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Health & Fitness

Heroes Nite Out 2013

I was exhausted on Sunday, but it was a good exhaustion.  This weekend I volunteered with Homefront America as they hosted their 3rd Annual Heroes Nite Out.  It was another rousing success for Art, Mamie and Adam!  I worked at the event, but these three have spent months putting the whole thing together.  Thanks to their dedication, active duty service members came from all over Southern California to be honored including commanding officers from Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar and Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton 

Although it was a bit hot during the day, it cooled down just enough to be perfect for an evening under the stars at the Hamilton Oakes Winery.  Over three hundred people enjoyed the guitar stylings of Arturo Echarte from Acoustic for a Change during the cocktail and dinner hours. (On a side note, if you or your children have musical instruments you are no longer using, Acoustic for a Change collects the instruments and donates them to underprivileged kids.  Rather than let that instrument continue to gather dust, why not let it have a second life with a new owner???)  Guests visited the Homefront America table and learned about the organization’s previous “missions” such as holiday parties, homecoming/deployment parties, scholarships, Easter baskets and Pack for Success (back-to-school program).

The main part of the evening was kicked off by the color guard from the 1st Battalion, 11th Marines, 1st Marine Division.  Grace Villa sang the national anthem and the Masters of Ceremony, Marc Franz and Mike McCarthy, had their opening remarks.  Navy Chaplain Lt. Mark Maines lead everyone in an opening prayer and explained the POW/MIA table. (If you have the time, do a web search for POW/MIA table for the explanation of all the items on the table.  Or you could attend my Toastmaster’s group as I am going to incorporate the table into one of my speeches coming up here soon.)  Thanks to the National Charity League, Monarch Chapter, dinner was quickly served to all in attendance followed by cakes decorated with the seals of all five military branches.

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Once everybody was fed, it was time to nourish our souls.  I love a capella music, so I was excited to take a break and listen to the group Vybration from the Segerstrom Center for the Arts.  Their close harmonies and using their voices as instruments made such a great impression on all there.  I am sure I am not the only person who was disappointed when their performance ended!  I have not checked yet, but if they have a record out, I am definitely getting it!

Col. Rick “Rico” Uribe, Commanding Officer of the Marine Aircraft Group 11, was the military guest speaker.  What really stood out to me is when he mentioned that less than 1% of American’s answer the call to serve in the military.  Kaye Youngren, CEO and Founder of Community Management, Inc. of Portland, OR, was the civilian guest speaker.  She explained how she and her husband came to support Homefront America and then three of the families that she and her husband helped came on stage to meet them.  After a few opportunity drawings, and much kidding of the winners, the evening concluded with a tribute to all the men and women who have served and are serving in each of the military branches.

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The evening was not just for all the men and women currently in the service, although that was the main focus.  Veterans going as far back as WWII were also in attendance.  The weaponry, uniforms and enemies may have changed over the years, but the camaraderie was very much in evidence.  It was refreshing to see that those in uniform at the event sought out and showed great respect for the veterans.

All in all, it was a great night.  My family has been a little involved with Homefront America since 2008, but it is only in the last year or so that we have become more hands-on involved.  I hope that I will get asked back to work again next year!!!

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