Veterans Day Celebration at GT Wall of Freedom
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By: Don Larkin/Jim Miller
Community Writer
Photo Courtesy of:
Bill Nessel
Photo Description:
Jim McNaboe (for Darcy and Jim McNaboe) Bruce Ricker (for Frank L Ricker Memorials); Cindy Grande (Foundation of Grand Terrace); Melissa Johnson (Home Depot South San Bernardino); Darcy McNaboe (City of Grand Terrace); Tim and Louise Lunstrum (for Tim and Louise Lunstrum and GT Lions Club); Don Larkin; Beverly Rainbolt (for Beverly Rainbolt - In honor of the William M Rainbolt Family); James Ramos (for James Ramos, Supervisor, County of San Bernardino); Kevin Loh (Wilden Pump)
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The Veterans Wall of Freedom committee selected a theme this Veterans Day of “Celebration” to honor those veterans who gave the rest of us the freedom we enjoy every day of our lives. The event was co-sponsored by the City of Grand Terrace and the Foundation of Grand Terrace. The event committee headed up by Valerie Holmes and supported by Julia Firnkoess, Nicole Littlefield, Bruce Ricker, Kevin Loh, Don Larkin, Jim Miller and Jim McNaboe were all partly responsible for the day’s event. Reverend Jonathan Florez gave the invocation and later in the day the benediction. The County of San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department Honor Guard presented the colors and the featured singer for the National Anthem was the 10 year old daughter of Sgt. Clayton and Haidy Dunn, Grace Dunn.
The guest speaker for the event was Jacquelyn Morenberg Rodriquez, Technical Sergeant, US Air Force Reserves. She gave a positive message about the Wall of Freedom and what it meant to her and how much it also meant to her father, Jack Morenberg, who had recently passed away, and was honored with a plaque on the monument. County Supervisor followed her and spoke about the importance of veterans and providing them the services they need. A special presentation was given to Haidy and Grace Dunn that included the presentation of the flag that flew over the Wall from Veterans Day 2016 (the official dedication of the Wall) through Memorial Day 2017 (the 10th anniversary of Sgt. Dunn’s ultimate sacrifice).
Special treats were handed out by Girl Scout troops 76 and 610, along with thank you notes from students 1st and 2nd grades of Terrace View Elementary School, to the veterans in attendance. Also, Dance Dimensions provided a patriotic performance/dance to the tune of “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B”. The crowd roared its approval. The estimated attendance at the Celebration was between 250 and 300 people.
Earlier in the day, a reception was held to present US Flags that few over the Veterans Wall of Freedom on its official dedication on Veterans Day, November 11, 2016 to the Freedom and Gold Sponsors.