City Must Never Forget Its Veterans

* It has come to our family’s attention that a few individuals have decided that Veterans Memorial Park and the Veterans Memorial are no longer wanted in Santa Paula. Instead they would like to build a grocery store.

The memorial honors 83 Santa Paula soldiers who fought and gave their lives in World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War for our continued freedom.

The inscription on the memorial reminds us of why the citizens of Santa Paula had the memorial erected. The center plaque reads “We, the living, must dedicate our lives so that these Santa Paulans may not have died in vain.”

Each war mentioned has a quote that tells us of the significance of that war. Let us just mention a few of those who died for our freedom:

World War I, 1917-1918 (a trench and poisonous-gas war).

“To make the world safe for democracy.”

Carl Carter, Raymond Graid, Frank C. Davis, Frank Fernandez, John Hernandez and more.

World War II, 1941-1945 (the war against the Nazi war machine).

“A worldwide involvement we honor and memorialize these Santa Paulans who gave their last full measure of devotion.”

Hebert and Henrietta Mercer, Ramon and Isabel Prieto, John Salas and more.

Korean War 1950-1953 (a war against communist infiltration in Asia).

“Under the United Nations they joined comrades from many countries.”

Theodore Rabago, David Viramontes, Darrell Bridges, Jessie H. Brown and more.

Vietnam War 1964-1973 (jungle and chemical--Agent Orange).

“They fought in a strange land which is only a small part of this planet Earth. A war fought mainly by our very young. May their sacrifice not have been in vain.”

Daniel J. Bottan, Jimmy Cavander, Edward Chavez, Max Vasquez III and more.

This memorial also represents the “unnamed wars”--radiation wars: atomic testing in Nevada, atomic testing in the Bikini Islands in the Pacific. The radiation veterans now suffer from leukemia and cancers. Included are the Gulf War veterans, suffering unexplained diseases because of chemical warfare. And in part, the memorial represents the families that endured the hardships of loss of their sons, daughters, husbands and wives.

By maintaining the memorial, we continue to thank these soldiers who dutifully gave their lives for our freedom and liberty.

Now is the time for the citizens of Santa Paula to stand up and deliver their thanks to the veterans who fought and died for our freedom and liberty. The Veterans Memorial is a sacred placed for all freedom-loving people in Santa Paula. It is our duty to keep it so.

ROBERT T. RABAGO

Veteran, French Indochina War

(later became Vietnam War)

ARTHUR T. RABAGO

Veteran, Korean War

MANUEL T. RABAGO

Veteran

THEODORE F. RABAGO

Veteran

ARTHUR RABAGO II

Veteran

Santa Paula