BOARD MEMBERS
Rodney Gonsalves - Founder / Board Member
Rodney Gonsalves has been a Police Officer for the City of Gardena since September of 1989 and is currently at the rank of Sergeant in the Patrol Division. His previous assignment and collateral duties include Motorcycle Officer and Instructor, Marksmanship Instructor and District Officer.
Rodney truly believes that positive development of today's youth will bring a better tomorrow. He currently is and has been an Advisor for the Gardena Police Department's Explorer youth program since 1994. One of his goals for the program is to teach young adults that they can overcome challenges and still persevere.
Rodney's belief in youth programs also extend to his personal life. At the age of 12, his mother involved his brothers and him in a youth program called "The Young Marines", which set the foundation for his military career. He eventually enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in 1979 and was sent to Parris Island, South Carolina for basic training. Other duty stations included were South Weymouth Naval Air Station - Massachusetts, Marine Corps Base 29 Palms, Marine Corps Air Stations El Toro and Miramar, California. His Military Occupational Specialties were Air Support Operations Operator, Rifle Range Coach and final rank of First Sergeant. His years of service were 1979 to 2002.
Honor, courage and commitment are just a few of the core values of our servicemen and women. It is for these reasons that the legacy of our Gardena Honored Veterans should forever be presented.
"I'm proud to be part of that endeavor." Rodney Gonsalves
Rodney Gonsalves has been a Police Officer for the City of Gardena since September of 1989 and is currently at the rank of Sergeant in the Patrol Division. His previous assignment and collateral duties include Motorcycle Officer and Instructor, Marksmanship Instructor and District Officer.
Rodney truly believes that positive development of today's youth will bring a better tomorrow. He currently is and has been an Advisor for the Gardena Police Department's Explorer youth program since 1994. One of his goals for the program is to teach young adults that they can overcome challenges and still persevere.
Rodney's belief in youth programs also extend to his personal life. At the age of 12, his mother involved his brothers and him in a youth program called "The Young Marines", which set the foundation for his military career. He eventually enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in 1979 and was sent to Parris Island, South Carolina for basic training. Other duty stations included were South Weymouth Naval Air Station - Massachusetts, Marine Corps Base 29 Palms, Marine Corps Air Stations El Toro and Miramar, California. His Military Occupational Specialties were Air Support Operations Operator, Rifle Range Coach and final rank of First Sergeant. His years of service were 1979 to 2002.
Honor, courage and commitment are just a few of the core values of our servicemen and women. It is for these reasons that the legacy of our Gardena Honored Veterans should forever be presented.
"I'm proud to be part of that endeavor." Rodney Gonsalves
Tasha Cerda - Founder / Board Member and Interim Treasurer
Tasha Cerda is currently on the Gardena City Council and is currently the Mayor Pro Tem.
Mayor Pro Tem Cerda (MPTC) wanted to honor Veterans in the city of Gardena because this is a city she grew up in and she recognized that the freedoms we enjoy here on the home front are due to the sacrifices that the men and women in the military made for those of us back home. This is why it was so important to her to recognize these individuals.
Mayor Pro Tem Cerda was brought up with strong family values and encouraged to help those in need. These are integral parts of what Ms. Cerda represents. Believing in community volunteerism has enabled her to become a well known figure in the Gardena Community for her “hands-on” leadership know–how and partake an active role in a variety of civic and community organizations in and outside of the city and now with the formation of the Gardena Honored Veterans.
Mayor Pro Tem Cerda is truly honored to be a part of this body in making sure we never forget the sacrifices our Veterans made.
Tasha Cerda is currently on the Gardena City Council and is currently the Mayor Pro Tem.
Mayor Pro Tem Cerda (MPTC) wanted to honor Veterans in the city of Gardena because this is a city she grew up in and she recognized that the freedoms we enjoy here on the home front are due to the sacrifices that the men and women in the military made for those of us back home. This is why it was so important to her to recognize these individuals.
Mayor Pro Tem Cerda was brought up with strong family values and encouraged to help those in need. These are integral parts of what Ms. Cerda represents. Believing in community volunteerism has enabled her to become a well known figure in the Gardena Community for her “hands-on” leadership know–how and partake an active role in a variety of civic and community organizations in and outside of the city and now with the formation of the Gardena Honored Veterans.
Mayor Pro Tem Cerda is truly honored to be a part of this body in making sure we never forget the sacrifices our Veterans made.
Charlotte Lynch - Board Member
Charlotte Lynch has been a Gardena resident for the past 26 years. After working for Los Angeles County for 27 years, she continues to volunteer her time, and is tirelessly dedicated to her community.
She has many accomplishments to her credit, both past and present. Her current activities include, but are not limited to:
Besides these activities, she continues her involvement with the South Bay Chapter of the Blue Star Mothers of America. She is also an American Gold Star Mother as a result of the loss of her son while serving in the United States Marine Corps (USMC).
Outside of her volunteer activities, she loves to cook, bake, garden and take care of her home and family. She is married and helped raise two sons. She has two grandsons and a granddaughter whom she adores.
"By being accepted to the Board of Gardena Honored Veterans, I would take great pleasure in helping to assure that all Gardena Veterans, past and present, be properly recognized and honored. It is only due to their incredible sacrifice for our great nation that we enjoy the freedoms and rights we have as Americans."
Charlotte Lynch has been a Gardena resident for the past 26 years. After working for Los Angeles County for 27 years, she continues to volunteer her time, and is tirelessly dedicated to her community.
She has many accomplishments to her credit, both past and present. Her current activities include, but are not limited to:
- Coordinator for the Purche Neighborhood Watch,
- Active membership on the Gardena Chief of Police Citizen Advisory Panel (COPCAP),
- The City of Gardena Emergency Preparedness Committee,
- The Gardena Emergency Preparedness and Response Coalition,
- Gardena Disaster Communication Services group.
Besides these activities, she continues her involvement with the South Bay Chapter of the Blue Star Mothers of America. She is also an American Gold Star Mother as a result of the loss of her son while serving in the United States Marine Corps (USMC).
Outside of her volunteer activities, she loves to cook, bake, garden and take care of her home and family. She is married and helped raise two sons. She has two grandsons and a granddaughter whom she adores.
"By being accepted to the Board of Gardena Honored Veterans, I would take great pleasure in helping to assure that all Gardena Veterans, past and present, be properly recognized and honored. It is only due to their incredible sacrifice for our great nation that we enjoy the freedoms and rights we have as Americans."
Stuart Gorsky - Videographer
Bio Coming Soon
Bio Coming Soon
Christopher Lynch - Special Correspondent
www.christopherjlynch.com
Besides writing for the Gardena Honored Veterans Association, South Bay native Christopher J. Lynch has written for numerous local and national publications. A lover of crime fiction, he also has published short stories and is the author of the One Eyed Jack series about a professional blackmailer who operates in and around the South Bay. The debut novel in the series was a 2013 Shamus Award finalist, and has recently been optioned for adaptation to a feature length film with Lion’s Gate Pictures. He also wrote and published an authorized biography of the iconic child actor Ken Osmond, (Eddie Haskell from the TV series Leave it to Beaver).
When he’s not writing, Christopher enjoys mountain climbing and has reached the summits of Mount Whitney, Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, and most recently, completed trek to Mount Everest Base Camp. He once trained and led eleven blind hikers to the summit of 10,000-ft. Mount Baldy, the highest point in Los Angeles County, and the third highest point in Southern California. A documentary film is being made of the adventure.
www.christopherjlynch.com
Besides writing for the Gardena Honored Veterans Association, South Bay native Christopher J. Lynch has written for numerous local and national publications. A lover of crime fiction, he also has published short stories and is the author of the One Eyed Jack series about a professional blackmailer who operates in and around the South Bay. The debut novel in the series was a 2013 Shamus Award finalist, and has recently been optioned for adaptation to a feature length film with Lion’s Gate Pictures. He also wrote and published an authorized biography of the iconic child actor Ken Osmond, (Eddie Haskell from the TV series Leave it to Beaver).
When he’s not writing, Christopher enjoys mountain climbing and has reached the summits of Mount Whitney, Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, and most recently, completed trek to Mount Everest Base Camp. He once trained and led eleven blind hikers to the summit of 10,000-ft. Mount Baldy, the highest point in Los Angeles County, and the third highest point in Southern California. A documentary film is being made of the adventure.
