November 1, 2004 :: 76

Cal State Fullerton to Host Veterans Celebration Nov. 6

Veterans past and present will be saluted by Cal State Fullerton and Latino Advocates for Education Saturday, Nov. 6, during the eighth annual Veterans Day Celebration.

This year’s program is a tribute to Mexican American veterans of World War II. More than 200 Southern Californians will be honored during the festivities in the university’s Titan Student Union. The doors open at 10 a.m., and the program begins at 11 a.m. Participants include ROTC units from CSUF, Santa Ana High School and Magnolia High.

Event organizer Frederick P. Aguirre, president of Latino Advocates for Education and an Orange County Superior Court judge, noted that more than 500,000 Hispanic Americans served in the armed forces during World War II. “It is fitting that we honor their sacrifice and patriotism,” he said, “especially since they served at a time when Latinos were subjected to open discrimination, such as segregated public schools.”

A helicopter flyover is scheduled for 1 p.m., weather and other conditions permitting. Led by Capt. William Fitzgerald of the 1st Squadron, 18th U.S. Calvary, four helicopters piloted by Army reservists are to fly north over campus from the Los Alamitos Armed Forces Reserve Center.

Military memorabilia will be on display in and around the Titan Student Union’s Portola Pavilion, and films will be shown in the Titan Theatre.

Family members of deceased veterans are among those scheduled to attend the commemorative event, which is open to the public free of charge.

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