By Mary O’KEEFE

As is their tradition, members of American Legion Post 288 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1614 honored veterans at a ceremony at Two Strike Park on Monday.

Although for these veterans focusing on those who served in the military is not just a one-day event, Veterans Day allows all to thank those who served. The event began with the Crescenta Valley High School JROTC presentation of colors. Congressman Adam Schiff spoke about Maj. Brent Taylor, who was fatally shot last week in Afghanistan while serving in the National Guard. He was a husband, father of seven children and mayor of North Ogden, Utah.

“Taylor had served four rotations in Iran and Afghanistan and he did so while having seven children at home,” Schiff said.

Taylor had called his wife “superwoman” for staying home allowing him to serve his country.
Schiff shared Taylor’s social media comments he wrote just days before his death.

Quoting Taylor’s posting: “As the USA gets ready to vote in our own election next week, I hope everyone back home exercises their precious right to vote. And that whether the Republicans or the Democrats win, that we all remember that we have far more as Americans that unites us than divides us.”

“His loss is a grievous one for the country, and a devastating blow to his family,” Schiff said. “We are all his family.”

The JROTC honored all branches of the military at the event, and had a respectful flag retirement ceremony. United States flags that are torn and tattered are not supposed to be simply thrown away but are retired by fire at ceremonies like the Two Strike Park Veterans Day event. Conducted by Boy Scout Troop 288, each old flag was torn into strips of red, white or blue. Members of the audience were each given a piece of the flag and asked to line up in accordance to what color of the flag they were holding, whether red or white stripe or the blue field. Each member then solemnly walked toward the fire grill/pit and placed the piece of the flag on the flames.

The veterans of VFW Post 1614 and American Legion Post 288 support the community in many ways from offering their expertise with bingo fundraisers to donating to local non-profits and school groups. At the ceremony on Monday, it was their turn to ask the public for help.

The American Legion Memorial Hall needs to bring its parking lot up to modern standards and fix several issues. The repairs will take a significant amount of work with an estimated price tag of $36,000. The veterans only have about a third of the funds necessary and need the community’s help.

Donation envelopes were placed in the CVW last week. For those who missed the envelopes and would like to help, checks can be made payable to Verdugo Hills Memorial Hall and sent to P.O. Box 223, Montrose, California 91021. For credit card donations, visit GoFundMe.com/Verdugo-Hills-Memorial-Hall.

  Mary Okeefe