Opening day Ceremony of our Healing & Honor Field of Flags presented by Palmdale Auto Mall Association and City of Palmdale. May 22 – 30, 2022.Coffee4VETS, INC. Amongst our list of Guest Speakers are Mayra Duarte, Board Member and Tony Tortolano, Vice President, and for closing Remarks by our very own Juan Blanco, President of Coffee4VETS. Click on the images to view gallery.
In recognition of #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth, #TeamWilk is pleased to spotlight Krishna America Flores, US Marine Corps Veteran & Veteran Outreach Program Specialist for the Antelope Valley Veteran Center. In 2005 Krishna was 1 of 2 women in her battalion to volunteer to deploy in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. She struggled significantly with PTSD after returning home. But through the support of the VA, she was able to face her challenges head on & obtain her Bachelor’s degree in Public Health Promotion & her graduate degree in Health Administration. Today she helps connect combat veterans & veterans who have experienced military sexual to counseling, healthcare & community resources. Thank you Krishna, for your service to our nation & for your ongoing service to our military men & women! Read more: https://wilk.cssrc.us/may-mental-health-awareness-month Click on the images to view gallery.
This is the 5K Run for Marine Lcpl Joey Lopez-Pratti coming up June 4. With the Dark Horse Marines, in country with Richard Hur, son of Jin Hur, Joey was killed in action in Afghanistan, protecting his friends and serving his country. Run that race many years and benefits the Warriors. Hope many will participate.
American Legion Post 311 in Lancaster, Calif hosted sn evening of remembrance and appreciation on Sat and Col. Quy Nguyen, USAF Ret, was a guest speaker. We meet the Col. 4years ago at the home of Brigadier General John Teichert on Edwards Air Force Base. It was great seeing him again The event was well attended and the BBQ dinner was delicious.
VETERANS OUTREACH ROARS BACK – @Grace Chapel more than 150 veterans and another similar number of family members turned for first Veterans Outreach since Covid 2020 shutdown. Veterans Peer Access Network teamed with Outreach organization bringing food and live entertainment that included Emilio Rivera, starring from FX Network hit series “Sons of Anarchy,” and new spinoff hit “Mayans MC.” Vets4veterans, Point Man Antelope Valley, Blue Star Mothers, VA Vet Center, AV Veterans Community Action Coalition, Coffee4Vets, Jason Gonzales AV Chevy, Mental Health America Los Angeles, Cutting Edge haircuts, L.A. Veterans Collaborative, VPAN, Los Angeles County Department Mental Health, Homes4Families and many other groups showed up to provide services and support. Keith Niesen Veterans Service Officer for LA County Military and Veterans Affairs kept continuously busy signing veterans up for benefits. Anthony Rodriguez from California Department of Veterans shared information on housing financing and housing programs. Vietnam War Era veteran Steve Baker, Navy, was recognized for 19 years in organizing Veterans Outreach. Click on the images to view gallery.
VETERANS EN MASSE SAY FAREWELL – A bittersweet but joyful celebration of life for recently departed Vets4veterans President Jack Woolbert. Christine Ward represented Congressman Mike Garcia. Coffee4Vets, represented by President Juan Blanco presented a commemorative proclamation honoring Jack. Groups in support included American Legion Riders 311, leadership of Point Man Antelope Valley and AV Wall Committee, VFW Post 3000, AV Veterans Community Action Coalition, Bombshell Betty’s Calendar for Charity, American Legion Post 311 hosting. Click on the images to view gallery. FAIR WINDS AND A FOLLOWING SEA – A Navy “Two Bells” ceremony for absent shipmates at American Legion Post 311 for Navy man Jack Woolbert Sunday. American Legion Riders 311 led the procession to the Post where more than 100 friends and family members of the sailor who began life as a kid in Philadelphia, served during the Vietnam War on the USS Piedmont, and ended life recently as President of the Vets4veterans volunteer service group and Palmdale Veteran Of The Year 2022 on the day of his death March 2. Jack’s youngest daughter Lynn Jimenez spoke from the dais and the heart Sunday when she said “Anyone he met became his new ‘best friend.’ He loved a joke, and he loved and was loved.” American Legion Riders 311 posted the colors. Vets4veterans charter member and combat veteran clinician Gerry Rice gave the prayer. The Folded Flag Ceremony was performed with precision by Marine Staff Sgt. TJ Olson-Costello in dress blue uniform, and his Navy comrade, Petty Officer 3rd Class Travis Starr in dress white. SSG Olson-Costello presented the folded flag to Jack’s beloved wife Sandra Woolbert. The veterans community of the Antelope Valley turned out en masse to show their respect for a man who found a new mission later in life, helping his best friend Tom Hilzendeger, founder of Vets4veterans, in running the group’s multilevel programs for helping veterans. “I learned so much from both of them,” Vets4veterans Vice President John Parsamyan said. “I learned about how to work in the community and put your whole heart into helping veterans.” In the hours before the event a tag team of veterans scoured the Valley looking for a particular beer that Jack liked – Rolling Rock of his home state of Pennsylvania. Before the Rolling Rock toast, veterans from other groups, Coffee4Vets and AV Veterans Community Action Coalition paid respects with brother Navy veteran Philip Roberts ringing the “Two Bells,” the Bombshell Betty veteran charity group turning out in numbers and Coffee4Vets President Juan Blanco presenting a commemorative proclamation to Sandra Woolbert. Family included son and daughters, Tim, Lynn Jimenez, Julia Olson and Stacy Olson Costello, and an array of grandchildren, including Cassandra and TJ Olson Costello. The celebration of life for Jack came a week before the Vets4veterans Evening of Community Support at the Hellenic Center, an event that Jack and Tom Hilzendeger put in relentless work to make it a success. Funds raised pay for veterans homelessness prevention, scholarships for veterans entering higher education at Antelope Valley College, therapeutic programs and emergency assistance as well as job training.
Vets4Veterans 5th Annual “Evening of Community Support” tonight presented their Honoree, Tony Tortolano, U.S. Marine, VP Coffee4VETS, a man for all seasons. Thank you Tony for all that you do for our veteran community. Click on the images to view gallery.
Home’s 4 Families, Hearts for Heroes Builders Ball last night was nothing less than amazing as 500 guests gather to help raise funds to build home for our veterans. Donna Deutschmark, CEO/President Homes for Families hosted an event focused on enriching neighborhood & the lives of our veterans & their families. God has blessed us so we were able to participate in donating funds which went towards building the home The AV was well represented. Thank you Dr. Parazo & Dennis Anderson, High Desert Medical Group for the invite to be your VIP Guest. We had a really cool time. Click on the images to view gallery.
Coffee4VETS President Juan Blanco was one of the speakers that spoke to the crowd of community supporters that came out to welcome our Veterans home. Our table provided resource information to the many, many veterans and spouses that attended the Welcome Home Ceremony for Vietnam Veterans. It was also a great to see Walter Sapp return home from the hospital. The day was spent embracing each other in celebration as we thank everyone for their Service to this great country. God Bless America. Many thanks to the Antelope Valley Wellbeing Coalition and their team of volunteers for hosting this event. It will be remembered for many years to come Click on the images to view gallery.
Coffee4VETS March 17, 2022 Announcements.
Dave Corbin and HIS DAY OF BRAVERY For a dozen years or more Dave Corbin and American Legion Riders Post 311 teamed with Patriot Guard Riders have secured the veterans funerals and memorial observances, escorted the AV Wall (Antelope Valley Vietnam The Mobile Vietnam Memorial Wall). AV Wall welcomed young veterans home from War on Terror posts. Dave and Lisa are wheels on the road, bound for Texas. Nayda Fugee and Air Force veteran Edward H Fugee III orchestrated the send off Saturday at Bravery Brewing and a good time was enjoyed by vets of all services and them that loves them. Dave was recognized by Chris Ward for Congressman Mike Garcia, and by Brandon Roque for state Sen. Scott Thomas Wilk. Additional photos courtesy Spunky Sparks. Gratitude to Nayda Fugee and Bart Avery and Sandra Avery for all the prep work. Not Adios dear Dave. More like “See You Soon.” A Coast Guard veteran of Vietnam War Era, “Semper Paratus.” Click on the images to view gallery.
