Events
Events
Events:

Special tribute ceremonies for our beloved Hometown Heroes and Veterans are organized by the Enduring Heroes Foundation, including:
  • Annual Memorial Day Ceremony at 3pm
  • Occasional Rose Parade/New Years Eve Ceremonies around 3pm
In addition, since the Enduring Heroes Soldier stands right by Pasadena’s historic Colorado Street Bridge as well as at the corner where the iconic Rose Parade starts, at times, there is much community activity by our Soldier and in Defenders Park. These activities include
  • Biennial Colorado Street Bridge party 
  • Visits by national, state, and local dignitaries
  • Annual Veteran Suicide Prevention Walk
Enduring Heroes Committee members take extra good care of the Soldier. Activities include adding lights, adding a desert flagstone trim around the base, regular polishing, and updated landscaping. Perhaps best of all, festive wreaths are placed by our Soldier throughout the year including New Years, Easter, Memorial Day, July 4, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Walkers and runners from the Pasadena Community visit our Enduring Heroes soldier as a regular part of their days. Defenders Park serves as a quiet, beautiful place to reflect on our Hometown Heroes who gave their lives in defending our Nation’s freedoms and continue to watch over us for all time.

Past Events

'Enduring Heroes' Tribute on Memorial Day 2024 (From Leadership Pasadena and others)
  • 7th Annual Enduring Heroes Memorial Day Tribute at 3pm at Defenders Park on Monday May 27, 202
  • 7 Gold Star family members attended — family for Hometown Heroes JP Blecksmith, Dion Whitley, Rogelio Ramirez, Sergio Escobar, Cory Hiltz, Scott Studenmund, and Joe Stifter.
  • Co-Officiating Mayor Bill Bogaard and Terry Tornek
  • Photo: Deborah Whitley and Irene Ramirez, Gold Star Mothers of Dion and Rogelio, introduced the mayors.
  •  Alex Blecksmith, Gold Star Brother of JP Blecksmith, introduced Rev Michael Roffina who offered a prayer.
  • Bagpiper and flowers from gardens
There’s an African proverb that says, “As long as you speak my name I shall live forever.” Yesterday Gold Star families and our
community spoke the names of our forever heroes at Pasadena’s Defenders Park. We will not forget them.

Enduring Heroes' Tribute on Memorial Day 2022 (From From the Pasadena Outlook, 6/2/22. Photos by Mary Emily Myers - The Outlook)
On Memorial Day afternoon, more than 100 patriots gathered to honor Greater Pasadena’s 11 “Hometown Heroes” as well as all others who made the ultimate sacrifice. The event was held at the Enduring Heroes Memorial Soldier in Pasadena’s Defenders Park.
Mayor Victor Gordo presided with former Mayors Bill Bogaard and Terry Tornek and current Vice Mayor Andy Wilson. Local Gold Star family members appeared deeply moved by the warmth, spirit and size of this impromptu tribute.

The five families present were Marine Second Lt. JP Blecksmith’s brother Alex and nephew Henry, Marine Lance Cpl. Dion Whitley’s mother Deborah, Marine Lance Cpl. Rogelio Ramirez’s mother Irene, Green Beret Staff Sgt. Scott Studenmund’s  parents Jaynie and Woody, and Army Sgt. Joseph Stifter’s parents Regina and Fred. 
Other guests included Pasadena Police Chief Jason Clawson and the Rev. Michael Roffina, who offered a prayer.
Enduring Heroes founder Shelly Lowe and co-founders Jordi Stringfellow and Jaynie Studenmund and sculptor Christopher Slatoff also took part in the program.
Guests bought bouquets and a bagpiper played a medley, including “Amazing Grace.”
The other six of 11 “Hometown Heroes” honored on the memorial (whose families were unable to attend because they no longer live locally) are Army First Lt. Todd Bryant, Marine Lance Cpl. Sergio Escobar, Army Reserve Spc. Carla Stewart, Army Spc. Adam Rosema, Army Pvt. First Class Cory Hiltz, and Army Spc. William Gilbert.

Enduring Heroes sculptor Christopher Slatoff reads the names of all 11 Hometown Heroes while the organization’s founder, Shelly Lowe (right), looks on.

Pictured are Pasadena Police Chief Jason Clawson (from left) , Commander Art Chute, Commander Mark Goodman, former Mayor Bill Bogaad, Major Victor Gordo, former major Mayor Terry Tornek, Council Member Jes Rivas and Vice Mayor Andy Wilson.

Some Gold Star families and supporters attending included (from left) Vammia De La Cuba, Jordi Stringfellow, Alex and Henry Blacksmith (Gold Star brother and nephew), former Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaad, Jayine Studenmund (Gold Star mother), Mayor Victor Gordo, Irene Ramirez (Gold Star mother), Deborah Whitlry (Gold Star mother), Shelly Lowe, Christopher Slatoff and Woody Studenmund (Gold Star father)

Dear Precious Gold Star Families, (June 1, 2022)

We thought you’d love knowing that our warriors were deeply honored on Monday. Five of six of our local GS families were able to attend and experience this tribute in person. Our hearts are with all of you, near and too far to come.


We had three Pasadena mayors who very much wanted to honor our Hometown Heroes even though this tribute was impromptu. Pasadena Mayor Gordo presided with Mayor Tornek and Mayor Bogaard joining. Vice Mayor Andy Wilson and Council Member Jess Rivas came as well as key Pasadena PD officers. 


Chris Slatoff, our dear friend and incomparable sculptor, read each of our 11 Heroes names. Rev Michael Roffina offered a prayer. The ceremony concluded with the bag piper playing Amazing Grace. Nearly 100 patriots attended.


Blessings and Forever love,
Shelly, Rhonda, Chris, Jordi, and Jaynie


New May 25, 2020 - Virtual 2020 Tribute, Highly Musical and Forever Heartwarming

Although the coronavirus and related crowd limits meant that we could not hold our traditional 3pm Enduring Heroes Tribute this year, our Warrior Heroes and Veterans were still lovingly remembered and saluted in extra special ways. There were many private visits witnessed by a neighbor to Defenders Parkway, including “ a Veteran who appeared in full dress uniform with his trumpet to play taps. This was a beautiful thing to hear and witness.“ 


Banners for each of our eleven Hometown Heroes lined Orange Grove and Green Street. The banner for Marine Lance Corporal Dion Whitley, who was KIA 15 years ago on 6/15/05, looks across Orange Grove, and Dion stands guard for his brothers and the Enduring Heroes Soldier.


In addition, Rachael Worby, noted conductor, artistic director and founder of Pasadena’s celebrated MUSE/IQUE, hosted a Virtual Memorial Day Ceremony at the Soldier. The link below includes Rachael’s introduction and the gorgeous virtual performance by ACAPELLA with their fearless arranger and leader David Pinto, from MUSE/IQUE’s proud community partner, Academy of Music for the Blind. They sing Paul Simon’s “American Tune.

Academy of Music for the Blind - Memorial Day -"American Tune"

Visits by National, State, and local Dignitaries

Memorial Wreath Placements

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    Easter

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    Memorial Day

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    July 4th

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    Veteran's Day

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    Thanksgiving

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    Colorado Street Party

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Visits by National, State, and local Dignitaries

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Maintenance and Enhancements to the Memorial 

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    Adding  EH Plaque

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    Switching on Lights

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    Added Stonework and Lighting

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2019 Memorial Day

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2018 Rose Bowl Parade Salute 

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2017 Rose Bowl Parade Salute

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2018 Memorial Day

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Walkers and runners from the Pasadena Community visit our Enduring Heroes soldier as a regular part of their days. Defenders Park serves as a quiet, beautiful place to reflect on our Hometown Heroes who gave their lives in defending our Nation’s freedoms and continue to watch over us for all time.