Honoring Fallen Heroes

Cal State Fullerton and Latino Advocates for Education Inc. will pay tribute to the 50 Orange County military service members who died fighting in Iraq or Afghanistan, during a special ceremony Saturday, Nov. 6, at the 14th annual Veteran’s Day Celebration.

Families of the fallen heroes, known as Gold Star families, will be recognized at the event being held in the university’s Titan Student Union, 800 N. State College Blvd., Fullerton, 92831.

“We want to honor Gold Star families for the sacrifice their loved ones made for this country,” said Orange County Superior Court Judge Frederick P. Aguirre, president of Latino Advocates for Education.

The all-day event, which begins at 10 a.m. will feature a keynote address by retired Marine Col. John Telles.

Telles, a Vietnam veteran, was the presidential Marine One helicopter pilot for Presidents Richard M. Nixon and Gerald R. Ford. He “flew so many missions in Vietnam and was so good, President Nixon picked him to be his Marine One pilot,” Aguirre said.

Event schedule highlights:

• 10 a.m.-noon: Posting of colors, welcome remarks by Cal State Fullerton President Milton A. Gordon, keynote address, recognition of Gold Star families and commendations from Reps. Ed Royce and Loretta Sanchez (D-Garden Grove) and other elected officials.

• 12:30-2:30 p.m.: Documentary films “Admiral David Farragut,” “Japanese Surrender on U.S.S. Missouri,” “A Soldier’s Vigil: Rolling Thunder” and “The Longoria Affair” will be screened in the Titan Student Union’s Titan Theater.

Event sponsors are: Rudy Del Valle; Gus Montano; Dina Aguirre; Orange County Council, Navy League of the United States; Cal State Fullerton’s Veterans Student Services and Student Veterans Association; American G.I. Forum; and United Mexican American Veterans Association of Orange County.

For more information, call Latino Advocates for Education at 714-225-2499 or visit www.latinoadvocates.org.