Ceremonies Set to Pay Tribute to Area's Veterans

It might be a small park in a small community, but Veterans Memorial Park honors the big accomplishments of four Bryn Mawr men and their all their military brethren.

Today, the city of Loma Linda will finish installing the long awaited flagpole at the park near Mayberry Street. On Friday, Veterans Day, residents including Fred Ramos, an active member of the community and its historian, will symbolically raise the first flag.

“Fred Delgado, one of our residents, is raising money to put up a memorial with the names of the veterans from the Loma Linda area who fought in all of the wars,” Ramos said.

The memorial is very meaningful to the small community connected to the area that was once a small citrus town. Bryn Mawr did not become a part of the City of Loma Linda until the 1980’s.

There are stories that some of the men who went off to war used to play baseball in that area before they planted a grapefruit orchard. The story goes that the Chicago Cubs scouted a local player there.

Anyone interested in contributing to the Veterans Memorial Park monument can donate to the savings fund that has been set up at the Inland Valley Federal Credit Union. Donations can be sent to Inland Valley Federal Credit Union, P.O. Box 547, Fontana, 92334 with a reference to the Bryn Mawr Veterans Memorial Fund.

Redlands will host a ceremony to recognize the nation’s veterans, rain or shine Friday.

The ceremony is scheduled for 10:45 a.m. at the eternal flame at Jennie Davis Park, at the intersection of Redlands Boulevard and New York Street. In case of rain, the event will be moved to the American Legion Post 106 Hall at 814 W. Colton Ave., officials said.

Dr. Arthur Anderson and retired Air Force Colonel Ken Collins, who piloted an SR-71 Blackbird, will speak. The Redlands Fourth of July Band will perform a tribute to the nation’s armed services. Honor Guards from the Redlands Fire and Police departments will post the colors that morning.

If the weather permits, a Boeing C-17A Globemaster III will fly over the park shortly before 11 a.m., Redlands officials said. The massive airlift aircraft is operated by the 452nd Air Mobility Wing at March Air Reserve Base in Riverside. It will be flown by an Air Force Reserve aircrew from the 729th Airlift Squadron, also based at March.

The event is organized by American Legion Post 650 and Post 106. A luncheon and reception will follow the Veterans Day ceremonies at Post 106. For more information, call (909) 792-4523.