Category Veterans Homes

‘RUPTURED DUCK’ HONORABLE DISCHARGE PINS FINDING LAPELS IN CALVET’S VETERANS HOMES
A few weeks ago, the Veterans Home of California-Ventura received a phone call from Lou Zayas, junior commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart chapter in Georgia. Zayas wanted to know the number of World War II veterans living at the Ventura Home. He wanted to send each one a “Ruptured Duck” lapel […]

IN THE SPIRIT OF THE HOLIDAYS: KOREAN WAR VETERAN FINDS HIS BLISS AT VENTURA VETERANS HOME
Among the many things the holiday season inspires is the opportunity to count our blessings. Bobby Knaus counts his merely by reflecting where he was a year ago in setting, spirit, strength, and soundness. “I spent last Christmas alone,” the 91-year-old Korean War veteran said. “I was living in a mobile home, (in) failing health, […]

CALVET-ASSISTED WINDSOR VETERANS VILLAGE’S GRAND OPENING SET FOR MONDAY
Windsor Veterans Village, a new apartment complex for veterans and their families in Sonoma County, will celebrate its official grand opening during a ceremony beginning at 10 a.m. on Monday, December 6. The first veterans moved in this August, two years after the project broke ground in July 2019. The Veterans Housing and Homelessness Prevention […]

TO 100 AND BEYOND! CENTENARIANS ABOUND AT VETERANS HOMES OF CALIFORNIA
With Veterans Day upon us, CalVet pays tribute to the 23 enduring and endearing veterans and other residents whose ages require triple digits, and who live in our Veterans Homes of California throughout the state. U.S. Army veteran Warren Moose joined that very exclusive group on November 1, turning 100 years old to great fanfare […]

REDDING HOME RESIDENT LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD VETS TO HAM IT UP ON AMATEUR RADIO
REDDING – Michael VanCleemput is ham radio operator who makes friends through the frequencies, and would like to do so more frequently. The 80-year-old Vietnam-era veteran and resident of the Veterans Homes of California-Redding is looking for a few good men and women to converse with over the amateur radio airwaves. He is issuing an […]

THANKING WW II VETERANS FROM THE OPEN COCKPIT OF A BI-PLANE
NAPA – Bob Bischoff climbed into the front seat of a 1943 Boeing Stearman bi-plane earlier this week for a joyride over the Napa Valley’s vineyards and neighborhoods. Referring to pilot Andrew Lohmar, Bischoff said “He would turn like this,” then turned his hands downward as if an airplane. The 95-year-old U.S. Army veteran continued, […]

PASSION, DUTY, AND A LABOR OF LOVE: HELPING VETERANS AT CALVET IS ALL OF THE ABOVE
For those of us who work at the California Department of Veterans Affairs, however, every day is Veterans Day. It is our passion, our duty, and a labor of love to help veterans in all ways within our means. Many who work for CalVet are veterans themselves — veterans serving veterans. You, too, can make […]

AIR FORCE BAND BRINGING LIVE MUSIC BACK TO VENTURA VETERANS HOME
They’ve been spending much of the past 16 months in the wild bored yonder. They’ve been mostly limited to the halls of Ventura. They’ve been anchored away from family and friends. And, they’ve been longing to say “Hi! Hi! Hey” and go upon their merry way. Now, however, with COVID-19 pandemic restrictions finally easing, the […]

HEROES IN OUR HOMES – CALM AMID THE STORM
CalVet Connect highlights another hero among the staff members who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in caring for our veterans and their spouses at our Veterans Homes of California during the COVID-19 pandemic. BARSTOW HOME’S CHIEF NURSE BROUGHT CALM AMID COVID-19 STORM Throughout the pandemic, Theresa Estep found herself playing many […]