Community invited to Temecula’s Fallen Heroes Memorial Ribbon Cutting Ceremony – Nov 8

From City of Temecula:

TEMECULA, CA ─ The City of Temecula is proud to unveil the Fallen Heroes Memorial at the Ribbon Cutting on Thursday, November 8, 2018 at 10:00 am at the Temecula Duck Pond
(28250 Ynez Road).

The unique sculpture, by local artist Austin Casson, features a battlefield cross cast in bronze and a steel tower supporting a life-size bald eagle. Mr. Casson is known for his work depicting birds, including Cry Freedom, a bronze eagle on permanent display at the George H. Bush Presidential Library in Houston. The battlefield cross was created by the Veterans Art Project, through the California Sculpture Academy.

Located adjacent to the Letters Home Memorial, this original sculpture honors City residents who have given their lives in service to their country. This tribute was conceived by Temecula City Council’s Military Ad Hoc Subcommittee in the wake of the tragic loss of a Temecula resident who died in overseas action.

“As public servants, it is our privilege to honor those who have paid the ultimate price in the defense of our great nation,” said Council Member Jeff Comerchero, who serves on the Military Ad Hoc Subcommittee and is a veteran of the United States Army. Temecula resident and Marine Staff Sergeant Louis Cardin, a 27-year-old field artilleryman with Battalion Landing Team, 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines, died while supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S. military’s campaign against ISIS. Cardin was praised for his valor in ensuring the safety of his fellow soldiers during the fatal attack.

The Subcommittee collaborated with community partners including the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4089, the Temecula Valley Woman’s Club, Riverside County Supervisor Chuck Washington, Temecula Commissioner Bob Hagel, and others. Military Service Seals honoring the individual branches of the United Sates Armed Services are arranged in front of the tower. The retaining wall which partially surrounds the sculpture will eventually feature a steel rendering of the local mountains which surround the Temecula Valley with benches flanking the Memorial.

For more information regarding this event, please call (951) 694-6480.

 

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Trevor Montgomery, 47, moved last year to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle, and Anza Valley Outlook; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 28 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 14 – but soon to be 16 – grandchildren.