Wrightwood Veterans Memorial
A fond farewell for two community members who never forgot what being a Veteran meant
Along with honoring all Military Veterans who have served these United States, Wrightwood Veterans Memorial (WVM) members will pay special attention November 11th to two members of the community who passed away this year, spending many years in the cause of keeping Veterans issues in the minds of the community. At the traditional ceremony on Saturday, November 11th Allan Miller, WVM President promises community members a meaningful hour of patriotism, music, and just enough words concerning those honored to leave everyone even more proud of their community, their nation.
It wouldn’t be Veterans Day on Evergreen Road, in the Village Center, without Ron Jaqua and Dave De la Cruz stepping up to the Armistice Bell and proclaiming, with Eleven Strikes of the bell, the end of the “War to End All Wars,” and the beginning of Wrightwood’s salute to Veterans. Following the California Cadet Corps presenting the Colors, Claudia Campbell and Pastor Dave Conrad will set the tone for the morning ceremony.
The latest Memorial Courtyard honor brick recipients names will be read by Captain Tom Pinard. Then what follows will be a special tribute to recently deceased Community Member and Volunteer, Ron Parody, who never forgot following his 11 years service in the US Army, how important it is to work for and in your community. Among the many accomplishments in community service, Parody, along with wife Sue, assisted in the development of the Wrightwood Village Trail and for the last four years kept the trail alive, with donations and hard personal work.
The second person to be honored, while not a Veteran, was with the handful of Veterans and friends of the military when they met to plan for a Wrightwood Veterans Memorial sixteen years ago. Harlan Lassiter passed away four months ago just hours after he spent another full day in support of the local Veterans Memorial. Harlan was a tireless worker for the Memorial, giving countless hours of time to make sure that what he and others brought forth for the good of the community would forever be revered.
Harlan’s family had seen service in the military and Harlan maintained strong associations with the American Legion, and with the POW/MIA organization. It was due to that, Harlan supplied at his own expense the tribute to the POW/MIA cause that appears at each Wrightwood Veterans Memorial ceremony.
The traditional wreath laying ceremony will be performed by the Wrightwood Girl Scouts with the California Cadet Corps assisting.
Everyone is invited to attend the ceremony on Evergreen Road, between Park Drive and Pine St, in the Village of Wrightwood. To make sure you have a seat, plan to arrive by 10:45 a.m.
