Page 7 - Mid Valley Times 11-18-21 E-edition

Thursday, November 18, 2021
The View From Here
Life is about bal- ance.
I learned that quickly during the week of Nov. 8.
I worked
the weekend
of Nov. 7 at my tv news job. I covered a story about a huge brawl at the Fresno State football game among other things. I regrouped and on the morning of Nov. 10, made my way over to the Foster’s Freeze here in Reedley.
Normally, I visit Foster's to indulge in a burger but on that morning I was there for something else.
As I drove up and parked along the street, I noticed the large white tarp draping over the soon to be unveiled Veterans Day mural. The mural is intended to honor Reedley’s military veterans.
The morning felt colder than usual. We had rain a few days prior and there was still a leftoever chill in the air. I own a light button up jacket and I decided to wear that. However, after about 30 minutes of stand- ing outside in the cold I went to my car and changed into a heavier coat.
As I stood and took pho- tos I listened to the various speakers talk about their military service. Matt Tut- tle, Reedley Council mem- ber said he was only 21 years old when he joined the Army, and decided to do so after terrorist attacks on Sept. 11.
“Before joining the mili- tary, I had no direction or no purpose after being in the military, I feel like I became more focused,” he said.
I thought about how young Tuttle was to take on such a huge task. A few days later I received a call from my daughter. A little bit of background, my daughter was recently hired with the Fresno Coun- ty Sheriff’s Office as a 911 dispatcher.
She is handling the job well, but of course she has her days when it can be overwhelming. I thought about how young she is [she's 20] and how young Tuttle was [he was 21] when he joined the Army.
Joe Garza, police chief for the city of Reedley, said he joined the force at only 18 years old! Young people who decided to make a dif- ference early in their lives left me inspired and still making positive changes in the community.
The mural is beautiful. Honoring all veterans and reminding them each day that the service they've do- ne for our country does not go unnoticed.
Juanita Adame
Reedley honors its veterans
Juanita Adame / Mid Valley Times
Guests looked up at the newly unveiled Veteran's Day memorial wall located in the Foster's Freeze shop- ping center on the morning of Nov. 10.
“After many months of looking, its was suggested that we use this wall behind me and after discussions with Martha Cortez, owner of the building,” he said. “She agreed to allowed the mural to be placed on the wall.”
Cortez owns the building which houses the Cortezia Styling Salon next door to the Foster's Freeze.
Other community mem- bers who spoke during the event included, Sue Buckley Reedley's Rotary president, Matt Tuttle, Reedley couci- lmember, as well as repre- sentatives from the offices of Joaquin Arambula and Sena- tor Melissa Hurtado.
When Tuttle spoke, he told the crowd about his military service and what made him want to join the army.
“That’s my why," he said. "Sept. 11 happened the next month I was in the army, ev- eryone has different reasons for being there, some people feel like they’re forced to be there other people had nothing else to do.”
“Looking back I was a bit of a child going in,” he con- tinued. “I was 21 years old, I didn’t realize how that was go- ing to shape my future.”
The mural depicts men and women in various uniforms of the 5 armed forces; the U.S. Army, Marine Corps., Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard.
JuanitaAdame /MidValleyTimes
Sue Buckley, Reedley's Rotary President, on Nov. 10, addressed the crowd during the Memorial Wall unveiling.
Longtime Dinuba shoe store 'Dons Shoes' to close its doors
By Juanita Adame
Mid Valley Times
Despite the cold morn- ing temperatures more than 100 guests showed up for the “Thank you Veterans” mural unveiling in Reedley on the morning of Nov. 10.
“So why are we here?" said Joe Garza, Reedley's police chief. "We are here to recog- nize the sacrifice many have made, we do this by saying thank you."
“Simple words," he contin- ued. "Thank you, thank you for your service thank you to your families, and thank you to this great country we live in.”
Garza said the mural proj- ect had been in the works for nearly two years and they'd originally planned for it to be displayed on a different build- ing.
“Initially this mural was to be placed on the nation- al guard armory down the street,” said Garza.
“But we had to look for a new location due to circum- stances beyond our control.”
It was after that detour, that they decided on its final location.
“Simple words, thank you, thank you for your service thank you to your families, and thank you to this great country we live in.”
Joe Garza Reedley Police Chief
Photo of the week
Contributed
The Dinuba Chamber of Commerce announced on its Facebook page that a longtime Dinuba business will be closing its doors in the com- ing months. " We are sad to announce Richard is retiring and will be closing Don’s Shoes. Make sure you stop by and wish him a happy retirement. The community will miss him dearly," the post read.
Contributed
This photo of the Reedley skyline was sent in by Rudy Herrera. Have a photo you'd like featured? Email juanita@midvalleypub- lishing.com.