COLTON COURIER Weekly
October 16, 2025
Vol 153, NO. 44
Colton Honors WWII Veteran Ray Gomez on his 100th Birthday By Dr.G (Dr. Luis S González), Community Writer
A
t the Oct. 7 City Council meeting, Council Member Dr. Luis S. González (Dr. G) presented longtime Colton resident and World War II veteran Ray Gomez with an official recognition of his 100th birthday.
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Born in San Bernardino on Aug. 3, 1925, Gomez has spent a lifetime in service to his family, the nation and the Colton community. He is the son of Angel and Mercedes Gomez and has two sisters, Annie and Esther, and one brother, Angel Jr.
Redlands Boys & Girls Club Cuts Ribbon on $150,000 Playground for Local Youth Pg. 5
PHOTO DR. G (L to R): Dr. G Council Member and family friend, Ray Gomez, Colton resident recognized for 100th Birthday.
As a young man, Gomez worked in the fields and later part time at Kaiser Steel. With the need for troops during World War II, he joined the U.S. Army at 18 and was assigned to Fort MacArthur in San Pedro for induction and to receive his uniform and equipment. He completed 17 weeks of basic training at Camp Fannin, Texas, followed by a month at Camp Van Dorn, Louisiana. Afterward, he was sent to Fort Dix, New Jersey,
for combat assignment and transported to England aboard the “Queen Elizabeth.” He served in England, France, Luxembourg and Germany as a private first class from November 1943 to May 1946. Serving as an infantry rifleman, Gomez was wounded by mortar shrapnel in his right hand, left forearm, chest, side and thigh. He shared this account of his wartime experience a decade ago: “I was wounded at the border of France and Germany, which was called the Siegfried Line. The line was made up of concrete pillars called ‘dragon teeth’ which were in place to keep out our tanks. On the German side were bunkers and machine guns, and behind those were mortars (like cannons). Our division was then ordered to attack, and we were completely under fire. After crossing the Siegfried Line, I was hit by mortar shrapnel.” For his service, Gomez received the Victory Medal, Purple Heart, Bronze Star, European Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Combat Ray Gomez, cont. next pg.
Once a YMCA Kid, Now Executive Director: Jennifer Lopez Reimagines San Bernardino’s Beloved Community Hub
Free Ontario Arts Festival Oct. 18: 60+ Artists, Museum Entry, Día de los Muertos Activities Pg. 5
Garner Holt Foundation Empowers Youth Through STEAM, Animatronics, and Career Pathways Pg. 8
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PHOTO MANNY SANDOVAL From left, San Bernardino Family YMCA Executive Director Jennifer Lopez, IECN Co-Publisher Denise Berver, and YMCA of the East Valley Marketing Director Bjorn Madrid talk inside the Y’s wellness center.
By Manny Sandoval
I
nside the San Bernardino Family YMCA, Executive Director Jennifer Gorostieta Lopez walks through a newly renovated women’s locker room — a symbol, she says, of the organization’s renewed commitment to investing in the families of San Bernardino. “This is just the beginning,” said Lopez.
“We’re not just giving the space a facelift — we’re reshaping it to bring in what our community needs.” That includes remodeled locker rooms, a resurfaced outdoor court, expanded youth programs, senior fitness, mental wellness, and a sharp focus on family affordability — all informed by the community itself. And for Lopez, who first encountered the Y as a fifth grader in an after-school
program, it’s deeply personal. A Childhood Rooted in the Y Lopez’s journey with the Y began after her family moved to San Bernardino from Orange County in the early 2000s. Frequently shuffled between schools due to overcrowding, it wasn’t until fifth grade at Emmerton Elementary that she SB YMCA, cont. next pg.