Grand Terrace Veteran’s Wall of Freedom is Gaining Momentum through Community Support

On this special Memorial Day of recognition for those veterans who have given their hearts, and some their lives, to protect the rights and freedoms of liberty that each of us should hold so precious, the Veteran’s Wall of Freedom Committee, along with dignitaries and special guest,s provided a program of gratitude and remembrance for those who had served so valiantly on the national holiday, Monday, May 25. The opening of the ceremonies centered on the presentation of colors, raising both the POW and American flags, with members of the Colton High School NJROTC Fedor Ararijo and Adrian Gonzalez presenting the flags to over 100 people who were in attendance at the event. Robert Lavin, head of the Freedom Committee and master of ceremonies for the event, stated, “We begin and end this ceremony in honor of veterans living or dead who have sacrificed their lives to protect our way of life.” Assemblywoman Cheryl Brown of the 47th District, who has supported the construction of this monument to honor our veterans from the beginning, praised the local communities and governmental agencies within the Inland Empire on their steadfast support of finishing the task that the Wall of Freedom Committee had started a few years ago. Committee Member Jim McNaboe followed Assemblywoman Brown and announced that the day's agenda included the first major monetary donation toward the construction of the monument, which was a check for $10,000 from the Grand Terrace Lions Club. He said, “Deborah Seuylemezian, upon becoming the president of the Club in June 2014, had proposed that monies donated from bingo, pancake breakfasts and other special events to the Lions Club during her tenure as president would go to the construction of the wall.” Seuylemezian, along with several members of the Club, presented the $10,000 check to Robert Lavin and the committee to help jump start the construction process. Following this presentation, McNaboe then informed the audience that this past week, “San Bernardino County Supervisor James Ramos was instrumental in getting (San Bernardino) County to donate another $40,000 toward the project and the funds should be forthcoming in the next week. We have other donors who have now made the total contributions toward the building of the Wall, now totaling $80,000, and the construction of the Wall will begin soon with a completion date of Veterans Day in November of 2015.” The total cost to construct the monument is approximately $95,000. Committee Member Don Larkin invited the family members of one of the first veterans to have his plaque to be placed on the wall, who was killed while serving his country in Iraq in 2006, to speak. US Army Sgt. Clayton G. Dunn II, a 2003 graduate of Rialto High School, was honored at this year’s Memorial Day event by his wife Haidy and daughter Grace, along with his parents Roy and Anita. Haidy expressed gratitude for the support that Larkin had given their family in remembrance of Dunn’s accomplishments over his short life. He was 22 years old when he passed away from war injuries on May 26, 2007. The Memorial Day ceremony ended with a presentation of the wreath at the base of the American Flag to honor the service and sacrifice of the veterans who gave us our freedom. God Bless all those who have served.