Nestled in the San Francisco East Bay hills and Valleys is the
City of Oakley ~ a city that is celebrating its 15th year of incorporation as
well as local control of its community's destiny. That includes leasing its
Seniors the old city Firehouse and then encouraging them to adopt the newly
formed Veterans of Oakley and supporting them to join the Seniors in service to
each other as well as the community: Allen L Roland, Ph.D
Click on all photos to enlarge
Veterans of Oakley president Randy Smith celebrates with fellow veteran Clint Rehak (Iraq Vet) as they move into and share the Old Oakley Firehouse site with the Oakley Senior Citizens.
Joseph
Camacho District Representative from California Senator Mark DeSaulnier's
office, Randy Smith, President
Veterans of Oakley, Kevin Romick, City of Oakley
Council member, Shirley Darling President of Oakley Senior Citizens and
Jennifer Quallick, Field Representative from Contra Costa County Supervisor
Mary Piepho's office greeting all the veterans and thanking them for their
service to our country.
The
driving force of the wedding of these two precious resources was and continues
to be Shirley Darling, President of the Oakley Senior Citizens and Randy Smith, U.S Army Veteran and President
of Veterans of Oakley.
But
Veterans of Oakley is not just dedicated to serving its own veterans but
is also dedicated to serving the community
as well as other Veteran organizations.
Veterans of Oakley members Emil Ramirez, US Army and Tim Barton, USMC, volunteering and serving coffee and donuts as well as good will to veterans at the Martinez Vets Clinic.
Veterans and seniors celebrate dinner together within the old Oakley firehouse
But
the heart and soul of this story is Seniors and Veterans working together to
make the Oakley community stronger and in the process serving as a model for
other communities to emulate their success and dedication to service.
Being
in Service is a way of life for the Veterans of Oakley but now it's service to their community where it once was their country. The
nationwide average age of a veteran is 64 years old so this marriage has
obvious mutual benefits to both veterans and seniors ~ whose military family
ties are both many and varied as to a war
and service. This is a win, win for both organizations with the full and
enthusiastic blessings of the city of Oakley.
"I'm
delighted to work with the Veterans and make a home for both of us" Shirley Darling,
President of Oakley Senior Citizens
Allen L Roland, Ph.D
U.S Naval Aviator 1957-1964
Veterans of Oakley, California
Allen
is also a lecturer and writer who shares a weekly political and social commentary on his web log and website allenroland.com. He is also a featured columnist on Veterans
Today and guest
hosts a monthly national radio show TRUTHTALK on www.conscioustalk.net
“Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”
ReplyDelete― Martin Luther King Jr.