EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK -- MARY BETH P. ADOMAITIS

Growing up, the Fourth of July meant barbecues in our backyard, going

to the nearby city pool for an afternoon of swimming and watching

fireworks from an upstairs bedroom window. We had a great view.

Little did I understand at that time that this day also stood for

freedom and independence. But it did and still does today.

Just ask Jonathan Boag.

This former Marine Corps captain was just 7 when World War II ended

and the “boys” came home. He learned at a very young age what freedom

meant.

“I remember wearing their medals on my T-shirt,” he said. “I remember

what heroes these guys were.”

While Boag, 63, did not fight in any war or conflict, he has been

directly affected by them, just like most Americans, especially World War

II.

“That generation is passing away,” he said. “It would be nice to

remember them.”

And that’s why Boag wants to honor the few from Southern California

who have received the Congressional Medal of Honor.

To do so, he got in touch with Maxine Preston, 78, a Riverside County

resident who is the western region advisor of the Freedoms Foundation a

Valley Forge, a group dedicated to teaching the principles upon which

this country was founded. The organization sponsors a Medal of Honor

Grove in Pennsylvania -- a 52-acre woodland honoring all those awarded

the Congressional Medal of Honor. There is one acre for each state,

Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.

Five years ago, Preston visited the area and was appalled at how

unkempt California’s site was. She was determined to change that.

Her goal was to raise $30,000 to refurbish the site and so far has

raised $17,000.

That’s where Boag comes in.

Using his creative talents, this Huntington Beach fashion designer,

who also is the executive director of the local group the Citizens Bureau

of Investigation, created a Congressional Medal of Honor jacket. It is a

replica of the government-issued A2 leather flight jacket, and the lining

is pale blue satin to match the color of the neck ribbon on the medal.

The jacket is on display at the Huntington Beach Central Library until

after the Fourth of July. Information about the Freedoms Foundation at

Valley Forge and ways to make contributions to help refurbish

California’s acre in Pennsylvania accompany the exhibit.

“I want to help restore confidence and remember these people for what

they did,” he said. “I want to help in my little way.”

The jacket is one-of-a-kind, although similar ones have already been

made for two medal recipients living in Orange County.

Boag and Preston’s hopes are that this jacket will help raise

awareness not only about Congressional Medal of Honor recipients -- there

are only about a half-dozen left living in Southern California -- but

about this country’s freedom that was won during World War II.

“Jonathan was very generous to offer this as a stimulant to us,”

Preston said. “It all counts up.”

The Huntington Beach Central Library, 7111 Talbert Ave., is open from

1 to 9 p.m. Monday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 9 a.m to 5

p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

* MARY BETH P. ADOMAITIS is the city editor. She can be reached at o7

marybeth.adomaitis@latimes.com.

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