-Editorial
Veterans, military families, city officials, and community members gathered to commemorate Veterans Day with ceremonies at Evergreen Cemetery and Bucklin Park, where the city of El Centro unveiled the new East Memorial Wall at the Veterans Monument, recognizing sixteen Imperial Valley veterans whose names were added to the memorial.
The observance combined military traditions, personal reflections, and recognition of local service members, while highlighting the importance of preserving veterans’ legacies and supporting those who continue to face challenges after military service.
The day’s activities began at Evergreen Cemetery, where longtime veterans gathered to place American flags on the graves of deceased military service members. The ceremony included a 21-gun salute, the raising of the American flag, and the playing of taps by U.S. Navy veteran Agustin Gerardo Saldaña Márquez.
The observance provided an opportunity for veterans to remember former service members while reflecting on the importance of maintaining traditions that honor military service.
Veteran Rubén Fernández Cruz spoke about the difficulties many veterans experience when transitioning from military to civilian life, particularly the emotional separation from fellow service members and the stigma associated with military experiences.
Fernández Cruz said the sense of belonging developed during military service can be difficult to replace after returning home.
“You feel freer when you are with the soldiers, with your brothers, than when you come back,” Fernández Cruz said. “It is a terrible separation.”
He explained that veterans sometimes struggle to communicate their experiences to family members and others who have not experienced military service.
“Nobody knows what happened except the person who was there,” Fernández Cruz said. “Living with that throughout your life is a very difficult struggle.”
He also expressed concern about declining community participation in veterans’ commemorations, saying attendance at past ceremonies had been larger.
Veteran Jacinto Jiménez, who said he is approaching his 83rd birthday, emphasized the need to encourage younger veterans to become involved in organizations and activities dedicated to honoring military service.
Jiménez said many longtime participants are now in their late 70s and 80s, creating challenges for maintaining ceremonies and other traditions.
“We are getting older, too. Most of us are in our late 70s or 80s, and we need to recruit men and women who have served,” Jiménez said. “We are simply dying, and we need younger veterans to join us.”
He said younger veterans often face competing responsibilities involving careers and families, but their participation is important to ensuring that future generations continue recognizing military service.
“We have to continue the tradition of honoring veterans who served and gave the best years of their lives,” Jiménez said. “We need those young people who served in these wars to join us and demonstrate that we still have this love for our country.”
Jiménez also noted that honoring veterans includes recognizing those who returned home after serving, as well as those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Saldaña, who recently received Imperial County’s Veteran of the Year recognition, reflected on his 20 years in the Navy and his continued involvement in organizations supporting veterans and their families.
He said he enlisted at seventeen because he wanted to travel and work with aircraft, eventually discovering that military service would shape his commitment to helping others.
“I’m grateful for everything that I have because of my time in the service, and the friends that I’ve made,” Saldaña said. “I’m able to do things not just for myself, but for other service members, their dependents, and even the community. We help where we can.”
Saldaña also discussed the importance of recognizing mental health challenges among veterans, including post-traumatic stress disorder, and encouraging communities to provide understanding and support.
“Not everybody’s scars are visible. Not everybody’s missing an arm or leg. Some of us have our own scars inside,” Saldaña said. “Some of us have gone through things that are just hard to explain.”
He said relationships among veterans can provide an important source of support because of their shared experiences.
Saldaña encouraged veterans and their families to seek assistance through local organizations, noting that informational gatherings are held Thursdays at 7 p.m. at the American Legion hall.
“Sometimes it is as simple as saying, ‘Thank you for your service and welcome home,’” Saldaña said. “A lot of them didn’t even get that one little thing.”
Following the Evergreen Cemetery observance, Veterans Day activities continued at Bucklin Park, where city officials, veterans, and military families gathered for the annual ceremony at the Veterans Monument.
This year’s commemoration included a ribbon-cutting ceremony unveiling the new East Memorial Wall, an expansion of the existing monument that provides additional space to recognize veterans from Imperial Valley.
El Centro Mayor Mike Crankshaw said the project developed after local veterans approached him during a previous ceremony and requested changes to the city’s original plans for expanding the memorial.
The initial proposal called for extending the walkway and creating additional space on the existing wall. However, veterans suggested constructing a separate wall to complement the original monument.
“I was approached by several veterans at that event who asked if we could make a change,” Crankshaw said. “The original plans were to expand our walkway and create space on our original wall, but these veterans asked if we could make a change to our existing plans and make room for this new wall.”
Crankshaw said he brought the request to the City Council and municipal staff, who agreed to revise the project.
He noted that construction of the wall was completed Tuesday afternoon, one day before the Veterans Day ceremony.
“This is a perfect example of us listening to our residents, our community,” Crankshaw said. “Community input shapes our decisions, as it should. It’s not simply what elected officials and staff are looking to do. It’s our residents and what matters to them. In this case, our veteran community.”
The mayor said the unveiling represented the city’s commitment to recognizing military service and preserving the names of veterans for future generations.
“Today, we are proud to see that request became reality in unveiling this East Memorial Wall,” Crankshaw said. “We are inaugurating this new wall with the names of sixteen veterans, and we hope to continue to honor those who served our country.”
He emphasized the significance of each name engraved on the memorial.
“Every name engraved on these walls represented someone who answered the call for service,” Crankshaw said. “Their service and their sacrifice deserve to be remembered for generations to come.”
The 16 veterans recognized on the new East Memorial Wall are James L. Jackson, John F. Lenderman Jr., Mateo R. Tapia, Pascual S. Cartagena, Peter G. Silva, Richard Martinez, Samuel J. Jackson, Saturnino A. Villero, Vincent R. O’Campo Jr., William J. Armstrong, Daniel M. Mojica, Douglas C. Miller, Eddie S. Madueño, Eduardo Acosta, Ernest M. Zabala and Joe Picazo Jr.
The unveiling allowed veterans and family members to see the names formally incorporated into the monument, creating a permanent public record of their military service.
The ceremony’s guest speaker, Eddie S. Madueño, a U.S. Army veteran and former El Centro police chief, reflected on his military experience and the importance of patriotism, service, and civic responsibility.
Madueño served with the El Centro Police Department for more than 33 years and previously participated in the original Veterans Monument dedication ceremony on Nov. 11, 2016.
Returning to the monument a decade later, Madueño recalled the influence of his uncle, Peter Guerrero Silva, who served in Vietnam with the U.S. Army.
“When I was a young boy, my uncle Peter Guerrero Silva served and fought in Vietnam with the United States Army,” Madueño said. “He was one of my first heroes and the main inspiration for me selecting the United States Army when I decided to enlist.”
Madueño said he enlisted after graduating from high school during a period of heightened tensions between the United States and Iran following the seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in November 1979.
He completed basic and advanced training at Fort McClellan, Alabama, during a period when American military personnel were preparing for the possibility of conflict with Iran.
Madueño reflected on the different motivations that lead individuals to enter military service, saying veterans often share a strong commitment to their country despite their varied experiences.
“If you ask any veteran why they enlisted or served when called, you’ll hear a variety of answers,” Madueño said. “I believe that veterans were individuals who already had a deep love of country and a strong sense of patriotism.”
He also expressed concern about what he described as changing public attitudes toward patriotism and national symbols.
“Veterans see our flag as a symbol of hope, sacrifice and freedom,” Madueño said.
He emphasized that military service includes individuals who enlisted voluntarily, those who were drafted, and those who served during both wartime and peacetime.
“Some enlisted, some were drafted, some served in war, some served in peace,” Madueño said. “But they all served with honor, sacrifice, and love of country.”
Madueño concluded by encouraging Americans to recognize the contributions of veterans and future generations of military personnel.
“As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of this great nation, let us stand united,” Madueño said. “I pray that our country continues to produce brave men and women who will answer the call to service.”
El Centro Community Services Director Adriana Nava said the city invested $695,000 in the project, which included construction of the East Memorial Wall and improvements to the surrounding park area, including the retaining wall and pond.
Nava said the project was intended to enhance the appearance of Bucklin Park while creating a meaningful space for military families and community members.
“I’m so glad to be here today. Hearing the speeches has made me, frankly, a little emotional,” Nava said. “I never served, but I love serving this community.”
She expressed appreciation to the City Council, city management, and municipal employees who participated in planning and completing the project.
“It’s a huge honor to be a part of the team who has been able to create this wall,” Nava said. “I’m very thankful to the council and our city manager for entrusting us as staff to carry through these projects that mean so much to our community.”
Nava recognized several individuals and organizations involved in the improvements, including Public Works Director Abraham Campos, who also worked on the original Veterans Monument in 2016.
She also acknowledged project designer and manager Omar Negrete, Parks Supervisor Javier Villaverde, Bianca Sanabria, Dynamic Consultants and Three Peaks Construction for their contributions.
Nava said the project required adjustments during construction after city officials agreed to incorporate the veterans’ recommendations.
She thanked the design and construction teams for accommodating those changes while completing the improvements in time for Veterans Day.
“We want to make all our veterans proud who have served our nation,” Nava said.
She said the memorial is intended not only as a tribute to military service but also as a place where residents can learn about the individuals whose names are displayed.
“When you visit this wall, I hope you see the love and care that went into creating it,” Nava said. “I hope that when families come to Bucklin Park, they’ll pause here, read the names, and take a moment to remember the people behind them.”
The Veterans Day observance continued with a community celebration at Southwest High School in El Centro, commemorating the 250th anniversary of American independence. Held from 3:30 to 7 p.m., the event featured live music, food vendors, informational booths, military displays, and performances by Southwest High School students.
Attendees also enjoyed complimentary hot dogs, aerial flyovers by the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Navy, and a fireworks show.
