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I’ve created a new series for this page, featuring blogs developed and written by my very own team.  I hope they will help introduce you to the members of our Team who work daily on projects and issues we care deeply about.  I also hope you will take the time to not only read them, but respond to them.  Hearing your thoughts and ideas is a great way for us to connect to you and other Californians -- and important in learning how together we can make a difference in our communities and our state. 

Veteran's Day 2007 - WE Honor, WE Remember and WE Never Forget

“This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.”

These are the courageous words of Elmer Davis, a renowned news reporter who covered the events of World War II.

On Veterans Day, we thank our living veterans for their service, acknowledge that their contributions to the United States are appreciated and state that their actions, sacrifice and service truly mattered.

But I believe that every day is Veterans Day.

Today veterans can be found in all walks of life, in all ages and in all our neighborhoods.  They are our coaches, educators, police officers, clerks, doctors and volunteers.

So the next time you meet a veteran thank them and tell them how much you appreciate their sacrifice.

I am reminded of the story of the poppy when I think of our veterans.  The golden poppy is the official state flower.  It is also an incredible and powerful symbol to veterans.  In the World War I battlefields of Belgium, poppies grew wild amid the ravaged landscape. It was amazing how such a beautiful and fragile flower could flourish surrounded by so much death and destruction. The bloody battles overturned the soil cultivating poppy seeds by the millions.  It forever serves as a reminder of the bloodshed during that war and the ultimate sacrifice our soldiers made.

Since 1924, members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion Auxiliary have distributed millions of bright red poppies in exchange for contributions to assist disabled and hospitalized veterans.  The hospitalized veterans who make the flowers are able to earn a small wage, which helps to supplement their incomes and to maintain their independence.  Donations are used exclusively to assist veterans and their families.

The poppy reminds the community of the past sacrifices and continuing needs of our veterans. The poppy has since become a nationally known symbol to honor the men and women who served and died for their country during a time of war.

But wearing a poppy is only the beginning of how we can help support our brave military brothers and sisters.  More of course needs to be done, and here in California, First Lady Maria Shriver has established a Military Family Initiative to help support California families through volunteer efforts.  The First Lady believes that together organizations, businesses, community groups, schools and faith-based groups should step forward and volunteer their time on behalf of military families in their time of need.  This can occur in many ways - providing educational support for families, assisting with home projects, mowing a lawn, raking leaves, babysitting, washing a car or preparing a meal.

The First Lady is committed to connecting Californians and believes that together WE truly can make a difference.  Every Christmas for the last three years, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Shriver have donated over 30,000 phone cards so that brave men and women serving overseas can stay connected with their loved ones while they are apart during the holiday season.

And this past September, I had the privilege of working with Governor Schwarzenegger, First Lady Shriver, the California National Guard and Operation Gratitude (which sends care packages overseas to our military soldiers) on a letter writing campaign to our brave soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.  We assembled in a kindergarten classroom at Tenderloin Community School in San Francisco - the outpouring from the students was amazing.  Students shared their thoughts, drew pictures, traced their hands and filled one sheet of paper with so much appreciation that it literally flowed off the page.

At one of the Operation Gratitude events, a young student named Cody wrote:

“Thank you for putting your life in danger to save other peoples lives.  I’m a scardy cat, you are probably braver than an undestroyable tiger.  Some people think the guns are the protection, but the people like you are the ones that protect us.  Sorry you can’t be home for the holidays, remember that you are doing something great for our country.  If you miss giving presents just keep doing what you’re doing because it is a great gift to our country, the United States of America.” 
                ~ Sincerely, Cody

And this is one of the responses which was sent to Operation Gratitude:

"I just want to take a minute from the war to say, "Thanks."  You have no idea how important mail is over here. And to receive a package from a caring person who doesn't even know me--it's like winning the lottery. For that God Bless You!! I would also like to say, "your organization is putting smiles on soldiers faces everywhere around the world." Please continue the good work. We really need your support and once again, "Many thanks for supporting the Armed forces." 
                ~ SGT WM

I also wanted to highlight two programs, which do not take a great deal of our time, but certainly make a great difference.  The first is Operation Hero Miles (www.heromiles.org) which allows troops stationed in Iraq or Afghanistan to fly home on leave for free. It gives family members of wounded servicemen free plane tickets to visit their loved ones recovering at military hospitals. Operation Hero Miles also gives ordinary citizens an opportunity to help our troops by donating their unused frequent flyer miles to the Pentagon for troops and their families to use.  Airlines that are currently participating in Operation Hero Miles: AirTran Airways, Alaska

Airlines, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Midwest Airlines, Northwest Airlines, United Air Lines, and US Airways.  So this holiday season, when you’re flying home to visit your loved ones, please consider donating some of your unused miles to bring joy into the lives of our military families.

The second program, which I referenced previously, is called Operation Gratitude (www.opgratitude.com).  Hundreds of thousands of American troops are deployed throughout the world and the physical conditions they must endure are difficult in addition to the separation from loved ones.  Operation Gratitude seek to lift troops' morale by sending care packages to service members overseas with food, toiletries, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation, all wrapped with good wishes of love and support.   Operation Gratitude is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, all-volunteer corporation, funded entirely by private donations.  And November 10, 2007 is the kick off assembly weekend for Operation Gratitude's 2007 Holiday Drive. Now is the time to plan your item collection drives, write letters and organize fund raising efforts in order to meet their goal of sending 60,000 packages to the troops in time for the holidays!

So this Veteran’s Day, let us always remember, let us never forget and let us honor our brave veterans who have given us the greatest gift – our freedom.

My name is Trish Fontana, I was raised in a family dedicated to service and I am honored to work on First Lady Maria Shriver’s Military Family Initiative.  In World War II, my father served in the Army Air Corps, my father-in-law was a Navy Seabee, one of my uncles was a Naval Bomber Commander who flew missions off the USS Enterprise and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, a second was a Naval Higgins boat pilot who landed troops on

D-Day at Normandy and a third was an infantryman in Guadalcanal.  Another uncle was a Marine during the Korean War and fought in the battle at Hamburger Hill.  My brother-in-law was a Vietnam War Naval radio operator.  My cousin was a National Guard pilot and recently both my niece and nephew served on a naval submarine tender.