Vasquez Family Lives on with Military Banner Displays

Three family members were honored with a combined military banner installation ceremony early this month in south Colton. On Dec. 9, Salvador Vasquez, Bobby Vasquez and Robert Martus were all honored for their military service. Bobby and Salvador are brothers and Robert is their brother-in-law, married to their sister Esther. As both Robert and Salvador have passed away, Bobby was the one to join other friends and family to celebrate the installation and the honor bestowed upon the three brothers. Danny Flores is the nephew of the three men and was struck with the idea to raise banners honoring his uncles one day as he drove through town and noticed other military banners hung throughout the city. “I thought to myself, ‘My uncles deserve recognition for their service’,” Flores said. “I went to my Aunt Sally [Salvador’s wife] and told her about the idea and she actually got a little emotional just from the idea.” Flores then contacted the City of Colton immediately to start the process, he said. “The two ladies that are in charge of this are so great and helpful,” Flores said. Flores then planned a combined ceremony for the three veterans, and invited family members, friends and city officials. Former Colton City Mayor Sarah Zamora, San Bernardino County Supervisor Josie Gonzales, and other councilmembers attended and spoke briefly at the event. Supervisor Gonzales's chief of staff is Flores's son. "He helped me and asked her to attend the event. Plus, I knew she would enjoy being in her old neighborhood," Flores said. "This event was for my uncles and aunts, to show them that they did receive the respect they deserve," Flores added. Salvador was born and raised in Colton and attended Colton High School. He served in the U.S. Army for two years; getting drafted in 1944, he was unable to finish his high school career. He entered Europe and fought against Germans; his rank was Private 1st Class, 304th Infantry. Salvador was wounded in action and earned a Purple Heart. Robert Martus, also born and raised in Colton, was drafted in 1943 and served for three years. Also in the Army, Martus served as a medic. “He was the guy patching up the wounded during the middle of a battle,” Flores explained. According to Flores, Martus earned quite a few medals during his service, including the WWII Victory Medal. Another true Coltonite, Bobby Vasquez, was drafted in 1951 and served in the Army for two years and served in the 82nd Airborne in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Flores explained that Vasquez's story was a little different. "He got tired of training and volunteered to go to Korea," Flores said. "Most people want to go the opposite way, but he went and fought in the front lines...God brought him back home safe." Vasquez retired as a sergeant and earned a Bronze Star. The family's hometown, specifically south Colton, is extremely important to everyone of them, Flores explained. "I do live in Grand Terrace now. You can take the boy out of Colton but you can't take the Colton out of the boy," Flores shared. All three banners were hung in south Colton near one another. "I got them as close to each other as possible," Flores said. The brothers' banners can be found hanging between La Cadena Drive and M and N streets. Flores added, "I think it's safe to say the Vasquez family did their part."