Hi all, I hope you are each having a very nice week!
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I would like to remind each of you that Mayor Cher Bairos and Cocina Michoacana will be hosting a benefit fundraiser on Wednesday, April 1, from 10am to 8pm for 10-year-old Brody who is fighting Non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Brody is an amazing young man with a smile that melts your heart. Let’s help Brody win this battle. Twenty percent of food sales will go to Brody. Various baskets will be available with 100 percent going to Brody.
Cocina Michoacana is at 1061 East F Street, Oakdale, located across from Ace Hardware. Your support would be deeply appreciated.
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This week we remember the Vietnam War. For many of us this war was the war of our generation … it was a war that called our young people far from home. Like every war, this war touched so many lives … lives that will never be the same. For some, they sacrificed everything … they gave all. The cost of war, every war, is high. We will forever remember those who sacrificed all; those in every war that fought and gave so much so that we will always be a free nation.
I am reminded of my many friends, high school age kids who had to grow up so fast, they had to become adults very quickly. Some flew in the skies across the ocean while many sailed across the ocean, going to war on those tremendous United States Aircraft Carriers. One such friend is a man who has given so much to our Oakdale, Valley Home and Knights Ferry communities, retired Fire Chief Bill Houk. He remembers well, being a young sailor serving aboard the USS Oriskany, CVA 34 … an American Aircraft Carrier. Bill remembers that our country lost many pilots during his three trips to the South Pacific. He remembers that our country lost 44 good men in a horrific fire in October of 1966. I am sure many of you reading this have memories of your time serving our country … some you can share and some you keep within yourself.
With this past Sunday being National Vietnam Remembrance Day, Bill reminds us of the over 58,400 men and women who served and never returned home. He asks us to remember the thousands of those service members who returned home but are still “over there” since, for some, the war is never over. It is with great sadness we remember that for a lot of our service members, when they returned home they were met with scorn and anger. I believe we must pay tribute to each of our service men and women, showing them the deepest respect and appreciation of a grateful nation.
During the Vietnam War as a young sailor, Bill and those who served alongside him, those who served in the air, those who served on the land, although now not quite as young as they were when serving in Vietnam, many still find ways to serve … we are blessed to have these amazing men and women in our communities. Today as a Vietnam vet, whenever Bill hears “Thank you for your service” he deeply appreciates those words. For each of you who have served our great nation, thank you.
I will be writing articles between now and our 250th birthday celebration … Oakdale All American Bash on June 27. I hope you will consider allowing me to write about your service to our country. Please write a few paragraphs, whatever you would like me to print … I would be honored to write your story. You may reach me by email at winniemullins51@gmail.com or by text or telephone at 209-985-5233.
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Here are the times and dates for our Valley Home Easter services at local churches. All are welcome.
St John’s / St Luke’s
Michigan Avenue / Lone Tree Road
Valley Home
Thursday, April 2 at noon
Maundy Thursday Service
Friday April 3 Good Friday Service at noon
Saturday, April 4, Easter Vigil Service at 6 pm
Easter morning
Sunday, April 5, 8:30am
Flowering of the Cross
Valley Home Missionary Baptist
13331 Valley Home Road
Easter Sunrise Service
Sunday, April 5 at 7:30am
