- Total US Veteran Population 23,443,000 (Per US Dept. of Veterans Affairs 9/08)
- Army – 44.4%, Navy- 22.7%, Air Force- 18.2%, Marines- 10.3%, Non-Defense- 1%, Reserve Forces- 3% (Approx. Figures Per US Dept. of Veterans Affairs 9/08)
- Total US Female Veteran Population 1,802,000 (Per US Dept. of Veterans Affairs 9/08)
- Veterans in California account for 9% of all US Veterans (Per US Dept. of Veterans Affairs 9/08)
- Veterans make up roughly 8.6% of the civilian population 18 years and older in Fresno County (census.gov 2005) Roughly 80,075 of 931,098 in 2007
- Regardless of the day of the week, Veterans Day is observed on November 11. This day was chosen to commemorate World War I, which ended on November 11, 1918.
Our Veterans
Clovis Veterans Memorial District is dedicated to serving our veterans and our community, and has been since 1946. We’re proud to honor all members of the armed forces, including those who have served in combat positions. Our memorials offer an enduring symbol of gratitude and remembrance to veterans, like those presented here, who have served and sacrificed for our country.
Art Hill
I’ll never forget returning home from the war. As our ship entered New York Harbor, I looked up to see what seemed like a thousand flags waving from every warehouse rooftop lining the harbor. When I saw the Statue of Liberty, my eyes filled with tears of joy for being home, mixed with tears of sadness for those we left behind.
Russell E. Day
On December 7, 1941, I was washing down the deck when suddenly, I heard planes overhead firing on ships in Pearl Harbor. Total confusion reigned, as one plane released the bomb that hit, only fifteen feet from where I was standing.
» read moreJuan Cedillo
WWII had begun and Uncle Sam decided he wanted me. I was afraid of heights so I didn’t join the air corps. I was afraid of sharks so I didn’t join the navy. I chose the army as a rifleman and became a sharpshooter.
» read moreJerry Fisher
Morale was at an all time low as they rampaged through the South Pacific, occupying Bataan, Singapore, Guam, Wake Island, and the Philippines. Admiral Yamamoto, who led the Pearl Harbor raid, was right when he said, “I fear we have awakened a sleeping giant.”
» read moreAlbert Fred Blumer
I joined the navy in July 1941 and trained in San Diego before joining the fleet to sail to Pearl Harbor. We knew the Japanese would be attacking Pearl Harbor and were on our way there but the storms prevented our arriving before the attack.
» read more