Page 8 - Reedley Exponent 5-31-18 E-edition

The Reedley Exponent A8 Thursday, May 31, 2018
MEMORIAL Continued from page A1
many cemeteries and monu- ments around our nation, like today.”
Bautista described how his grandmother was buried on May 24 at the National Ceme- tery in Santa Nella. She was laid to rest next to Bautista’s grand- father, a World War II veteran and career aviator in the Army Air Corps and Air Force.
“We honor the dead by remembering them,” he said. “And in places like Santa Nel- la, and Arlington [National Cemetery], and here today, we do this 24-7, 365.”
But Bautista added that caring for and remembering the dead is not enough.
“We must honor the dead by living for them,” he said. “Does it mean that we should, too, join the military or serve in some capacity? If you feel so called, absolutely. Douglas MacArthur said ‘No man is en- titled to the blessings of free- dom unless he is vigilant in its preservation.’ But MacArthur isn’t speaking only of military service.”
Bautista said the ideal way to live for the country’s dead heroes was continuing to defend what they all died to protect.
“You see, an American soldier’s sacrifice is unique in human history because their allegiance is unique,” he said. “I swore an oath, like many of you out here today, to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
“Not a king, queen, even a people, a warlord or for po- litical profit. From the com- mander in chief to the lowli- est private or airman, we all exist to defend one thing – the rights of Americans. Imagine that, has there ever been a more selfless form of volun- tary military service.”
Traditions of the Reedley Memorial Day ceremony con- tinued in 2018. Wreaths were laid at the Unknown Soldier Tomb by the Reedley Viet- nam Veterans, American Le- gion Post 35, The CPT Joe F. Lusk II Foundation, Cold War Veterans, Filipino Commu- nity, Reedley College Veteran Services, Japanese American Veterans, The Reedley Eagles and Reedley Boy Scout Troop 282.
The Reedley High School Navy Junior Reserve Of- ficer Training Corps pre- sented the colors, and also carried in flags representing each branch of the military. The Reedley High jazz band played songs for each branch as well as the national anthem.
Traditions of the Reedley Memorial Day ceremony con- tinued in 2018. Wreaths were laid at the Unknown Soldier Tomb by the Reedley Vietnam Veterans, American Legion Post 35, The CPT Joe F. Lusk II Foundation, Cold War Veter- ans, Filipino Community, Reed- ley College Veteran Services, Japanese American Veterans, The Reedley Eagles and Reed- ley Boy Scout Troop 282.
OROZCO Continued from page A2
“Before tennis, I was su- per shy. I would not talk at all,” she said. “The atmosphere, the girls up there were really nice. It kind of broke my shell. Since my sophomore year, all the extracurricular activities I’ve been involved with have been great.”
Those activities include being a member of the school’s highly-rated sports medicine team, Forestry Chal- lenge, Science Olympiad and the Leo Club. She’s also been involved with Catholics in Ac- tion — she’s a member of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church — and helped work with the Restorative Justice Program. In addition, she’s a youth representative for the city of Reedley’s Community Services Commission.
Even music was part of Orozco’s high school experi- ence. She played flute and piccolo in the Reedley High’s Big Green Marching Machine her freshman through junior years. “I couldn’t compete this year because my sched- ule was completely booked,” she said.
Longterm, Orozco would like to go to medical school to become an osteopathic neu- rologist. “I just want to help people. I want to take mission trips within the next 10 years to help people.”
Orozco stuck to her motto of “pain is temporary, GPA is forever.”
More than 250 people attended the annual Memorial Day Ceremony at Reedley Cemetery. The event is presented
by the American Legion Post 35 and recognizes veterans who gave their lives for their country. This year’s ceremony began an hour earlier than usual, at 9 a.m. Local community groups placed wreaths of honor at the Unknown Soldier Tomb at the west end of the cemetery.
TOP: Members of Reedley High School’s Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps stand at attention as they present the colors of the U.S. flag and flags representing the six branches of the military.
ABOVE: Members of the public pick out single long stemmed roses provided by David’s of Reedley and the CPT Joe F. Lusk II Foundation to place on veterans’ gravesites. This year’s initial allotment was 250 roses.
ABOVE LEFT: Air Force Capt. Skylar “Voodoo” Bautista speaks at the Memorial Day Ceremony. In the foreground is the Unknown Soldier Tomb decorated with wreaths do- nated by local community organizations.
LEFT: Audience members give special speaker Skylar “Voodoo” Bautista a standing ovation after his message. Bautista’s speech was praised by attendees at the ceremony and on social media.
Photos by Jon Earnest / The Exponent
Tickets still available for Sierra View Spring dinner
Staff Report
Tickets still are avail- able for the Sierra View Homes Auxiliary Spring Benefit Dinner on Satur- day, June 9.
This year’s featured performer is singer Scott MacIntyre, who gained fame on the “American Idol” TV contest. Ma- cIntyre performed at the spring benefit in 2013.
To purchase or reserve tickets, call Sierra View Homes at (559) 638-9226.
CARRILLO Continued from page A3
rillo’s brush with fame, the following day provided proof.
“The next thing I know I’m hearing ‘Hey Danny, you’re in the Fresno Bee.’ I said ‘Oh, shut up,’” he said. But he was in a photo standing near the senator, waiting to take his turn at a handshake.
“Sure enough, they knew who I was. I always used to carry a pencil in my ear, so that’s how my buddies recognized me.”
Carrillo said Kennedy’s support of the UFW made him popular in the Hispan- ic community. “He had a lot of support from the Span- ish kids,” he said. “There was a lot of them there when he came.”
Carrillo attended col- lege for three years but didn’t finish and returned to Reedley. He then be- came a janitor with the Kings Canyon Unified School District, working at General Grant School and Grant Middle School be- fore retiring in 2011.
“I had a chance to go to other schools to work,” said Carrillo, who was born and raised in Reedley. “But they treated me good here, so I thought I would stay.”
Once he retired, Car- rillo was active with golf until he suffered a stroke in 2016. He walks with the assistance of a cane.
“A have a little limp- ness in my right hand and leg,” he said. “The doctors said ‘You’ll never be nor- mal again, but you’ll get a lot of it back.’ I’m still waiting. I’m still here.”
Carrillo said to this day many are surprised to learn that he shook RFK’s hand.
“It was something else, a day that I’ll never forget,” Carrillo said. “I’ll always live with that memory.”
“I don’t buy into the thinking that high school is supposed to be easy. It’s not,” she said. “People can be en- vious of people who go far, but if you think about it, if you had worked as hard you could be able to say the same things.”
Orozco’s advice to young- er students is simple — chal- lenge yourself every day,
don’t procrastinate and use your school’s resources.
“Above all, just don’t care what people think about you,” she said. “It took me a long time to come to that fact. I feel like I’ve succeeded in the most humble way possible. My mentality is, if you have the same resources you could have worked just as hard and been able to do what I do.”
216736
215950