On Friday, May 16, 2008 I had the privilege of acting as Master of Ceremonies at a fundraising event attended by over 200 people at the Veteran’s Memorial Building on Main Street in Downtown Pleasanton. The event was put on by the Pleasanton Military Families (PMF) Support Group.
PMF was organized in 2004 as a support group for active military personnel and their families. The group provides on-going emotional support, as well as goods and services to address the needs of families impacted by key wage earners being deployed for extended periods away from home.
PMF also facilitates counseling services through local churches and nonprofit organizations to address emotional distress, financial assistance, and services for those returning from deployment.
Every returning comrade receives a special welcome home celebration. In addition, working with the City, the group implements a public recognition program by hanging yellow streamers on Main Street poles naming residents serving in combat zones.
What a great evening - raising over $10,000 for a worthy cause. The sailor you see in the photo with me was a gentleman named Danny Soria who proudly served in the NAVY from 1943 to 1946.
The uniform he is wearing in the picture is the original uniform he wore nearly 65 years ago. Danny enlisted at the age of 16. He wanted to be a Marine but missed the minimum height requirement by one half inch.
He and his three brothers proudly served in the various Armed Services during World War 2.
Danny was discharged at Camp Parks in Dublin in 1946. What an honor it was to be up on stage with a true American hero.
