Leadership

Laura Herzog is the former Public Affairs Officer for the Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, Calif. She served as the lead for Hero Missions (fallen soldiers returning from Afghanistan & Iraq), coordinated public appearances for the JFTB base commander, disseminated information for JFTB to the public, and was the base spokeswoman who acted as the primary liaison with media.

Her prior occupation was as a General Manager for The News Enterprise, servicing the greater Orange County region. She also worked as a freelance reporter on various local assignments.

Laura was awarded the California Medal of Merit in 2009, which is one of the highest decorations in the State of California, awarded by the State to National Guard service members and civilians for exceptionally meritorious conduct.

Didi MacPherson is a Gold Star mom, whose son Army Ranger Tommy MacPherson was KIA in 2012.

The MacPherson family has been supported by Honoring Our Fallen since that time.

In 2017, Didi joined the HOF board and is currently serving as secretary and liaison between the board and Gold Star Families.

Didi is a mother to 3 grown children and grandmother to 12.

She has owned her own business, Alliance Printing Associates in Los Alamitos since 1997.

Didi enjoys spending time with her family, movies, her work and is involved with her church.

“I am thankful to Honoring Our Fallen for the support our family has received since Tommy’s death.

My reason for serving on the board and working alongside of Laura is to give hope to the families and especially the moms that there is hope and life after the tragedy of losing a child”

My first experience with Honoring Our Fallen was in 2011 when I volunteered to cook a meal for a newly widowed Gold Star Wife. After that experience and hearing more stories about the organization from my long-time friend and Founder, Laura Herzog, I knew I wanted to get more involved. I began as the Board Secretary and by volunteering at Operation Hope Events. Through attending different HOF events it has been so moving to see these families who do not know each other but share a common experience that come together and act as a support system for each other. The most touching part of
spending time with these families is seeing the bonds the children make with each other.

I am employed as a Corporate Safety Director for a construction company that performs work on military bases throughout California. I also serve on other industry boards to assist with issues facing the construction industry.

Rick Martinez is a life-long resident of the City of Orange, CA and has served on the Board of Directors for Honoring Our Fallen, Inc. since its inception. Rick is also a Past-President of our Board. Along with serving on the board of directors, Rick volunteers his time in serving our families and Casualty Officers in our Hero Missions, having served over 100 missions alone.

Rick is a retired Sergeant of the Anaheim Police Department, where he served for 39 years. He held many positions throughout his long career. His most notable position was serving as the Public Information Officer (PIO), spokesperson and Media Relations Officer of the police department for his last 11 years at the APD.

Rick is currently serving as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Orange Chamber of Commerce. He is also a Planning Commissioner for the City of Orange. He also serves on the board of directors for RTNA- Radio & Television News Association of Southern California, the Orange Police Foundation, and the Orange Public Library Foundation. He is a former Commissioner of the Orange County Juvenile Justice Commission, having served under the Presiding Judge of Orange County’s Juvenile Court.

Rick has been married to his wife Rebecca (retired Principal of El Modena High School) for over 45 years, and they are the proud parents of two daughters, two son-in-law’s, and they have four grandchildren. Both Rick and Rebecca are also active members at Yorba Linda Friends Church.

After being close friends with Laura Herzog and her family for many years, watching her service to the organization she founded inspired me to be a part of the Journey Laura was walking. I started volunteering with things behind the scenes for the widow’s retreats and then joined the event fundraising team to work on the Gala, Car Show, and the fireworks stand with other volunteers.

Wanting to do more, we brought in our family business to help. My Husband and I own Signature Performance Tire and Wheel and we are honored to help keep all the vehicles used for hero missions in tip top shape.

In August of 2022, I was honored to become a part of the Honoring our Fallen Board of Directors. I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this organization that does so much for the families that have given so much.

Holly was born in August 1976 at Camp Pendleton while her father, Chuck, was actively serving in the United States Marine Corps. She spent her childhood in Riverside, California, alongside her parents and three sisters. Holly graduated from La Sierra High School in 1994. After completing a Medical Assisting program, she relocated to Fresno, California, to be closer to her older sister, Heather. It was in Fresno that she met her future husband, Justin. They were married on February 17, 2001.

Justin enlisted in the Marine Corps and departed for boot camp on the couple’s first wedding anniversary. He was subsequently stationed at Camp Pendleton, where Holly and Justin purchased their first home in Winchester, California. It was in Winchester that they began their life together. The couple welcomed their daughter, Avery, on December 27, 2006, and their son, Jacob, on September 1, 2009. Holly now resides in Wisconsin, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies in 2017 and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

On February 22, 2012, tragedy struck when three uniformed Marines and a Navy Chaplain arrived at Holly’s home in the early morning hours. Justin, along with six other Marines, had been killed in a helicopter collision during a nighttime training mission. This was to have been the final training mission before his squadron’s deployment to Afghanistan. Holly became a widow at the age of 35 and was left to raise Avery and Jacob, who were five and two years old at the time. Throughout Justin’s military career, he deployed to Okinawa, Japan, traveled internationally with the Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), and completed two deployments to Iraq.

Holly is dedicated to broadening the reach and impact of our support, programs, and services.

Major General John S. Harrel’s active military service began in June of 1975 after receiving his commission as a second lieutenant through the United States Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Course and attended The Basic School, Marine Infantry Officer Basic Course, from June to December of 1975. His first assignment was as an USMC Rifle Platoon Commander in Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines, in Camp LeJune, North Carolina. He progressed through a variety of assignments, and completed his service in the USMC as a company commander at Marine Barracks, NAS Alameda.

Maj. Gen. Harrel transferred to the California Army National Guard in 1980, entering service as S-2, 1st Brigade, 40th Infantry Division, and held positions of progressing responsibility with commands including: Combat Support Company, 1-160th Infantry; Echo Company, 1-160th Infantry; Task Force 1-185 Armor (1992 Los Angeles Riots); 1st Battalion,185th Armor; 3rd Battalion,185th Armor; and 2nd Battalion, 160th Infantry.

Maj. Gen. Harrel’s awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit (2 Oak Leaf Clusters); Meritorious Service Medal (3 Oak Leaf Clusters) and the Army Commendation Medal (2 Oak Leaf Clusters); the Kosovo Campaign Medal, and the Ukraine Order of Merit.

MG Harrel completed a United States Army War College Fellowship at Ohio State University and holds a Juris Doctorate Degree from Southwestern University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from California State University, Northridge. He is retired California Deputy Attorney General.