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RIVERSIDE: Libraries to bear war heroes' names

The Eastside and Casa Blanca libraries will bear the names of Medal of Honor recipients.

  

RIVERSIDE: Libraries to bear war heroes' names

Riverside may name the Casa Blanca Library for Army PFC Salvador J. Lara, who fought in Italy during World War II and posthumously received the Medal of Honor in 2014.
TERRY PIERSON, FILE PHOTO
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By ALICIA ROBINSON / STAFF WRITER

Riverside will recognize two military heroes who called the city home by putting their names on city libraries in the neighborhoods where they lived.

The new names will be the Spc. Jesus S. Duran Eastside Library and the PFC Salvador J. Lara Casa Blanca Library. Both men were Army veterans; Lara served in World War II and Duran fought in Vietnam.

About a dozen residents, including military veterans and members of Lara’s and Duran’s families, spoke in support of the change at a Tuesday, June 14, Riverside City Council meeting. Council members unanimously approved the change, with Chris Mac Arthur absent. Some said it’s a well-deserved honor that’s overdue.

“The climate does not seem, in my opinion, to respect the historic contributions of the Mexican American community and other Latinos and other minorities,” Councilman Andy Melendrez said. “It’s time to start changing that.”

A city report indicated private funds would be raised to change the lettering on the buildings, but the council agreed with Melendrez’s plea for the city to pay the roughly $11,000 cost as it has for other building dedications. The council will soon take up the issue of naming the plaza outside the Casa Blanca library in Lara’s honor.


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