Miss Redlands Pageant

Hillside Cemetery in Redlands has a new location to host Memorial Day ceremonies. The Historical Society discovered this long time forgotten Veteran’s Circle, Thanks to Ann Deegan a volunteer at the A.K. Smiley Public Library Heritage Room. Today Little Miss Redlands - Kaitlyn Lemos and her father attended today’s ceremony. Sam Irwin who hosted today’s event said that there had been 8 unmarked graves in the Paupers’ Graves some since 1920. Pointing to a orange spray painted area. “This guy over here was killed in WWI. He was the first veteran to ever be buried in this circle and he doesn’t have a stone.” The grave Irwin was referring to belongs to Francisco Martinez. He was a member of the lost battalion, a famous battle of World War I. He lived through the battle, the subsequently was killed in action in 1918. Martinez’s body was kept in Hoboken, N.J. for three years until the town fathers were able to get him back to Redlands for a proper burial. Three other unmarked graves house Civil War veterans who lived in the area and were buried in the 1930’s. The remaining four unmarked graves were WWI casualties. Thanks to Hillside Cemetery and several other companies in Redlands the will receive markers on their graves.

Chloe Tokar - Miss Redlands participated in the Salute a Veteran's Parade Saturday. With her she carried a photo of her favorite Veteran.