I have been sitting at home the last few days doing research and trying to find some information for Olivia’s Grandfather. He is 84 years old and when he was my age, he worked for LAPD and was awarded the Medal of Valor. Now he can not find this Medal anywhere and has not seen it in decades. What Olivia and I are trying to put together is a memory box for him. I have found a few news articles on the presentation of the medal from 1958 but am finding nothing else. I am writing this today to see if any of my readers have any suggestions. I can not even find what the Medal of Valor looked liked back then. I also found out that it was recorded on Fox 11 news of LA, KTTV (I believe it is called) but sadly, reaching out to these media recording companies, everyone says nothing was saved from back then. I find that kind of hard to believe, as everything seemed to be saved somewhere but maybe not for the public. Like I said earlier, I am sitting here writing you today to see if any of you readers know anything or can assist on finding information. I have exhausted all my resources but I am sure there is resources that others have. Below I will add in his information that I have been using to search under so that if anyone with a kind heart wants to help out, that would be marvelous.
His name is Richard O. Beauchaine and he was awarded the Medal of Valor on Nov 27 1958 by the LAPD. I have found news articles from Van Nuys News and LaTimes. Both these articles are amazing to read as even the LaTimes tells us why he was awarded it. I have even sent out an email to LAPD to see if there is anything that they can do and after waiting a few days now, have not received any response.
We want to do this for him as a gift and something that he would never see coming. I hope I can get some help out of writing this entry but only time will tell. Thank you again for all my readers and I look forward to reading your responses.
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that’s very cool of you. take care..!
Thanks! I appreciate it, I can not wait to talk about the finish product.
That’s a lovely thing you’re trying to do. I have no advice, just words of encouragement. Best of luck!
Thank you!
Thank you for sharing! Very exciting! As I started googling,his name came up and in 1958 it says he and named others with him, he received the medal,ribbon and citation!!! Very proud of him!
Thanks! I found those too, printed and paid for the articles, they are truly exciting.
Have you contacted the LAPD community relations team? That’s where I would start.
No I have not but I will look up their information now!
Good luck!
Looked into their website. Can contact them by phone only but it which precinct( sp?) I am not sure lol. There is a dozen or two to choose from.
Choose them all and one will be right.
There you go, way to be proactive haha
I’ve done stuff like this before. The idea is to spread your questions everywhere in hopes someone will step up to help. Try facebook too. The LAPD facebook page maybe.
Dang, didn’t even cross my mind on that! You’re hired! Lol
It’s kinda part of my job to research people online. There’s always a way if you just keep at it.
I was amazed of what I could find and so was my fiance, his granddaughter. I have found more then anyone with the help my my mom, who is into genealogy.
Go look here = http://www.lapdonline.org/inside_the_lapd/content_basic_view/27313
This is what I found when you click 1958, you’ll see his name on the top of the list.
I saw it also off to the right are a bunch of links to get more information.
Went through those and only way they take an admissions for help on these type if it is in direct assistance to the city of LA or the citizens. We do not live there and he has not for decades.
sooo then facebook your way to a citizen who’s willing to help 🙂 good luck
That’s what I’m going to do
Already sent them a fb message
I should reach out to the local news and see if they are able to pull any strings
good idea
Thanks again for your advice
You’re very welcome, I hope your research ends well.
I am sure it will and if not, what I have not is still pretty awesome. News articles and pictures.l are pretty powerful, especially to guy of his age.
Thanks again for the advice. I look forward to future other advice and reading your blog as well.
http://www.lapdonline.org/inside_the_lapd/content_basic_view/50660 there he is
Was a sad ceremony too from what I have read. The bottom officer was KIA and his wife was there to accept his medal along with 9 other officers there on their own occasions.