By Mary O’KEEFE

Veteran’s Day will be observed on Sunday at Two Strike Park hosted by veterans from the American Legion Post 288 and Veterans of Foreign Wars 1614.

“Veteran’s Day is for all that served regardless of where or when they served, or what branch of military service they were in,” said Mike Baldwin, member of both the American Legion and VFW.

The day will include a vigil at the Two Strike Park memorial by local veterans beginning at 7 a.m. A recognition ceremony will begin at 3 p.m. The Crescenta Valley High School JROTC will conduct a Salute to the Military ceremony.

The sidewalk leading to the memorial will be lined with American flags and the names of local veterans will be along the Walk of Honor. Names have been gathered with the help of the Crescenta Valley Town Council.

“This year we are honoring veterans who have served from 911 [and later],” Baldwin said.

Assemblymember Mike Gatto has confirmed that he will be at the ceremony; Congressman Adam Schiff has also been invited to attend. A flag retirement ceremony conducted by Boy Scout Troop 288 will be part of the Veteran’s Day recognition.

American Legion and VFW members have joined with community members, including JROTC and Crescenta Valley High School, to reconstruct the memorial wall at Two Strike Park. The new memorial will allow the names of military personnel from the Crescenta Valley who lost their lives while serving their country.

“The idea really started with Nick Steinbacher,” Baldwin said in an earlier interview.

Steinbacher was a Crescenta Valley High School graduate who was the 300th Californian killed in Iraq in 2006. He was 22 years old at the time of his death. His parents and several members of the community wanted to add his name to a local memorial. When the American Legion and VFW members began looking into the possibility of adding on to the Two Strike Park Memorial, they discovered it needed to be rebuilt to today’s codes.

The Two Strike Park Memorial committee began working on fundraisers including a 5K Run and Bingo night to help raise the $75,000.

“We are at about $47,000 now,” Baldwin said.

It is hoped that construction will begin as early as January.

Two Strike Park is located at 5107 Rosemont Ave. For those who would like to add a veteran’s name to the Walk of Honor, visit www.twostrikememorial.org.

The recognition will continue, rain or shine.

  Mary Okeefe