Last Updated on February 24, 2006 by Paulette Brown-Hinds
February 25th 2006 marks the 38th year the North Fontana Black Awareness Parade Committee is celebrating the contributions African Americans have made in the Americas in the county of San Bernardino. This years parade is in honor of the loving sacrifices men and women of the armed services have made and are still making.
Some of the participants are: 1. World War II P.O.W., retired Navy vet. Walter H. Johnson. Mr. Johnson served from April 1944 to May 1966. While on a Japanese Sea Going Tugboat he was captured during the invasion of Okinawa. 2. Viet Nam vet Airman John R. Johnson (no relation to Walter Johnson), an aircraft weapons mechanic, a reconnaissance specialist and an aerial gunner in Viet Nam, served two tours. He was awarded the Viet Nam Medal with three stars, the Expeditionary Forces Medal, the Defense Medal, and the Distinguished Flying Cross Medal. 3. Private Selica Turner, transportation specialist, joined the Army reserves on her 18th birthday and five months later she landed in Iraq. Before returning home in December of 2005 she turned around to see a truck in her unit being bombed. These are just a few of the individuals we are honoring.
Come and join us and you too can show the real live super heroes we appreciate them.
Other participants are: NFL player Anthony Prior who will be autographing his newly released book “Faith on Yards”; Allen Maldonano, recently seen on Friday night TV show “Injustice”; and the cars from “Gone In 60 Seconds.”
This flag-waving Black History Parade will start on Sierra and Arrow in Fontana at 10 a.m. and end at Veterans Park on Merrill Ave. with an expo, food vendors, car show, music and more. For more information or to participate call “Skeet” 909 841-3705.This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for young and old to meet individuals our history books have not included.