Fallen troops and their families honored at Nixon Foundation’s Christmas tree dedication in Yorba Linda

Vickie Castro, of Corona, hangs an ornament bearing the name of her son, Army Corporal Jonathan Castro, onto the Gold Star Tree during the Nixon Foundation’s annual Hometown Heroes Christmas Tree Dedication at the Nixon Presidential Library & Museum in Yorba Linda on Saturday, December 8, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Quinn Matthies, 12, of Ladera Ranch, looks at an ornament on the Gold Star Tree bearing the name of his uncle, Army Maj. Charles Soltes Jr., of Irvine, who was killed in Iraq on Oct. 13, 2004, during the Nixon Foundation’s annual Hometown Heroes Christmas Tree Dedication at the Nixon Presidential Library & Museum in Yorba Linda on Saturday, December 8, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Tony Ruiz, of Murrietta, gets some help from Docent Volunteer Bill Mallett as he hangs an ornament bearing the name of his son, Sgt. Clinton Ruiz, onto the Gold Star Tree during the Nixon Foundation’s annual Hometown Heroes Christmas Tree Dedication honoring Southern California troops who lost their lives in Iraq, Afghanistan and Vietnam at the Nixon Presidential Library & Museum in Yorba Linda on Saturday, December 8, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Kathleen York, of Twin Peaks, hugs veteran Melvin McMullen before hanging an ornament bearing the name of her son-in-law Chief Petty Officer Patrick Wade on the Gold Star Tree during the Nixon Foundation’s annual Hometown Heroes Christmas Tree Dedication honoring Southern California troops who lost their lives in Iraq, Afghanistan and Vietnam at the Nixon Presidential Library & Museum in Yorba Linda on Saturday, December 8, 2018. Melvin’s wife Jennifer stands at right. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A docent arranges ornaments bearing the names of Southern California troops who lost their lives in Iraq, Afghanistan and Vietnam during the Nixon Foundation’s annual Hometown Heroes Christmas Tree Dedication at the Nixon Presidential Library & Museum in Yorba Linda on Saturday, December 8, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Jesse McKenzie, 27, of Los Angeles, prays during the invocation of U.S. Air Force Reserve Chaplain Rick Givens during the Nixon Foundation’s annual Hometown Heroes Christmas Tree Dedication at the Nixon Presidential Library & Museum in Yorba Linda on Saturday, December 8, 2018. McKenzie was there for his great uncle Army Pvt. Rocco Lafauci who died at the age of 17 on Dec. 4, 1944 while fighting WWII in Germany. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Wayne Scott speaks during the Nixon Foundation’s annual Hometown Heroes Christmas Tree Dedication at the Nixon Presidential Library & Museum in Yorba Linda on Saturday, December 8, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Tom Frost, father of 9/11 victim Lisa Frost, talks with Jennifer and Melvin McMullen before hanging an ornament in his daughter’s honor during the Nixon Foundation’s annual Hometown Heroes Christmas Tree Dedication at the Nixon Presidential Library & Museum in Yorba Linda on Saturday, December 8, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Ornaments bearing the names of Southern California troops who lost their lives in Iraq, Afghanistan and Vietnam hang on the Gold Star Tree after the Nixon Foundation’s annual Hometown Heroes Christmas Tree Dedication at the Nixon Presidential Library & Museum in Yorba Linda on Saturday, December 8, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Teresa Bullock, of Hemet, looks at the Gold Star Tree with an ornament bearing the name of her son Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Webb, during the Nixon Foundation’s annual Hometown Heroes Christmas Tree Dedication honoring Southern California troops who lost their lives in Iraq, Afghanistan and Vietnam at the Nixon Presidential Library & Museum in Yorba Linda on Saturday, December 8, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Gold Star mothers pose for a photo after the Nixon Foundation’s annual Hometown Heroes Christmas Tree Dedication at the Nixon Presidential Library & Museum in Yorba Linda on Saturday, December 8, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Dr. Gary Scott, of San Gabriel, leads the Band of the California Battalion as they play during the Nixon Foundation’s annual Hometown Heroes Christmas Tree Dedication at the Nixon Presidential Library & Museum in Yorba Linda on Saturday, December 8, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A docent arranges ornaments bearing the names of Southern California troops who lost their lives in Iraq, Afghanistan and Vietnam during the Nixon Foundation’s annual Hometown Heroes Christmas Tree Dedication at the Nixon Presidential Library & Museum in Yorba Linda on Saturday, December 8, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The Honor Guard from Esperanza’s Air Force NJROTC program prepare to present the colors during the Nixon Foundation’s annual Hometown Heroes Christmas Tree Dedication at the Nixon Presidential Library & Museum in Yorba Linda on Saturday, December 8, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Ella Carmichael, 7, of Irvine, looks at an ornament bearing the name of her uncle, Army First Lieutenant Matthew Ferrara, after the Nixon Foundation’s annual Hometown Heroes Christmas Tree Dedication at the Nixon Presidential Library & Museum in Yorba Linda on Saturday, December 8, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Roy Conrad, of Chandler, Arizona, hangs an ornament bearing the name of his son, Staff Sgt. Alex Conrad who died on June 8, 2018 in Somalia, onto the Gold Star Tree during the Nixon Foundation’s annual Hometown Heroes Christmas Tree Dedication at the Nixon Presidential Library & Museum in Yorba Linda on Saturday, December 8, 2018. Conrad and his wife Karen were vacationing in Southern California when they saw the Nixon Library sign on the freeway on their way out of town. They decided to stop and found out about the ceremony upon arrival. Officials immediately included them in the ceremony. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Members of the Band of the California Battalion sing as they perform during the Nixon Foundation’s annual Hometown Heroes Christmas Tree Dedication at the Nixon Presidential Library & Museum in Yorba Linda on Saturday, December 8, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Docent Volunteers Bill Dingfelder, left, and Bill Mallett stand next to the Gold Star Tree during the Nixon Foundation’s annual Hometown Heroes Christmas Tree Dedication honoring Southern California troops who lost their lives in Iraq, Afghanistan and Vietnam at the Nixon Presidential Library & Museum in Yorba Linda on Saturday, December 8, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Pat Reilly, of Redondo Beach, takes a photo of an ornament bearing the name of her brother John Reilly who died Dec. 9, 1965 in South Vietnam, before the Nixon Foundation’s annual Hometown Heroes Christmas Tree Dedication at the Nixon Presidential Library & Museum in Yorba Linda on Saturday, December 8, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan, Orange County Register/SCNG)