The Wall Came Tumbling Down

Veterans, from left, Mike Baldwin, Warren Spayth and Roy Allmon, salute the old Two Strike Park
Memorial Wall as the bulldozer waits. Funds have been raised for a new memorial wall.
Photo by Mary O'Keefe, Crescenta Valley Weekly

By Mary O’KEEFE

On Tuesday morning, veterans Roy Allmon, Warren Spayth, Mike Baldwin and Steve Pierce stood on a small hill at Two Strike Park and watched the past fall to make way for the future.

The occasion was the demolition of the old wall at the park, the first step in establishing a new memorial for fallen local war heroes...

...Spayth reminisced on a project that began six years ago, one that was started with a family’s wish to honor their son, Nick Steinbacher, by adding his name to the wall.

The existing memorial being demolished.
Photo by Mary O'Keefe, Crescenta Valley Weekly

Steinbacher, a Crescenta Valley High School graduate, was an Army specialist serving in Iraq in 2006 when he was killed in action. The memorial wall at Two Strike Park was not large enough to add Nick’s name or any other soldier’s name. Members of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars wanted a memorial that could honor those who had given their life for their country...

“...I think when I knew we were going to make it was when we started fundraising with the help of the CV Chamber, CV Town Council and CV Weekly,” Baldwin said. “And all the other groups that [joined].”

The group reached out to several organizations throughout the community including local schools. One of their first supporters was Lt. Col. Dave Worley and his CVHS JROTC cadets. They helped organize the 5K Memorial Run as well as other fundraisers.

Schools got involved as well with the most recent support coming from Rosemont Middle School’s California Junior Scholarship Federation that held a Walk for the Wall a few weeks ago.
“They raised $5,000,” Baldwin said.

Assemblyman Mike Gatto announced a $5,000 gift from
Home Depot at the memorial in 2012.

Government officials showed their support, not only reaching into their own pockets like then-Assemblymember Anthony Portantino, State Senator Carol Liu, Assemblymember Mike Gatto and Congressman Adam Schiff, but raising awareness of the project. Liu reached out to Forest Lawn, which is donating all the bronze plaques as well as affixing them to the wall at a savings of over $10,000. Gatto contacted Home Depot for $5,000 in gift cards to purchase building materials, and the Assemblymember added $1,500 from his office.

“[Civic leader] Jean Maluccio has been with us since the beginning,” Spayth said, “[providing] the contacts with the [officials] and the [Los Angeles County] Parks and Recreation.”

“We had so much support from the L.A. County Parks and Rec. Without them we couldn’t do this,” Baldwin said.

Locally, the support grew with Bonners Equipment Rental donating cement, Kiwanis and the Lions clubs donating funds. Fellow veteran Andy Gero and his family donated two flagpoles that will be placed at the wall.

And that is just a few of those in the community who have generously donated funds...

...The veterans are just $5,000 away from their goal, close enough to start the project.

The new memorial will have room for names of those CV residents who gave their life for their country. The names have been submitted to the Two Strike Park Memorial Committee. Families are grateful that the sacrifice made will not be forgotten...

...Construction on the new Two Strike Park Memorial will begin immediately.

For information on the wall or to donate visit www.twostrikememorial.org.

You can read this entire article, and more, at the Crescenta Valley Weekly HERE

Mike Gatto is the chairman of the Appropriations Committee of the California State Assembly. He represents Burbank, Glendale, La Cañada-Flintridge, La Crescenta, Montrose, and the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Los Feliz, Silver Lake, Atwater Village, and portions of the Hollywood Hills and East Hollywood.   www.asm.ca.gov/gatto

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

Veterans Closer to Completing Two Strike War Memorial Wall

Fundraising efforts had a major boost from the Home Depot Foundation, presented by Assemblyman Mike Gatto to foothill war veterans.

By Nicole Charky

July 27, 2012 - Assemblyman Mike Gatto presented a $5,000 donation from The Home Depot Foundation to restoring the Two Strike Park veteran war memorial wall. 

The call to action started in 2006, when Army Spc. Nicholas Steinbacher was killed in Iraq.

After Steinbacher's death, Veterans of Foreign War Post 1614 and American Legion 288 members wanted a location in town to recognize all the locals in the La Crescenta and Montrose area who were killed in action, said Mike Baldwin, who was recently named Veteran of the Year for the 43rd Assembly District.

"We want to pay respect to those who died," Baldwin said.

The $5,000 donation from the Home Depot Foundation and an additional donation of $1,500 in cinder block materials are expected to help rebuild the current structure. 

"With this money we'll be able to give the names of all the people who've given their lives in the Crescenta Valley," said Warren Spayth, Commander Veterans of Foreign War Post 1614.

Family members and community leaders from the Crescenta Valley Town Council came to support the announcement from Gatto.

"We're really proud of this community, which stepped up and helped us. Our wives, our sons, our daughters, they're all proud of this place," said Ken Jury, Commander of American Legion Post 288.

The veterans hope to remember the fallen by next year, on Memorial Day.

Article from the Montrose Patch - Read this article at the Montrose Patch

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Mike Gatto is the Assistant Speaker Pro Tempore of the California State Assembly.  He represents the cities of Burbank, Glendale, and parts of Los Angeles, including Los Feliz, North Hollywood, Silver Lake, Toluca Lake, Valley Glen, and Van Nuys.  He has served in the Assembly since June 2010.  E-mail Mike at: assemblymember.gatto@assembly.ca.gov, or call (818) 558-3043.