IN MEMORIAM:
MONROVIA NEWS:
Local Square Dance Caller to Do Star Turn at Saint Luke
Family Says Goodbye to Marybell Sneed
Pg. 16
Pg. 20
sports:
Pasadena Puts End to Historic Sports Drought Pg. 31
monroviaweekly.com
Thursday, November 12, 2015 - November 18, 2015
Your Voice, Your Community Since 1996
WWII B17 Bomber Pilot Jack McEwan Shares His Story With Arcadia Elementary Students
COMPLIMENTARY COPY Volume 19, No. 46
By terry miller On Wednesday, hundreds of thousands of veterans were honored at ceremonies around the United States. Observances, both large and small, recognized the vital role these men and women play in keeping our nation and world safe. The “Greatest Generation” - those who served during WWII - is at a crossroads in their lives. Many have passed on but some remain strong, even at 95 years old, like a former Arcadia dentist, Dr. Jack McEwan. McEwan is a distinguished B17 bomber pilot who flew scores of missions in the South Pacific during WWII. On Tuesday Jack McEwan visited the children at Baldwin Stocker Elementary School in Arcadia to discuss his illustrious career and service during one of the longest wars in world history. Prior to his brief talk, McEwan was overcome with emotion as students read
Joanna Fuchs’ poem, entitled “They Did Their Share”: “On Veteran’s Day we honor Soldiers who protect our nation. For their service as our warriors, They deserve our admiration. Some of them were drafted; Some were volunteers; For some it was just yesterday; For some it’s been many years; In the jungle or the desert, On land or on the sea, They did whatever was assigned To produce a victory. Some came back; some didn’t. They defended us everywhere. Some saw combat; some rode a desk; All of them did their share. No matter what the duty, For low pay and little glory, These soldiers gave
SEE PG. 21
Jayden Lau, 4th grade, wrote Jack McEwan a letter stating he would walk to Washington D.C. to meet the WWII veteran.
The Art of Letter-Writing Not a Lost Skill in Monrovia The Pen Is Mightier Than the Click of a Mouse By Courtney Blackburn
Last month, I volunteered for Monrovia’s biannual “Read Across Monrovia.” On October 1, I ventured with some trepidation to Monroe School on 402 W. Colorado Blvd., ending up in Señora Cardenal’s bilingual second grade class. Would my humble efforts to promote literacy and share in the educational community be worthwhile? Would the kids like me? As it turns out, my fears were unfounded. Sra. Cardenal’s students – all adorable, by the way – were welcoming, bright,
friendly and smart. They enjoyed hearing the story I chose to read out loud, and especially the silly voices I made. How do I know? Because I recently received a fat manila envelope containing 28 hand-written thank you notes from each and every student in the class. The art of letter-writing, and the graciousness of a thank-you note, are not lost skills in Monrovia this Thanksgiving! Here’s just a few of the wonderful letters. For all 28, please visit this article online at MonroviaWeekly.com. "Oct. 1, 2015
"Dear Courtny, "Thank you for redeang a book to us. We relly liked it. It was relly funny. I liked the picturs. I liked the little prairi dog that touched the ball first. But at the end it was the funniest part of all. It was when the dog came back with a red ball. I think it will go all over again. "Your friend Amy Crissey." "Dear Cortney, "Thank you for reading to us. I liked the book! Are you the librarian or not? How SEE PG. 17
– Photo by Terry Miller
Monrovia Honors Veterans at Library Park Yesterday at 11 a.m., scores of veterans joined in a remembrance ceremony sponsored by the Allied Veterans Council of the Upper San Gabriel Valley. Scott Sinclair, President of AVC, was the master of ceremonies for the annual salute to all veterans. Windblown flags lined the walkway of Monrovia Library to accent the importance of the day. Janine Coyne, secretary/ treasurer of AVC, read the “Flag Folding Ritual” describing the meaning of the 13 folds as VFW Post 2070 Commander G. Willie Williams and another member of the SEE PG. 17
Captain Ammon Van Orden, United States Army.
- Photo by Terry Miller