Remembering Memorial Day in Lodi near the end of World War II
On May 30, 1945, Lodi residents gathered at the Lodi Cemetery for a day full of ceremony to “do homage to the fallen heroes of the past,” led by members of American Legion Post 22 and the Women’s Relief Corps of the Grand Army of the Republic Hartford Post 155.
Just weeks after World War II ended in Europe and with battles still raging in the Pacific, Memorial Day in 1945 was an even more somber affair than usual. Along with the tributes to those killed in past wars, Lodians were remembering their loved ones who had been lost over the past three years of fighting, and the soldiers, medical workers and others still putting their lives on the line overseas in combat zones.
“The memorial services this year warrant the attendance of all, it was pointed out,” the News-Sentinel wrote on May 29.
The day’s events started at 10 a.m. and included an invocation by the Rev. E.W. Gross of Ebenezer Congregational Church, remarks by American Legion Cmdr. D.W. Davis, musical performances by the A Cappella Choir and Boys’ Chorus from Lodi Union High School, a recitation of the Gettysburg Address by high school student Roger Roman and an address by the Rev. William J. Owen, the department chaplain of the California American Legion.
A second program began at 3 p.m., to dedicate an Honor Roll at the Lodi Post Office listing the more than 3,000 Lodi District residents who had served or were currently serving in World War II. That program included an invocation by the Rev. U.S. Schauer of Salem Evangelical Church, comments from Davis and Owen, Mayor Robert H. Rinn, and Supervisor E.G. Stuckenbruck, a performance of the National Anthem by the Lodi Union High School Band, and an address by Warren Atherton, past national commander of the American Legion.
“Atherton pointed out that every time one passed the Honor Roll he was tangibly reminded there here were listed those who had been taken from the classroom, from their business or profession, from their occupation, to fight for those who remained at home,” the News-Sentinel wrote in the following day’s edition.
The university was one of five the senior had applied to, along with Stanford, the University of California at Los Angeles, Berkeley, San Diego, Davis and Long Beach.
“I’m pretty excited to attend UPenn,” Atwal said. “It was my first choice for school, and it was the only one with the dual program I wanted to attend. If all goes well, this will open a lot of doors for me.”
Atwal said he hopes to become a nurse practitioner or physician assistant after college, and then move upward into the administrative side of the health care industry.
He said he has always had an interest in the medical industry, but helping his family take care of his grandparents as they became older made him realize that health care was his calling.
“My grandma had various medical conditions that required us to check her blood oxygen levels, and I check my grandpa’s blood pressure and blood sugar levels now. It just really got me interested in helping people and continuing to do that as a career choice.”
During his time at Tokay, Atwal was involved in a variety of extracurricular clubs and activities. He served as president and co-president of the Christian Club, and president of the Interact Club. He was also the public relations chair and STEAM Career Room chair for the NorCal Science
& Technology Festival.
To prepare for a career in health care, Atwal said he met David Wolcott, Adventist Health Lodi Memorial president and chief executive officer, as well as two RNs, who gave him advice and direction for his future endeavors.
Atwal said his most memorable experience about his four years at Tokay was receiving a crisp $100 bill from golf coach Chris Zermeno for raising $1,000 his sophomore year for the team.
However, what he will miss most about the school is calculus with teacher Aggie Smith.
“She’s been my teacher for a couple years,” he said. “That class was pretty fun. I learned that math came easily to me, and you should be able to enjoy something that you can do well in.
“I’ll also miss hanging out with friends and doing whatever, though,” he added.
Atwal will receive his diploma during Tokay’s diploma procession on campus at 7:45 a.m. on May 27, and he will have a pre-recorded speech included in the school’s virtual graduation that night at 7 p.m.
The virtual graduation will be broadcast on the school’s YouTube Channel, and on the Lodi Unified School District’s Facebook page.