WWI Monument Centennial Commemoration Ceremony
On Saturday, November 11, 2023, local groups. officials and the public observed a Veterans Day tribute of the WWI Monument at Freedom Boulevard and Soquel Drive in Aptos. It was a Centennial Commemoration ceremony, with presentations by the daughters of the American Revolution, Scouts, Cabrillo Host Lions Club, Second District County Supervisor Zach Friend, and Second District Historic Resources Commissioner Kevin Newhouse.
One hundred years ago, on Christmas, the local chapter of the daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) installed the stone Monument bearing a plaque alongside the Santa Cruz-Watsonville Road to honor the 60 soldiers from Santa Cruz County who perished in The War. It was a wide spot in the road near Aptos that later became nearly buried after the modern Highway One got built, and Santa Cruz-Watsonville Road became known as today's Soquel Drive.
In 2002, a young Scott Evans noticed this WWI Monument, which had become overgrown and all but forgotten. In reading the plaque, he appreciated its significance and felt it should be relocated to a more visible spot, so as not to be forgotten. This great task became his Eagle Scout project, and on April 3, 2002, residents and businesses that included Granite Construction Co., successfully moved the Monument to its present location at the intersection of Freedom Blvd. and Soquel Drive in Aptos.
Scott received many accolades from local civic groups, and a Citizenship Award from DAR. He left the area for college a couple of years later.
By 2010, a young Matt Marani noticed the Monument landscaping needed some work. He took the initiative to work with friends and family to clear the weeds and vines, again making the Monument visible and attractive. Soon, however, Matt went off to college himself, and his family took over the annual weed clearing and brush removal duties to keep the Monument from being forgotten.
In 2018, the Cabrillo Host Lions Club, led by Barbara Chamberlain, did a big clean-up, and adopted the site as a Club Project to maintain. It was Lion Aumao Toalepaialii who declared that the last Saturday morning of each month. the Club would schedule working bees to ensure regular maintenance work got done. Lion Jay Johnson donated concrete work for the pathway renovation to the Monument, and members landscaped and mulched the area to create an attractive garden.
Lions Charlie Ukestad and Tui Aiono trimmed back the overhanging tree branches shrouding the stone Monument. Blew out cobwebs, rid of critters, moths, lichen, fungi and algae in stone cracks and crevices. Removed dirt and debris to expose dates, names of prior caretakers and volunteers embedded on the concrete ground floor. Install the Centennial banner and added US flags with solar-powered lights allowing the flags to remain illuminated 24/7, resembling twinkling stars at night.
The gathering on Veterans Day this year was somber yet powerful in that the effort to honor those who perished in The War has not been forgotten 100 years later. The new flagpole, donated by Matt Marani, was hoisted, and will fly the U.S. Flag on all appropriate holidays. The freedom for which it stands will endure, thanks to Veterans, active service personnel, and many good citizens in our community,
Program Agenda.
1) Ann Fay and Rob Marani...Welcome.
2) Rob Marani and Scouts...Raise the Flag and Pledge of Allegiance.
3) Ann Fay...Introduction of Supervisor Zach Friend.
4) Ann Fay & Priscilla Partridge...About Daughters of American Revolution.
5) Ann Fay, Debbie Brown, and Priscilla Partridge...Read list of names of WWI Santa Cruz County soldiers who perished (60 names).
6) Kevin Newhouse...History of the site...Santa Cruz-Watsonville Road and Rob Roy Junction.
7) Rob Marani...on behalf of Scott Evans, Eagle Scout.
8) Priscilla Partridge ...on behalf of Gina Gallucci, Scott's Mom.
9) Barbara Chamberlain, Valerie Tudor, Janet Sparks, Aumao Toalepaialii, Tui Aiono and Charlie Ukestad...recognize the transition to Cabrillo Host Lions Club caring for the Monument.
10) Ann Fay and Rob Marani...Closing comments. Invite people to take a yellow mum home for a souvenir.
11) Tui Aiono ...play recording of "Taps"
12) Adjourn
