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Schools

Citrus College Honors Veterans

Veterans young and old, men and women, from all creeds and cultures were honored Thursday at the Citrus College 8th Annual Saluting Our Veterans event.

The campus partners with Azusa Pacific University every year in honoring veterans who have served in the U.S. military. This year, residents from Glendora, Azusa, and students from Citrus College and Azusa Pacific University were honored for their service.

The Gladstone High School Marching Band provided a music prologue at the event, which also featured a presentation of colors by a veterans honor guard, display of military artifacts and keynote speeches by Citrus College veterans.

"Veterans, today we salute you. You have fought in all our nations wars and you have served on the home front. To all of us, you are heroic," said Geraldine Perri, superintendent/president of Citrus College. "You are very special to us at Citrus College and we are committed to giving back to you for your service."

Representative Judy Chu (D-27th District) remarked that many times, returning veterans have been unable to access the benefits at their disposal and spoke about the need to increase access to those benefits.

"Today, we have thousands of soldiers that are returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. The benefits that they receive for their service can hardly compensate for the sacrifices that they made. It is a debt that must be repaid and that is why we must make the most of what we can do for them," Chu said.

Chu commended Citrus College for creating better access for student veterans.

The Citrus College Veterans Center offers services for military personnel trying readjust to civilian life. With over 300 veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq attending Citrus, the campus offers a place where all veterans can meet and speak about their experiences. The Veterans Center is also home to a transition course, the first of its kind in the nation, school officials said.

Among the veterans who spoke at the event was Fernando Salazar, Jr., Citrus College class of 2013 and Marine Corps veteran.

Salazar received recognition as 2013 Citrus College Man of the Year and was honored Veteran of the Year by Roger Hernandez (D-West Covina).

"From where I come from, I never dreamed I would have come this far," Salazar said. "Citrus College and the people who made the Veterans Center today, gave me that foundation of hope, a foundation to build on and the groundwork that made it possible to establish my dreams."

Also featured at the event were military artifacts provided by the Fort MacArthur Museum in San Pedro. Many military uniforms from years past were on display, including a WWII uniform worn by a Glendora resident, Commissary Steward 2nd Class Stanley Sirkow.

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