Honoring Veterans Archives - Gold Coast Veterans Foundation

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December 7, 2020

Veterans Column: Remembering Pearl Harbor, USS Arizona Memorial

By Andy Ostroth, 30-year Navy Veteran and GCVF Volunteer Nine months ago, I hoped this coronavirus would be over by now, but that was wishful thinking. Many of our events and traditional celebrations are scaled down, live-streamed or canceled to reduce the spread. For example, Monday marks the 79th anniversary of the attack on Pearl […]

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November 2, 2020

Veterans Column: The Story Behind the Ms. Veteran America 2020

By Vince Gangi, U.S. Air Force veteran and GCVF volunteer. “And the winner is…” Those are the words the 25 finalists in the Ms. Veteran America Competition had worked so hard over the past year to finally hear. Many of them wondered if all the efforts of fundraising, physical conditioning and speaking engagements had been […]

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September 25, 2020

WWII Vet Honored with Bronze Star 75 Years After the Battle of Metz

On Tuesday, Sept. 29, Eldon L. Knuth, 95, of Thousand Oaks will receive the Bronze Star Medal in recognition of his military service 75 years ago for his service in France during World War II. The medal will be presented by Major General Laura Yeager, the first woman to command a U.S. Army infantry division. […]

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September 8, 2020

Veterans: A Gold Star for Mom Shows a Painful Sacrifice

By Donna Lockwood, GCVF “Mobile Veteran Outreach” Support Specialist and Daughter of a Korean War Combat Veteran Kathryn Steffen, mother of Marine Gunnery Sgt. Diego Pongo of Simi Valley, received this memorial necklace on Mother’s Day. This necklace contains a Gold Star, topped with a glass purple bead with Diego’s portrait etched inside. Sgt. Pongo […]

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August 3, 2020

Veterans Column: Purple Heart Day for a Sacred Military Decoration

By Alexander G. Deraney, U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) and GCVF “Mobile Veteran Outreach” Team Member During this unprecedented time of unrest, defined by a deadly and growing pandemic, powerful and pervasive social unrest, an uncertain economy and sharp political divisions, Americans could be excused for being distracted from the Nation’s observation of Purple Heart […]

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May 22, 2020

VA National Cemeteries to Commemorate Memorial Day

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs’ (VA) National Cemetery Administration (NCA) announced today it will commemorate Memorial Day this year with solemn wreath laying ceremonies. Another offering is a new online memorial feature allowing the public to pay tribute to Veterans interred in VA national cemeteries across the country. “This year, by necessity, will be different […]

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May 5, 2020

Veterans Column: Local Veterans of Foreign Wars Reflect on Memorial Day

Memorial Day 2020; Memorial Day; Moorpark Field of Valor, Moorpark Morning Rotary Club, Field of Valor Moorpark

Author: Vince Gangi, U.S. Air Force veteran and GCVF volunteer. In 1999, Congress selected May as Military Appreciation Month. Each year, the president issues a proclamation for Americans to take time to participate in an event to honor the men, women and families of the armed services past and present. May was chosen because of the […]

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March 26, 2020

Veterans Can Attend Virtual Events for National Vietnam War Veterans Day

National Vietnam War Veterans Day is March 29. Organizers canceled or postponed many events to slow the spread of COVID-19 through social distancing. Veterans are encouraged to stay connected and participate in virtual events. Here’s a list of some of those events. On VA Social Media For Veterans with a Facebook account, they can download […]

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February 3, 2020

Veterans: New Year Brings Benefit Updates

Veterans Benefits 2020, 2020 Super Tuesday, Battle of the Bulge Veterans

With the New Year came changes in veteran benefits along with a push from some veteran advocacy groups for research into help for service-connected illnesses that are currently not covered or deemed by Veterans Affairs as “presumption of service-connected illness.” Here’s a short list of some of the changes. As always, it’s best to check […]

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December 6, 2019

Pearl Harbor Attack Lives on Through Memories and Words of Those Who Live On

On December 7, 1941, 78 years ago Saturday, Japan launched the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor that killed 2,403 military personnel and civilians, and drew the United States into World War II. Each year, we remember Pearl Harbor and those who perished. But with time and attrition taking their collective toll, the number of those […]