Vol. 53, No.47
Serving the San Gabriel Valley Since 1966
Special Section Temple City, San Gabriel, & ROSEMEAD PAGE 5
Local Events page 2, 3 “Off Beat Happenings”
Sports pages 10 - 11
Entertainment
page 14 - 15
November 25, 2015 Student Corner
page 3
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El Monte Holds Vigil Remembering Nohemi Gonzalez by Glen Maldonado El Monte
On Wednesday evening November 18th, the City of El Monte gathered for a vigil honoring one of their own, Nohemi Gonzalez. Nohemi was one of the victims of the Paris attacks on October 13th. She was only 23 and a student at California State University,
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Long Beach. “We lost one of our residents, someone who was described as a bright and shining star,” said Mayor Andre Quintero in his opening speech. Dignitaries where present including Roger Hernandez and Hilda Solis. Also present were representatives of Grace Napolitano, Dr. Ed Hernandez, Carol Liu, and Edwin Chau and the El Monte City Council. “Nohemi showed us the beauty of life and how vulnerable and how valuable it is. We won’t forget about her,” said Hernandez. “Nohemi, known as Mimi by her family, was 23 years young. She was full of life, potential and the desire to make something of herself and to make her family proud… She was known by many to be reliable, generous and a sweet friend… The County of Los Angeles will not forget your Mimi,” said Hilda Solis. Grace Napolitano said in Washington D.C., “Mr. Speaker it is
Courtesy Photo by Glen Maldonado
with great sadness that I rise to honor the life of Nohemi Gonzalez…. A native of San Gabriel Valley, a proud first generation Latino…. Nohemi is survived by her mother Beatriz and Jose Hernandez. They want her to be remembered as a young Latina who worked hard to get ahead in life.” Nohemi’s mother spoke about her daughter. She said, “I want to thank the school, her friends, and teachers for their support of
my daughter. I was asked about how I feel about the group ISIS. I can’t describe what they took from me and my heart brings no hate because hate hurts people… I want a message of peace; peace that we need desperately now.” The ceremony ended with a prayer. Local citizens who brought flowers were able to leave them in front of the Statue of Liberty and pay there respects to the family in person.
Courtesy Photo
Thanksgiving – A Time of Reflection by Jo Anne Disney National
Past or Current Resident
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This year Thanksgiving will be a time of reflection for most people. In the wake of the attacks on Paris, the school shootings that have taken place this year and the random acts of violence that occur on a daily basis, we can’t help but pray for all of the families that have lost loved ones this year due to violence. This year allows us to reflect on what we have to be grateful for in our lives. History tells us of the wars fought, and the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives for our freedom. It tells of the Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag Indians who in 1621 shared “an autumn feast.” But it was in 1827 that writer Sarah Josepha Hale began her own campaign to establish Thanksgiving as a national holiday. She wrote editorials for 36 years as well as sent numerous letters
Courtesy photo by Dorinda Duclos
to politicians for her cause. But it wasn’t until 1863 in the middle of the Civil War that President Lincoln agreed to make Thanksgiving a national holiday. Lincoln’s proclamation to all Americans remains meaningful to this day as he said, “to ask God to commend to
His care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife” and to “heal the wounds of the nation.” Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday to be celebrated on the last Thursday in November.
Let us use this Thanksgiving as a time for reflection. Let us continue to pray for each other and for the successful blending of the many different cultures that make up our planet so that we can achieve world peace.