Colton Adds Army Veteran to its Footprint

Ernest Herrera received a very special Father’s Day gift from his family this year. He was given a banner as part of the City of Colton Hometown Heroes Military Banner Program. The installation took place recently at the corner of Valley and 9th Street in front of Stater Brothers. Ernest Herrera grew up in the Low Desert area of Indio and Coachella with his parents, Lupe and Olivia Herrera. He graduated from Coachella High School in 1969, and shortly after he graduated, he joined the military. He was in the United States Army from 1969-1971. Herrera met his high school sweethearts and future wife, Irene at Coachella High School. When he returned home from the service, he and Irene moved to Colton and got married. They had four children, Myley Herrera, Chetay Herrera-Catalano, Eli Herrera and Ernest D. Herrera, Jr. Herrera worked at the grocery store Stater Bros and retired last June after working for the company for almost 40 years. Chetay Catalano and her mom, who submitted Herrera to be honored said, “Our family been wanting to do it for a while, and we mainly did it as a Father’s Day gift. We just wanted to show our dad how much we love him and how proud we are of him and thanking him for his service as well."