Vol. 51, No.22
Serving the San Gabriel Valley Since 1966
May 29, 2013
Special Section
Local Events
Chamber
Sports
Student's Corner
Temple City, San Gabriel, & ROSEMEAD PAGE 8
page 2, 3 Visit Car Culture at http://www.midvalleynews.com/
page 6,7
page 10,11
page 3
Visit Us Online at www.midvalleynews.com for more Highlights of Local Schools and Events from the San Gabriel Valley Area. Crossword and Sudoku solution from week 5.22.13 will posted in next weeks issue. Sorry for the delay.
Honoring A Beloved Uncle and Fallen Soldier
El Monte
by Jo Anne Disney
While my uncle was in the war, he sustained a head injury from the butt end of a Japanese rifle. Doctors speculated that this injury led to
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brain cancer that had spread and ultimately led to the passing of Uncle Andy on April 10, 1955. I honor my Uncle Andy on Memorial Day because even though I only have faint memories of him, my parents kept his spirit alive for me. I know he wanted me to be born on his birthday, January 6th, but I came a day early. I have inherited my love for writing from my Uncle Andy, and for that I will forever be grateful. I visited his grave in San Diego at the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery on Cabrillo Memorial Drive. As I laid my hand on his gravestone, tears welled up thinking about everything my uncle endured. I only wished we had had more time together. Recently, while going through some old boxes at my mom’s house, I found a birthday card
El Monte
my mom had saved from my Uncle Andy for my second birthday, just three months before he died. He wrote on it, “I will love you always, Uncle Andy.” So to all of the brave men and women, who have served our country, thank you. We honor your service to our country. And, to my Uncle Andy, “I will always love you.”
A Soldier’s Last Letter to His Mother Compliments: El Monte VFW Post 10218, Mike Felix
When the postman delivered a letter It filled her dear heart full of Joy But she didn’t know ‘til she read the inside That it would be the last word from her darling boy. Dear Mom, was the way that it started I miss you so much, it went on And mom, I didn’t know that I loved you so And I’ll prove it when this war is won. Now, I’m writing this down in a trench, Mom Don’t scold if it isn’t so neat For you know as you did, when I was a Kid And I came home with mud on My feet. Now the captain just gave us our orders And Mom you know, we’ll carry them through And I’ll finish this letter the first chance I get But for now I’ll just say, I love you. Then the Mother’s old hand began to tremble As she fought against tears in her eyes For there came a shame as there was no name Then she knew that her darling had died. That night as she knelt by her bedside She prayed, Lord above, hear my pleas And protect all the sons & daughters who are fighting tonight And please God, Keep America FREE!
Memorial Day Annual Clean Up a Great Success
We want to thank everyone that was there to help up clean up the Savannah cemetery and get it ready for our Memorial Day Ceremony. Thank you, Detective Larry Fry and the Community Service Workers from El Monte, for showing up and cleaning around the headstones. They have done a great job helping us at the cemetery once or twice a month. Jeff Haskings, one of our board members came with about 60 people to help his Boy Scout #53 , Inland Empire Council, work on the Eagle Scout project for a couple of their troop. They did a great job of lifting up some of the headstones that are sinking, they also repaired a couple of the larger head-
by Janice Wiggins White
stones that were tilted. They even uncovered 3 or 4 headstones that had been covered by the grass. They also trimmed some of the trees and cut off dead branches, Jeff Fouts from Rosemead with a few of his Troop 176 boys to aid in the project, and help around the cemetery. Troop 176 is the one that has done a great deal of work lifting some of the headstones in the past. We would also like to thank El Monte Troop 551 for putting all of the flags around the fence line, and the members of Rosemead High School Key Club for coming to help Troop 551 clean off the headstones for all of our Veterans. We have 109 veterans, and it is not an easy job.
Photo courtesy of Janice Wiggins White
There were many more that came to help, and we want to also thank them also. The Cemetery is truly a Historic Place and if you haven't been there, we hope you will stop by and take the self-tour. The
Visitor Gate is always opened. The cemetery is located at 9263 Valley Blvd., Rosemead. If you would like more information please call Janice Wiggins White, 626-443-8325
Send Grad's and Dad's a message for $10, 30 words or less. Contact Mid Valley News at 626.443.1753