A Promise Made, A Promise Kept

United States Marine Corps

Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary

Battle of Tarawa

In Honor of Corporal Lazaro "Lester" Martinez

 

Fallen: November 22, 1943

Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll

On November 19, 2023, a remembrance of Corporal Lazaro "Lester" Martinez was held in Merced, CA. This event honored Max Brown's promise to locate and contact Martinez's family in gratitude for saving his life on the battlefield and to ensure that Martinez was not forgotten for his heroic actions.

This event had a profound impact on both the Brown and Martinez families and stood as a true testament to a promise made and a promise kept. The program included a video presentation on the Battle of Tarawa, the Amphibious Assault, the posting of the national ensign by the Armored Forces Honor Guard, and the All-Marine Color Guard led by Ray Castillo, GYSGT USMC (RET).

The ceremony continued with an invocation by Chaplain Will Wohltom and featured special guest speakers: Mr. Scott Brown, son of L/CPL Brown, Christian Santos from Congressman Duarte's office, Mrs. Diana Westmoreland from Senator Anna Caballero's office, and former Mayor of Los Banos, Tom Faria. Although members of the Board of Supervisors were invited, none attended. 

Special thanks were extended to Mr. John Cox from the Merced County Veterans Services Office, Ray Villegas, and Jose Comacho Sr. of Marine Central Valley Veterans.

Following these addresses, a presentation of certificates was conducted, accompanied by a memorial walk-through in honor of Martinez. The event concluded with a lunch, expressing heartfelt thanks to all who attended.

CSM

13 November 2023 

This week-end past was Veterans Day (11 November 2023). The Day we remember our Veterans but also give Thanks to all Veterans for their sacrifices they perform in their service to our County. 

This year's Merced County’s Veterans Day Parade was a letdown. Merced City with a population of over 80 thousand residents was lucky to draw around 180 individuals including the fan fair of politicians in attendance and 180 is probably more than what was really there. This event [as always] centered around Bob Hart Square but the citizens lining the streets only covered [sparsely] from “L” Street – down Main Street to “Canal” Street – totaling one city block. 

This year event seems more like a campaign opportunity for the politicians that attended the Merced County Veterans Day Parade. There was a Congressman, an Assembly Women; a couple of other Officials - along with all the Board of Supervisors for Merced County were present at Bob Hart Square. The Host, which was from the Veterans’ Service Office - read extensive Biographies of the politicians and of the Board of Supervisor(s) on what they claim they have accomplished for Veterans in Merced County. 

I find it interesting the Board of Supervisors could not come up with an equitable solution for the Safe and Secure use of the Memorial Building for all Veterans and Veteran Organizations. All that resulted from months of conversations with the Board of Supervisor Members was to have a VFW Chapter end its Membership and close down its Chapter in Merced. Yet on the Day for Veterans we have officials campaigning - claiming what they say they have done for Veterans. 

The only satisfying occasions of this year’s Veteran’s Day Parade were the three Grand Marshals who were selected and recognized for their Military Service and were given a Plaque and several Certificates to each one of them. After the quick presentation to the Grand Marshals and the extensive time used for campaigning by the politicians they all hopped onto a float and several cars and drove up and down [one block] of Main Street. 

With the small and disappointing turn out on this day – the Board of Supervisor and the Politicians could have and should have walked up and down both sides of the street asking for Veterans attending which they (the politicians) could have extended their appreciation and Thank You to those Veterans. Now, if that would have happened even with the lack of preparation [community involvement] and attendance – this could have been a Veterans Day Parade to remember – but it was not! 

Command Sergeant Major said………………………….

PaintedCrow

13 November 2023 

Greetings to all those invested in the wellness of military Veterans and their families. I wanted to share my thoughts during this weekend of honoring Veterans. 

Did you know there are approximately 1,000 Veteran women in Merced County? I would like to find them... and if you read this, please be in touch.

I spent this past Tuesday reminding our board of supervisors how they let down one of the oldest Veteran organizations in our county by not supporting them with a place to do their Veteran business and forcing them to shut their doors on what is now a nonexistent building. I reminded them that they should not be speaking about their support for Veterans anywhere because of this failure to support the VFW in Merced. This board hangs on the coattails of their family members who served, pretending they understand, yet none of them have served in the military. Their lack of support is so evident.

I also spent this weekend in Coulterville, California, doing a blessing on 11 acres of land; a project being designed by a Vietnam Veteran to help Veterans. 

You may wonder why he is investing his time and energy into doing this with so many programs (they say) are available to Veterans... It is because he can see the need.

This 11-acre site will house the traveling Vietnam wall permanently. It will provide housing for Veterans and a travel-trailer parking lot for those visiting the wall. It will include a building space to provide job training programs and wrap around services. 

This Veteran gets what our board of supervisors do not. And although they are in another county, they complain of the same issues from their local government. This Veteran is implementing a nonprofit to make this happen and is funding it himself until he can get help. 

There are also a few of us here in Merced County committed to create something here that doesn’t require the red tape that is always included when asking for county assistance. Our biggest barrier is the lack of interest our local politicians take. We would like to create something that really takes care of Veterans. Even our local Veteran Service Officer position seems to be just a steppingstone to move up in county positions; thus, failing to truly support and assist our Veterans. 

We need your feedback, your ideas, and your support to bring something forward that will truly assist our Veterans here in Merced County and provide them the services they deserve. Please if get in touch with us. You need not be a Veteran; just have a passion and commitment to help us help our brothers and sisters in arms. The bare minimum offered, like a free meal on Veterans Day, just isn’t enough.

I hope you all had a blessed Veterans Day. 

For those family members who have lost a loved one through their service or suicide, we need to do more than sit with their grief alone without support from our communities. I have met family members here in Merced who have loss... 

Please be in contact with us; share your point of view and what you see as a need to help the Veteran community of Merced County.

SFC PaintedCrow Retired