Trinidad Perez Honored with Military Banner

Local veteran Trinidad Perez was honored by his family, friends, and the City of Colton this past summer, on July 14, with his very own military banner installation ceremony. Perez served in the Army for two years, until he was honorably discharged in 1951. His rank was Private First Class as he served as a Medic. According to his daughter-in-law Regina 'Gina' Perez, his responsibilities during the Korean War were to transport the medical supplies from the medical area to the front lines. She shared a story about his experience serving in the military. While Trinidad was transporting supplies, he ran out of gas in which he became an easy target for the enemies. He ended up finding a space by a mountain to hide under so he can refill the truck. However, the enemies then started to drop the mortars off of the mountain and they started to land right in front of him. Gina said, “He has stated that no one wants to ever see what he did.” Born in New Braunsfel, Texas on Dec. 18, 1925, Perez’s home is in San Bernardino, although he moved to Colton about six months ago where he stays with his son and daughter-in-law, Andrew and Gina Perez. According to Gina, he really enjoys being in Colton, due to the family atmosphere it gives off. However, before moving to California, he worked in San Antonio, Texas, where he started his family and had five children: two girls and three boys. Gina shared, “He enjoyed serving his country and was very proud of it.” She explained that it wasn’t until about 10-years-ago did Perez start talking about his experience serving. "He wouldn’t even seek benefits because of the war and he didn’t want to remember anything," she said. Gina had the idea to get him a military banner of his own. After seeing all of the banners hanging up around Colton, she thought it would make the perfect Father’s Day gift for him. “He is a man who has everything so I wanted something special as a surprise,” Gina added. She then contacted all of his remaining children and they chipped-in to get their dad a very special Father’s Day gift. The day of the installation ceremony was very emotional for Perez, his family and his friends. Although his daughter, who is deceased, and two of his sons, who live out-of-state, were unable to be there, it was still a special day. Gina said that the one thing that really surprised him was that his wife Andrea, who is in a nursing home, attended to show her love and support. “He feels very proud about being a veteran, especially when he’s honored in such ways as the banner ceremony,” she added. Everyone made a whole day of it as they went to lunch after the ceremony. Gina said that Perez claimed it was the “Best Father’s Day present ever.” She added, “The City of Colton did a fine job in honoring and really took the time to make him feel special. I would like to thank all involved, as the ceremony both a very emotional and happy one."