To a standing ovation, Congresswoman Judy Chu recently honored Gene Glasco as Community Activist of the Year. Among other accomplishments, Congresswoman Chu recognized him for his “involvement and dedication in serving both his community of Arcadia and the United States at large.”
The event was attended by local mayors, city council members, police chiefs, local dignitaries, and guests of the honorees who came to see eight outstanding individuals receive recognition for their leadership in volunteerism, business and education.
Gene is a Vietnam veteran and founder of the recently dedicated Arcadia Vietnam War Memorial Monument in the Arcadia County Park, a project he has for many years longed to accomplish in tribute to the 14 Arcadia men (two of them his classmates) that lost their lives in the Vietnam War 50 years ago. With the United States observance of the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War running from 2012 to 2025 (1975-2025) Glasco said he felt “the time was right and decades overdue” to honor Arcadia’s servicemen that were killed or declared missing in action in Vietnam, by building a monument in their honor.
“Construction of the Arcadia Vietnam War Monument has been a humbling experience,” said Glasco, and his journey in raising funds to build it has re-instilled in him the ideology that caring, patriotic people really do exist.
In his acceptance speech, Glasco said: “In a period of just seven months our community came together and helped me raise over $50,000 to build this monument in honor of the 14 Arcadia boys who joined our military service and subsequently lost their lives in one of the longest wars in America’s history.” “Beginning with permissions from Los Angeles County” he continued, “and a grass roots fund raising effort originating with the Arcadia Elks Lodge; along with generous donations from local businesses, police and fire unions, veteran’s service organizations and substantial contributions from the private sector, completion of the Arcadia Vietnam War Monument took less than a year’s time.”
“After the passing of 50 years, 14 Arcadia boys – two of them 1966 classmates of mine at Arcadia High School – have finally been memorialized with the establishment of this monument,” Glasco said. The dedication of the monument was held in the Arcadia County Park on May 28 in a moving ceremony that was attended by hundreds of people.
Gene said he is proud to represent and serve the citizens of Arcadia in his second term as Arcadia’s elected city clerk. Prior to his election, Glasco served two terms on the Arcadia Senior Citizen Commission (his last term as chairman) and two terms as president of the Arcadia Historical Society. He was vice president of the Arcadia Highlands Homeowner Association and is a volunteer in crime prevention (VIPS) with the Arcadia Police Department.
Gene is a senior real estate specialist with Dilbeck Estates/Christie’s International, representing sellers and buyers of properties in Arcadia and throughout the San Gabriel Valley.
In addition to his service to the City of Arcadia, Gene is affiliated with numerous other organizations. He is a member of Arcadia Elks Lodge 2025. He is a director of the Vietnam Unit Memorial in Coronado and is West Coast Chapter president of Gamewardens of Vietnam, America’s oldest continuously operating Vietnam veteran organization. He is member of American Legion Chinatown Post 628, Los Angeles and is a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans of America and the Arcadia/Monrovia Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2070.
Click here to view a video of Congresswoman Chu’s introduction.
