Monday, May 30: City of Rialto Memorial Day Tribute

RIALTO, CA– Mayor Deborah Robertson welcomes the community to join the City of Rialto and American Legion Post 422 in honoring our American heroes on Memorial Day, Monday, May 30th, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm at Rialto Park Cemetery, 200 N. Willow Ave., Rialto. This event is emceed by Mayor Pro Tem Ed Scott, Council Member Rafael Trujillo and Post Commander Armando Chavez. Council Member Andy Carrizales and Council Member Karla Perez will also be in attendance to greet and welcome our veterans.

The city is honored to have Keynote Speaker, Lieutenant Colonel Robert K. Furtick from Fort Irwin, CA. Lieutenant Colonel Robert Kennerly Furtick is a native of Springfield, SC. In December of 2001, he was commissioned an Armor Officer through the ROTC program at Newberry College in Newberry, SC. He has served in various leadership and staff positions within both Cavalry and Armor Formations.

LTC Furtick’s first assignment as a Major was as the Squadron Operations Officer and Executive Officer for 3-16 CAV, 316th CAV BDE. Upon completion of this assignment in 2013, he was reassigned to Fort Irwin, CA where he was assigned to 1st Squadron 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. Here he served as the Senior O/CT for the Regiment and later as the Squadron Executive Officer. He was then reassigned as the Chief of Protocol for the National Training Center. LTC Furtick completed his duties at NTC and in 2015, was reassigned to the Office of Program Management – Saudi Arabia National Guard in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as a Battalion Advisor. In 2016, he was then assigned to the Department of the Army G-3/5/7 as an Operations Officer in the Army Operations Center. In August of 2018, LTC Furtick was reassigned to 8th US Army, Camp Humphreys, Korea as the Aide De Camp to the Commanding General.

Following his 8th US Army assignment, LTC Furtick assumed command of the 1st Squadron of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment at Fort Irwin, CA on 24 June 2020, and he is currently serving as the Squadron Commander.

The city is also honored to have Veteran Speaker, Colonel Gilbert Roldan (Retired). Colonel Gilbert Roldan served 38 years of Honorable Service in both the United States Marine Corps (Active Duty) and the United States Army (Reservist). He entered the service in 1982 as a Private in the Marine Corps where he served as an Infantryman. He retired from the service as a Colonel in 2021 where his last assignment was Chief of Staff for the 40th Infantry Division. His awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal. Colonel Roldan also served as a Law Enforcement Officer for both San Diego and Los Angeles County. He retired with 30 years of law enforcement service.

The San Bernardino Valley Young Marines will conduct the Flag Folding Ceremony, Color Guard by the NJRTOC from Rialto High School, 21 Gun Salute by the Riverside Army Recruiting Company, poem readings by Rialto residents Nancy Burch and Joseph Raden, “Taps” by echo buglers, “Amazing Grace” by Bagpiper Stephen, Bomber Airplane flyover and after the program, attendees are invited to a picnic lunch at Margaret Todd Park across from the Cemetery. Military Vehicles displayed by the Inland Empire Military Vehicles Preservation Association.

Please come out to honor, salute and remember all those who served this great nation.

Author: Wallace