Daniel Luna Honored for his Service with a Military Banner

COLTON >> Coltonite Daniel Luna received his very own military banner, officially installed on the first pole west of 7th Street in his hometown of Colton, on Feb. 10. Luna served a total of six years in the Navy. He joined the service, starting as inactive, in 1960 while he was still a seventeen-year-old student at Colton High School. Luna explained that after his graduation, he served actively in the Navy until 1963. He served in the reserves until his six years were up. Luna was a Fireman Engineer which required him to work in the engine rooms. “I really enjoyed it,” he added. As Luna reflected on his decision to join the military he shared with a chuckle, “I really wanted to travel.. and back then, if you wanted to travel, you join the military." Luna did just that; he was able to visit a number of different places during his service including: New Zealand, Hawaii, Antarctica, South Pole, North Pole, South America, and more. “Got my dream; it came true,” he said. Initially, it was his sister Stella’s idea to get him a military banner; however, according to Luna there is no person who wanted that military banner more than his father. “He [his father] has been asking me about getting one for a while and after we went through the process, he wouldn’t stop asking when it was going to be installed,” said Luna. “It makes him really proud.” Most of Luna’s family and friends were able to attend the military banner installation ceremony, including his 95-year-old father. “It was a good day but a very emotional one for my dad,” he added. Luna shared that his father was asking if his banner would be on all the street signs throughout Colton. “I had to explain to him that it would just be on the one,” he chuckled. “He was just really excited about it.” Luna’s banner can be found on the south side of N Street, the first pole west of 7th Street. He was raised on 7th Street and wanted his banner to be as close as possible.