A bell will be rung 66 times on Saturday.
Each ring will solemnly follow the reading of the names of each of the 66 men from Manteca that have died in combat since World War I.
It is part of a commemoration scheduled for 1 p.m. at the corner of Yosemite Avenue and Main Street in downtown Manteca.
It will mark the start of what will be an annual occurrence each May going forward in downtown Manteca: The month-long display of the names on banners attached to street light poles as part of the city’s Avenue of Our Heroes endeavor.
The commemoration will start with the presentation of colors by Veterans of Foreign Wars Jimmie Connors Post 6311.
The Brock Elliott School singers will perform the national anthem.
Pastor Dillman will offer the invocation.
Mayor Gary Singh will read a city proclamation declaring May as “Avenue of Our Heroes” an annual occurrence in Manteca before the banners are unveiled.
In attendance will be a representative of Congressman Josh Harder, Minority Floor Leader Assemblyman Heath Flora, and San Joaquin County Supervisor Tom Patti.
The speaker will be retired Major General Eldon Regua of the United States Army.
Ron Cruz will read the names of the 66 fallen heroes.
And as each name is read, former Mayor Steve DeBrum will toll the traditional bell.
Richie and Friends will provide music prior to the ceremonies. Free hot dogs will be served prior and after the ceremonies as well.
The Avenue of Our Heroes is an effort of Not Forgotten founded by Pastor Dillman.
For 15 years, the Not Forgotten committee assisted by a small army of volunteers has staged a Memorial Weekend Commendation at Woodward Park. The multi-day event drew 20,000 plus a year to Manteca.
Military leadership has said it was the largest west of the Mississippi River, if not the nation.
The struggles and time to stage the event carried a heavy commitment that there was a concern couldn’t be met every year.
So, in order to make sure those from the Manteca area are never forgotten for the ultimate sacrifice they have made, the idea for the annual month-long display of banners dubbed “Avenue of Our Heroes” was born.
The 30-inch wide by 93-inch high banners will be attached to street light poles north, east, west and south of the heart of Manteca along Yosemite Avenue and Main Street.
There will be 40 banners altogether. Of those, 33 are devoted exclusively to those who died during wars.
Each side of a banner will carry a different name.
Organizers originally wanted to include photos on all the banners.
They soon discovered the task was next to impossible, especially due to difficulty tracking down relatives that might have photographs of the fallen that date back to World War I.
The decision was made to have a photo of the first to fall in each war on the banner that carries their name.
That means the faces of Hope McFall (World War I), Kenneth Grisham (World War II), Gordon Thomson (Korea), Brock Dennis Elliott (Vietnam), and Charles O. Palmer II will grace the banners.
- To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin
