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More You Can For Our Soldiers

Last month we told you about how easy it is to provide phone cards to members of the military serving around the globe. Now we have received information on how folks who want to help can provide a little of the extras these soldiers might enjoy. Individuals and organizations can also show their support to deployed troops and their families with gift certificates. The Gift of Groceries program allows anyone to purchase commissary gift certificates at http://www.commissaries.com or by calling toll free 1 (877) 770-GIFT. The Armed Services Exchanges offer the Gift From the Homefront gift certificate for merchandise at these exchange web sites: http://www.aafes.com and http://www.navy-nex.com or by calling toll free 1 (877) 770-GIFT. Gift certificates may be purchased to be mailed to servicemembers and family members or will be distributed to any servicemember. Only authorized commissary and exchange patrons may redeem the gift certificates at military commissaries and exchanges, including those stores supporting deployed personnel around the globe.

Send Phone Cards to Soldiers

You may be asking what you can do to support America’s service members, especially military troops serving overseas and those injured in combat recovering in military hospitals. Several organizations are sponsoring programs directly aiding members of the armed forces.

The Help Our Troops Call Home program is designed to help service members call home from Operations Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Those wishing to donate a prepaid calling card to a military member may log on to any of the three Armed Services Exchange web sites: the Army and Air Force Exchange Service http://www.aafes.com/, the Navy Exchange Service Command http://www.navy-nex.com/, and the Marine Corps Exchange http://www.usmc-mccs.org/. Click the Help Our Troops Call Home link.

From there, a prepaid calling card may be purchased for an individual at his or her deployed address or to any service member deployed or hospitalized. The Armed Services Exchanges will distribute cards donated to any service member through the American Red Cross, Air Force Aid Society and the Fisher House Foundation.

The Armed Services Exchanges operate telephone call centers in Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, and other countries and aboard ships — anywhere service members are deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. All of these locations stay busy round the clock to keep up communication between deployed troops and their loved ones. The cards available through the Help Our Troops Call Home program offer the best value for calls made from the call centers; they never expire; and there are no added charges or connection fees.

On American shores, the number ONE request at the Walter Reed Medical Center is phone cards for its patients – - wounded soldiers who are rationing their calls to loved ones at home. To help on this front, you may send phone cards of any amount to:

Medical Family Assistance Center
Walter Reed Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20307-5001
(202) 782-3501

National Naval Medical Center
8901 Wisconsin Avenue
Bethesda, Maryland 20814
(301) 295-4611
Source: US Department of Defense, National Rifle Association (NRA)Soldier_onPhone

To our Local Heroes in Uniform,

Another day goes by amidst the Mountain Valley scenes,

Men and Women of Valor meeting everyday routines.

Some in patrol cars, meeting crime upon our streets,

Others ready to fight the fires and tend emergencies.

Some will search and rescue when they receive the call

Many will stand in guard of those who chose to live behind the wall.

Each job takes dedication and commitment to the cause,sept09 004

Integrity and bravery are all that ever was.

Some are volunteers while some serve day by day,

But all will make a difference in each their own way.

To all who serve us here and our Mountain Valley ways,

We offer sincere appreciation and thanks and praise.

For when the lights go out and the worst it seems has come,

Our men and women of valor are there for many a troubled one.

So as you go do what you do, take our blessing too,

And prayers each for your safety and our

GRAND SALUTE TO YOU!

SALUTE California Highway Patrol at Quincy

Photo submitted by George Steffenson

Photo submitted by George Steffenson

Photo submitted by George Steffenson

Photo submitted by George Steffenson

Photo submitted by George Steffenson

Patrol Vehicle Speed = 61 miles per hour

Target Vehicle Speed = 137 miles per hour

BELOW IS THE HIGHEST RECORDED SPEED QUINCY AREA RECORDED FOR 2007.sept09 030

THE ENFORCEMENT STOP OCCURRED DURING AN SEU SPEED-TEAM DETAIL ON US-395.

NO WARNING WAS GIVEN, THE DRIVER WAS CITED.

Photo submitted by George Steffenson

SALUTE: Cal Fire Lassen Modoc Unit

On July 29th Trent became an honorary captain with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) when Captain Thompson, Firefighters Cody Leventon, Matt Falkowski, Robbie Whitchurch, and Smokey Bear presented Trent with a special helmet designed by Firefighter Rick Kelly. Photo courtesy CalFire Leah Sandburg

CalFire.….“Giving Back”

You can’t miss Trent “Trentman” DiMauro if you visit Merrill Campground at Eagle Lake while he and his family are there on vacation. Trent is a 16-year old young man with a contagious smile, bright eyes and a loving spirit. Trent faces the challenges of cerebral palsy, which is why you’ll see him moving about the campground in his motorized chair; but he certainly doesn’t let that stop him from making friends and changing the lives of those he meets. In fact, the group that vacations at Merrill Campground has grown over the years as Trent meets new people and brings them into his family circle.

Trent’s family has been spending their vacation at Eagle Lake for the last 29 years. Several years ago, CAL FIRE Captain Eric Thompson had the opportunity to meet the DiMauro family when he and his crew from Eagle Lake Station drove through Merrill Campground in their fire engine. They have been visiting Trent each year since. “It is wonderful to see the excitement on Trent’s face when he sees the fire engine arrive,” said Captain Thompson. “Each year we find out when he’s going to be visiting and make sure to come by and say hello.”

On July 29th Trent became an honorary captain with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) when Captain Thompson, Firefighters Cody Leventon, Matt Falkowski, Robbie Whitchurch, and Smokey Bear presented Trent with a special helmet designed by Firefighter Rick Kelly. “This will be my last year at Eagle Lake Station,” said Captain Thompson, “and I wanted to do something special for Trent. He brings a lot of joy to the people around him. We wanted to give a little of it back.”

Salute To Our Local Fire and Law Enforcement Agencies

sept09 029

A Salute to Local Fire & Law Enforcement

veteransOur Salute to Local Fire and Law Enforcement

YOUR CHANCE TO SALUTE A LOCAL HERO IN UNIFORM:

In our fall edition (September/October), we will be including a special section saluting Local Law Enforcement and Fire Agencies and looking a bit more deeply into what it takes to be one of the men or women who represent these local departments.

TELL US ABOUT SOMEONE SPECIAL

If you have a story to tell about a local hero in uniform, please contact Eileen at 530-256-2800 or email her at mountainvalleyliving@gmail.com. Please include your name and contact information, in case we have any further questions.

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