Photo By: Sarah Sanchez
Michael Reagan

By Sarah Sanchez

Eastvale – On Friday, Aug. 28, a Dedication Ceremony was held in honor of Ronald Reagan Elementary, the 50th school to be opened in the Corona-Norco Unified School District. Michael Reagan, the son of U.S. President Ronald Reagan, was the special guest of honor at the dedication.

A variety of people were also in attendance, including U.S. Congressman, Ken Calvert; Senator Richard D. Roth; Anthony Pennay of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation; Eastvale’s Mayor, Ike Bootsma, and other City officials and dignitaries; CNUSD Superintendent, Michael Lin, and Board Members; Reagan Principal, Susan Helms;  Director of Education Board Members; PTA Board Members; Eastvale Chamber Members, and the students, teachers, and parents of Ronald Reagan Elementary.

The Dedication Ceremony was a great event, starting off with a Reagan student leading the Pledge of Allegiance. The crowd addressed the very same flag that was flown over the Capital on Ronald Reagan’s birthday.

Reagan Elementary Principal, Susan Helms, gave an introduction and thank you to all in attendance, and then Congressman Ken Calvert took the stage. He announced that four U.S. flags were flown over the United States Capital in honor of President Ronald Reagan, his son Michael Reagan, Principal Susan Helms, and Superintendent Michael Lin.

Many spoke at the dedication, including Mayor Bootsma; Superintendent Lin; CNUSD Board of Education President, Jose W. Lalas; Board Vice President, Cathy L. Sciortino; and Reagan PTA President, Brenda Meagher.

Then, the special guest of honor took the stage.

“It is an honor and privilege to be here at Ronald Reagan Elementary.  It is also an honor and a privilege to be the son of Ronald Reagan,” said Michael Reagan, as he chuckled.

Reagan thanked everyone who was responsible for making Ronald Reagan Elementary possible. He also presented Principal Helms with a Challenge Coin from the USS Ronald Reagan.  He then advised the students to always work together toward a common goal, referring to when President Reagan brought down a certain wall in Berlin. Reagan said his father focused on making friends out of enemies, and not enemies out of friends.

Reagan also said that the President always knew his audience when he gave a speech.

“Think about this school. Think about the name it has on this building. Think about who you represent. People will be looking to you for leadership in the future; the leadership that is going to be taught to you and brought to you in this school. Think about when you go out and leave this school campus; what will people be looking at? What message are you going to be giving to them? Always know your audience and know that they are watching. When you do good, the community will do good, and hopefully the state and the world will be doing good right behind you.”

The event concluded with all the Reagan students singing the Reagan Rally, and then officials gathered for the ribbon cutting. However, Principal Helms said, “It is a rope cutting instead of a ribbon cutting, because, after all, we are the Reagan Wranglers.”