Veterans, guests honor fallen heroes at Memorial Day event

Guests leave flowers on the Veterans Memorial at Wheatfield Park in honor of fallen military heroes. Menifee 24/7 photo: Doug Spoon

Editor's note: The City of Menifee held its annual Memorial Day ceremony Monday, with Senator Mike Morrell giving the keynote speech. In recognition of those who gave their lives in service of our country, a wreath was laid at the foot of the Veterans Memorial. Guests lined up to lay red flowers on the monument. In recognition of the many veterans who attended in support of those who died, Joe Quinn provides us with a look at two of our local veterans.

By Joe Quinn, correspondent

Heroes live among us.

We met a few of those men today at Wheatfield Park in Menifee at the city's Memorial Day remembrance. Normally they are just the guy or lady in the line at Ralph's or the old man with his cane walking down Bradley Road or the young man kneeling in front of us as we worship. Today, we got to meet a few of them.

They were not the ones we honored today. Those were the ones who gave their all and did not come home. But today Al B. Reale and Michael Cano still walk and work and live among us, as do many others.

Al is the older guy, 92 years young. He fought his way through the Pacific in WWII and received the Bronze Star for his actions in the Philippines, fighting and defeating the Japanese on the main Philippine island of Luzon. He earned the Bronze Star for heroic actions while serving in a combat zone. He was with the U.S. Army, 32nd Division, 126th Infantry.

He recounted a great story today when he told the writer he was present in Baguio, Luzon for the surrender of the Japanese forces under Commanding General Tomoyuki Yamashita on Sept. 3, 1945. (Yamashita was later hanged for War Crimes committed under his command). The 32nd had fought the hard fight in Northern Luzon, mostly in the shadows after Manila in southern Luzon had been taken by the forces directly under General Douglas MacArthur.

Without the Internet, cell phones or other modern means of communication, those at the troop level did not know that Japan had surrendered in August of 1945. The Japanese forces in Northern Luzon had continued their resistance late into the month until the local surrender.

Al was at the ceremonies today and we were able to catch he and his wife by the Humvee Transport on display.

Al B. Reale and his wife pose front of a Humvee Transport in Wheatfield Park. Photo by Joe Quinn

Michael Cano is the Commander of the local VFW Post 1956. A friend who has known him closely for several years through the VFW and other local social events was surprised to learn last week that Mike was awarded the Silver Star for his actions in 1969 as a U.S. Marine in I Corp, South Vietnam.

Mike had never previously told us about this. To his friend, he was also known as the guy who has a sign in his garage instructing visitors to "Drop your pants here". You see, Mike owns Newport Cleaners and often his clients will "drop their soiled garments at his garage".

Apparently, this privacy is a trait among those who receive such high honors for bravery. Two other men, friends again, are known to the writer to be recipients of the Silver Star.

One, also a U.S. Marine, received it posthumously for actions in South Vietnam in 1966. The other, an Army helicopter pilot in Vietnam, also in 1969, never mentioned it until last year.

Mike will tell the story only quietly while being self-deflecting of credit. He says he was fortunate to have been dropped into a hot LZ (landing zone) but in a position out of the view of a firing pill box. The other Marines with him were dropped more in the line of fire and were quickly wounded.

Mike was able to rapidly eliminate the enemy fire and to call helicopter evacuation for the wounded. For his actions that day, Mike received this prestigious award, the third highest a Marine can receive for Valor and Bravery under Fire. Only the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross are recognized as higher awards.

Maybe the next time we walk on Bradley or shop at the supermarket or kneel in our place
of worship, we might look around and wonder "am I among these brave and courageous
people who made a difference?"

Michael Cano (right) poses with Lt. Morris Girgis, commanding officer of National Guard 1498 Transportation Group at March Air Force Base. Photo by Joe Quinn

A large crowd at Wheatfield Park listened to keynote speaker Senator Mike Morrell. Menifee 24/7 photo: Doug Spoon