Two Strike Park Memorial Gets Support on Veteran’s Day

Steven Thibault, a Marine Corp Vet, with his son, Jackson, throw a piece of a retired american flag into the fire at the Veterans Memorial Service, Two Strike Park, La Crescenta, Ca. (Photo by Ed Hamilton / Nov 11th, 2012)

By Mary O’KEEFE - Nov. 11th 2012

Today at a ceremony in honor of Veteran’s Day, members of the American Legion and Veteran’s of Foreign Wars created a Walk of Honor for veterans that have served in the military since 911.

The ceremony began at Two Strike Park today at 3 p.m. after an all day vigil by veterans.

Veterans Memorial Service at Two Strike Park, La Crescenta, Ca (Photo by Ed Hamilton / Nov 11th, 2012)

The speeches from the podium reflected the day’s honor to all veterans with mention of those young men and women who are, and have, served recently.  Speakers, veterans Mike Baldwin and Ken Jury, reminded the audience that the American Legion and VFW members are still serving by helping those who have served.

Congressman Adam Schiff was in attendance.  He spoke about his father, an Army veteran, and of servicemen he had met in Afghanistan, Iraq and in the United States.  He spoke of their maturity, honor and dedicated service to their country.

Shirley Wright and Patricia Breggs arrive for the Vetrans Memorial Service at Two Strike Park, La Crescenta, Ca

Congressman Adam Schiff and Assemblyman Mike Gatto attended the Veterans Memorial Service at 

Two Strike Park, La Crescenta, Ca.  (Photo by Suzanne Dunwell / Nov 11th, 2012)

Assemblymember Mike Gatto was also at the ceremony.  He spoke of his family’s long history of military service as well.  He also pledged to match any donation up to $1,000 that was made to the Two Strike Park Memorial at the ceremony.  VFW Commander Warren Spayth immediately raised his hand to donate $500, and Congressman Adam Schiff had made a donation of $500 earlier to a group of veterans at the ceremony.  But even after the $1000 was met the donations continued.  Several of those in the audience took out their checkbooks for the Two Strike Park Memorial.

Congressman Adam Schiff and State Assemblyman Mike Gatto throw pieces of a retired American Flag into a memorial flame at the Veterans Memorial Service at Two Strike Park, La Crescenta, Ca.  Gatto pledged to match $1,000 in donations to the memorial, and Schiff immediately responded with a $500 contribution. (Photo by Ed Hamilton / Nov 11th, 2012)

Not only were veterans honored at the park but the memorial is more than $2,000 closer to its goal.

Two Strike Park Memorial, at present, is small and is in disrepair.  Veterans and community members began working together to raise funds to remodel and repair the existing memorial.  The Two Strike Park Memorial committee’s goal is to build the memorial so the names of military personnel who have lost their lives while in service  to their country can be added.  They need $75,000, they have raise about $47,000. Anyone who would like to donate can do so at www.twostrikememorial.org

Veterans Memorial Service at Two Strike Park, La Crescenta, Ca (Photo by Ed Hamilton / Nov 11th, 2012)

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You can read this story and more at the Crescenta Valley Weekly by clicking HERE

Mike Gatto is the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee of the California State Assembly.  He represents the cities of Burbank, Glendale, La Canada-Flintridge, and the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Los Feliz and Silver Lake.  E-mail Mike at: assemblymember.gatto@assembly.ca.gov, or call (818) 558-3043.

Website of Assemblyman Mike Gatto: www.asm.ca.gov/gatto