As residents hit the highways this coming week to celebrate the Labor Day weekend and the end of summer, many will zoom past a host of freeway signs memorializing local heroes.
People like South Orange County resident John James Paoletti.
This month, his family alongside local elected officials, veterans and residents gathered to celebrate the naming of Senior Master Sergeant John James Paoletti Memorial Highway, on a stretch of the I-5 Freeway just south of Crown Valley Parkway.
“Our hearts are filled with gratitude for this amazing, honorary tribute to our father, Senior Master Sergeant John James Paoletti. We pray this memorial highway sign will forever be a testimony to his lifelong, unwavering dedication, service, and love for our Great Nation,” said Victoria Paoletti, the Senior Master Sergeant’s second daughter.
“In addition to his heroic service to our country during WWII and beyond, he was a devoted husband of nearly 60 years, loving father, grandfather, great grandfather and proud Italian-American.”
“In addition to his heroic service to our country during WWII and beyond, he was a devoted husband of nearly 60 years, loving father, grandfather, great grandfather and proud Italian-American.”
Paoletti, who passed on November 14, 2020 at the age of 95, had over 26 years of military service in the Army and Air Force. Upon retirement from the military, he continued to serve Americans as a postal service worker.
Securing a Memorial Highway
“I would say it was quite a lengthy and fascinating process,” Victoria Paoletti said in reference to the process of acquiring the memorial highway.
“We received the first official email from Assemblywoman Laurie Davies office back in June of 2021, informing us of sponsorship and that the resolution, California ACR208, would be submitted to the State. The resolution then moves through several State committees, is analyzed, and is voted on numerous times.”
“This is the best part of my job, so I’m happy to honor people that have gone above and beyond others, so I thank you for that opportunity…” Assemblywoman Davies said in a speech at the event. “I was pleased to assist in getting these signs approved through the state legislature as a way to recognize John’s impressive legacy.”
Although any legislative office can submit the application on behalf of a constituent, according to the office of Assemblywoman Laurie Davies, extensive backgrounding with documentation must be done to apply for memorial highway consideration. This application goes to the legislative council, and then to the Assembly Committee on Transportation.
The Senate and Assembly Transportation Committee’s policy states that any person being named in a memorial highway must have provided “extraordinary public service or some exemplary contribution to the public good,” while also having a connection to the community where the highway is located.
Paoletti’s lifetime commitment to public good is evident in his length of service, but also in his numerous awards and decorations, including the Purple Heart, World War II Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, United Nations Service Medal, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, National Defense Services Medal with 1 Bronze Service Star, Army of Occupation Medal and several others.
Paoletti’s wife of 59 years, Gloria, funded the creation and installation of the sign – as policy designates that funding must come from local or private sources.
The Paoletti’s initially received support from former San Clemente Councilwoman Laura Ferguson, after they reached out about acquiring the sign.
“Upon the Paoletti Family reaching out to me, I stepped in to help the family facilitate their efforts to have memorial signage displayed to honor their Hero John James Paoletti,” said Ferguson in an email. “I reached out to Caltrans and subsequently Assemblywoman Laurie Davies staff to prepare a resolution to submit to the State Legislature where the resolution received unanimous support.”
Memorial Signs Across CA Highways
There are over 500 memorial highways across California. These areas recognize police officers, veterans, civil rights activists, highway patrol officers, firefighters, senators, congressmen and other figures that have shaped the state.
After WWII, a movement to memorialize and pay tribute to the armed forces resulted in the designation of Blue Star Memorial Highways in the 1940s.
Launched in 2002, the Victims Memorial Sign Program places signs in memory of people killed by intoxicated motorists. The signs read, “Please Don’t Drink and Drive,” followed by “In Memory Of” and the victim’s name.
A Lifetime of Serving Americans
Senior Master Sergeant Paoletti served during World War II, drafted while in high school into the Army in 1943. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge, considered the United States’s deadliest single battle of the war.
Approximately 19,000 Americans died during the battle.
He ultimately re-enlisted into the US Air Force in 1949, where he directed the installation of crypto units throughout Europe as a cryptology expert.
Upon retiring from the military, Paoletti continued to serve – this time as a civil servant – in the Postal Service.
He spent the last 40 years of his life as an Orange County resident alongside Gloria until his death on November 14, 2020 at the age of 95.
The county is home to over 100,000 veterans.
In his later years, Paoletti shared his experiences in WWII at local high schools.
He created an hour-long presentation complete with war memorabilia, wartime uniforms, detailed maps and photographs.
Paoletti’s presentation inspired one student to join the Navy years later, according to his family.
“It is our hope that commuters along the Interstate 5 Freeway will be reminded that America was built, defended, and continues to be protected by heroic soldiers just like our father,” Victoria Paoletti said. “May God forever Bless the United States of America.”
Erika Taylor is a Voice of OC Tracy Wood Reporting Fellow and photojournalist. You can find her on Instagram @camerakeepsrolling or email at etaylor@voiceofoc.org
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