Veteran is honored by local legislators

The commander of the Temecula Valley Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 4089, has been honored by two legislators for his volunteer work to bring a late veteran’s remains back to Temecula.

Bryon Lively received U.S. Congress and state Senate proclamations during a Nov. 2 ceremony at the post. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-vista; and a representative for state Sen. Melisa Melendez, Rlake Elsinore; recognized Lively and presented the proclamations, according to an email from John Hernandez, of the post.

Also present were Temecula Mayor Matt Rahn, Temecula City Council Members Maryann Edwards and James “Stew” Stewart, Murrieta Mayor Jonathan Ingram and Murrieta City Council member Lori Stone, Hernandez wrote.

Lively was honored for bringing back the cremated remains of Temecula Navy veteran and post member Daniel Wetzel, who died in late September near Yellowstone National Park in Montana. The post was contacted in October to assist with retrieving Wetzel’s remains, his motorcycle and trailer, launching the

Bring Daniel Home project, Hernandez wrote.

Lively and Matthew Ensor — of Old Town Temecula Harley-davidson — worked with various veterans motorcycle clubs, Veterans Nation, the American Legion and the VFW and raised more than $4,000 to fund the shipment of the remains, the motorcycle and the trailer, according to Hernandez.

But when he learned bad weather would delay the arrangement by months, Lively flew to Montana to handle the transport himself and undertook a 1,011-mile trek back to Temecula.

COURTESY OF TEMECULA VALLEY VFW Bryon Lively, commander of the Temecula Valley Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 4089, was recognized by legislators Nov. 2. From left are Amanda Fisher, from the office of state Sen. Melissa Melendez, R-lake Elsinore; Lively; and Rep. Darrell Issa, R-vista.