Vol. 51, No.21
Serving the San Gabriel Valley Since 1966
May 22, 2013
Special Section
Local Events
Around Town
Sports
Student's Corner
Temple City, San Gabriel, & ROSEMEAD PAGE 6
page 2, 3 Visit Car Culture at http://www.midvalleynews.com/
page 3
page 8, 9
page 4
Visit Online Us at www.midvalleynews.com for more Highlights of Local Schools and Events from the San Gabriel Valley Area. See Basketball Summer Camp inside page 8
Memorial Day – A Day of Remembrance El Monte
History tells us that Memorial Day, which at first was called Decoration Day, “originated during the Civil War when some southern women chose May 30th to decorate soldiers’ graves. The women honored the dead in both the Union and Confederate armies. It is believed that a Virginia woman, Cassandra Olive Moncure, was largely responsible.” Master Sergeant Andre Anthony Jeffre She was French and photo: Jo Anne Disney she may have chosen May 30th because in France this date was known as “The Day of the Ashes.” According to Marc For the pulse of Nobleman, after the Civil the San Gabriel War, people felt the counValley, local news, try should have a holiday honoring those who were special events, killed. No one knows which and school events town was the first to have check us out. Memorial Day, but in 1866 Henry C. Wells helped start a Memorial Day tradition in Waterloo, New York. Then on May 5, 1868,
by Jo Anne Disney
Major General John A. Logan named May 30th as a special day “for honoring the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers. In 1882, the name was changed from Decoration Day to Memorial Day. People wanted to have the holiday focus on the soldiers not the graves. After World War I, people “began to honor soldiers from all wars on Memorial Day.” In May of 1966, President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo, New York as the “birthplace of Memorial Day because it was the first state to officially recognize the holiday in 1873.” Then, in 1971, Congress made Memorial Day fall on the last Monday
in May, which would give everyone a 3-day weekend. This year on Memorial
Day, I honor the memory of my uncle, Master Sergeant Andre Anthony Jeffre. He
served in World War II and fought in the Southwest Pacific Theatre: Philippine Islands. Uncle Andy was a captured POW and part of the Bataan “Death March” and the Japanese “hell ships” that transported him to Camp Shinjuku in Tokyo. At some point in his service, he also served as an aide to General Douglas MacArthur. My Uncle Andy was held captive from April, 1942 until February, 1945. During those almost 3 three years that my uncle was a POW, he told many painful stories to my father, his older brother, Sam. Uncle Andy lived on rice and bugs. In order to memorial continued to pg 4
www.midvalleynews.com
https://www.facebook. com/midvalleynews
SGMHS Senior Accepted to West Point
San Gabriel
San Gabriel Mission High School is proud to announce that Senior, Nancy Mattazaro has been accepted to West Point. She plans on majoring in science, hoping to pursue a career in the medical field. Ms. Mattazaro believes that her 4 years at Mission High offered her more opportunities and leadership skills. She is grateful for “the flexibility, encouragement, and support” she received from Nancy has been a part of numerous organizations
by Jo Anne Disney
Courtesy photo provided by Ms. Mattazaro
and among them she served as Associated Student Body Treasurer as well as Student Council; she played varsity soccer for 4 years and was captain this year; she was an American Youth Soccer Organization Regional Referee; a member of the Key Club; a Girl Scout Patrol Leader; the Student Director of Campus Ministry; a Church Lector and Eucharist Minister; and she set up a scholarship for an outstanding 8th grade student at All Saints Catholic
West Point continued to pg 4
Send Grad's and Dad's a message for $5, 15 words or less. Contact Mid Valley News at 626.443.1753