City of La Verne Salutes Community’s Active U.S. Service Personnel

The Arballo family

The Coble family.

The Ellingson family.

The Jacobellis family.

The Lee family.

The Ornelas family.

The Rojas family.

The Stogsdill family.

The Vasquez family.

The Wagner family.

The Werrick family.

James A. Schwartz

Military banners were presented last night at the La Verne City council meeting to a dozen families whose sons or daughters are currently serving in a branch of the U.S. armed forces. Overall, there are 223 community members now in the U.S. Military.

The program consists of two banners, one to be displayed as a street banner and the other given to the family of the service member being recognized. The cost of the program, which is solely supported by donations, has raised $33, 625.

The honorees, including their branch of service, were:

Michael Arballo, Jr. Marines

Donovan Coble, Army

Sean M. Ellingson, Army

Aaron Matthew Hunger, Air Force

Michael R. Jacobellis, Marines

Aaron M. Lee, Coast Guard

Dylan M. Ornelas, Air Force

Earle L. Rojas, Air Force

Derek Stodsdill, Navy

Peter E. Vasquez, Army

Eric J. Wagner, Marines

Louis N. Werrick, Army

After each family was called up to be recognized, a family spokesperson shared a few words about their special honoree, which heightened the emotional impact and  intimacy of the ceremony. For example, Sean M. Ellingson enlisted in the Army because he had lost a brother and wanted to honor him. Michael R. Jacobellis, a baseball star at both Bonita and UC Davis who had dreamed of wearing a baseball uniform for a living, decided to don the officer’s uniform of the Marines after hearing a speech by then U.S. Senator and then Presidential candidate, John McCain, his father Mike said.

One banner that will come down, symbolizing the completion of his military service, belongs to James A. Schwartz. Speaking briefly, Schwartz thanked the audience for honoring him and then took a moment to recall a good friend who lost his life in service to his country.

Several businesses, organizations and families were also recognized for their support of the Military Banner Recognition Program. They were:

La Verne Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol

Senior Advisory Committee

The Carrera Family

The Deal Family

The Favatella Family

Andrew McKindley

Daeshik Min

The Nelson Family

The Peters Family

To start the meeting, the color guard from La Verne VFW Post 12034 presented the colors and led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.