Life in Manteca 125: July 4 Unveiling of WWII Mural

 It is strange how choked up and emotional I became as I watched the plastic go up on this mural.  It made me think of my own father, Jim Wardle, and the sacrifice that he made during the war.  He served in the Navy as a young man of 17-20.  (He enlisted a week before his birthday.)  He served until the end of the war, when he was discharged on a hardship so he could help his father with the farm.  At one point the asked for those who have family members who served in the war to stand.  I was standing so I waved my hand.  The mural is entitled the "Spirit of America."  It portrays a tank, planes and a destroyer.  My father served on a destroyer escort.  This is the Manteca Journal article on the events.  And the Modesto Bee.

Veterans in my family

My Son, Mark, Marine, served in Iraq

My dad, Navy served during WWII in Brazil and Africa

Great-great-great grandfather Ashton who served in the Infantry of the Army defending U.S. interest at the time against Native Americans 1856-1861.  He marched to California, and walked the entire state North to South.  He was discharged from Benecia in 1861. (sorry no picture)

Aunt Verna who did a a couple tours of duty.

ACE Train 9: Del Monte

http://www.historysanjose.org/cannerylife/through-the-years/1917-1966/cal-pak/plant-number-3.html
Across the street from The Diridon Station, the last stop for the Ace Train is where Del Monte use to be.  I go on with the light rail which goes right behind the new housing complex.  The cannery closed for good in 1999.  What once was the "Valley of Hearts Delight" because the of the many fruit blossoms, was no Silicon Valley, with the only orchards now a few trees in the back yard, or municipal orchards for memory's sake.
The factory has a special place for me, because my dad, while in the Nave, and awaiting assignment was at Camp Shoemaker, in Dublin.  They use to bring Navy boys down in buses to work the factory.  I discovered from my dad's letters, that he was among the crowd who came by bus to work in the fruit, usually the graveyard shift.  My father was always trying to do a little more.  He had plans to have a farm, which takes money.

I walked by to take pictures, the light rail goes to fast

When we moved to San Jose, the factory was still intact, and in fact running as it closed in 1999.  However by the time I inherited my dad's letters, and got through them, the old factory had been knocked down, giving way to a housing development.  There are a few places where the old wall has been lift, to provide shade and a historical backdrop.  The water tower is also still in place.