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About 70 war veterans and their families attended the Veterans Day ceremony,
which was sponsored by the Alta Loma High School Alumni Association and held in
front of the school's Vietnam Memorial Rose Garden. Shots rang out during a
21-gun salute presented by seven members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post
8680, based in Rancho Cucamonga.
"It was really nice to have that ceremony and I think it's good the
school hasn't forgotten the kids who went to school here and then went to
Vietnam," said Ray Carrasco, 52, of Devore, Daniel Carrasco's
brother.
Ray Carrasco said he will always remember the times he and Daniel spent
together hiking and dressing up the family dog in sweaters and tennis shoes and
hats. The brothers were always scolded for mischief.
"Every time I drive by this memorial, I think of my brother," Ray
Carrasco said. "(His death) was a great loss for us, so things like this
are always helpful."
The Vietnam Memorial Rose Garden was established in 1972 by students and
staff at the high school. In 1988, the alumni association refurbished the
memorial, and it was rededicated on Veterans Day in 1989.
Members of the crowd were given white carnations tied with a red, white and
blue ribbon to lay at the memorial site.
"Many people come back year to year to remember the veterans," said
Mary Dodds, alumni association board member.
"These ceremonies aren't too popular to go to anymore, but they are
still important for the families and friends of the ones who died."
Steve Bowman was the first former Alta Loma High student to die in the
Vietnam War was in the same class as Dodds. He dropped out of school to fight in
the war, Dodds said. Instead of graduating with his class, Bowman died on June
2, 1968.
"Our names were listed for graduation in what was then the Cucamonga
Times (newspaper), and his obituary ran right next to the list," Dodds
said. "It's ironic to think that he died instead of graduating with us that
same month."
Jesse Loebach was a star linebacker who helped to lead the football team to
the CIF finals in 1968. He died on Nov. 11, 1971.
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