| Our Special Guest |
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For those who have been wounded in combat, for the child who lost their mom or dad to the War, life will never be the same. It never has, and never will be any different - nor for those that have lost a son, daughter, sister or brother. Unless you are one yourself, the pain and loss is unimaginable.
It helps a little when people remember their loss. Honoring the sacrifice of these men and women who so willingly gave their lives and limbs for the freedoms we enjoy is an obligation. It is always the young that go forward to protect the many. We often forget, especially when danger has passed, those we sent when the wolf was knocking on our door. They are our young men and women. Full of fight, proud as hell to put on the uniform and go forward and fight our fights. We worship as we please, we have the freedom to speak our minds without fear of retribution and to vote and change our leaders without a shot being fired. What is that worth? That Freedom is fought and paid for with the blood of our Warriors.
That is their gift to us. We salute them. We love them and we shall always remember their courage, their duty to country and their sacrifice for all of us. May we prosper in 2009 and remember those which gave us the opportunity- it's not Constitution. The Constitution, with all its wisdom, is but a piece of paper. It is our Veterans who have fought to protect it and our War Fighters that insure it.
On December 21st 2008 we had our Christmas concert, an afternoon with our Wounded and families of our Fallen. We introduced them to the community, played the National Anthem, and pledged allegiance to the Flag. We enjoyed a few hours of music and fellowship and every time they were introduced, the audience gave a much needed and deserved ovation.
A few photos from the day
Jillian Ayers -a very special young lady. Her cousin Joseph Anzack Jr. was killed in Iraq. Joe, as he was affectionately known to family and friends, was one of three soldiers taken captive and later killed by his captors. Jillian began a campaign to send a few cards and packages to Joe's unit. What began as a project to honor
her fallen cousin turned into thousands of letters and packages being sent to our troops in Iraq. Jillian got Redondo Beach schools involved and sent much needed love to many of our guys . . . truly a very special young lady. Joe's dad, Joseph Anzack Sr. also joined us for the day.
Sgt Major Jesse Acosta, 100% blind as a result of mortar fire in Iraq, eloquently spoke to the challenges of our combat wounded. Here he introduces Antonio Solorio. Antonio was injured by a road side bomb while riding in his vehicle. The explosion shattered every bone from the waist down and ,unfortunately, needed his foot amputated. Both are friends and beneficiaries of our foundation.
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Teresa Morgan-Hernadez was our first beneficiary. She traveled from Northern California where she lives with her two sons, Alex and Jason. Her husband,Dwight Morgan, was killed when a Marine CH-53E crashed in a remote region 60 kilometers south of Bagram in Northern Afghanistan. He died on January 19, 2002. She was four months pregnant at the time. Here Teresa meets Paul and Yoko Nakamura. They are the parents of SGT Paul Nakamura a Soldier with the 437th Medical Company who was killed June 19, 2003, in Iskandariyah, Iraq, when a rocket propelled grenade struck his ambulance..
The Greatest Generation..One of its most humble heroes joined us for the day. Nick Constantino is a recipient of 5 Bronze Stars from World War II.
One of his Bronze Stars carries an "Arrowhead"... an arrowhead is only for Soldiers who participated in a combat parachute jump, helicopter assault landing, combat glider landing, or amphibious assault landing, while assigned or attached as a member of an organized force carrying out an assigned tactical mission.
When we say "It's our Veterans that protect our Constitution" It's Nick we are talking about. He was a much younger man when he and his brothers went out to defeat the wolf. Today it's Jesse, Joe, Antonio, Paul and Dwight...Our brave young Warriors. Today they're the ones that insure our Constitution. |
| Good Friends |
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The 911-HelpAmerica Foundation receives the Commanders Award for our participation in the Marines Toys for Tots program. There's nothing like having a few Marines around to remind everyone of our War Fighters. "Toys for Tots" is a Marine Corp program meant to bring holiday smiles to needy children everywhere. We had four of the Corp's best come and add a little color to the day. They made us all very proud. It was an honor to receive this award on behalf of all those folks that made the event happen
One of our best friends is Sempra Energy Foundation. Here, we are presented with a $1000.00 check to 911-HelpAmerica Foundation. Sempra Energy has supported this foundation for several years now. Our goal is to to have communities and local business get involved in helping our troops. This is and example of people working together for the kids. This year we purchased gifts for 52 children of our Fallen and Wounded Warriors. They were purchased, wrapped and shipped by one of our own- Dawn Ayers who happens to be Jillian's Ayers mother. 9-11HAF is a family affair.
The check was presented by Corrine Arechiga an employee of Sempra Energy and one of our best friends... received by Mike Talleda and SSgt.Diana Borrayo and Sgt Major Jesse Acosta.
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