Local Visalia resident and D-Day veteran Vito Mastrangelo shared his harrowing experience of the invasion of Normandy to a crowd of veterans and their families at a Veterans breakfast hosted by Senate Republican Leader Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield). Veterans and their families packed the Veterans Memorial Building in Visalia for the appreciation event.
Other special guests who were invited to speak included Tulare County Veteran Service Officer Ken Cruikshank, Visalia Chief of Police Jason Salazar, Chaplain Clayton B. Diltz from the Fresno Veterans Home, and Veterans Coordinator Ashley Martinez with the College of the Sequoias.
On Thursday, the California State Senate passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 53 by Senate Republican Leader Grove which recognized June 6, 2019 as the 75th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy, also known as D-Day.
“Our veterans have sacrificed and selflessly served our country for our freedoms. I’m honored to be among so many heroes today, including D-Day veteran Vito Mastrangelo who was only 20-years-old when he landed on the beaches of Normandy. Vito’s story of bravery is incredible, and I am so appreciative of him and all of our veterans for their service to our country,” said Senate Republican Leader Shannon Grove.
Elected in November 2018, Senator Grove is the first woman veteran elected to serve in the California Legislature and as the Senate Republican Leader. She also proudly serves as the Vice-Chair for the Senate Committee on Veterans.
Senator Shannon Grove represents California’s 16th Senate District which encompasses large portions of Kern, Tulare and San Bernardino counties and including the cities of Bakersfield, Barstow, California City, Exeter, Frazier Mountain, Joshua Tree, Mojave, Needles, Ridgecrest, Rosamond, Taft, Tehachapi, Twentynine Palms, Tulare, Visalia, Yucca Valley and portions of the Kern River Valley. She is the Senate Republican Leader