Family Honors Paul Gutierrez's Service Posthumously by Kayla Sheldon - City News Group, Inc.
View Upcoming Events View Your Local Sales

Community Calendar

◄ NOVEMBER ►
S M T W T F S
01 02 03 04 05 06 07
08 09 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 01 02 03 04 05
View Events
Submit Events
directory

Family Honors Paul Gutierrez's Service Posthumously

By Kayla Sheldon,
March 4, 2015 at 08:49am. Views: 98

Coltonite Paul Gutierrez was posthumously honored with a military banner on Wednesday, Dec. 17, for his service in the Army. Gutierrez passed away after suffering an aneurism almost six years ago; though he was unable to see his banner raised, most of his family members attended to support, honor and remember their loved one. Gutierrez was drafted in the Army in July 1970, right out of high school, and served over a year as he was discharged in October 1971. According to Gutierrez’s older sister Margaret Hernandez, he was discharged a few months early since he served in Vietnam. Gutierrez was stationed in the war zone where he served as a cook, Hernandez said. “Even though he never really said much about it, if he disliked it or not, you can tell just by looking at the pictures while he was in the Army, that he enjoyed it,” she shared. “He enjoyed cooking for them.” Gutierrez would reach out to his loved ones back home in a rather unique way. He would record messages on a cassette and would mail them home for his family to hear, instead of writing letters. “I still have some of those cassettes,” Hernandez added. Even after his service in the Army, Hernandez said Gutierrez would come home and bake cakes like the way he learned in the Army. “Oh yeah, they were good,” she reminisced, happily. Although Gutierrez and the majority of his family are proud Coltonites, his family moved to Pala due to his father’s job situation and Gutierrez spent his entire high school career at Fallbrook High. “He moved back to Colton shortly after getting back from the Army,” Hernandez said. Growing up, Gutierrez found himself very interested in different types of cars. “He also loved animals and even people in general. There was never a mean streak in him,” she added. When Gutierrez wasn’t cleaning his car to perfection, he would ride around in his Dodge with the convertible top down to the San Manuel Casino. “That’s actually where he got sick. He had a headache while he was at the casino and he went to the hospital,” Hernandez explained. Although, Gutierrez also had colon cancer, he died that day of an aneurism. “His last week, he was so happy. Everything was going his way; he even won money at the casino,” Hernandez said, chuckling. “That’s what counts: he was happy.” The day of his military banner installation ceremony was a very happy one for his family; Hernandez explained that her younger brother, Gregory Gutierrez, was able to attend, as well as their mom. Fortunately, when Hernandez initially set this up for her brother, she was able to install it right across from their uncle’s banner. Gutierrez’s banner is located on the corner of Fifth and N streets. Hernandez said the family is able to say hi to her uncle and brother when they pass by.

Related Articles

Photo Courtesy of: TME Photography by Titan Mom Elvira

By Titan Mom Elvira, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:26pm. Views: 707

Athlete of the Week Christopher Michael Lemos, Redlands High School Junior and Varsity Quarterback, proudly represents the Terriers with his dedication, leadership, and passion for the game.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:26pm. Views: 1110

Redlands Pottery Project joins A.K. Smiley Public Library for a November 14 workshop designed for young artists ages 13 to 18. A lump of clay may not look like much at first. In the hands of a young artist, however, it can become a bowl, a decorative sculpture or an entirely unexpected creation.

Photo Courtesy of: https://www.redlands.edu/

By William Cortez, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:26pm. Views: 2673

The University of Redlands Department of Theatre and Dance will present Día de los Muertos and Other Folk Tales November 5 through 8, 2026. Stories told by grandparents often become treasured parts of a family's history. Some are humorous, others mysterious, and many carry lessons that remain meaningful long after the storyteller is gone.

Photo Courtesy of: UC San Diego's ALERTCalifornia

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:26pm. Views: 773

A remote wildfire-monitoring camera overlooks a Southern California landscape. Redlands has partnered with UC San Diego's ALERTCalifornia program to improve monitoring of areas near northern Redlands and the Santa Ana River wash.

Photo Courtesy of: https://www.akspl.org/events/

By William Cortez, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:26pm. Views: 1506

Annual ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial Shrine will bring American history to life on November 21. On a November morning in Redlands, the sounds of fifes, drums and historic artillery will offer residents an opportunity to experience a chapter of American history that continues to influence the nation more than 160 years after the Civil War.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By Stella Pierce, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:18pm. Views: 698

The first years of a child's life are filled with milestones that families often remember forever. A baby's first smile, the first attempt to crawl and the first spoken words are moments of celebration. They can also bring questions, uncertainty and new responsibilities for parents learning how to care for a growing child.

Photo Courtesy of: https://www.csusb.edu/

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:06pm. Views: 763

CSUSB’s Department of Physics and Astronomy has earned recognition for it for its work to create a more inclusive, diverse and supportive physics department, earning the Bronze Award from the American Association for the Advancement of Science Physics & Astronomy SEA Change program.

Photo Courtesy of: https://www.naco.org/program/operation-green-light-veterans

By William Cortez, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:06pm. Views: 1759

Operation Green Light returns November 4–11, encouraging residents to recognize military service and help veterans connect with available resources. As darkness settles over San Bernardino during the first week of November, green lights will illuminate several county buildings, transforming familiar government facilities into visible reminders of the sacrifices made by America's military veterans.

Photo Courtesy of: https://www.authentikusa.com/

By Amanda Spencer, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:06pm. Views: 804

As America's most famous highway celebrates its centennial in 2026, San Bernardino reflects on the road that helped shape its neighborhoods, businesses and identity. Long before interstate highways became the preferred routes for cross-country travel, motorists making their way through San Bernardino followed a road that would become one of the most recognizable highways in American history.

Photo Courtesy of: Corina Borsuk and provided courtesy of SBCUSD

By Amanda Spencer, Community Writer

November 3, 2026 at 03:06pm. Views: 626

Muscoy Elementary students join SBCUSD Superintendent Mauricio Arellano, Board of Education President Mayra Ceballos, Assistant Superintendents Dr. Sandra Rodriguez and Dr. Tasha Doizan, Director MaryRone Goodwin and San Bernardino County Supervisor Joe Baca Jr. for the official ribbon cutting ceremony that opened the school’s new outdoor learning center.

Photo Courtesy of: https://riversiderecord.org/; A photo of Moreno Valley City Hall. (Alicia Ramirez/The Riverside Record) Credit: (Photo by Alicia

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

October 27, 2026 at 02:39pm. Views: 916

A city is often judged by what residents experience every day: the condition of its streets, the reliability of public services, the availability of recreational programs and the ease of obtaining information from local government. Behind those everyday experiences are departments and employees whose work rarely attracts national attention.

Photo Courtesy of: TME Photography by Titan Mom Elvira

By Titan Mom Elvira, Community Writer

October 27, 2026 at 02:39pm. Views: 827

Athlete of the Week Zachary Scott Perez, Senior at John W. North High School, is recognized as Athlete of the Week for his dedication and accomplishments as a student athlete.

--> -->