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Enduring Heroes Emerges as a Landmark With Impact

By Rhonda Kozacik
Special to The Outlook

Photo courtesy Enduring Heroes
The Enduring Heroes monument is a tribute to 11 men and women from Greater Pasadena who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving their country in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Enduring Heroes monument, sculpted by noted local artist Christopher Slatoff, pays permanent tribute to the 11 combat heroes from the Greater Pasadena area, who gave their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. Each Memorial Day, since the dedication in 2017, many have gathered at the valiant soldier in remembrance of the brave warriors, but clearly 2020 was different.
Respecting the city’s social distancing requirements, visitors honored our Enduring Heroes quietly. Along with a patriotic wreath, each warrior has a banner that hangs along Orange Grove and Green Street, near Defender’s Parkway, through the Fourth of July. The banner for Marine Lance Cpl. Dion Whitley, who was tragically killed in action 15 years ago on June 15, 2005, looks across Orange Grove, standing guard over the Enduring Heroes Soldier. The individual banners will proudly wave again from the anniversary of 9/11 through Veterans Day.
Continue reading “Enduring Heroes Emerges as a Landmark With Impact”

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Local Veteran, 100, Enthralls With Adventure Tales

Photo by Mary Emily Myers / OUTLOOK
Joe Giocomarra (center), a World War II veteran of the Merchant Marine who turned 100 on Monday, rode in this year’s Fiesta Days parade after introducing himself at the Memorial Ceremony in the park beforehand.

For the past couple decades, over glasses of wine or the occasional margarita, Joe Giocomarra has regaled his pal Tom Caulfield with tales of his fascinating, improbable life.
Giocomarra, one of only about 558,000 World War II veterans still living, turned 100 on Memorial Day.
“I have the privilege of reaching 100,” Giocomarra said. “That’s a privilege a lot of people don’t [have]. And, I don’t know, I really shouldn’t be here.”
Giocomarra retains vivid memories of the war, when he served with the U.S. Merchant Marine, a collection of ships populated by civilian volunteers transporting materials, supplies, equipment and troops to help fight and win World War II. Continue reading “Local Veteran, 100, Enthralls With Adventure Tales”

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LCF Commemorates Memorial Day With Fiesta, Tribute

Photos by Mary Emily Myers / OUTLOOK
Boy Scouts from Troops 502 and 507 raise the flag during the annual Memorial Ceremony in the park.

As has long been a cherished staple of life in La Cañada Flintridge, residents came together to celebrate their community with a multi-day party this past weekend for the 45th edition of Fiesta Days.
Together, neighbors enjoyed a host of activities, including fireworks, food, music and, on Memorial Day, thousands showed up to watch or participate in the colorful, patriotic parade.
But before that, as has been tradition since 1976, a couple hundred people took a pause from the festivities to pay tribute to sacrifices made by U.S. military personnel in the line of duty, including the 29 with LCF roots who died in combat and whose names adorn plaques in Memorial Park. Continue reading “LCF Commemorates Memorial Day With Fiesta, Tribute”

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A Day of Remembrance and Festivities at LCF’s Fiesta Days

Photos by Mary Emily Myers / OUTLOOK Local Boy Scouts (left) raise an American flag during Monday's annual Memorial Service at Memorial Park. Afterward, Harper Klausner (right) and Greyson Molinelli were among the stars of the Fiesta Days parade that rolled down Foothill Boulevard, highlighting the 44th Fiesta Days celebration in La Cañada Flintridge.
Photos by Mary Emily Myers / OUTLOOK
Local Boy Scouts (left) raise an American flag during Monday’s annual Memorial Service at Memorial Park. Afterward, Harper Klausner (right) and Greyson Molinelli were among the stars of the Fiesta Days parade that rolled down Foothill Boulevard, highlighting the 44th Fiesta Days celebration in La Cañada Flintridge.

La Cañada Flintridge partied this past weekend, but it also paused to reflect.
For the 44th consecutive year, thousands got together in LCF for the annual four-day fiesta that culminated Monday morning with a somber memorial service followed by a lively, patriotic parade.
The Memorial Service honored not only the 29 LCF residents whose names are engraved on plaques at Memorial Park for having given their lives in military service, but all American service members, former and current, who have made great sacrifices on behalf of their fellow citizens. Continue reading “A Day of Remembrance and Festivities at LCF’s Fiesta Days”