Military Hero Honored Posthumously

Coltonite William H. Lopez was honored with a military banner installation ceremony in November. Unfortunately, Lopez was unable to attend due to his passing in August 2014. It wasn’t long after his passing that his whole family decided to get him a military banner. His wife Esther Lopez shared, “It’s such a nice tribute that Colton does for their veterans.” Lopez attended Colton High School and got drafted in the Army four years after he graduated, in 1960. He was on active duty for two years where he was stationed in Germany during the Berlin Crisis, where he worked in communications, according to Esther. He then worked in the reserves in San Bernardino for a few more years after coming back from Germany. William and Esther Lopez raised their three children, Eddie, Diana and Mary, in Colton. Most of the family proudly attended to ceremony in Lopez’s honor. “Colton is such a small town and there are so many veterans here,” Esther said. “I just wish we would’ve done it while he was still alive. It was a wonderful day, though. We’re very proud.” Esther shared that it was the whole family’s idea to honor Lopez with a military banner. She said, “He enjoyed his time he served.” She went on to explain that he could have been stationed in Korea, which was more dangerous during that time. Instead, he was stationed in Germany. “He liked it; it was cold but I know he liked it,” Esther said, chuckling.