Robert Herrera Honored for His Service

Robert Herrera was honored with a military banner by his family, friends, and his hometown of Colton this past April. Unfortunately Herrera passed away in October of 2005 so he was unable to see his military banner be officially installed. Many of his loved ones attended the ceremony to honor him. Born and raised in San Bernardino, Herrera enlisted into the Army in 1977 and served for three years, according to his wife Betsy Herrera. He was a private first class and worked as a clerk in the headquarters at Fort Lewis in Washington. After being honorably discharged, Herrera started working at the VA in Loma Linda where he worked for a total of 19 years. Betsy met her husband Herrera when he came back from boot camp. “My brother also joined at the same time he did so when they would come home, they would come together and that’s how I met him,” she explained. They had two daughters together: Rebecca Sanchez and Melissa Hernandez. Betsy also had a son at the time Raymond Juarez that Herrera considered to be his son, as well. “He took him under his wing as if he was his own,” she shared. “My daughter saw all these banners hanging up around the city and told me that we have to get one for dad,” Betsy explained. Many family members, loved ones, and friends of Herrera came out that day to watch his very own military banner being officially installed. She added, “It was just a joyful moment to watch his banner go up and to see him among the rest of the veterans in our community.”