Framed Image of the Hometown Heroes Banner for Lieutenant Commander Richard Engel Presented at the Recognition Ceremony Conducted on Saturday, May 23, 2015 at the Coronado Historical Association
As part of the observance of Memorial Day, 18 past and present Coronado residents were honored by being the first recipients of banners along the city’s Avenue of Heroes (Third and Fourth Streets between Orange Avenue and Naval Air Station North Island). As a follow-up to the installation of the banners, the recipients as well as family members and others who nominated them were recognized at a ceremony at the Coronado Historical Association on Saturday, May 23. The ceremony was attended by more than 50 family, friends, and officials from both the city and the Navy. (See the article, The Avenue of Heroes Program Rolls Out, published on May 20, which identifies the 18 banner recipients.)
Bruce Linder, Executive Director of the Coronado Historical Association and a retired US Navy Captain opened the ceremony. He was followed by Richard Bailey, City of Coronado Mayor Pro Tem. Their remarks were followed by the reading of short biographies of each of the recipients by Tom Leary, an Avenue of Heroes Volunteer. The reading of each biography was accompanied by a projected image of the recipient’s banner. The biographies reflected the heroic actions and personal sacrifices made by the recipients that resulted in a few tears and sometimes chuckles by those in attendance. These biographies will be published in forthcoming editions of eCoronado.
Cavner: Family of SOC (Seal) Bradley Cavner Receives Framed Copy of Hometown Hero Banner from City of Coronado Mayor Pro Tem, Richard Bailey
Following the biography of each recipient, their family members or sponsors in attendance were presented with a framed copy of the banner and the Avenue of Heroes logo, which was designed by Coronado resident John Weimann.
Mulcahy: City of Coronado Mayor Pro Tem, Richard Bailey Presents Framed Copy of Hometown Hero Banner to Family and Friends of LT GEN Francis Patrick Mulcahy
The present banners will remain in place through Veterans’ Day at which time they will be replaced with a new set of banners. The Hometown Heroes Banner Program Application Form is available at the City of Coronado’s website as well as a description of the program at http://www.coronado.ca.us/egov/apps/document/center.egov?view=item;id=8501. Applications can be submitted by a relative of the candidate, a Coronado business or organization, or a military command. Applications submitted on behalf of a living candidate need to include the signed approval of the candidate. If the candidate is deceased, the approval of a relative of the deceased should be included, if possible.
Lewis: CDR Jack Lewis, Longtime Resident of Coronado, Pictured With Copy of the Banner in his Honor
Candidates for banners need to be past or present residents of Coronado who have honorably served or who are presently serving in any branch of the US Armed Forces and may be living or deceased. Applicants will be categorized and ranked by the selection committee composed of representatives of the Coronado Historical Association, Coronado’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2422, and the Third and Fourth Streets Neighborhood Association.
John Tato
Staff Writer
