Four minutes and 17 seconds.
Less time than it takes standing in line most days during the rush at a Starbucks to order a latte.
That is the length of time unit took Ron Cruz to read 66 names — starting with Hope McFall and ending with Charles Palmer II — on Saturday before a downtown gathering of 250 plus people in the parking lot of Manteca Bedquarters.
They were there to reflect, as Mayor Gary Singh pointed out, on the price of our freedom.
More specifically, it is how paying that cost hits home to communities like Manteca.
You will find banners with the 66 names of the men from the Manteca area that died in combat from World War I through the Global War on Terror attached to light poles along Yosemite Avenue and Main Street as you pass through the heart of Manteca.
“A soldier is never forgotten until we forget their names,” noted Pastor Mike Dillman as he offered final words to end the hour-long commemoration of the inaugural Avenue of Our Heroes banner display.
The banners will be up for the rest of this month and every May going forward.
The highlight of the event was the unveiling of the banner on Main Street closest to the intersection with Yosemite Avenue.
On each side were the faces of two of the fallen — Charles Palmer II and Brock Elliott. Both were Marines.
Both passed by on the street below growing up in Manteca.
Both went to Manteca High a generation or so apart.
Elliott was the first of 17 Manteca men killed in the Vietnam War. Palmer was the first of two men from the Manteca area to die in the Iraq War.
Palmer’s mother Teri Palmer and Elliott’s sister Charlene Carroll pulled the cord to drop the black curtain that had been draped over the banner hanging from the period decorative street light post.
Altogether, there are 40 banners include 33 that carry a different name on each side.
“Avenue of Our Heroes) is to remind our city every day through the month of May that freedom is not free,” Manteca Mayor Singh said in prepared remarks.
San Joaquin County Supervisor Tom Patti reminded those gathered that the ultimate sacrifices of their lives by the 66 men and those who served with them since World War I is why the United States has been able to secure its liberties and freedoms.
“They were willing to risk it all,” noted Retired Army Major General Regua, “so everyone else can go about enjoying their freedoms.”
Regua closed his short speech by referencing the lyrics of country singer Lee Greenwood’s signature song “God Bless the USA”.
And I'm proud to be an American
Where at least I know I'm free
And I won't forget the men who died
Who gave that right to me
And I'd gladly stand up next to you
And defend Her still today
'Cause there ain't no doubt
I love this land
God Bless the U.S.A.
Cruz — the president of the Manteca Mural Society and a key organizer along with Diliman of Saturday’s commemoration — read the name of each of the 66 fallen.
Each was marked by the ringing of a lone bell by former Manteca Mayor Steve DeBrum.
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 are attached to street light poles north, east, west and south of the heart of Manteca along Yosemite Avenue and Main Street.
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.com
