The “Rededication” of the newly renovated Toby R. Gritz Memorial was held on Saturday, August 18, 2012 in front of Fillmore High School and in the presence of about seventy-five family, classmates and friends of United States Marine Corps 1st Lieutenant Toby R. Gritz a 1962 Fillmore High School Graduate. Included in this Memorial was the plaque of Fillmore resident, the late Scott Douglas Ipswitch, son of Ronnie and Elaine Ipswitch who passed away at the age of fifteen from advanced Hodgkin's Disease.

The Memorial is a powerful, but simple, low concrete bench placed well-behind the two Redwood trees whose roots had caused the damage to the original Memorials. The approximate 15' long concrete bench will be used by Fillmore High School Students to sit on, or to rest their backpacks and books while students are on breaks from their studies. The bronze plaques prominently placed at each end of the wall will give students and visitors only a snapshot of the lives of these two brave Americans, but to those who knew both Toby and Scott the Memorial will stimulate fond memories of each of their time here on earth!

Both Toby's and Scott's Memorials had been damaged by the very Redwood trees planted there to grow majestically and to long-honor their lives after their deaths; Toby died during fierce combat in Vietnam as an American Hero on March 25, 1970 and Scott on April 16, 1976 at Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles of Stage Four Hodgkins's disease and leukemia.

Toby was 25, married and a new father. Scott was 15, and the identical twin of brother Steven and the son of Ronnie and Elaine Ipswitch. Scott's death was the culmination of a five year battle Scott fought courageously against this terrible disease! Both Toby and Scott shared two other things! Both were warriors! Toby's military service is well documented. In the Foreword to a book written by his mother Elaine, “Scott Was Here,” published in 1979, friend Webb McKelvey wrote, “The memory of Scott is surrounded with military bravery and medals. His short life revolved around dreams of heroes and heroic deeds. The physical battle as well as the result or the cause of the war. He was well beyond his time in his thinking.” In addition, Toby and Scott were both from Fillmore. Toby and Scott loved Fillmore and were loved by the people of Fillmore! Many of those people were there to witness this rededication to their lives cut so short.

The master of ceremony for the rededication was Toby's brother, U.S. Army Reserve Retired Colonel Tom MacKenzie. He was assisted by brothers, former U.S. Army Captain Rock MacKenzie and U.S. Army Retired Major Bob MacKenzie. To honor his brother Toby's title of “Smiling Irishman,” bestowed on him in college, brother Bob MacKenzie wore an Irish Kilt throughout the ceremony. Colonel MacKenzie explained that when the family moved from Fillmore in 1962 the younger three boys adopted their mother's maiden name of MacKenzie. Twin brothers, U.S. Army Retired Colonel John Gritz and U.S. Army Retired Chief Warrant Officer Four Paul Gritz were unable to attend the ceremony.

The Fillmore Boy Scout Troop 406 assisted a United States Marine Corps Color Guard based in Pasadena, California and attached to the 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marines in the posting of colors. Mayor Pro Tem Jamey Brooks represented Mayor Gayle Washburn who, Mayor Pro Tem Brooks said could not attend because she was out of state in Colorado. The Mayor Pro Tem presented the Gritz-MacKenzie Family with a proclamation proclaiming today, “1st Lieutenant Toby Gritz Day.”

The Gritz-MacKenzie Family recognized many people involved in the rededication of their brother's Memorial; the late Charles Mozley, Matt Mozley and the late Retired Scout Master of Troop 406 Gene Wren and Marie Wren. They were responsible for the installation of the first Toby Gritz Memorial forty years ago. It was also added that back then there was not a lot of “permitting” sought for these kinds of public works projects. Things just happened! Marie Wren told the gathered crowd that four of the six Gritz-MacKenzie brothers became Eagle Scouts. Three with Troop 406 and one in San Luis Obispo County. Marie noted that their mother felt it so important that the boys participate in Scouting in Fillmore that she drove all the way from Lompoc every Monday night to attend Troop meetings.

Troop 406 Eagle Scout Roberto “Robby” Munoz and his parents Mike and Janey Munoz were recognized. Eagle Scout Roberto Munoz chose this Memorial as his Eagle Scout Project while he was a candidate for Eagle Scout after a suggestion by his father who had been a classmate of Rock MacKenzie.

And finally Harold “Butch” Foy, owner of Fillmore Building Supply, who Major Bob MacKenzie described as, “The North Star of this project and the man who can make great things happen!” Butch humbly said as he accepted the Gritz-MacKenzie Family recognition, “A lot of volunteerism went into this project. I was proud to be a part of this process.” Butch further said that this project began two years ago and that all he did was make phone calls and forward emails! Of course everyone knows that Butch contributed more than that, but we will let Butch remain humble!

As the ceremony wound down, brother Bob MacKenzie moved off to the side of the gathered group and bugled “Taps” to conclude the ceremony. As Taps was played I wondered what the lives of both Toby and Scott could have been had they taken different paths and fates. I can only imagine from what I now know of each of them that their lives would have been meaningful and they would have contributed much. Thank you United States Marine Corps 1st Lieutenant Toby Gritz for your service! You are truly an American Hero! Thank you Scott for the imprint you have left on this community who knew you and on those of us who are just learning about you!