WW-II On the Santa Ana Home Front  

Click here to see photos from this year's tour.

On October 27th, the Santa Ana Historical Preservation Society presented its 4th Annual Historical Cemetery Tour of Fairhaven Memorial Park and Santa Ana Cemetery. This family-style historical walking tour featured costumed actors portraying colorful men and women on the Orange County home front during WWII.

The guided walking tour led visitors through fascinating stories of Santa Ana during the war years including those of people who supported the war effort, from service men and women, to immigrant farmers, to local “Rosie the Riveters.” Visitors listened to letters home from homesick servicemen; a war-era sermon at Fairhaven Chapel; and entertainers at the USO. 

This event was produced in partnership with the Orange County High School of the Arts and sponsored through the generosity of Fairhaven Memorial Park and Funeraria Latina Familiar.

Other major contributors and advertising supporters were:

Santa Ana Cemetery
Orange County Supervisor Chuck V. Smith
Colonial Brown Mortuary
City of Santa Ana
First American Title
Papa Johns Pizza
Santa Ana High School ROTC Unit
Sandy De Angelis of Seven Gables Real Estate
Mike Harrah of Caribou Industries
World of Moulding
Shelly's Courthouse & Bistro
Wilshire Square Neighborhood
Debbie McEwen

The WONDERFUL Actors included:

Phill Aguet               Chris Aguilar
Sam Barrad             Clarissa Bruno
Candice Clasby        Sheena Crothers
Jenna Daley              Jennifer Eaton
Jonathan Fairchild     James Haworth
Hayley Hughes          Kate Lee
Ryan Mekenian         Christopher Ogden
Krysta Rodriguez       Rihana Terrell
Kaitlyn Tice               Corey Tobiska
Justin Wade               Amy Weisman
Lou Carlson
 

WWII on the Santa Ana Home Front Committee included:

Chair: James Marquez
Research Committee: Alison Young, Jo Ann Ramirez, James Marquez, Lou Carlson, and Nathan Hittle
Publicity: Guy Ball
Program: Eris Smith, Guy Ball
Poster Display: Alison Young, Jo Ann Ramirez, Ginelle Hardy, James Marquez.

Special Thanks to:

David Green, VP and Artistic Director, Orange County High School of the Arts.
Dennis Leslie and the "Marching through History" group
Sam Randall, General Manager, OC Cemetery District
Julio Amarillas, Santa Ana Cemetery
Ed Cote
Marilyn & Larry Zike
Nathan Reed and Roberta Runnells Reed
Wilshire Square Neighborhood
Ginelle Hardy
Ben Graviel
Bob Runnells
Dick Pierce

Click here to see information and photos about the 2000 and 1999 cemetery tours.