Thanksgiving came early, but just in time for former 9th District councilman Val Lerch this year. The longtime veterans advocate and North Long Beach booster had been battling cancer for several years and had found out in October that the disease had spread and was terminal. On Sunday, family members gathered at his home for a final Thanksgiving dinner. Later that evening, Lerch succumbed to the disease. He was 69.
Lerch, who served for 12 years with the U.S. Coast Guard and another 30 years in the reserves, had been a leader of the Long Beach Veterans Day Parade since he founded it more than two decades ago. His tenure with North Long Beach’s 9th District spanned eight years, from 2002 to 2010 during which time the term “Uptown” was adopted by North Long Beach.
On Nov. 13, Lerch was honored as Grand Marshal at the Veterans Day Festival at Houghton Park in Uptown for his work with veterans and his service to North Long Beach. His portrait will added to a mural on Atlantic Avenue and Harding Street honoring local veterans.
“I’m glad he was able to watch the ceremony last week and hear stories about what he meant to so many people,” said current 9th District Councilman Rex Richardson. “Val was one of those sorts of community leaders who was larger than life, a person who seemed to be a friend to everyone,” said Richardson, who organized the festival that honored Lerch.
In addition to founding the Veterans Day Parade, Lerch’s work with veterans included helping to organize the Compton Stand Down, where veterans could find various services, from a haircut to job placement. In 2012, he helped launch the Veterans Independence Day Celebration, which serves a Fourth of July barbecue lunch to about 3,000 veterans at the Long Beach VA Medical Center.
“HIs impact is, especially on me, something super special,” said Gus Orozco, who is active in veterans advocacy in Long Beach and is on the Veterans Day Parade committee. “He welcomed me into the parade committee, and pretty much right off the bat started mentoring me and wanting me to take over; he wanted to retire.
“Val’s been mentoring me for the past five years, not just with the parade but with the U.S. Vets organization and the city’s Neighborhood Leadership Program,” said Orozco. “He’s done so much for me personally.”
It was important to honor Val at the festival this year, and to add him to the mural,” said Richardson. “Now it’s a day for reflection on his life of service and dedication to the nation and community. We should be grateful and remember him and all that he’s done.”
In a statement, Congressman Alan Lowenthal said, “There are those that are simply called icons and then there are those who earn the title. Val Lerch earned the title many times over. He was the epitome of a dedicated public servant. He served his nation in uniform, his city as a councilman and Vice Mayor, and his community as a public leader and mentor..
“His passing is a loss to anyone who met him. I will miss his ever-present smile, his always jovial attitude, and most importantly, his endless and inspirational dedication to his city and community. Goodbye my friend.”
Veterans Day Festival honors former councilman, veterans with food trucks and live music
