Peter J. Gallo Memorial Foundation
Troop C, 3rd Squadron, 5th Cavalry , 9th Infantry Division
Enlisted: February 8, 1966, DOD: March 30, 1968
Joseph E. Gallo established the Peter J. Gallo Memorial Foundation in 1968 with his children Michael “Mike” D. Gallo and Linda (Gallo) Jelacich in memory of his son Peter who was killed in action in Vietnam. Honoring Peter’s selfless sacrifice and serving their family, friends, community and country is paramount to the family. That very commitment made it an obvious decision for the family when given the opportunity to establish the Peter J. Gallo Veterans Resource Center at Merced College in 2017.
The Mike Gallo and Linda Jelacich families are grateful for the sacrifices made by veterans and first responders. “The foundation continues to expand because the family recognizes now more than ever the importance of taking care of those who do so much for others,” said Mike Gallo.
The Foundation has also been instrumental in helping to fund the initial construction of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington DC that was begun in 1982 and have supported the Merced Sunrise Rotary’s Annual Field of Honor since its beginning. It is a display of 1,000 U.S. flags on the Merced College front lawn hosted annually during the week of Veterans Day. Peter J. Gallo, Mike Gallo and his wife Lori (Rossi) Gallo are all alumni of Merced College.
Additional funding for the Foundation is made possible by Joseph Gallo Farms, makers of Joseph Farms Cheese, co-owned by Mike Gallo and Linda Jelacich.
Mike Gallo and Linda (Gallo) Jelacich are joined by their family and members of the Merced College Board of Trustees to cut the ribbon at the Peter J. Gallo Veterans Resource Center at Merced College (September 28, 2017). The center was named in honor of their brother who was killed in action in Vietnam. Merced College Board Trustee Carmen Ramirez, Merced College Board Trustee Joe Gutierrez and Merced College President Chris Vitelli are joined by Mike and Lori (Rossi) Gallo, Linda and Kenny Jelacich, their daughter Ann Marie Jelacich, Mrs. Joseph E. Gallo, Mike’s son Peter C. Gallo and cutting the ribbon is Mike and Lori Gallo’s son Marco Gallo.
The Merced County Honor Guard presents the colors during the Peter J. Gallo Veterans
Resource Center at Merced College ribbon cutting ceremony on September 28, 2017.
Mike Gallo, and Congressman Jim Costa (CD-16) thank student veteran Joseph Esteves
for his service during the Veterans Resource Center open house in 2017.
Congressman Jim Costa (CD-16) and veteran student Raymond Ortega visit during the
Veterans Resource Center ribbon cutting ceremony and open house on September 28, 2017.
Related Links
Donor Profile: Peter Gallo Memorial Foundation
Press Release: Veterans Resource Center Remodeled
Student Services: Veterans Resource Center