ON March 28, 2010 our mother, Claudia Mae Bridges threw her own birthday dinner get together at our oldest sister’s home in Carmichael. Her invited guess included her children, grand-children, great-grand-children and friends. March 25, 1931 was the birthing of something wonderful for this is the day that would be celebrated on March 28th. Claudia Mae Bridges was married to the late Rev. Josh Bridges, Sr. whom together brought their family of ten to California. Rev. Josh Bridges, Sr. had served in the military in Mobile, Alabama at Brookley Field from 1942 to 1945. Brookley Field had closed its doors to many air force men and women which caused the Bridges’ family to transfer to Califor

Under a slew of military flags, banners and pictures of troops, volunteers at Cal Expo collected care package donations Friday. They were members of the Defenders of Freedom a local nonprofit organization that assists servicemembers and their families. Toiletries, games and DVD's were among the most requested items by troops serving around the country and overseas. The items were being assembled into care packages for troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. "Both my sons serve in the Army," said Maria Elena Szlachciuk, founder of Defenders of Freedom. "These items, combined with letters and cards, can lift a soldier's morale." The California chapter was founded in 2007 after a similar chapter s

Fallen soldier, Staff Sgt. Bryan Hall, was welcomed home today. Hall was returned from overseas to Dover Air Force Base, then flown to Sacramento Executive Airport this morning. A procession followed Hall’s hearse from the airport to south Highway 99 and ended at Elk Grove Funeral Chapel. Staff Sgt. Hall was killed in Iraq with four other soldiers when an explosive laden truck careened through an Iraqi police headquarters. Community members lined the freeway and side roads waving flags and welcoming our fallen soldier home; but perhaps the most striking exhibit was the firefighters and apparatus that could be clearly seen atop every freeway overpass on the route. If you knew nothing abou