Carefree Truth
Issue #529, November 19, 2016
Vice Mayor John Crane opened the event by wishing everyone a good afternoon and welcoming them to the 8th Annual Carefree Veteran's Day Celebration in the Sanderson Lincoln Pavilion for a program filled with memories and music on this day of celebrating our veterans. The audience was encouraged to enjoy the coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and bottled water served by the Carefree Kiwanis Club and Venture Scouts, troop 2015. The coffee was provided courtesy of the Carefree Coffee Roastery, and the delicious cookies were donated by the Black Mountain Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The local cub scouts who distributed programs are from Den 6, Pack 603, whose chartering organization is the Desert Hills Presbyterian Church. The cub scout leader is Natalya Bilyk, a veteran who served 12 years in the US Air Force and reserves, attaining the rank of Major. Natalya’s service includes a tour with the 8th Medical Group at Kunsan Air Base in Korea.
Issue #529, November 19, 2016
Vice Mayor John Crane opened the event by wishing everyone a good afternoon and welcoming them to the 8th Annual Carefree Veteran's Day Celebration in the Sanderson Lincoln Pavilion for a program filled with memories and music on this day of celebrating our veterans. The audience was encouraged to enjoy the coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and bottled water served by the Carefree Kiwanis Club and Venture Scouts, troop 2015. The coffee was provided courtesy of the Carefree Coffee Roastery, and the delicious cookies were donated by the Black Mountain Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The local cub scouts who distributed programs are from Den 6, Pack 603, whose chartering organization is the Desert Hills Presbyterian Church. The cub scout leader is Natalya Bilyk, a veteran who served 12 years in the US Air Force and reserves, attaining the rank of Major. Natalya’s service includes a tour with the 8th Medical Group at Kunsan Air Base in Korea.
The Vice Mayor said, "Over the past several weeks, we have all had our fill of polls, but there is one Gallop poll conducted earlier this year that I would like to share. Unlike other recent polls, my instincts tell me this poll is correct. Gallop found a general decline of America’s faith in our many institutions – institutions such as the church, our national government, professions such as doctors, lawyers and accountants. But there is one very respected institution that Americans still hold in high regard, and that is our military – those who are serving today and those who have worn the uniform. For they have served with selfless dedication to uphold America’s values."
"And, I think this respect goes a step further. It includes the families of those Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors and Marines. They all share the sense of duty and values all Americans hold dear.
We are honored to have you all with us today. Every American owes our veterans and their families a huge debt.
That includes the families of those in the reserves who go about their daily lives, not knowing when they will be called to service."
We are honored to have you all with us today. Every American owes our veterans and their families a huge debt.
That includes the families of those in the reserves who go about their daily lives, not knowing when they will be called to service."
Vice Mayor Crane introduced a special guest to lead in the pledge of allegiance, Colonel John Thurston, US, Army retired. Col. Thurston, a graduate of Ohio University, served on active Duty 1961-1963 as an Ordinance Officer. He was called back on active duty in 1985 as a Transportation Officer. Col. Thurston served 28 years in the US Army Reserve, holding platoon / company / battalion / and division command assignments in transportation and ordnance. While in the reserves, he worked 42 years for Caterpillar holding various management assignments. Col. Thurston and his wife, Mary Kaye, retired to Carefree in 2005. He currently serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors for the Homeless ID Project of Phoenix, whose unique and sole mission is to help homeless men, women and children rebuild their lives by securing identification papers. Last year they secured IDs for 5,600 homeless.
Colors were presented by the Cesar Chavez Junior ROTC Color Guard, all the way from Lavine. They are commanded by Cadet 2nd Lt. Susan Gala-viz and assisted by Cadet SFC Kassanadra Kolh, Cadet 2nd Lt. Frankie Busamante, Cadet Sgt. Yan-I-va-Carillo, and Cadet PFC Key-anna McWaters.
Their Army instructor is Sgt. First Class Thomas Merrill, US Army, Retired. He started his career as a Marine and then became a US Army Cavalry Scout. His deployments include Desert Shield / Desert Storm and in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan with the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team as part of Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix 8.
Colors were presented by the Cesar Chavez Junior ROTC Color Guard, all the way from Lavine. They are commanded by Cadet 2nd Lt. Susan Gala-viz and assisted by Cadet SFC Kassanadra Kolh, Cadet 2nd Lt. Frankie Busamante, Cadet Sgt. Yan-I-va-Carillo, and Cadet PFC Key-anna McWaters.
Their Army instructor is Sgt. First Class Thomas Merrill, US Army, Retired. He started his career as a Marine and then became a US Army Cavalry Scout. His deployments include Desert Shield / Desert Storm and in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan with the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team as part of Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix 8.
The National Anthem was sung by vocalists, Anika, Alex & Gabby Arias of Cactus Shadows High School.
https://vimeo.com/191765707
Vice Mayor Crane introduced the program Master of Ceremony, Ted Dimon, a veteran and Carefree resident who has MCed this event many times. Mr. Dimon commented that the weather was perfect for honoring all of our veterans, and thanked the audience for joining in the celebration. He thanked and acknowledged again the Color Guard from the Junior ROTC unit at Cesar Chavez High School, as well as Anika, Alex and Gabby Arias for leading us in the National Anthem. "It's always great seeing young people taking the time to participate in community activities. Let's give them a big hand for being here today!"
Mr. Dimon introduced Barbara Hatch. Retired from Cactus Shadows High School after 40 years of teaching, Barbara now spends her time growing the Veterans Heritage Project (VHP) in Arizona with the help of her hard-working volunteer Board and school advisors. In their 13th year of interviewing veterans, students in 30 schools have archived the stories of over 1200 American veterans from World War I to the present for permanent safekeeping in the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress. Over 1200 students' lives have been touched through these conversations with our veterans.
Last year, Barbara received the Hon Kachina Volunteer Award, which recognizes those people who have voluntarily contributed time and talent to the betterment of their communities. She has also received the Copper Sword from Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society, the Founders Medal for Education from the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Wilbur Murrah Award for her lifetime work in the social studies. She says that these students here today, and those now in college and in their respective careers, share in each of these awards. Mr. Dimon asked those in the audience who had been interviewed by the students in the Heritage Project to stand. "Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Barbara Hatch."
Mrs. Hatch said this is their 8th year in Carefree. The Veteran's Day Event was founded by the Veteran's Heritage Project, www.veteransheritage.org, and by the Kiwanis Club of Carefree, www.kiwaniscarefree.org. She is happy to see how it has grown. She wished the veterans in the audience a happy Veteran's Day.
The Arizona Humanities wanted to hear about the feelings of the veterans who have been interviewed and the feelings of the students who have interviewed them. This year, Mrs. Hatch arranged for Dick Noriega, a cold war submariner and Carefree resident, and Mickaela Morris, a sophomore at Cactus Shadows High School (CSHS) who has been involved in the VHP for 3 years and is the current president of the program, to speak.
Mrs. Hatch asked Mr. Norieka what it meant to him to be interviewed by Mickaela. He responded that he spent 7-1/2 years of his life underwater, so thought somebody should know what he did down there. It was his great dream to pass on what he has learned in life to his children, grandchildren, and their progeny, so he started to write about his life. Mickaela fulfilled the part of writing about his military service. They laughed and sometimes almost cried as he related his experiences, some of which came close to a loss of life. The military is wonderful. Bonds are formed there that can't be found anywhere else. Mickaela helped him open up memories not brought out to others. He thanked her for being his "ghost writer".
Mrs. Hatch asked Mickaela what the experience with VHP has meant to her. Mickaela replied that she learned unique lessons from each veteran she has interviewed. Mr. Norieka talked about taking unexpected forks in the road that can change or even save your life. She had her life planned but has decided to walk down some forks in the road that she had not previously considered. Mr. Norieka said he tells children to look at those forks in the road and hopes they all start looking at alternative choices. He knows Mickaela will find the right path. Mrs. Hatch added that children give her hope for the future. Mickaela's message to the VHP students is that the program is one of the best things they will ever do. They get to meet great veterans and get perspectives not found elsewhere. "You understand what it means to be an American, and how veterans put their lives on the line for you and everyone else, and to honor them." Mrs. Hatch thanked Mr. Norieka and Mickaela for attending the event.
https://vimeo.com/191904878
Mr. Dimon announced that once again the Main Event Band, led by Don Morosic, would be playing next. "We want you to sit back now and enjoy the music as they take us down Memory Lane."
"Mustang Sally" (Beanie & Kevin)
"Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" (Beanie)
"Sentimental Journey" (The Arias')
"Only in America" (Chance McLaughlin & Katelyn Reinhart)
"Bring Him Home" (Kevin)
"America the Beautiful" (Beanie)
"God Bless the USA" (Kevin)
https://vimeo.com/191971515
Lyn Hitchon
Prepared by Carefree Truth
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