Six Medal of Honor Recipients Address Local ROTC Cadets

The Medal of Honor is the highest award for heroism given by the Armed Services of the United States.  There are currently only 82 living recipients, and six of these Medal of Honor Recipients were recently at San Gorgonio High School in San Bernardino to speak to over 400 ROTC cadets and students.  This event was hosted by Stater Bros. Supermarkets.

The six Medal of Honor Recipients at the event were:

• Colonel Harvey C. “Barney” Barnum, Jr. – United States Marine Corps, Retired
  ~ Awarded Medal of Honor on February 27, 1967 by Secretary of Navy Paul Nitze for action in Vietnam
• Colonel Robert J. Modrzejewski – United States Marine Corps, Retired
  ~ Awarded Medal of Honor on March 12, 1968 by President Lyndon Johnson for action in Vietnam
• The Honorable Ron Ray – United States Army, Retired
  ~ Awarded the Medal of Honor on May 14, 1970 by President Richard Nixon for action in Vietnam
• Major James A. Taylor – United States Army, Retired
  ~ Awarded the Medal of Honor on March 9, 1967 by President Lyndon Johnson for action in Vietnam
• Colonel Jay R. Vargas – United States Marine Corps, Retired
  ~ Awarded the Medal of Honor on May 14, 1970 by President Richard Nixon for action in Vietnam
• Staff Sergeant Salvatore A. Giunta (June-ta) – United States Army, Retired
  ~ Awarded the Medal of Honor on October 25, 2007 by President Barack Obama for action in Afghanistan

“Stater Bros. is extremely honored to have the opportunity to share these wonderful American Heroes with our local youth who need to hear that there is hope and that someone cares,” stated  Jack H. Brown, Stater Bros. Chairman and CEO.

This is the fourth straight year that Stater Bros. Supermarkets has hosted Medal of Honor Recipients at a local high school.  The first year was at Arlington High School in Riverside, the following year at Colton High School, and then last year at Arroyo High School in San Bernardino.  The six Medal of Honor Recipients each have a personal message of perseverance to deliver to all those in attendance.  They focus on personal responsibility, setting goals, and never giving up.  The event included a question and answer period as well as a once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunity with the Cadets and the Medal of Honor Recipients.