This is the audio version. If you would like to see the video version on the Annual Events page, please click here.

In September 2023 the Foundation presented the story of a man, Richard Phelan, who in the 1890’s, was convicted of murder, sentenced to 25 years in Folsom Prison, and later received a full Gubernatorial Pardon. Researching this story led us to Richard’s marker in a quiet corner of the Elk Grove Cemetery, and the large family plot of the Springsted and Edgington families. These families came to Elk Grove in the 19th Century and were prominent in the area into the 1960s.

This is the second installment of the chronicle in which we’ll present the stories of these two Elk Grove-area pioneer families.

This is the audio version. If you would like to see the video version on the Annual Events page, please click here.

In 2017, during the process of recording the Mix Family Story in an interview with Oscar Mix, the Foundation learned of the vague and unusual story of a man, who in the 1890’s, was convicted of murder, sentenced to 25 years in Folsom Prison, and later received a full Gubernatorial Pardon. 

Researching this story led us to a quiet corner of the Elk Grove Cemetery, and the large family plot of the Springsted and Edgington families. These families came to Elk Grove in the 1860s and were prominent in the area well beyond the 1930s. With our discovery of a grave marker in this family plot, of a man whose name seemed out-of-place, a story unfolded like no other yet told in the history of Elk Grove. 

This entry is for the audio version. If you would like to see the video, please click here to go to our YouTube channel.

Since its inception, the Linda Mae Mahon Lema Foundation has researched and developed a local area Veteran's Story for presentation on Memorial Day each year. In recognition of the 2023 Memorial Day we present a collage of stories about Elk Grove area men who were lost in war during WWI, WWII, Korean War, and the Vietnam War Era.

In 2024 we will present the story of Sargent First Class Bryan E. Hall, who was a 1994 graduate of Elk Grove High School and who died in Iraq in 2009. The development of Bryan’s story is a result of a combination of researching newspaper, archival and military records, and numerous conversations with those who knew Bryan, including, most importantly, his parents, John and Betty Hall, his wife Rachel, his sister Kristi, his Elk Grove neighborhood friend Marcus Burkett, and his Army brother Brian Allesch. What is revealed is a deeply moving story of a man, who from early childhood, developed a keen sense of right and wrong, of faith and trust, of loyalty and truthfulness, and of an intense commitment to his obligations, particularly his family.

Since its beginning, the Linda Mae Mahon Lema Foundation has researched and developed a local Veteran's Story to share with the community on Memorial Day each year. In 2023, however, we deviate from our usual practice of honoring an individual veteran, by honoring the fifteen veterans of Elk Grove High School who were lost in service during the Vietnam War Era.

Across the country, high schoolers of the 1960s were faced with the reality of military service driven by the war in Vietnam - Elk Grove was not immune. Hundreds served; others made the hard choice of resisting service; still others were deemed exempt from service. Of those who served, scores were wounded or suffered mental and emotional trauma by their service and fifteen from Elk Grove High School were killed in service during the Vietnam War Era.

This is the audio version. If you would like to see the video version on YouTube, please click here

In 2024 we continue honoring area Veterans who have fallen in conflicts by presenting fourteen additional names of those from the Elk Grove area who have been killed in service around the world.

This is the audio version. If you would like to see the video version on YouTube, please click here. If you would like to see the 10 minute version set to music, please visit our Veteran Stories page here

Over the generations, Elk Grove Area citizens have fought and died in many U.S. conflicts around the world. So that they are not forgotten, we present their names.

This is the audio version. If you would like to see the video version on YouTube, please click here

In 2023 we shared the story of Cooper Tahara, who attended Elk Grove Elementary and graduated from Elk Grove High School. Cooper was a member of the segregated Japanese American 442nd Regimental Combat Team which was the most decorated unit in the history of the US Army for size and duration. They received 7 presidential unit citations and 21 Medals of Honor. There were at least 5 Japanese American Elk Grove High School graduates who served in that regiment: Tosh Kiino, Hiro Ouchida. Tom Nakao, Tosh Hamataka and Cooper Tahara.

Cooper Toshiyuki Tahara was born on November 8, 1919, in Florin, California and served in the US Army from October 20, 1941, until November 5, 1944, when he was killed in battle in France while serving with the segregated Japanese American 442nd Regimental Combat Team. At the time, the Tahara family was incarcerated at the Relocation Camp in Jerome, Arkansas. They were not released until April 1945, five months after his death.

Since its inception, the Linda Mae Mahon Lema Foundation has researched and developed a local area Veteran's Story for presentation on Memorial Day each year. In 2016 we presented the story of Peter Glann. In this audio cast, we present further details of his service and an expanded background of the Civil War events in which he was involved.

Since its inception, the Linda Mae Mahon Lema Foundation has researched and developed a local area Veteran's Story for presentation on Memorial Day each year. For 2022, we honor Charles R. Chalmers, who graduated from Elk Grove High School in 1944 and was killed in 1945 during World War II.

Within a month of graduating high school, Charlie was drafted and inducted into the U.S. Army. For Charlie, in just a matter of a couple weeks, he was transitioned from a bucolic life in Elk Grove to the very real settings of war and its harsh realities. In June 1945, Charlie was killed in battle in the Philippines. In that one year after high school, Charlie traversed the country and was sent halfway around the world, to be thrust into a conflict which took his life. He now rests but four miles along Elk Grove Blvd. to the still-operating Chalmers ranch where he grew up.