Most of us have at least one person in our family who has served in the military during wartime. These men and women live amongst us, some suffering more than others, some not suffering at all. As they age their sense of self worth comes into focus, and they struggle to explain themselves to younger family members. Talking about traumatic events experienced during war is stressful and exhausting. So the question is “Should we dredge up old painful memories? Are our grandfathers and fathers too old to heal?” Apparently Frazier Sheppard and Laverne Shimanek feel you are never too old to heal. Sheppard (US Army, Vietnam) and Shimanek (US Marine, Korea) are both veterans of war and now they r

Folsom residents saluted its 11th annual Folsom Veterans Day Parade this past Friday. Parade participants gathered at the Target parking lot on Blue Ravine Road and made their way towards City Lions Park. The theme for this year’s celebration was “Saluting our Newest Generation of Warriors: Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.” Thousands watched the parade as representatives from the armed forces, the City of Folsom, scout groups, community organizations and residents participated in honoring those who have served our country. Over 2,000 participants were involved in the parade. Representatives from various JROTC, ROTC, beauty pageants, youth sports and high school

With Veterans Day landing on a Friday this year it was conducive for many events honoring those who have served. Somewhat under the radar, Old City Cemetery (OCC)  gave visitors a tour of a few of the grave sites of Military Medal recipients  fought in the Civil War, World War I, World War II and the Spanish-American War. Amongst them they were recognized with these medals:     •     2 - Medal of Honor     •     2 - Distinguished Flying Cross     •     6 - Silver Star     •    23 - Bronze Star     •     5 - Air Medal     •    44 - Purple Heart. Three volunteer tour guides took turns telling the stories of the circumstances surrounding the dead soldiers. . As we started walking we were to

There's a special way to honor veterans and Japanese American citizens who missed graduating from their home town high school due to wartime circumstances. Through its Operation Recognition program, the Sacramento County Board of Education will provide high school diplomas to qualifying veterans (proof of honorable discharge required) who left high school to serve in World War II, the Korean War or the Vietnam War. Also eligible for belated diplomas are those Japanese American citizens who were forced to leave their local high school due to incarceration in a WW II relocation center. Diplomas are awarded even if the honoree earned a G.E.D. or went on to college without having received h

The Quad at Sacramento City College was occupied Nov. 10 with approximately 350 students and faculty as guest speakers approach the stage to show their support and appreciation for the U.S military. U.S Army veteran Kim Mack, served 3 years as a military police officer. She addressed the crowd by telling a personal story of the importance of veteran’s day. “Service comes in all forms,” said Mack. “Service comes in many different ways. Today we honor our veterans and our people currently serving. Our young men and women who are putting their life on the line in Afghanistan and Iraq so you can go to school here, and get a job in a field that you want to work in.” According to Mack, for ov

Heroes past and present will be honored this Friday, November 11 at the Sacramento Veterans Day Parade. The parade begins at 10:00 a.m. running eastward on Capitol Mall. A program is scheduled from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.. It will include resources for veterans, entertainment, and children’s activities. The Grand Marshal is Brigadier General Charles E. “Chuck” Yeager. Born in 1923 in Myra, W.Va., General Yeager enlisted in the Army Air Corps in September 1941. He was accepted for pilot training under the flying sergeant program in July 1942, and received his pilot wings and appointment as a flight officer in March 1943. During World War II, General Yeager distinguished himself in aeria

Sacramento, CA – November 3, 2011 – Quick Quack Car Wash, a growing chain of exterior-only, express car washes, has announced that it will be offering a free car wash to all veterans and active military personnel on Veteran’s Day in conjunction with the nationwide “Grace for Vets” program.  Veterans may visit any of Quick Quack’s car wash locations from 7am to 7pm on Friday, November 11, 2011 to receive a complimentary wash. Customers will only need to inform Quick Quack employees verbally that they are veterans in order to receive their free car wash. Quick Quack has six locations in the Sacramento area including the newest location in Roseville. Addresses and directions can be found at

A mixer will be held to honor local veterans and help provide meeting space for their activities. Join the fun on Wednesday, May 25, 5:30-8:30 p.m., at VFW Post 67, 2784 Stockton Blvd. Tickets are $35 and tax deductible. View flyer for more details.  

“Serving our Veterans, Armed Forces and Their Families” Sacramento County is celebrating National County Government Month during the month of April to highlight essential county government programs and services. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Serving our Veterans, Armed Forces and Their Families.” “Sacramento County is proud of our veterans and military service members,” said Interim County Executive Steven Szalay. “In fact, we are proudly displaying their names in the lobby of the County Administration building at 700 H Street through the month of April.” Szalay is also working on the second annual fundraiser to honor and help maintain meeting space for Sacramento County Vet

SACRAMENTO , CALIFORNIA - Yesterday, U.S. District Court Judge Virginia Phillips issued a three-page worldwide injunction calling for the Department of Defense (DoD) to suspend all investigations and discharges related to the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) policy. This development comes weeks after Phillips’ ruling that the policy is unconstitutional, going against the First and Fifth Amendments. The Department of Justice (DOJ) is expected to appeal the decision which will carry the case up the Court of Appeals of the Ninth Circuit. Sacramento Valley Veterans (SVV) member, Anthony Loverde, provided testimony in the bench trial held in southern California in July this year. The Log Cabin R

Saturday was a big day for 4-year-old Ryan McCulloch of Roseville, and he knew it. He stood next to his father on the Mather Air Force Base tarmac, his eyes fixed, his hands tentatively gripping the barrier that kept him from getting closer to the object of his adoration: a 500 horsepower, hydraulically powered, 62,000-pound, fire-breathing robot dinosaur. Ryan and his father, Marshall McCulloch, were two of an estimated 100,000 people to visit the California Capital Airshow this Patriot Day weekend, an annual two-day event that nearly doubled in size since last year. With more than 250 performers, 138 aircraft in the air and on the ground for close examination, and dozens of booths to vi

SACRAMENTO VALLEY VETERANS REACTIVATED Aims to Represent, Advocate for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender (LGBT) Veterans & Servicemembers SACRAMENTO , CALIFORNIA - The Sacramento Valley Veterans announces its new Board of Directors and aims to reach out to local LGBT veterans and servicemembers through activism, advocacy, and outreach. The group was originally founded in March 2004 and sponsored the installation of a commemorative brick at the Veterans Memorial Plaza in May 2006. The brick honors the memory of all LGBT veterans. The Sacramento Valley Veterans held social events at local restaurants and participated in local patriotic events. This year, the group will take part in Sac

There's a special way to honor individuals who missed graduating from their home town high school due to wartime circumstances. Through its Operation Recognition program, the Sacramento County Board of Education will provide high school diplomas to qualifying veterans (proof of honorable discharge required) who left high school to serve in World War II, the Korean War or the Vietnam War, as well as to Japanese American citizens interned in WW II relocation centers (proof of internment required). High school diplomas may be awarded posthumously, so families should consider applying on behalf of a deceased parent or grandparent who lived in (or attended school in) Sacramento County. Diplom

Sacramento State has the second-highest veterans and their dependents student population of any California State University and University of California campus. With more than 1,200 veterans and dependents taking classes there, the Student Veterans Organization is one of the highest profile clubs on campus. Its first spring meeting is Monday. Active since fall 2007, SVO is dedicated to helping veterans and their families in every facet of college life. From class enrollment to complicated government forms, theSVO assists members every step of the way. "This is my version of a fraternity," Air Force veteran Dustin McMillan said of the group. "Commonalities we all share, like the military,

Wednesday, Nov. 10 1 - 2 p.m. In honor of Veterans Day, Mexican-American Veteran Memorial, Inc., will hold a memorial service at the California Veterans Memorial for about 50 people. No further events until Saturday, Nov. 14.  

Thursday, August 13 Noon - 1 p.m. California Women, Infants and Children's Association will be holding a walk for World Breastfeeding Awareness Month. The walk will begin at the south steps of the Capitol, and about 100 people are expected to participate. Friday, August 14 3:30 - 3:45 p.m. The U.S. Corps of Chaplains, a nonprofit group that provides aid to active military members and veterans, will be meeting to view a display at the Capitol's All Wars Memorial. About 20 people are expected.

Wednesday, August 5 No events are planned for this day. Thursday, August 6 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Blood Source Sacramento will be holding a blood drive for an expected 50 participants. Their "mobile blood van" will be parked near the fish pond. Friday, August 7 11 a.m.-1 p.m. A ceremony honoring veterans who have been awarded a Purple Heart will take place near the All Wars Memorial at the Capitol. It will include the laying of wreaths, posting of colors, and a 21-gun salute. About 50 people are expected to participate. The public is also welcome. No events are scheduled until Thursday, Aug. 13.

Disabled Veterans Win Battle in “Good Faith” Fight to Save Taxpayers Money Disabled veteran companies and taxpayers are both winners in recent changes promoted by California’s wounded warriors. The non-profit California Disabled Veterans Business Alliance has fought the Good Faith Effort (GFE) provision in State contracting as a useless diversion actually keeping business away from Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises (DVBE). Now, the State has acted on the recommendations of the Alliance in coordination with DGS and other state agencies and has passed legislation to eliminate the GFE effective 28 July 2009. By promoting equality with the State of California’s Small Business preference

Monday, May 25 12-1 p.m. Elk Grove Civil War Round Table will be holding a Civil War Memorial walk and rally near the fish pond. Fifty people are expected to participate. 1-2 p.m. A 21-gun salute will be held in memorial of the Mexican-American War near the Mexican-American Veterans Memorial just north of the traffic circle on 10th Street and Capitol Avenue. Seventy-five people are expected to attend. Tuesday, May 26 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Happy Tails, a no-kill facility dedicated to protecting and improving the lives of homeless and abused animals, according to their website, will be holding a bake sale on the north and south entrances of the Capitol. 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. Caravan for Justice wi

A federal judge on Monday ordered prosecutors to turn over the remaining evidence against Hmong defendants charged with an alleged conspiracy to overthrow the communist Laotian government. Presiding over a packed courtroom in Sacramento, U.S. District Court Judge Frank Damrell Jr. of the Eastern District of California deferred ruling on the defendants' motion to dismiss the case until all evidence is in. "I much prefer to make my findings on a complete record, and that's what I intend to do," Damrell said. Prosecutors have provided the defense with about 70 percent of the evidence since the indictments were handed down in June 2007, said defense attorney Mark Reichel. As the court proc