Fountain Valley’s newly named Veterans Park attracted a big crowd for its first official event Monday.
More than 400 people gathered at the park for the annual Memorial Day ceremony presented each year by the city and West Orange County Veterans of Foreign Wars and its Auxiliary Post 9557.
The ceremony — as well as the annual Veterans Day ceremony — had been held in the grassy area east of the Fountain Valley Library, which is the site of the city’s Veterans Memorial. This year’s ceremony was held at the same location, but it is now officially Veterans Park, thanks to a unanimous vote by the City Council last month.
After her mom, Rumelia Cortez Hizon, sang the national anthem, local Girl Scout Malia Cortez, from Troop 458, welcomed those in attendance. As part of her Girl Scout Gold Award project, Malia created a memorial that included a mini flag with an attached note card that family and friends could dedicate to a loved one who has passed.
Incidentally, also as part of her Gold Award project, she created Memorial Day booklets with pertinent information for Fountain Valley middle-school students. The booklets cover such topics as the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day and the significance of the Gold Star program.
This year’s keynote speaker was U.S. Marine Lance Corp.-retired David Coop, whose topic was “The Cost of War.”
Among the dignitaries on hand were U.S. Rep Harley Rouda and his wife, Kaira; Assemblyman Tyler Diep; City Council members Cheryl Brothers, Michael Vo, Kim Constantine and Patrick Harper; and Fountain Valley School District board members Sandra Crandall and Jim Cunneen.
Former mayor and VFW Post member Larry Crandall delivered a message from the VFW, and VFW Auxiliary President Chris Schmaltz gave an auxiliary message.
The ceremony also was an opportunity for the Fountain Valley Community Foundation to update those attending on the Honored Heroes Banner Program.
Foundation President Prem Balani reported that the program has been expanded to include Armed Forces veterans who currently reside in Fountain Valley. The first set of new banners has been placed on poles along Los Alamos Street, which Veterans Park borders.
Former mayor and longtime VFW Post member John Collins and VFW Auxiliary Senior Vice President Bernice Francis placed the wreath at the base of the Veterans Memorial and VFW Post Vice Commander Daniel Whitney played taps.
It was a triumphant debut for Fountain Valley’s official Veterans Park.