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.
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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.