Mountain Views News, Pasadena Edition [Sierra Madre] Saturday, November 17, 2018

5


Mountain View News Saturday, November 17, 2018 


SIERRA MADRE CELEBRATES ITS VETERANS


November 11, 2018 marks one hundred years since World 
War I ended. The first Veteran’s Day was celebrated in 1921, as 
a day to honor those who served and sacrificed in the United 
States’ Military. Every year in Sierra Madre, the Knights of 
Columbus and the VFW Lieutenant Kenneth Bell Post 3208 
hold a Veteran’s Day ceremony to commemorate this day 
and to celebrate and recognize the many veterans in town. 

 This year, the Veteran’s Day ceremony was held 
indoors at Memorial Park. Charlie Pritchard read a letter 
from his grandfather, Private Charles S. Pritchard, to his 
grandmother, Pearl Pritchard, written on October 18, 1918, 
just weeks before the end of the war. After this, MaryAnn 
MacGillivray-a former mayor of Sierra Madre- read an open 
letter written by an Air Force veteran who had served in 
Afghanistan. 

 Sierra Madre is a town with many veterans, and many 
of the guests at the ceremony were veterans. Some came in 
dress uniform and some came in street clothes, but whether 
they had served in the Army, Marines, Navy Air Force, 
National Guard, or Coast Guard, they all came together to 
observe this day of memorial and respect. Thank you to our 
veterans. 

WALKING SIERRA MADRE.. The Social Side By Deanne Davis

“Freedom is never 
more than one 
generation away 
from extinction. 

We didn’t pass it 
to our children in 
the bloodstream. It 
must be fought for, 

protected and 
handed on for them 
to do the same.” 
Ronald Reagan

“As we express 
our gratitude, we 
must never forget 
that the highest 
appreciation 

is not to utter 
words, but to live 
by them.” John F. 
Kennedy

“For the Veteran: 
Thank you for 
bravely doing what 
you’re called to do so we can 

safely do what we’re FREE to do.”

This past weekend, featuring beautiful weather, was 
filled with celebrations of our veterans throughout the 
land. Children sang, veterans came out in full dress 
uniforms, and our Nation thanked them once again 
for their service and their sacrifice. As I watched, I 
was reminded that my Dad was in the Navy during 
World War II. He never talked much about what he 
did, what his job was, what happened to him. As we 
commemorated Veteran’s Day this week, I thought I’d 
put up a picture of some of our Sierra Madre veterans 
and add the following poem. We are fortunate here 
in Sierra Madre, to have quite a few veterans who 
come out smartly and impeccably dressed in their 
uniforms to carry the flag, march in our July 4th 
parade, be on hand to kick off the Mt. Wilson Trail 
Race and be part of the Memorial Day observances. 
They stand tall and straight and we admire them. If 
you haven’t been down to Memorial Park to look at 
the Veteran’s Memorial Wall, take a few minutes, look 
at the pictures and see who you know. 

“Just A Common Soldier”

A. Lawrence Vaincourt

 He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was 
falling fast,

And he sat around the Legion, telling stories of the 
past

 Of a war that he had fought in and the deeds that 
he had done,

In his exploits with his buddies; they were heroes, 
every one

 And tho’ sometimes, to his neighbors, his tales 
became a joke,

 All his Legion buddies listened, for they knew 
whereof he spoke

 But we’ll hear his tales no longer for old Bill has 
passed away,

 And the world’s a little poorer, for a soldier died 
today

 He will not be mourned by many, just his children 
and his wife,

 For he lived an ordinary and quite uneventful life

Held a job and raised a family, quietly going his own 
way,

 And the world won’t note his passing, though a 
soldier died today

 When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie 
in state,

 While thousands note their passing and proclaim 
that they were great.

 Papers tell their whole life stories, from the time 
that they were young,

 But the passing of a soldier goes unnoticed and 
unsung

 Is the greatest contribution to the welfare of our 
land

 A guy who breaks his promises and cons his fellow 
man?

 Or the ordinary fellow who, in times of war and 
strife,

 Goes off to serve his Country and offers up his life?

 A politician’s stipend and the style in which he lives

 Are sometimes disproportionate to the service that 
he gives.

 While the ordinary soldier, who offered up his all,

Is paid off with a medal and perhaps, a pension small

 It’s so easy to forget them for it was so long ago

That the old Bills of our Country went to battle, but 
we know

 It was not the politicians, with their compromise 
and ploys,

 Who won for us the freedom that our Country now 
enjoys.

 Next time you see the flag go by, held in the hands 
of one of our veterans, stand and salute, for our flag 
and our veterans both deserve that honor.

 My book page: Amazon.com: Deanne Davis

Blog: www.authordeanne.com

Kindle readers, give yourself the gift of the Emma 
Gainsworth Adventures:

“Just Dessert: A Fall Fantasy” – “The Intergalactic 
Pumpkin Battle” – “The Lost Amulets”

 They’re on Amazon.com on my book page!

 Follow me on Twitter, too! https://twitter.
com/@playwrightdd


The holiday season is here. Halloween is over, 
Thanksgiving is just around the corner and that 
means that it is time to start your Christmas 
shopping. One of the best parts about living in a 
small town is that when Small Business Saturday 
comes around, there are so many stores to pick from. 

 Savor the Flavor is the place to go for anyone 
on your list who loves cooking or hosting parties. 
With so many ingredients, desserts, and beautiful 
tools to choose from, you cannot go wrong. Find 
Savor the Flavor at 11 Kersting Court. Just make 
sure that you have plenty of time to shop because 
you will not want to leave!

 Little Koi is having a 20% off sale through the end 
of the year. This is the perfect store to find a gift for 
the people on your list who love statement jewelry 
or are wonderfully fashion-forward. Giftwrapping 
is done at no extra change, and all of the bows are 
handmade! They also offer gift cards, in case there 
is someone on your list who prefers to shop for 
themselves. You can find Little Koi at 26 N Baldwin 
Ave. 

 Next on your list should be Belle’s Nest: a 
beautiful boutique located at 55 N Baldwin Ave. 
This shop has everything from jewelry to home 
goods and everything in between. Some copper 
earrings for your sister, candles for your brother, 
and some napkins for your mother to make up for 
all of the ones you spilled on as a child. There is 
something for everyone here at Belle’s Nest. 


SUE COOKREALTOR®, PSA626.253.1323 
scook@dppre.com#02015404Exclusively Represented By:
Your neighborhood realtor 
from start to sold!
Wishing you & your family
SIERRA MADRE 

BECOMES A 

DEMENTIA FRIENDLY CITY

The City of Sierra Madre issued a Certificate 
of Recognition and Proclamation of 
Sierra Madre being a Dementia Friendly 
Community. The Proclamation was present 
by Mayor Pro Tem, John Harabedian in 
front of the city council with Mayor Denise 
Delmar, and Council Members: Rachelle 
Arizmendi, John Capoccia and Gene 
Goss all present. This was presented on 
Nov 13, 2018.

 The Kensington Sierra Madre will 
be offering free dementia classes for 
understanding and communicating with 
those with dementia. The classes will 
start in 2019 and be offered on the third 
Tuesday of every month from 1pm to 5pm.

 Further, we will be offering care giver 
support on 2nd & 4th Monday of the month 
at 7pm.

Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com