Albino Pineda said he would like to see more people celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month: “It’s a shame... there are so many stories out there that people don’t tell and don’t share. There are a lot of old families in Santa Paula that have great stories to tell, but somehow they keep them to themselves.”Pineda is the exception: a former Labor Day Parade grand marshal who served as trustee and president of the Santa Paula Elementary School District Board of Trustees, he is the author of “Among the Repatriated - The Autobiography of a Mexican American,” available from Xlibris, Amazon and Barnes & Noble, among other booksellers. He also spearheaded the creation of the Santa Paula Farm Workers’ Monument planned at the corner of 9th and Santa Barbara streets.“I feel very proud that my family has a love and dedication for this country” as, said Pineda, “we love our country and we are proud to have served” in the military, as well as for the betterment of the community and the public. He added, “I wish all people would love this country that does so much for us.”
|
To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, as well as to pay tribute to those who defended the nation in times of war, community activist Albino Pineda was inspired to create a window display on East Main Street. “It was mostly to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.” |
Pineda window display celebrates Hispanic Heritage, those who serve
October 21, 2009
Santa Paula News
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula TimesTo celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, as well as to pay tribute to those who defended the nation in times of war, community activist Albino Pineda was inspired to create a window display on East Main Street. “It was mostly to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month,” September 15-October 15, but Pineda said he also thought passersby “might be interested in memorabilia I collected from World War II.”During World War II, Albino served in the Army in Europe. His older brother Manuel was in the Coast Guard, and younger brother Ysidro was a paratrooper who served in Japan.In addition, said Pineda, “My son and his son” had distinguished military careers, noted in the display. “My son John retired after 36 years in the U.S. Army Intelligence Corps” and is now supervising a Washington, DC Army-related organization. Albino’s grandson Jonathan served in the Army’s Special Armed Forces, including two tours of Afghanistan.Also displayed was a photograph of Patricia Salas Pineda, who serves on the Board of Directors of the Hispanic Congressional Congress. Named by Latino Leaders Magazine as one of the top 10 Latino philanthropists in the nation, Patricia, who like her siblings graduated from Santa Paula High School, is group vice president of Toyota North America.
