Ninety-three year old fighter pilot Edward J. Lopez publishes "flight of a Hell Hawk," his memoir. He is a World War II veteran and purple heart recipient.
A new street in Honolulu, Hawaii, has been named Asher Court after Arcadia resident and World War II Veteran Fred Asher who saved the USS Blue at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.
Congressional Gold Medal of Honor presented to Sierra Madre Nisei soldier Shoso Nomura, age 93. It has been 68 years since Nomura served as a Japanese-American intelligence officer for the U.S. Army in World War II. He was born on Lucky Baldwin's daughter Anita Baldwin's ranch (corner of Foothill Boulevard and Double Drive--known today as Santa Anita Avenue).
Arcadia Library presents Japanese Artist's Journey. The life and legacy of artist J.T. Sata will be the subject of a virtual program on October 10, presented by Arcadia Public Library in partnership with Japanese American National Museum. The book J.T. Sata: a Japanese Immigrant in Search of Western Art will be discussed by authors Frank Sata (son of J.T. Sata) and Naomi Hirahara. (J.T. Sata and family were imprisoned at Santa Anita Assembly Center during World War II).
Writer Charles Cooper continues his series of articles called "Memories of Arcadia" with a history and description of the U.S. Army Balloon School that was at Camp Ross (or Ross Field) in Arcadia during World War I. The balloon school was located on the current site of Arcadia County Park.
Arcadia Vietnam War Monument placed in Arcadia County Park. It is 22,000 pounds. From 1966-1972, 14 U.S. servicemen from Arcadia became casualties of the war in Vietnam. There are 4 plaques on the monument honoring veterans from World War I, World War II, the wars in Korean, Vietnam, and Afghanistan. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 1, 17, June 2, 2016.
How Arcadia gained a rare piece of history. Riyo Sato was a developing artist by the time she was sent to the Santa Anita Assembly Center at Santa Anita Park, in 1942, before being transferred to Wyoming, to a different detention facility called “Heart Mountain.” She left behind sketches of Santa Anita Park which will be displayed at the Gilb Museum of Arcadia Heritage.
Personal sketches behind barbed wire--Riyo Sato (1913-2009) will be on exhibit at Gilb Museum of Arcadia Heritage from September 14 through November 2, 2013. Riyo Sato was interned at Santa Anita Assembly Center.
Veterans group and Arcadia Mayor April Verlato celebrate World War II veteran Jack McEwan's 100th birthday. He was a pilot on a B-17 bomber from 1942-1943.
Matt Denny's Ale House Restaurant in Arcadia has fundraiser, shaves 160 heads and raises over $67,000 for childhood cancer research. Bruce Marrs and Brad Haney in photo.
Life interrupted: personal sketches behind barbed wire, Santa Anita, Summer 1942, Riyo Sato (1913-2009). The Gilb Museum of Arcadia Heritage will be displaying Riyo Sato's sketches September 14-November 2, 2013.
Charles Cooper continues his series "Memories of Arcadia" with a story about the Santa Anita Assembly Center for the Japanese, where at its height, it housed more than 18,000 people. Japanese had a long local history, dating back to workers on the Santa Anita Ranch, and local residents had the uncomfortable feeling of seeing friends behind the wire at the track.
30th annual Breeders' Cup World Championships brings exciting racing to Santa Anita Park. Record crowds filled the stands. Sierra Madre jockey Gary Stevens came out of retirement to win the Breeders' Cup Classic aboard horse Mucho Macho Man.
As the United States goes to war with Iraq and the threat of retaliatory terrorist attacks raised the national threat level to High Risk Orange, the cities of Monrovia and Arcadia are prepared for the worst. City officials are talking about emergency response. The city has developed the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), where representatives from all city departments can gather to organize and respond to any emergency.
Arcadia bids farewell to board members and welcomes newly appointed. Maki Hsieh, the Director of Arcadia Performing Arts Foundation, is leaving Arcadia for Seattle. Newly appointed are Gary Brewer (Arcadia Beautiful Commission), Kaitlyn Jeong (Human Resources Commission), Brad Thompson (Planning Commission) and Peter Chu (Recreation and Parks Commission).