Dozens of homes have been completed in Chula Vista’s Montecito Village, a community in Otay Ranch. But a large part of the planned community still needs finishing. Homes still need to be constructed, roads need to be paved and sidewalks need to be poured.
But one thing that builders can check off their to-do list is dedicating seven streets in honor of Chula Vistans who died while serving in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.
The seven streets are named: Paseo Bachar; Martinez Drive; Lorenzo Road; Idanan Road; Mattero Avenue; Spivey Road; and Wycoff Street.
Paseo Bachar is named after U.S. Marine Corporal Salem Bachar, a Chula Vista High School alum, who died in an ambush in Iraq on April 13, 2006. He was 20-years-old.
Lorenzo Road takes the name of Staff Sgt. Kristofferson Lorenzo, a platoon leader who was mortally wounded on May 23, 2011 when his unit was attacked with an explosive device. He was 33.
Lorenzo’s father, Saturnino Loreno Jr., said having a street named after his son continues his memory,
“It will be a wonderful experience for people to pass by along this road named after my son,” said the elder Lorenzo
“And they will remember that once upon a time, this young man fought for freedom and it will be worth remembering for them to understand that life is worth giving.”
Army Staff Sgt. Micahel Idanan gets his name on Idanan Road. Idanan, of the Philippines, was killed in combat in Iraq in November 19 2005.
Martinez Drive honors Army Sgt. Michael Martinez, a graduate of Eastlake High School. Martinez served two tours as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He encountered an IED while on the frontlines. He died in Southern Baghdad on June 28, 2007. He was 24.
Armida Martinez, mother of Michael Martinez, said she plans to walk, drive and perhaps even live on Martinez Drive once houses are constructed.
“I think it’s amazing to know that what my son sacrificed for and people walking up and down the street that these sons that are being named today, they are not forgotten, they will be remembered in some way,” she said.
Mattero Avenue is named after Castle Park High School alum Joshua Mattero, a chemical operations specialist in the Army. He was a nine year Army veteran on his third tour when he was killed on July 24, 2007 while disarming an IED when a secondary device exploded. He was 29.
Army Specialist Curtis Spivey had Spivey Road named after him. He joined the Army shortly after graduating from Hilltop High School. He was deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Spivey died on April 2, 2007 in San Diego from injuries suffered on the battlefield. He was 25 years old.
Wycoff Street honors Army Specialist and Hilltop High School graduate Charles Wycoff. He was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He was 28 when he died on June 6, 2007 in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Councilman John McCann, an Iraq War veteran and Navy reservist, spearheaded the project, promising to dedicate streets in East Chula Vista after war heroes two years ago.
