The Rush Park auditorium in Rossmoor was filled to its capacity on Thursday as the community gathered to honor heroes in uniform at the 5th Annual Los Al Chamber’s “Heroes Appreciation Luncheon.”
Dr. Andrew Pulver, Supt. of the Los Alamitos Unified School District, served as Master of Ceremonies for the event and welcomed the large crowd with an opening “shout-out” to Judy Klabouch, a local businesswoman who dreamed up the event the year before the COVID pandemic.
Dr. Andrew Pulver looks out into a sea of people as he welcomed the overflow crowd at Rush Park in Rossmoor.
Pulver said the heroes’ luncheon is purposely held in September as the nation pauses “to remember all of our different heroes.”
Tony Demarco, Vice President of the Rossmoor Community Services District, said “on behalf of the RCSD Board, we are pleased that this event is being held in our community. Also,” he said, “it amazing that we can “it’s so many people in here,” looking out over the overflow crowd.
The RCSD Board and community “join you in honoring our medical frontline workers and those in uniform for their bravery and courage,” said Demarco.
Pulver, too, asked the audience to give itself a hand for “the sold-out crowd.”
Following a color guard from Joint Forces Training Base, the national anthem was performed by Nathalie Hammond of the Los Al police Department. Pulver then introduced a long list of local and visiting VIP guests, including ranking military officials, elected officials and private sector CEO’s.
Assemblymember Tri Ta spoke briefly to “thank the Los Al Chamber of Commerce and RCSD for organizing this event. “It makes me feel so good to honor and show our appreciation to our first responders, to our men and women in uniform and those who have sacrificed for our freedom. “
Here are this year’s HEROES.
• California Army National Guard, Major An Vu.
• California Highway Patrol, Officer Edwin Lopez.
• Joint Forces Training Base 40th Infantry Division, Sgt. Alma Buerta.
• 79th Army National Guard Sustainment Command, Capt. William McGuigan.
• Los Alamitos Police Department, Officer Joel Espinoza.
• Orange County Fire Authority, Firefighter Blake Campbell.
• Orange County Sheriff’s Department, Deputy Ernesto “Ernie” Escobar.
• UCI Health Los Alamitos, Santiago Chambers.
• Seal Beach Navy Weapons Station, U.S. Navy, Lt. Luis A. Hernandez.
One of this year’s heroes, Blake Cambell, of OCFA, could not be present because he was busy on the front lines fighting one of many wildfires ongoing in the state, officials said.
Each of this year’s Heroes went home with an engraved glass trophy, a Certificate of Recognition from the Chamber, and others including the City of Los Alamitos, Assembly members, Senators, Supervisors, and others.
The ENE will present the individual stories of this year’s Heroes in the weeks to come.
