Two veterans honored by Council

Two extraordinary military veterans were recognized by the City Council on Nov. 5 for their service.

Councilman Bob Harbicht introduces veteran John Pigott.

Arcadia resident John Pigott, 93, served on a destroyer during World War II that was positioned off the coast of Normandy during D-Day in 1944. The 93 year-old Pigott wrote a book about his extensive experiences, which included several major battles in the Pacific Theater. Councilman Bob Harbicht introduced Pigott and said he read the book in just two days. Mayor Mickey Segal then presented Pigott with a special certificate of appreciation for his service. Councilman Harbicht said the certificate also represented the service of all veterans in honor of the upcoming Veterans Day.

Mayor Segal thanks Staff Sgt. James Gomez.

Mayor Segal then introduced Staff Sergeant James Gomez, who has dedicated his life to serving our country in the U.S. Army for nearly 22 1/2 years and is currently working as a readiness NCO and training NCO for his unit in an Army location in Los Angeles. To put it in his own words, “he takes care of the welfare of all the soldiers in his unit.” He is in charge of payroll, promotions, discharges, re-enlistments, setting training schedules, the Army Physical Fitness Test, administrative paperwork and any military personnel issues. Sergeant Gomez was born in Weehawken, New Jersey before moving to Puerto Rico where he initially began his military career in the U.S. Navy. He holds a Bachelor degree in accounting and business administration and has completed four courses in various military education specialties. He has traveled extensively in Asia, including the Philippines where he met and married his wife of the last 27 years, Merle Gomez. They have lived in Arcadia for the last 25 years.

Sergeant Gomez has been awarded with several medals and honors including the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Humanitarian Service Medal, to just name a few. He is a member of Arcadia’s Operation Hometown Heroes program, which honors Arcadians on active duty in all branches of the military.

A video recording of the presentation can be seen by clicking this link to the City of Arcadia web site. (The overall 10-minute presentation begins at about 9-minutes into the video that begins with a 2-minute montage of the City of Arcadia and then includes the entire Council meeting of nearly an hour.)