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Calgunners in Service This forum is a place for our active duty and deployed members to share, request and have a bit of home where ever they are.

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  #1  
Old 09-11-2010, 1:31 PM
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Default Honoring Army Sgt. Raymond Alcaraz from Redlands CA

I just stood along Citrus Ave. at the high school to honor Army Sgt. Raymond Alcaraz who was killed in Afghanistan last month. I have never been so ashamed or embarrassed at a funeral procession in my life. Redlands should be ashamed of itself.

One for the sorry azz road closure the Fire Dept was supposed to do. As Sgt. Alcaraz's hearse went by several vets around me saluted the procession but couldn't see the hearse due to the vehicles the FD let through. Many of these vehicles did not stop for the procession and some even stopped to ask if it was a parade or something and then drove on. What a great way to honor a fallen vet Redlands. Redlands FD you really dropped the ball on this one.

2nd reason Redlands should be ashamed was the small turn out for this man who gave his life for our country. I counted maybe 20 people around me yet on YouTube videos you see smaller towns with folks lined up shoulder to shoulder for miles honoring the fallen. Where were you Redlands?
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  #2  
Old 09-12-2010, 8:58 PM
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As of 9/12/10 2153 80-something views and no response.

This is hard to comment on but I'll just say it.

There's nothing more infuriating than having someone with the courage to guard his or her country with their life, only to have their country "phone one in" when the worst happens.


I didn't know Sgt. Alcatraz, I wasn't there and I'm not from Redlands. As a citizen I can only share my shame of my fellow citizens in not properly honoring the dead, and as a former soldier I'm just as mad as you are.

An old viking proverb:
Cattle die
kinsmen die
all men are mortal.
Words of praise
will never perish
nor a noble name.

- The Havamal
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  #3  
Old 09-15-2010, 7:37 AM
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With ALL due respect to a fallen soldier, and his memory, you are way out of line with this comment!

Since when is it the responsibility of the Fire department to close down roads or block traffic? It is NOT!
Redlands PD was solely responsible for any and all traffic control that day, and the Fire Department was only there to pay respect and raise the flag to honor the soldier!
Redlands Fire did not drop the ball.

Please get your facts straight in the future, before posting a negative ad!
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Old 09-15-2010, 7:44 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by calfireinspector View Post
With ALL due respect to a fallen soldier, and his memory, you are way out of line with this comment!

Since when is it the responsibility of the Fire department to close down roads or block traffic? It is NOT!
Redlands PD was solely responsible for any and all traffic control that day, and the Fire Department was only there to pay respect and raise the flag to honor the soldier!
Redlands Fire did not drop the ball.

Please get your facts straight in the future, before posting a negative ad!
FD and PD does it for their fallen comrades, they should do it for fallen military being that they died for their country and still don't get a fat paycheck like firefighters or cops. Didn't they close off streets and freeways for Michael Jackson?????
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Old 09-15-2010, 8:05 AM
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Yes, PD and FD do it for their fallen comrades. And YES, it should be done for ALL soldiers!
However, his posting referred to the "Redlands FD as dropping the ball", which was not the case. There were issues with road closures that day, and the PD was the only ones who could have done anything about it.

Army Sgt. Raymond C. Alcaraz Jr. funeral is actually today, at 9:00 A.M., and you should see the turn out of Both FD and PD, as well as a packed church of civilians, and service men and women! The streets along his funeral procession are ALL closed , with several Police and Fire Honor Guards in place.
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Old 09-15-2010, 8:11 AM
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The PD and FD should have coordinated this together to honor this Hero. I am no where near Redlands, but it is ashame that the entire community did not get together on this one. My thanks and prayers go out to Sgt. Alcaraz and his family for making the ultimate sacrafice. I salute you sir.
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Old 09-15-2010, 10:05 AM
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I think we need to clear something up here...the first post which stated it was the funeral prossession was incorrect. The funeral was today, as was the prossession. The day in which the first post spoke about was when the body of Army Sgt. Raymond C. Alcaraz Jr. was being transported to the mortuary for viewing. There was no announcement of when this was going to happen, and the "road closure" he spoke about were literally put together in 30 minutes after they were notified. You can not fault people for not turning out to honor our hero when they do not know it is happening. Perhaps there should have been better communication as to when his body would be arriving in Redlands? None the less, the Funeral today was befitting a hero such as Sgt. Alcaraz. Due to the fact that it was published in several papers when and where it would occur, there was a huge turn out! As someone who WAS present, I can say that Sgt. Alcaraz's sacrifice for his Country was recognized by all!
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Old 09-15-2010, 10:52 AM
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Thanks for clearing this up. Good to hear that.
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  #9  
Old 09-15-2010, 10:53 AM
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I just saw this thread.

On Saturday, I saw Rialto PD and FD parked on the I-10 overpass around 1PM standing on top of the engines. All of a sudden a procession of motorcycles came by. All of the FD guys on top of the engine saluted the procession as it came past. Thought it was a 9/11 parade. Didn't find out that it was an escort until later.
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Old 09-15-2010, 6:11 PM
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Sgt. Alcaraz was planning on becoming a Firefighter after his service in the Army. There was a very large turnout of FD at the funeral today, even ladder trucks with their ladders extended with a huge American Flag draped between them, as the procession drove under it, something that is usually only done for fallen Firefighters. There was also a huge procession from the Church where the service was held, to Riverside National Cemetery, where he was laid to rest, which had a PD motorcycle escort, several FD Engines and military vehicles. It was truly amazing to see the turn out for his funeral, and the MANY people, PD cars, FD Engines that were parked along the route and saluting him as they passed. People do care about the sacrifices our soldiers make, and although things may not always go as planned (as the first post noted) we need to step back and remember that there are many more Soldiers in harms way each and every day, protecting our freedom and our Country, and we should focus our efforts on supporting them and giving them the praise they so richly deserve, rather than focus on the mishap that happened in Redlands last week. They were trying their best to honor a fallen hero, and for that I can only say THANK YOU! May GOD watch over and protect ALL our Soldiers, Police and Firefighters, as they continue to make this the BEST COUNTRY IN the WORLD!!!
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Old 09-15-2010, 10:04 PM
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Default Hats off to the The Redlands FD & PD

As a rider in both Saturday and today's procession, I can say that both Redlands and Colton's Fire Departments were 1st Class all the way. I have been a member of The Patriot Guard Riders for almost two years and I have been on many missions. I can think of only one that came close to rolling out the Red Carpet like The City of Redlands did. Your Fire Departments and Police Department's did a fantastic job... don't think it went unnoticed.

Below is the F.D. Putting up a huge flag and that meant a lot to the family and to all those that were there. Thanks boys!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsNOwditJ2w
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File Type: jpg Westmont etc 204.jpg (94.5 KB, 14 views)
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  #12  
Old 09-22-2010, 11:20 PM
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Here's some facts from someone who stood on Citrus Ave at Redlands HS. I was told by the Redlands PD shift Sgt. working that Saturday that Redlands FD had the road closure duty when I asked why cars were allowed to travel by the hearse. It seemed odd to me that FD was supposed to have the closure since PD usually has closure duty. I also asked him to pass up the CofC of both FD AND PD that they fumbled badly that day and he said he would. He also stated his PD shift got notice Sat morning of the move (procession?) and agreed the road closure was FUBARed.

I witnessed Redland FD ME9 crew directing westbound Citrus Ave. traffic away from the route (closure) while letting traffic coming off the off ramp at University to proceed, (check the video, you can clearly see the engine blocking westbound Citrus Ave. traffic). Several of us made the comment why didn't the FD crew or 3 PD standing next to them just shut the road down completely to let the procession go through unhindered and allow those who did show up the chance to salute or honor the soldier. Instead we played peek-a-boo through cars driving by. From the other direction traffic was allowed to go eastbound on Citrus Ave and many did not stop for the hearse, which everyone agreed was not respectful.

There WAS publication of the Sgt. being moved to the funeral home in Friday's San Bernardino Sun newspaper and the Redlands Daily Facts newspaper. It's where I saw the info. Also there were posts on several Redlands Facebook pages about turning out to salute this warrior.

I'm glad the FD, PD, Patriot Guard Riders and others who turned out for each day honored this soldier. Here is the video to show that for two blocks near the high school there was just a few people, maybe 10 of us not counting FD and PD there. Cars were allowed to drive by the hearse (what appeared to be a funeral procession, they had their lights on, motor cop escort, etc). I would think on a Saturday the streets would have been lined shoulder to shoulder to honor one of their fallen but maybe that's just me. I heard later there were more people down by the mall but this is what we saw from our perch along the route.


Last edited by spectr17; 09-22-2010 at 11:52 PM.. Reason: typo
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  #13  
Old 09-23-2010, 10:59 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by spectr17 View Post
2nd reason Redlands should be ashamed was the small turn out for this man who gave his life for our country. I counted maybe 20 people around me yet on YouTube videos you see smaller towns with folks lined up shoulder to shoulder for miles honoring the fallen. Where were you Redlands?
Key word is smaller towns. In a small town, the Soldier who died probably knew every single person in the town. So people aren't just saying good bye to a fallen Soldier, they are saying good bye to the boy who grew up down the street.
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  #14  
Old 09-24-2010, 10:21 AM
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Good point Bizcuits.
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  #15  
Old 09-24-2010, 5:46 PM
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I lived in Redlands. That was 20 years ago and it wasn't a small town then. Now, with a population close to 70,000, it's considered a fairly large city.
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Old 09-27-2010, 4:50 PM
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When a female LAPD (pencil pusher) officer was killed in a train accident last year, the whole city practically shut down to commemorate her. If what you say is true -- regarding his funeral procession -- that is really fvcking sickening.

No one should believe that "small-town" excuse insolence, especially in California. And I won't even START to play the race card.

RIP
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Old 09-27-2010, 4:56 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by its mcgavin son View Post
When a female LAPD (pencil pusher) officer was killed in a train accident last year, the whole city practically shut down to commemorate her. If what you say is true -- regarding his funeral procession -- that is really fvcking sickening.

No one should believe that "small-town" excuse insolence, especially in California. And I won't even START to play the race card.

RIP
the OP was mistaken. It was not his funeral procession on Saturday that he saw. It was an escort of the body from the airport to the funeral home.
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