Local U.S. Marines Killed in Global Effort to Eradicate Terror Remembered at Memorial Dedication

As each name of a U.S. Marine killed in the global effort to eradicate terror was recited and a bell was rung, the dog tag was placed on a special memorial at the Pasadena U.S. Marine Reserve Center on Thursday, Oct. 2. Each of the Marines was from the greater Pasadena area.

U.S. Marines and reservists, community leaders, members of the center’s Citizen Support Group and others took time to reflect on the sacrifices of the 12 Marines who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their nation:

Cpl Carlos Arellanopandura, Rosemead
PFC Eric Ayon, Glendale
2nd Lt. James Blecksmith, San Marino
LCpl Donald Cline, Sierra Madre
LCpl Sergio Escobar, Pasadena
LCpl Mario Gonzalez, Baldwin Park
LCpl Blake Howey, Glendale
LCpl Francis Martinez-Flores, Duarte
LCpl Raul Mercado, Monrovia
Cpl Brian Oliveira, Glendale
LCpl Rogelio Ramirez, Pasadena
LCpl Dion Whitley, Altadena

The ceremony began with an invocation, continued with the reading of the names and the placing of the dog tags on the monument and ended with the lowering of the U.S. flag.

“The intent of such a memorial is not to glorify war or even commemorate some great victory of the past. It is meant simply to honor those who have died in service to their country,” said LtCol Donald Wright during the ceremony. “We honor their sacrifice and remind ourselves of the need to be ready to answer our nation’s call. We also remind those who have fallen that we have not forgotten them and that we will not let them down.”

The Pasadena U.S. Marine Center is at 2699 Paloma St. at the northwest corner of Paloma Street and Sierra Madre Boulevard.

Resting near the flagpole and the entrance to the main building, the memorial can be seen easily through the fence that surrounds the center.

The 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, also known as the 2/23, is an infantry reserve unit that provides trained personnel to augment and reinforce active-duty units in times of war, disasters and other situations as national security requires. About 30 active-duty and reserve U.S. Marines are on staff daily at the center.

The 2/23 also participates in local civic events and works in cooperation with the city of Pasadena during emergencies and natural disasters.

During monthly training drills there are more than 200 U.S. Marines at the center.

Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard and the Pasadena City Council unanimously voted to adopt the 2/23 on Nov. 25, 2013, formally recognizing the relationship between the city of Pasadena and the Pasadena U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Center, which is on city-owned land.

For more information call (626) 398-0295.