LATHROP – The combination of Pastor Mike Dillman’s Vietnam War testimony and the solemn tolling of the bell during the roll call of Lathrop’s fallen veterans made for a stirring and poignant Memorial Day observance on Monday.
As each name etched on the Veterans Memorial Wall was called out by Gaye Valadez, a moment of silence was observed before Kenneth Mullins responded with the words, “No answer,” then rang the bell.
That went on 11 times while everyone in the audience stood in reverent silence. There are 11 names, military sons of Lathrop who gave their all for freedom, that are etched on the granite wall at Manuel Valverde Park in historic Old Town Lathrop. The list begins with Pvt James Joseph Chio who was killed in action during World War I. World War II heroes were Cpl George Calloway of the Marine Corps who succumbed to his wounds sustained at Guadalcanal, and S/Sgt Donald V. Rieger of the Army Air Corps who was killed in action when his B17 bomber plane in which he was a gunner was shot down in Normandy, France. The two casualties from the Korean War were T/Sgt Roscoe Carnes, Jr. of the Marine Corps who was killed in action, and Cpl Alvin R. Mendes of the US Army who lost his life in North Korea. His body was never found and was never returned home to his family.
Lathrop sons who lost their lives in the Vietnam War were Bosin Mate 3rd Class Charles M. White, Sr. who was with the U.S. Navy, LCpl Brock D. Elliott of the Marine Corps, WO. Gale Butcher, Jr. of the U.S. Army who, as a helicopter pilot, flew 25 missions from 1969 to 1970 – his plane was shot down on Jan. 8, 1970 – and PFC. Joseph Ernest Tafoya of the U.S. Army in whose memory one of the baseball fields at Valverde Park was named. All four soldiers were killed in action.
In the Iraqi Freedom War, Lathrop lost two of its sons – 1st Lt. Michael W. Vega who was with the U.S. Army National Guard, and Chief WO. David Angelo F. Alvarez of the U.S. Army who piloted Black Hawk helicopters and was a Chinook Crew Chief.
Three church pastors were part of the Lathrop ceremony – Dillman who is pastor of the Place of Refuge (formerly First Assembly of God) in Manteca, Pastor Bill Barnett of the Grace Community Church of Lathrop, and Father Dean McFalls, former pastor of Lathrop’s Our Lady of Guadalupe and is now pastor of St. Mary’s Church in Stockton. Serving as master of ceremonies was Arnita Montiel. Posting the colors were members of the Lathrop High School JROTC.
Mayor Kristy Sayles placed the wreath on the memorial wall assisted by Petty Officer 1st Class Kevin A. Wallace, and Petty Officer 1st Class Scott M. Kelley.
This is only the second time Lathrop had its own Memorial Day observance at the Veterans Memorial Wall since it was dedicated two years ago.
As each name etched on the Veterans Memorial Wall was called out by Gaye Valadez, a moment of silence was observed before Kenneth Mullins responded with the words, “No answer,” then rang the bell.
That went on 11 times while everyone in the audience stood in reverent silence. There are 11 names, military sons of Lathrop who gave their all for freedom, that are etched on the granite wall at Manuel Valverde Park in historic Old Town Lathrop. The list begins with Pvt James Joseph Chio who was killed in action during World War I. World War II heroes were Cpl George Calloway of the Marine Corps who succumbed to his wounds sustained at Guadalcanal, and S/Sgt Donald V. Rieger of the Army Air Corps who was killed in action when his B17 bomber plane in which he was a gunner was shot down in Normandy, France. The two casualties from the Korean War were T/Sgt Roscoe Carnes, Jr. of the Marine Corps who was killed in action, and Cpl Alvin R. Mendes of the US Army who lost his life in North Korea. His body was never found and was never returned home to his family.
Lathrop sons who lost their lives in the Vietnam War were Bosin Mate 3rd Class Charles M. White, Sr. who was with the U.S. Navy, LCpl Brock D. Elliott of the Marine Corps, WO. Gale Butcher, Jr. of the U.S. Army who, as a helicopter pilot, flew 25 missions from 1969 to 1970 – his plane was shot down on Jan. 8, 1970 – and PFC. Joseph Ernest Tafoya of the U.S. Army in whose memory one of the baseball fields at Valverde Park was named. All four soldiers were killed in action.
In the Iraqi Freedom War, Lathrop lost two of its sons – 1st Lt. Michael W. Vega who was with the U.S. Army National Guard, and Chief WO. David Angelo F. Alvarez of the U.S. Army who piloted Black Hawk helicopters and was a Chinook Crew Chief.
Three church pastors were part of the Lathrop ceremony – Dillman who is pastor of the Place of Refuge (formerly First Assembly of God) in Manteca, Pastor Bill Barnett of the Grace Community Church of Lathrop, and Father Dean McFalls, former pastor of Lathrop’s Our Lady of Guadalupe and is now pastor of St. Mary’s Church in Stockton. Serving as master of ceremonies was Arnita Montiel. Posting the colors were members of the Lathrop High School JROTC.
Mayor Kristy Sayles placed the wreath on the memorial wall assisted by Petty Officer 1st Class Kevin A. Wallace, and Petty Officer 1st Class Scott M. Kelley.
This is only the second time Lathrop had its own Memorial Day observance at the Veterans Memorial Wall since it was dedicated two years ago.
