. In the past year, our War Memorial has had five additional names added to a list of 14 names of local fallen servicemen from the Vietnam War. They are listed as residents of Montrose, La Crescenta, La Cañada and Tujunga.
Thanks to retired Glendale firefighter Bill Dodson, who has tirelessly watched over and taken care of the memorial since the 1970s, the five missing men were found. Bill asked his friend Ralph Reed to research the men whose names were on the memorial. Ralph and Bill were surprised to find the five names when they began looking for information about those listed on the Montrose memorial. Ralph went back to Washington, DC to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial that is a part of the National Mall to look for the names of the 14 he knew about and then the five he had recently discovered. The names of the fallen are listed by town, so Ralph was easily able to find and verify the missing names.
Thanks to Bill Dodson and Ralph Reed, our Vietnam War Memorial is now complete.
Bill Dodson is a World War II military veteran and father of two Vietnam War veterans and says that he was glad to have discovered the names. As a veteran himself, he knows that every name is important.
Please join us for a brief ceremony of remembrance on Monday, May 30 to honor our veterans and recognize the five new names that were added to the memorial. The remembrance is from 7:45 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. at the Vietnam War Memorial site at the northwest corner of Honolulu and Ocean View in Montrose.
L.A. Supervisor Michael Antonovich, Glendale Mayor Laura Friedman, Glendale City Councilmen Frank Quintero, Rafi Manoukian and Dave Weaver, and CV Sheriff’s Capt. Dave Silversparre are among those that will be attending.
Upcoming Events
Ribbon cutting on Wednesday, June 15 at noon at Techital, 3807 Ocean View Blvd., Montrose. They are celebrating 10 years serving the Crescenta Valley.
Ribbon cutting on Friday, June 17 at 5:30 p.m. at Copy Network, 3600 Ocean View Blvd., Glendale. Come celebrate their 20-year anniversary. Food and drinks will be provided by Pasta Preziosa.
June mixer is a duo-city mixer on Wednesday, June 8 at Century 21 Crest, 4005 Foothill Blvd., La Crescenta. Join us as we have a duo mixer with the Crescenta Valley Chamber. Food, networking and raffle prizes from local business.
Artwalk on Saturday, July 16 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Come stroll the beautiful streets of Montrose and enjoy the art presented by artists from around Southern California.

Melinda Clarke
Executive Director
Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce
3516 N Verdugo Road
Glendale, CA 91208
(818) 249-7171
www.montrosechamber.org

  Business, MAY 26, melinda clarke, MVCCOC