Author Archives: Jeff Jardine
FIFTY-EIGHT YEARS AGO TODAY, JFK TELLS AMERICANS OF SOVIET NUCLEAR ARMS IN CUBA
On October 22, 1962, President John F. Kennedy went on national television to tell the American people they were in the gravest possible danger imaginable. The Cold War that commenced in 1947, and persisted throughout the 1950s, had gotten even colder after the Soviets shot down an American U-2 spy plane over the USSR and […]
CALVET TO HONOR WOMEN VETERANS WITH TRAILBLAZER AWARDS IN VIRTUAL EVENT
Four women veterans will be honored virtually on Wednesday, October 21 during the annual 2020 Women Veterans Reception taking place from 6-7:30 p.m. The veterans will be recognized for their leadership and noteworthy impact on their communities with the annual California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) Trailblazer Award. The 2020 awardees are: Cecilia Salazar of […]
‘MAKE YOUR BED,’ OTHER LIFE LESSONS FROM ADMIRAL HIT HOME WITH VETERANS IN VENTURA
Consider it a Father’s Day gift that became a most special delivery. Lee Mills is an 86-year-old Korean War-era Navy veteran who lives at the Veterans Home of California-Ventura. As is the case with all eight homes in CalVet’s system, COVID-19 pandemic protocol prohibits visits from family and friends to the Ventura Home. Consequently, Mills’ […]
CALVET’S RESPECT FOR LATINO VETERANS ETCHED IN STONE
Statues, in many cases, honor a person who symbolized leadership, bravery, and who set the example that others follow. The California Mexican-American Veterans Memorial, known as “El Soldado,” is different, though. It represents not an individual, but an entire culture of patriots. Consequently, with Latino Heritage Month coming to its close, the California Department of […]
NAVY CELEBRATING 245th BIRTHDAY, LOOKING TO EXPAND FLEET
Happy 245th birthday to the United States Navy! The Continental Congress formally established the Navy on October 13, 1775, which became the traditional birthdate of the U.S. Navy – nine months before the founders signed the Declaration of Independence and formed the United States of America. American ships captured over 200 British ships during the […]
NEW LAW WILL MAKE IT EASIER TO GET DISABLED VETERAN LICENSE PLATES, PLACARDS IN 2021
Beginning January 1, 2021, qualifying disabled veterans will have an easier process to follow when requesting special Disabled Veteran license plates or distinguishing placards from the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Currently, a disabled veteran in California obtains the plates by securing a disability certification from a medical professional or from the U.S. Department […]
IN 100th YEAR OF LENDING, ACCESS TO CALVET HOME LOAN HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER
You are a veteran wanting to purchase or build a home in California. A first-timer nervous about the process? Or, your credit rating is a bit spotty, perhaps? Relax. You served your nation. The California Department of Veterans Affairs’ experienced and dedicated Home Loans staff stands ready to serve you, just as they have helped […]
THE MOTHER OF ALL 3 U.S. COAST GUARD BIRTHDAYS: 231 YEARS AGO TODAY
Did you know that the U.S. Coast Guard celebrates three different birthdays, and that today isn’t one of them? October 2, 1789, however, is the reason all three exist. Here’s the skinny. The Coast Guard considers August 4, 1790, its true date of birth. On that day, Congress approved the construction of 10 ships for […]
GROUNDBREAKING SET FOR NATIVE AMERICAN MEMORIAL PLAZA THAT WILL SHOWCASE “THE GIFT” STATUE AT RIVERSIDE
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemetery Administration will break ground on the plaza of the American Indians Veterans Memorial on Friday, September 25 at the Riverside National Cemetery. It will be the first major monument honoring U.S. indigenous veterans located at a VA national cemetery. The Memorial will feature a statue named “The […]
241 YEARS AGO TODAY, JOHN PAUL JONES AND THE FIRST BONHOMME RICHARD MADE HISTORY
In one of the early great sea victories of the American Revolution, John Paul Jones commanded the Bonhomme Richard as it defeated two British warships, the Serapis and the Countess of Scarborough, off the coast of England on September 23, 1779. Early in 1779, King Louis XVI received a visit from Benjamin Franklin, dispatched by […]
