New Santa Ana | Category Archives: Military

Labor-backed Veterans Day event set for Nov. 11 at the OC Fair and Event Center

Posted on November 7, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Charities, Costa Mesa, Labor, Military, Orange County, Santa Ana, Veterans Leave a comment

“Veterans and Labor – Partners in Service,” a special Veterans Day event, is set for Nov. 11, 2014 at the Orange County Fair & Event Center (88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa). For more information, check out the Veterans + Labor website by clicking here.

The event organizers are trying to raise at least 2,000 lbs (1 ton) of food and supplies for our veterans. This food drive is one of many service projects union members are hosting to help our veterans and their families.

Requested donations include: Continue reading→

American Legion Post 131 to honor US Veterans with monthly flag raising

Posted on October 22, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Military, Santa Ana, Veterans Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community Alert: PUBLIC INVITED AS AMERICAN LEGION POST 131 HONOR US VETERANS WITH MONTHLY FLAG RAISING BEGINNING TOMORROW

SANTA ANA, CA (October 22, 2014) – In honor of the remarkable contributions that veterans have made to our country, the American Legion Post 131 will be hosting a monthly flag raising ceremony that will allow community members to show admiration, respect, and appreciation to our troops. Similar ceremonies take place every Wednesday afternoon at the Orange Circle in the City of Orange and have become extremely successful over the years, gathering more than 100 community members every week. Continue reading→

U.S. Military care packages rally set for October 26 in Santa Ana

Posted on October 10, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Charities, Entertainment, Military, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana, Shawn Nelson, Veterans Leave a comment

Care Packages Rally Set for October 26

By: OC Supervisor Shawn Nelson

Supervisor Shawn Nelson will help collect and donate care package items going to Kabul, Afghanistan at his “Cigars for Heroes” collection rally on October 26. Veterans, military family members and citizen-patriots are welcome to stop by and drop donations, take pictures and savor a cigar while collecting items that will be sent to active-duty military in November.

Continuing his legacy of supporting active duty military stationed overseas with a taste of freedom from appreciative family, friends and Veterans in OC, Supervisor Shawn Nelson announced today that he will host the 4 hour rally at Vintage Cigars, located at 3734 S. Bristol, Santa Ana (South Bristol at Callen Common behind the Bank of America), from 1:00-5:00pm, Sunday, October 26. Continue reading→

Library to host a free screening of a movie about a U.S. Veteran with PTSD

Posted on September 5, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Arts and Culture, Entertainment, Military, Movies, Santa Ana, Veterans Leave a comment

Santa Ana Library screens When Can I Come Home

City of Santa Ana

Community: SANTA ANA PUBLIC LIBRARY CONTINUES SEPTEMBER PROGRAMMING WITH FREE SCREENING OF “WHEN CAN I COME HOME”

SANTA ANA, CA – As part of the Cal Humanities War Comes Home: Finding Peace at the Home Front series, the Santa Ana Public Library will have the following free events during the month of September introducing challenges faced by veterans and the realities of war.

Saturday, September 13, 2014, the library will be screening When I Came Home, winner of the NY Loves Film Best Documentary Award at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival. When I Came Home follows Herold Noel, an Iraq war veteran who becomes homeless in New York City after returning from combat with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). After the screening there will be presentations by representatives from the Volunteers of America and US Department of Veterans Affairs. The screening will be held from 1:30 pm – 5 pm in the Santa Ana Public Library Meeting Room A. Light refreshments will be served. Continue reading→

Santa Ana Library Book Club features book about Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts

Posted on August 6, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Entertainment, Literature, Military, Movies, Santa Ana, Veterans Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana

Community Alert: SANTA ANA PUBLIC LIBRARY BEGINS SERIES OF PROGRAMS WAR COMES HOME: FINDING PEACE AT THE HOME FRONT

SANTA ANA, CA – The Santa Ana Public Library will begin a series of free programs under the War Comes Home: Finding Peace at the Home Front CA Reads funded project. The first program is a discussion of the book Blue Cascade and viewing of the film Severe Clear.

First Lt. Mike Scotti, a Marine who participated in both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) wrote The Blue Cascade. This is a well-written, hard-hitting memoir of a veteran of both Afghanistan and Iraq during the early years of 2000. The language and emotions are raw, but real, as the author shared how living through the war, seeing and experiencing what he did affected him and his fellow marines. Continue reading→

The 11th Annual Orange County Veterans’ Resource Fair is set for 7/12

Posted on July 8, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Entertainment, Garden Grove, Loretta Sanchez, Military, Santa Ana, Veterans Leave a comment

July 12th: Annual Veterans Resource Fair

The Office of Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez will host the 11th Annual Orange County Veterans’ Resource Fair on Saturday, July 12, 2013 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Garden Grove Elks Lodge (11551 Trask Ave. Garden Grove, CA 92843).

The fair will include a variety of services and resources including free health screenings, benefits counseling, housing resources and employment assistance. Continue reading→

Tri-City Memorial Day Observance set for 5/26 at the Santa Ana Cemetery

Posted on May 22, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Entertainment, Family, Historical, Military, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The Tri-City (Orange~Santa Ana~Tustin) Memorial Day Observance, co-sponsored by the Orange County Cemetery District, is set for Monday May 26, 2014 at 10:00 am, at 1919 Santa Clara Ave., in Santa Ana. The event has the theme of “WWI: The War to End All Wars,” marking the 100th Anniversary of World War I.

This event is dedicated to the memory of our fallen comrades in arms and is sponsored by Veteran & Community Service Organizations. The event includes salutes by Civil War Cannons & Veteran Honor Squad, as well as a Parade of Flags, Memorial Wreaths Music, Speeches & Much More! Continue reading→

Memorial Day Service at Fairhaven Memorial Park set for 5/26

Posted on May 22, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Entertainment, Family, Military, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Fairhaven Memorial Park and Mortuary is hosting a Memorial Day Service: “The Story of Our Flag,” on May26, 2014, at 10:30 am, at 1702 Fairhaven Avenue, in Santa Ana.

This Memorial Day event is a special service to remember our nation’s servicemen and women. It’s a tribute to those who gave their lives in service to our country and a celebration of those who currently serve or have served our nation. Featuring live entertainment and patriotic speakers, the Memorial Day Service is a wonderful reminder of what it means to be an American. Continue reading→

First USO Center to open at John Wayne Airport

Posted on May 8, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Military, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 8, 2014

Media Contacts: John Wayne Airport: Jenny Wedge, Public Information Officer, (949) 252-5182, jwedge@ocair.com

Bob Hope USO: Bob Kurkjian, Executive Director, (949) 252-0303, Bob@BobHopeUSO.org

FIRST USO CENTER TO OPEN AT JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT

For the first time in Orange County, more than 20,000 military members and their families will receive the hallmark USO airport welcome

Orange County, Calif. – For 73 years, USO centers have welcomed troops and their families at airports across the nation. A unanimous vote last week by the Orange County Board of Supervisors will allow that warm welcome to be extended, for the very first time, at John Wayne Airport (JWA).

“Our armed service members work tirelessly to safeguard our freedom and our security,” said Supervisor Shawn Nelson, Chairman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. “We are proud of their service and delighted to work with the Bob Hope USO to provide a comfortable and welcoming environment at JWA for traveling service members and their families.” Continue reading→

Fairhaven Memorial Park and Mortuary to host a Memorial Day service on 5/26

Posted on April 22, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Entertainment, Family, Military, Santa Ana Leave a comment

“The Story of Our Flag”: Fairhaven Memorial Park’s 22nd Annual Memorial Day Service Calendar Submission

Join Fairhaven Memorial Park & Mortuary as they share “The Story of Our Flag” at its 22nd Annual Memorial Day Service on Monday, May 26 at 10:30 a.m.

More than 3,500 Orange County residents are expected to attend the event, which will feature vivid representations of our flag’s most moving moments in history, inspiring speeches by military veterans, a “Parade of Flags” by The Tustin Young Marines, the Boy Scouts of America and the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps, and an aerial fly-over of World War II-era planes. The event will kick off with a special performance of the National Anthem by the “Star Spangled Singer” contest winner and conclude with an extraordinary surprise together with the Tustin Community Choir and the Tustin High School Glee Club. Continue reading→

5K Run/Walk in memory of ret. SAPD Sgt. Centanni’s son who died in Afghanistan

Posted on March 16, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Charities, Military, Orange County, Santa Ana 3 Comments

2nd Annual Centanni-Cottle Memorial 5K Run and Walk

On March 24, 2010, Marines Sgt. Major Robert “RJ” Cottle and LCpl Rick Centanni were killed by an IED in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

Cottle was a Police Sergeant from the LAPD, who left a wife and one-year old daughter and Centanni was the 19 -year old son – and only child – of Jon Centanni, a retired gang unit sergeant from the Santa Ana Police Department. Continue reading→

Christmas gift baskets for the U.S. Marines

Posted on December 2, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Charities, Military, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Operation Christmas Spirit

The Santa Ana Republican Women Federated are partnering with Operation Help A Hero to provide Christmas gift baskets for the U.S. Marines.

A great number of our Marines are coming home from overseas right now, many of them injured. Please help us show them our gratitude and support by donating items needed for Christmas baskets. These baskets will mostly be going to young, single men. The following are suggestions, but feel free to donate anything you feel they would like. Continue reading→

Veterans Appreciation Day and Job Fair set for 11/14 in Santa Ana

Posted on November 12, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Entertainment, Jobs, Military, Veterans Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community Alert: Veterans Appreciation Day and Job Fair Nov. 14 in Santa Ana

SANTA ANA, CA (November 12, 2013)

WHO: Veterans seeking employment are encouraged to attend. Veterans should come dressed to impress to make that invaluable first impression. Open to the public.

WHAT: Join us for the annual Veterans Appreciation Day and Job Fair to honor and support the veterans of Orange County. Sponsored by the City of Santa Ana- WORK Center and Employment Development Department, the event will allow veteran-friendly employers to screen and hire qualified veterans. Over 30 employers will be in attendance, including: AAA, Behr, Toms Truck, UC Irvine, Verengo Solar, Verizon Wireless, Vons, and Wells Fargo. Continue reading→

Veterans Day specials and events in and around Santa Ana

Posted on November 8, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Entertainment, Military, Santa Ana, Veterans Leave a comment

Veteran’s Day is coming up on Monday, November 11. This is a day we should all celebrate and in particular it is a day to thank those who served in our Armed Forces.

Here are the events going on throughout Orange County, in and around Santa Ana, plus a few special deals too: Continue reading→

$35M helium airship damaged as part of Tustin hangar roof collapses

Posted on October 7, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Military, Orange County, Todd Spitzer, Tustin Leave a comment

Part of the roof of a hangar collapsed at a former military base in Tustin, damaging a $35-million dirigible and causing it to leak helium, according to ABC News.

The collapse left a 25-by-25-foot hole in the ceiling and caused a helium leak in the 254 foot long airship about 7:45 a.m., Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi said. No one was injured, he added, according to Fox News.

Orange County Supervisor Todd Spitzer, who was at the hanger Monday, said the roof collapse worried him because the county is slated to take over the structure. “This is going to raise serious questions about the future of this hanger and whether Orange County can afford future liability,” Spitzer said, according to the L.A. Times. Continue reading→