Glendora Military Memorial Honors Fallen Service Members

Thirty-nine names are etched in the wall of Glendora's new memorial, each one representing the names of the city's service members who died defending their country. 

On Saturday, the city honored those service men and women in dedication ceremony, unveiling the new military memorial in front of City Hall. 

The names of the city's fallen go back to World War II to the city's most recent losses, including Marine Lance Cpl. Blake Howey who died in a roadside bomb in Iraq in 2007 and Army Staff Sgt. Kenneth "Wade" Bennett who was killed last year in Sperwan Ghar, Afghanistan.

The ceremony also remembered the families of the fallen who continue to grieve the deaths of their loved ones.

"For them, the term ultimate sacrifice is a price they will pay for the rest of their lives," Rep. Judy Chu (D-Pasadena) told the audience.

Gary Andrews, owner of Andrews, Inc. in Glendora, spoke of the community collaboration that brought the memorial to fruition. There is the purple star recipient whose family asked that friends and family donate to the memorial in lieu of flowers upon his death. Andrews described the countless number of community members who donated their time, money and resources to see the memorial become a reality. 

"This isn't a story of just a few folks coming together to achieve a goal, but of many citizens of this community joining hands to make things happen," said Andrews.

Along with the names honored on the memorial are bricks laid on the ground bearing messages and dedications from members of the community. 

Duarte resident Judi Scofield purchased a brick honoring her 91-year-old father, a WWII veteran. 

"I'm not a Glendoran, but I bought a brick and donated to the cause because I believe in it," said Scofield. "I believe we are all in this together."