Raising an anniversary

Deirdre Newman

Simona Garibay stood stoically, buoyed by the support of those

gathered in her front yard, as an American flag was hoisted atop a

flagpole to commemorate the one-year anniversary of her son Jose’s

death.

Jose A. Garibay was the first Orange County Marine killed in the

line of duty in the war in Iraq.

Tuesday, a small crowd gathered to pay tribute to Jose Garibay’s

selfless sacrifice. The flagpole was provided by community donations.

“I feel sad, but very thankful for all the support,” Simona

Garibay said, through translator Rita Armendariz.

The 21-year-old Marine corporal was killed last March near

Nasiriyah, Iraq, after encountering an ambush of enemy troops. Jose

Garibay, known as Angel to his family, grew up in Costa Mesa,

attended Whittier Elementary and Ensign Intermediate School and

played football at Newport Harbor High.

He enlisted with the Marines at 18 with cousin and best friend

Christian Garibay. His death evoked an outpouring of support on the

Westside where the Garibays lived at the time and resulted in the

realization of some his dreams.

On March 30, former Costa Mesa Police Chief Dave Snowden presented

Garibay’s family with a plaque posthumously making Garibay an

honorary Costa Mesa police officer. On April 2, Garibay received

posthumous citizenship. A memorial scholarship fund was established

through the Orange County Hispanic Educational Endowment Fund and

Simona Garibay lent her support to other Spanish-speaking Marine

mothers through the group Madres Militares.

“Every time someone has come in upset, she’s there to talk to

them,” Armendariz said. “She’s our rock.”

The Garibays moved to Santa Ana in December. Tuesday, about 30

people gathered in the frontyard of the yellow house for the

flag-raising ceremony. Earlier in the day, about 50 people

accompanied Simona Garibay to her son’s gravesite at Riverside

Memorial Cemetery, said Urbano Garibay, Jose Garibay’s uncle.

Cuauhtlicoyotl Alexander Madrigal, a former Marine who raised the

flag, said he was moved by the experience.

“It felt like the first time I buried a friend because I have

buried many friends,” Madrigal said. “I felt weak at the knees, a

sense of pride, and at the same time a sense of loss because I knew

this was the conclusion to the one-year anniversary of the war.”

Next to the flagpole was a picture of Jose Garibay. Under it laid

his helmets and boots. A rainbow of flowers surrounded the flagpole

-- some real, some faux. A temporary plaque with how Jose Garibay

wanted to be remembered was shown. It will be replaced with a more

elaborate plaque near the flagpole. It reads: “What we do today echos

[sic] in eternity.”

Santa Ana Councilman Jose Solorio came to the flag-raising

ceremony to express his support for the Garibay family.

“Given the one-year anniversary, their hearts are heavy with

sorrow and memory,” Solorio said. “I wanted to rally behind them in

support and blessing. So with pride, we welcome them here.”

Raymond Aguilar expressed pride at his cousin’s passion for

serving his country.

“I’m very proud of him,” Aguilar said “This is what he wanted ever

since he was a child. Since high school, that was his goal. He was

very proud of what he was doing -- proud to be a Marine.”

The 20-foot stainless steel flagpole cost about $1,000, but only

half of that amount has been raised so far, Madrigal said. So he is

still accepting donations, he added.

* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at deirdre.newman@latimes.com.