The Rest of the Story

I promised you last week that I would tell you the rest of the story of why I gave a shout out to my friends at the VFW and American Legion.

First off, for those unfamiliar, let me share with you how these guys, who fought for us in years past, continue to give back to their community. At 5 a.m. every morning after Prom Plus (held after prom from midnight to 5 o’clock at the Crescenta-Cañada YMCA), our local vets converge on the Y to undertake the massive task of cleaning up after 450 +/- kids. This includes tearing down much of the decorations used to transform the Y into whatever theme that year’s Prom Plus takes on.

The vets can be found on Veterans Day (Nov. 11) and Memorial Day (the last Monday in May) overseeing ceremonies that honor those who served – and the memories of those who served – in the U.S. military.

They host a free monthly breakfast for military personnel and their families. The next one is on Nov. 11 at the American Legion Post 288, Memorial Hall, 4011 La Crescenta Ave. from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. No RSVP required; just show up.

While everything the vets do (and there’s plenty more than what I listed above), it might be the last one that means so much. Because I am now part of a military family.

On Tuesday, with many hugs and kisses, we sent my son Daniel, 24, to Lackland AFB, Texas to begin training with the Air Force. Before he left, at the request of Mary O’Keefe and because they wanted to show their support, many of our local vets reached out to Danny and me to wish him luck and offer words of encouragement. Several of them took the time to sit down with me to assure me that all the wonderful traits that are part of Danny would be built upon while he gained skills and a sense of purpose that would carry him through the rest of his life. We had a going away party for Danny on Sunday, Oct. 22 and veterans Mike Baldwin and Lt. Col. Dave Worley took time from their schedules to come. Mike also handed Danny a challenge coin for him to take into boot camp. He also handed Steve and me a parents coin from the American Legion that reminds us how much they support us.

That support will be appreciated over the next few years as Danny continues his path in the Air Force.

And how do I feel? Well, as a mom I’m scared but as an American I’m darn proud.

  robin goldsworthy