Post
Vol. 1, No. 11 • November 2014
News
Modern Day
Vikings?
See Page 6
Supporting Veterans, National Security, Youth and Americanism
Circulation: 14,000
S.F. Veterans Memorial Finally Completed
A
merican Legion Post 283 members Bill Branch and Fred Votto attended the
dedication of San Francisco’s Veterans Memorial, “Passage of Remembrance”
on October 10. The memorial took 82 years to complete.
The initial planned memorial was part of a 1920s design by Arthur Brown Jr. that
was to be located across from City Hall, at the east end of the courtyard between the
War Memorial Opera House and Veteran’s Building.
That space has been reserved since the Beaux Arts complex at the Civic Center
opened in 1932 for a memorial.
Lack of funds prevented most of the project from being built, but in 1935, Brown
recommended that landscape architect Thomas Church design a garden on the site.
Soil from World War I, World War II was added to ground and again in 1988 soil from
the Vietnam War was added. But still the memorial was not built.
When Major General J. Michael Myatt retired from the Marines after 32 years, he
returned to San Francisco. In 2007, he was appointed to the War Memorial Board of
Trustees, joining Wilkes Bashford and Charlotte Shultz.
Bashford and Myatt decided the project needed to be finished and with help from
Shultz, privately raise the $2.5 million needed to complete the memorial. The Stephen
Bechtel Fund donated $1.5 million.
Designs by artist Susan Narduli and landscape architect Andrea Cochran, which includes
three reflection pools circumscribed by an octagon of basalt stone, were selected.
The project includes Archibald MacLeish’s poem “The Young Dead Soldiers” carved
on the 30-foot-long granite octagon.
An overhead view of the dedication of San Francisco’s Veterans Memorial.
A Night on the Streets
With the Palisades Homeless
By SUE PASCOE
Newsletter Editor
P
acific Palisades residents continue
to complain about the homeless,
especially after a man’s bare butt
was photographed in September as he
slept on a sidewalk in the Village, and the
photo went viral.
A February PPCC meeting discussed
a transient assault on a young mother in
the Village area; and a January fire (reportedly set by transients) threatened
homes along Corona Del Mar in the
Huntington Palisades.
Then, West L.A. neighborhood prosecutor Claudia Martin said the City’s hands
were tied because of the 2006 case (Jones
v. City of Los Angeles) filed by the ACLU
and upheld by the Ninth Circuit Court.
[“The Eighth Amendment prohibits the
City from punishing involuntary sitting,
lying or sleeping on a public sidewalk that
is an unavoidable consequence of being
human and homeless without a shelter in
the City of Los Angeles,” Judge Wardlaw
The young dead soldiers do not speak.
Nevertheless, they are heard in the still houses: who has not heard them?
They have a silence that speaks for them at night and when the clock counts.
They say: We were young. We have died. Remember us.
They say: We have done what we could but until it is finished it is not done.
They say: We have given our lives but until it is finished no one can know what our lives gave.
They say: Our deaths are not ours; they are yours; they will mean what you make them.
They say: Whether our lives and our deaths were for peace and a new hope or for nothing
we cannot say; it is you who must say this.
They say: We leave you our deaths. Give them their meaning. We were young, they say.
We have died: remember us.
For more about the dedication read Fred Votto’s report, page 2.
wrote.] Martin emphasized, “LAPD has to
enforce the rules in the Palisades the same
way it does on Skid Row.”
Post 283 News recently spent a Friday
night with seven homeless people in a one
block area on either side of Gladstone’s
restaurant (on PCH at Sunset), accompanied by a member of Palisades Patrol.
Some of these transients lacked teeth and
others had visible sores.
Mike Miles from Burbank now lives
on a sand dune west of Gladstone’s. “I
don’t have much longer to live,” he said.
“I’m writing letters to my family and almost done.”
He gave this reporter a page from the
notebook: “I have a watch band with no
mechanism in it. I wear it to remind myself that time doesn’t matter. It’s only relevant to those living out their sentence on
this earth wrapped in turmoil and trepidation . . . What’s so incredible is that I’d
allowed them to convince me that I was
really crazy.”
When asked what he was dying of,
(Continued on Page 7) Bill Branch and Fred Votto stand behind former Secretary of State George Shultz.
Photo: Edrieanne Votto
Page 2
Post 283 News
November 2014
“A WAVE OF ENTHUSIASM”
Legion Commander—Scott Wagenseller
S
ince March of this year, Post 283 News
has been reporting on events and people in our Post and in our community.
In our short tenure we have earned state
and national awards and have heard of your
respect and admiration for ethical and indepth reporting on important issues facing
our Veterans and our community. We are
grateful for your support and interest.
As you may have noticed this month,
Post 283 News has been delivered with the
Palisades News, a new community newspaper. These are separate and independent
news sources. Post 283 News will continue
to be the newsletter for Post 283 focusing on
Veterans and Post 283 affairs, while Palisades
News will serve the community as a new
Additionally, as the official voice for Palinewspaper for Pacific Palisades with news, sades Post 283, we are committed to continuing and improving our outreach to other
features and commentary.
Veterans in the community. We are working
on plans to improve our online presence
with a newly designed website and increased
social media usage. Twitter and Facebook
are already part of Post 283, now we will
refine and work on maintaining these lanes
of communication.
This month we have Veterans Day presentations at many local schools. This program is a legacy of Emil Wroblicky and it
has been rewarding to have so many invitations to speak from so many schools. This
is our opportunity to present the history
and importance of Veterans Day, along with
the role and pillars of the American Legion.
Please email or call the post if you are interested in participating in speaking engagements such as these. We always need
Veterans to speak.
1st Vice Commander—Fred Votto
a group of dedicated citizens led by Major
General J. Michael Myatt and with generous contributions from Wilkes Bashford,
Riley and Susie Bechtel, George and Charlotte Shultz and others.
More than two and a half million dollars
was raised to build this memorial to honor
our veterans. This impressive stone edifice,
designed by artist Susan Narduli, sits in the
center of what is called the Memorial
Court. The stone is engraved with a poem
by Archibald MacLeish, “The Young Dead
Soldiers.” The theme evoked is that it is our
responsibility to make the deaths of soldiers meaningful.
The ceremony was a dignified and reverent
honoring of the veterans who have served
in our nation’s wars. Present at the dedication were Senator Diane Feinstein, former
San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, Mayor
Edwin Lee and former Secretary of State
George Shultz. The dignitaries spoke of the
debt citizens owe to those who have served,
and stressed that the sacrifices of the veterans have enriched all our lives.
Master of ceremonies was Major General
J. Michael Myatt, USMC retired, who spoke
of the history of this memorial.
One of the most moving moments was
the placing of the sacred soil into the monument by Rogelio Manaois, a veteran of
the Gulf War. This was a carved wooden
box sealed with the insignias of the various
services that contained the soil from the
battlegrounds of WWI, WWII and Vietnam. Soil from Korea, Lebanon, Kuwait,
Iraq and Afghanistan will be added at a
later date. This symbolizes the soil that has
been sanctified by the blood of our American soldiers. The ceremony was enhanced
by the performance of the First Marine Division Band for the Star Spangled Banner
and the advance of colors.
I would recommend that any of you who
have occasion to visit San Francisco should
pay a visit to this veteran’s memorial. It is
truly an inspiring site.
N
ot often does one have the opportunity to be a part of an historic
event. On October 10, Bill Branch
and I, along with our wives, had this rare
good fortune.
The occasion was the dedication of the
Veterans’ Memorial, “Passage of Remembrance,” which had been promised to veterans more than 82 years ago as part of the
building of the War Memorial Opera House
and Veterans’ Building on Van Ness Street
in San Francisco.
The project was finally brought to completion as a result of the concerted effort of
2nd Vice Commander—Jere Romano
W
ow! It’s November and it’s starting to actually feel like fall. November is certainly a month of
“Thankfulness” as a Nation we show our appreciation for all those who have served in
our Armed Forces, both in times of peace
and war. There are a number of events we
as a Post can participate in:
November 6 the Santa Monica College
(SMC) Student Veteran Association hosts
its 4th Annual Veterans Day Ceremony at 11
a.m. in the Clock Tower Memorial Area.
November 8 is the West LA VA’s “3rd Annual A Day for Heroes” free BBQ and double
feature films. It’s on a first-come, first-serve
basis. The BBQ starts at 11 a.m. Movies
begin at 2 p.m.
November 15 is the UCLA vs. Arizona
18th Annual Veterans and Armed Forces
Day Appreciation Day. Purchase up to eight
(8) reserved bench tickets for $25 per ticket.
(This is 50 percent off public-ticket price.)
That same evening is our very own Veterans Day dinner and dance commencing
with the 5:30 p.m. social hour, dinner at
6:30 p.m. and dancing at 7:30 p.m. to Post
favorite, Johnny Vana’s Big Band Alumni.
Make sure you get your reservation in early
to Ruth Hackney in the office.
We have had some support for our Monday night socials but we certainly can do better. SMC Vets have certainly led the way and
would certainly challenge the SALS to see if
they could top them in participation. Please
check the Post bulletin board for November
dates as there are some Monday “black
outs” due to Post activities.
Yes . . . voting is important! Reminder: November 4th is California’s General Election.
Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my very own Corps’ 239th birthday on
November 10. Happy Birthday to all my fellow Marines! Semper Fidelis!
Adjutant—
Scott Erickson
A
s the time for giving thanks approaches; let us take a moment to
reflect upon our good fortune. Go
back with me to a time more than 70 years
ago, someplace in eastern France, and a
soldier by the name of Bill Taylor. His son
has compiled a collection of 300 hundred
letters from his father William Wellington
Taylor, Jr. to his parents. In November 26,
1944 letter (#155) he wrote:
Dear Mudder and Dad,
This is about the fourth letter I’ve
sent with this address. I know dammed
well that at least one should get through
pretty fast. I’ll try and send this one Airmail Special.
Well, things are beginning to speed
up again over here. Everyone is talking
about getting the war over by Christmas. I hope so, but after the letdown we
got in September, when everyone
thought there was nothing left but the
cheering, has left me a little wary.
The weather is as bad as ever. It’s too
bad because everyone thinks that a couple of weeks of bombing weather would
just about wash Jerry up.
I wonder where Hitler is? That’s becoming a big question. I wonder if those
dumb Krauts ever think about it.
The other day I got my first bath in
France. Wow! Did I need it. Facilities
over here are not all that’s desired.
There’s at least one consolation. Everyone else is just as dirty as me.
When he war is over there’s one thing
I don’t want you to mention and that’s
a “40 and 8” if I never hear one of those
Rattle traps again it’ll be too soon.
That about does it I feel well and
“stuff like that there.” Please write as
soon as possible.
Best Love—Bill
As you sit down to your holiday meal
and bow your heads to say a prayer, think
of those, past and present who have sacrificed in order that families may peacefully
join together in sharing the bounty bestowed upon them. In these United States
of America.
November 2014
Post 283 News
Page 3
WWII Vet Taylor Explains
By SUE PASCOE
Newsletter Editor
A
melia (Millie) Diaz Taylor is one of
those people you like to be around.
Sweet, smart and a veteran of World
War II, the 90-year-old was the first woman
to move into the CalVet home on the West
L.A. VA Campus in 2010.
She is the daughter of Mexican immigrants, and one of nine children—six boys
and three girls. During World War II, three
brothers were in the Army and two in the
Navy. Millie also enlisted.
“I went into the Navy because I was tired
of being in Santa Monica, and we were so
poor and I thought I could travel,” said Millie, who just made the height minimum of
5’1” by a half inch. “I was also proud of my
brothers and I liked the uniform.”
Millie’s father encouraged patriotism.
“He said, ‘This is my country because this
is where I am raising my family.’”
Her parents spoke little English and the
kids were often called on to translate. A
nurse came to the home and asked Millie, 12,
to translate to her mother as she explained
birth control. Afterwards, the nurse asked
Millie if her mother understood.
“My mom told me she understood, and
Amelia Diaz Taylor
Another time there was a plumbing probtold me to tell the nurse something back,”
Millie said but she didn’t tell the woman to lem in the bathroom and the father wanted
mind her own business, because it would the kids to explain to the plumber that there
was no water pressure. “The boys got the
seem disrespectful.
giggles and started laughing,” Millie said.
“My dad got frustrated and finally said,
‘Water doesn’t make uppy.’” The plumber
understood perfectly.
One brother, Efron, was at Fort Lewis and
became good friends with a sergeant, Joe
Miles. “He had blond hair and blue eyes and
he came home with my brother on leave,”
Millie said. Efron, a private, had to leave after
15 days, but Joe had more time and stayed
with the Diaz family.
“He walked me home from school every
day,” Millie said. “When he left, we wrote to
each other.”
When Efron and Joe were fighting with
General Patton’s troops in Italy, they found
a place to sleep one night against a wall, one
on either side. There was an explosion and
Millie’s brother survived, Joe didn’t. Efron
found a little rosary in a box close to Joe’s
body and brought it home for Millie. “It was
a sad, sweet memory,” she said.
Another brother, Tino, was killed on DDay. He was the one sibling who told the
family, “I don’t want to go. I’m going to get
killed.”
Before he left for the East Coast and overseas, Tino told Millie and the family, who by
this time had moved to Hacienda Heights,
he would wave to them from the train.
“We watched the whole train go by, and
Celebrate Veteran’s Day on Saturday, November 15, at American Legion Post 283,
on
the last car, on the caboose, we saw him,”
with dinner and dancing. Big Band Alumni led by Johnny Vana will play. Social
Millie
said. “He yelled out ‘Momma!’” I can
hour starts at 5:30, dinner at 6:30 and dancing from 7:30 to 11 p.m.
still
hear
the voice.”
The cost is $45 per person and reservations must be received by November 10.
Millie
joined
other WAVE recruits at the
No outside beverages are permitted.
Los
Angeles
train
station and, after a fourTo reserve a spot, call Ruth Hackney (310) 454-0527, and then send your check
day
trip;
they
arrived
at Hunter College in
to American Legion Post 283, 15247 La Cruz Drive, Pacific Palisades, Ca. 90272.
New York City. “We had fun on the train—
Veteran’s Day Dance
November 15
like doing sketch shows—until we got to
the real thing.”
The women went to boot-camp training,
which consisted of calisthenics, marching
and exercises. “There was someone from
every state and it was a real ladies outfit,” she
said. The recruits could choose from 18 different careers and Millie chose nursing because “I thought I’d like it.”
She was sent to Bethesda, Maryland for
six months of intensive training. The recruits were always lined up in alphabetical
order and she was next to Doris Dickson.
When Dickson tried to pronounce Amelia,
she stumbled over it. She then dubbed her
line mate “Millie,” which has stuck.
In 1943, Millie was transferred to San
Diego, where she stayed until the end of the
war.
“San Francisco and San Diego received
most of the patients from the South Pacific,”
she said. “Burn cases were the worst, they
were pitiful.”
After the war, Millie was engaged to another man, but then an old boyfriend, Rudy,
who had been stationed in Hawaii, looked
her up. His father was English, his mother
was Spanish, and he had been born in
Sonora.
“I told him, you didn’t write to me, so I
didn’t write to you.” A short time later, she
broke off her engagement and went back
to Rudy.
They were married June 1, 1946, and had
two children, Rudy Jr. and Tina. “My son
enlisted in the army when he was 19,” Millie
said. “Three other friends of his that had
been together since kindergarten were doing
it, too.”
Rudy was killed in Vietnam and Millie became a member of the American Gold Star
Mothers—women who have lost their sons
in war.
Rudy’s girlfriend, his childhood sweetheart, had his baby. “God works everything
out,” Millie said. “God took our boy, but now
I have a grandson who lives in Boston and
has three sons.”
Her daughter lives in Santa Cruz and her
son, after serving in the Marines, is going
to school on the GI Bill.
“We were raised to respect and love the
country we were in, but to never forget our
roots,” Millie said.
(Editor’s note: To be considered for admission in the CalVet home, veterans must be residents of California, age 55 or older (or younger
if disabled), and have served honorably. Residents either are placed in a single room with a
bathroom or a double with a bathroom. The
rooms have shelves, a chair, bed, television set
and closet. In a March story, accommodations
were described: “The space is larger than most
college dorm rooms, which these rooms resemble. There are laundry facilities and a dining
hall that provides three meals daily.”)
Page 4
Post 283 News
November 2014
VIEWPOINT
Johnny Vana Band Plays Memories
By JEANNE ALLEN
Special to Post 283 News
the troops to march on the quad. Miller decided to jazz up the tunes and invented the
“Saint Louis Blues March.” Soldiers loved it.
Dan Hazen danced at the military ball at
the University of Illinois and Woody Herman played “Woodchopper’s Ball,” and
maybe my spouse remembered dancing
with his girl back home when he was fighting in the Battle of the Bulge.
When my brother served with the 6th
Rangers in New Guinea, maybe he remembered an earlier time when Benny Goodman played “Sing Sing Sing.”
While dancers close their eyes, Vana and
his music kindles memories. Emil remembered, too. He made sure that all these young
50- to 80-plus dancers were able to enjoy
their memories from the past by dancing to
Johnny Vana’s Big Swing Band.
I
have been connected to the American
Legion since I was a young girl. My father Harry Anderson was in WWI, and
I went to many meetings with my parents.
I now have belonged to the American Legion Auxiliary 283 for many years. It is a
place to connect with other patriotic Americans and share memories of Guam, Normandy, Paris, Korea and Ft. Sill.
The Veterans Day Dance was organized
for many years by the late Emil Wroblicky,
a former Marine, with assistance from his
wife Alice. They were great dancers and
loved the great Big Band swing music from
the early ‘40s.
Emil was a real big band swing music connoisseur and hired the best big bands. The
number one favorite was Johnny Vana’s 18piece orchestra of top-notch musicians who
actually played with the name bands of yesterday. Drummer Johnny Vana played with
big bands and plays like Gene Krupa from
the swing time.
People come from everywhere just to see
and hear the Johnny Vana Band. When we
dance to him we dream of our memories.
People remember where they were, whom
they were dancing with and which big
band was playing.
Maybe we were dancing at the University
Jeanne Allen and her husband, Dan Hazen, enjoying an evening of big band music.
of Oregon when Tommy Dorsey’s band
played and Frank Sinatra sang “All or Nothing at All.” Maybe we were dancing at USC
when Jimmy Dorsey’s orchestra played and
Helen O’Connell sang “Tangerine,” or maybe
we were on leave in the Big Apple and going
to dances at Meadowbrook in New Jersey.
Maybe we were at the ROTC ball at the
University of Kansas when Tex Beneke and
the Glenn Miller Orchestra played “Moonlight Serenade.” I still remember my date,
a handsome young guy studying physics,
wearing his Air Force ROTC uniform.
Maybe when my friend John Wintler was
in the cadet corps studying at Yale for officers
training and heard Glenn Miller playing for
(Editor’s note: Jeanne Allen grew up in the
Midwest and attended the University of
Kansas. Her father was in WWI, her brother
Dustin served in WWII as a 6th Ranger in the
Philippines under General MacArthur. Lt. Col.
Dan Hazen, was in the signal corps and served
under General George Patton in the Battle of
the Bulge. Allen loves many big bands including Glen Miller, Benny Goodman and Tommy
Dorsey. Some of her favorite signers are Helen
O’Connell singing “Tangerine” and Frank
Sinatra “Come Fly With Me.” She has lived
in the Palisades for 50 years.)
Palisades Auxiliary Unit 283
President: Vi Walquist • 1st Vice President: Jean Renner-Manser • 2nd Vice President: Joanna Curtis • Jr. Past President: Nancy Niles • Secretary: Kit Festa
Treasurer: Ruth Hackney • Chaplain: Milly Mucia • Parliamentarian: Alice Karl • Sgt.-at-Arms: Maria Kidd • Marshall: Bentleigh Borgeson
Executive Committee: Susie Johansen & Sue Pascoe
Auxiliary President’s Report
By VI WALQUIST
F
all is in the air with a touch of briskness, which provides a lovely background for us to move forward to
prepare for our special events. Veterans Day
is on November 11.
Did you know that Veterans Day originally was called “Armistice Day” commemorating the first anniversary of the end of
World War 1 on November 11, 1919?
It became a national holiday in 1938. The
name changed in 1954 to Veterans Day as a
“tribute to all American veterans—living or
dead—but especially giving thanks to living
veterans who served their country honorably during war or peacetime.” Flying the
American Flag on this day shows a way of
supporting and thanking our brave men
and women. There are approximately 23.2
million military veterans in the U.S.
In keeping with our tradition, we are celebrating Veterans Day at the West Los Angeles Healthcare Center on Friday, November
7. We will be serving lunch to 350 veterans
from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 pm. The menu consists of a sandwich (grilled chicken, meatball
or vegetarian), vegetables with dip, whole
fruit, bottled water or strawberry lemonade
and a cookie. The veterans served either live
on or off campus.
They come with a healthy appetite and
show their appreciation for us being there.
We are the ones who feel it is an honor and
delight to serve them. This year legionnaires
of Post 283, who are students at Santa
Monica College will help serve. These are
young men who served their country in
Iraq or Afghanistan and it is always a joy to
be with them.
The National Auxiliary President, Janet
Jefford, who lives in Connecticut, will also
be joining us at the luncheon. It is customary for the President if she is in Los Angeles
to visit the West Los Angeles facility.
On Jefford’s itinerary is a visit to Naomi
House, which is a recovery-oriented program that provides emergency housing and
supportive services for 15-female veterans.
Working in collaboration with the VA Medical Center they are provided with medical
and health services as well as assistance in
life skills.
This is a one-year program, but residents
may stay up to two years. Our unit is shopping and preparing a basket of items needed
to set up housekeeping for those moving
out to new apartments. Madam President
will in turn present the gift to the graduate
who is leaving. Other Auxiliary Units will
provide gifts, too.
That evening the auxiliary will host a dinner party at American Legion Post 283 to
celebrating President Jefford’s visit. The social hour begins 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m.
This is a festive occasion and we expect to
have a full house.
Please RSVP to Ruth Hackney, (310)
454-0527.
Ladies, we are getting close and need your
help. As of October 15 we have 100 members who have paid their membership dues.
Thank you to those who have already renewed. “Early Bird” is our first major membership goal in November, and we need 146
members. Others, and we always welcome
new members, please help us to become a
winner! Another benefit in making “Early
Bird” is we get special seating at midyear
and conventions.
November 2014
Post 283 News
Page 5
Boys and Girls State Delegates Report
I
n June, exceptional local high school
juniors, selected for their academic and
leadership qualifications, attended Boys
and Girls State on two California college
campuses.
The week-long, hands-on lesson in
United States democracy is sponsored by
the American Legion, an apolitical organization that promotes constitutional literacy.
This crash course in government allows
students to run for different offices, starting at the city level, then state and national.
Upon completion of this highly selective
program, students understand the checks
and balances between the judicial, executive
and legislative branches.
At a September dinner meeting at Legion
Post 283 on La Cruz, several delegates gave
reports.
“It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,”
said Madeline White (Palisades High
School). “It was a testament about how
women should treat each other.” White was
elected to the assembly and put forward
several bills focusing on mental health, rape
and the environment. “It was one of the best
weeks I’ve ever had. It taught me confidence
and poise.”
Isabelle Sherouse (Santa Monica High)
said, “The program, besides being one of
the most fun weeks I’ve ever had, taught
me about government. I served as a superior court judge. It’s motivated me to work
harder.”
Kelsey Allen-Niesen (Brentwood School)
said, “Girls State attracts some of the best
high school girls—all passionate with different opinions. I found myself wanting to debate and discuss issues. I came away knowing
what it truly meant to be an American.”
Other Girls State attendees at the camp
held at McKenna College in Claremont were:
Madeline White
Lorena Casco (University), Rachel Sands
(Marymount), Steffeny Holtz (St. Monica),
Chloe Hallinan (Archer School for Girls)
and Janet Ho (Notre Dame Academy).
“I met a lot of nice kids and learned about
government,” said Kevin McNamee (Loyola). “It was a great experience and a good
chance to network.”
Andrew Friedman (Windward) added,
“I was impressed with how smart everyone
was and how much everyone cared. They all
wanted to do well.”
“I had no idea what to expect,” said JeanRama Surya (PaliHi). “But, when you gather
that many intellectuals in one area, it is
amazing what you can discuss.”
Gabe von Rudin
Tomas Maggi (PaliHi) who was elected
as a member of the board of elections, said
he had been told it would be one of the
best weeks of his life. “When it was over, I
didn’t want to leave.”
“There was a ton of arguing. One city
even had martial law imposed,” said Hank
Algert (Brentwood). “I learned how hard it
was to get a law passed.”
“It was a great experience meeting these
gifted juniors, who are among the smartest
and most athletic in the state,” said Gabe von
Rudin (PaliHi), who ran for governor, the
highest position possible. He received the
third most votes.
Also attending Boys State at Cal State
National Auxiliary
President Jefford
Will Visit Post 283
Monday
Night Socials
Underway
American Legion Post 283 members and their guests are invited to
Monday night socials. For $5, one
can eat unlimited hamburgers, chili,
hot dogs, nachos and salsa. Enjoy
sports on the big screen, while you
chat with neighbors and enjoy a beer
or glass of wine from the bar (separate cost).
Second Commander Jere Romano
urges everyone to come join the camaraderie. The event runs from
5:30-9:30 p.m. and reservations are
not needed.
Sacramento were Jack Drucker, Alex Salazar,
Jonathan Handler and Mazden Mastromauro (Venice High); Cameron M. Sheldon,
Joseph Brown, Bradley Hubsch, William
Eichler and Reid Shumway (Loyola); Dylan
Purvis (Brentwood); Talon Hadfield, Tyler
Goodman, Brian Matusovsky, Robert
Butchko, Jacob Wasserman and Sean
McHugh (Santa Monica High); Nathan
Elyasi, David Grinsfelder, Joshua Holmes
(PaliHi); Cole Nicholas, Kidus Tesfaye and
Brandon Berookhim (University); Jason
Nikora, Jacob Kagon, Nicolas Paige and Jeff
Haas (Malibu).
T
Several Post 283 members and their guests arrived early for a night of televised sports
Photo: Shelby Pascoe
and great food.
he National Auxiliary President ALA
Janet Jefford will visit American Legion Post 283 on Friday, November 7.
Jefford, who lives in Manchester, Connecticut, was elected president at the 94th
National Convention in Charlotte in August.
Her father William Lucas, was a WWII
Army veteran and her son, Jeff, served in
Desert Storm.
Until she recently retired, Jefford was the
vice president of institutional effectiveness
at Goodwin College in East Hartford. She
served as a commissioner on an agency that
accredits schools and colleges.
Jefford has two children and two grandchildren.
Cocktail hour is 6 p.m., dinner is at 7. The
cost is $15 per person. Checks may be made
payable to ALA Unit 283. RSVP by November 5 to Ruth Hackney at (310) 454-0527.
Page 6
Post 283 News
November 2014
Troop 223 Attends Denmark Jamboree
T
roop 223 of St. Matthew’s Parish sent
a delegation of 47 Boy Scouts and
11 adult Scout leaders to Aabenraa,
Denmark to attend the Danish National
Jamboree in July and August.
The Palisades Scouts were hosted by a
Danish Troop, which has been welcomed locally and at Camp Emerald Bay on Catalina
Island over the last decade by Mike Lanning,
Troop 223 Scoutmaster.
The jamboree, or “lejr” in Danish, had a
Viking-related theme that carried through
multiple activities. During the 11-day stay,
Scouts built traditional Viking shelters, tools
and musical instruments and learned traditional Viking games of skill, while camping
in tents at the Stevinghus Scout Camp.
Scouts from 14 other countries, including Germany, Norway, England and Israel,
also participated.
Troop 223 opened its campsite several
evenings to host dinners, skits and campfires
as well as to ride the bungee-cord “horse”
known as Mr. Ed. It was the rare Dane who
could stay on in full bucking-bronco mode.
Members of Troop 223 participated in the Danish National Jamboree.
Oratorical Contest Slated S.A.L. Looking
T
he annual American Legion Oratorical Scholarship program is seeking
interested high school students.
Scholarship prizes start at the local level
and American Legion Post 283 will host
the first contest in early February.
Top national scholarships awarded are
first place: $18,000; second place: $16,000
and third place: $14,000.
The prepared oration must be on some
aspect of the Constitution of the United
States of America with emphasis on the du-
ties and obligations of a citizen. The original speech must be more than eight minutes, but less than 10 minutes and recited
from memory.
Contestants must also write a three- to
five-minute speech on Amendments 5, 6, 8
and 19. The day of the contest, one of the
four amendments will be chosen and the
speakers will also give a speech on that topic.
For more information, contact Edrieanne
Votto a: [email protected] or call American Legion Post 283 at (310) 454-0527.
for Members
Post 283 S.A.L. (Sons of the American Legion) is looking for new members. All males,
any age, whose parents or grandparents
served in the U.S. military and who were
eligible for American Legion membership,
may apply.
The organization was founded in 1932
to honor the service and sacrifice of Legionnaires. Stop by American Legion Post 283
on Antioch or call (310) 454-0527.
Riding “Mr. Ed.”
Visit: legion.org/sons.
Sons of the American Legion
Commander: Jim Yocum • 1st Vice-Commander: Charles Curtis • 2nd Vice-Commander: Larry McNamee • Finance Officer: Howard Klein
Adjutant: Greg Frost • Sgt.-at-Arms: Frank Wiley
Executive Committee Members • Kelly Hornbaker, Tom Doran, Hank Elder, Tom Yaeger (Past Commander)
Squadron 283 Commander’s Notes
By JIM YOCUM
T
he Sons Squadron 283 is in the midst
of its membership renewal campaign, and has also kicked off its recruiting for new members interested in
joining the legion family. During October,
more than 30 members have renewed their
membership and we had three new members join. The Sons have made renewal an
early priority in order to focus on new membership growth later in the year. In doing so,
Squadron 283 is following the lead of the
national organization.
Mike Moss, the newly-installed National
Commander for the Sons of the American
Legion, has formally announced that growing the membership of the Sons is a cornerstone of his year in office. His emphasis
has been that a growing membership can
serve more veterans more effectively, either
through better service or increased contributions. You can see his growth message at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pdzqa
m7HeKc.
At our October meeting, we once again
sponsored our Living History Night. We had
the pleasure of hosting two veterans of the
2nd Marine Division who served at Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima at the Sons’ Living His-
tory Night during World War II. While they
served in the same Division, in some of the
same campaigns, Nat Berman, 90, and Dr.
Roy Royce, 93, had not met until that
evening at American Legion Post 283.
They spoke eloquently about their experiences in the Pacific, as well as their duty to
their country and their fellow Marines.
Uniquely, Royce re-joined the military in
the Air Force in order to become a military
fighter pilot. His stories of flight training included his survival from a crash at takeoff.
He also brought a collection of photos,
certificates and other memorabilia, including a Browning Automatic Rifle of WWII
vintage.
Because of the unique opportunity of
hearing these the two speakers on the same
dias, our regularly scheduled speaker for
October, Jere Romano, a Marine veteran
and Post 283’s 2nd Vice Commander will
speak November 20. The public is invited.
Additionally, the Sons’ Executive Board
will be working to determine the service
projects and charitable efforts it will be supporting over the next year. We will continue
to support veteran-related and Palisades
community projects, and the e-board will
also examine new opportunities that fall
within the mission of the Sons.
November 2014
Post 283 News
Page 7
American Gold Star Mothers
A
melia Diaz Taylor (profiled on page
3) is a gold star mother. This designation is given to women who have
lost a son or daughter during a war.
The 501 (c)(3) is officially called American Gold Star Mothers (AGSM), and one
must apply to join. The nondenominational,
apolitical organization had its genesis during
World War I. Grace Darling Seibold, whose
son George was lost in action, is credited for
starting the organization.
Seibold began visiting returning servicemen in hospitals in the hope that her son
might have been injured and returned to
the United States without any identification. While working with those who were
so severely injured that they would never
resume a normal life, she also reached out
to mothers whose sons had lost their lives
in military service.
She organized a group of mothers who
had also lost a child, and they began providing comfort to each other, while also
providing care to veterans confined to hospitals far from their homes. The organization was named after the gold star that
families hung in their windows in honor of
a deceased veteran.
On June 4, 1928, 25 mothers met in
Washington, D.C. to establish American
Gold Star Mothers, Inc. Their symbol augments service flags.
A blue flag showed that the family had a
son/daughter in the service. A gold star, almost covering the blue star, so that just a
rim of blue still shows, showed that a child
had died in service.
The gold star reflected the honor and
glory given an individual for his/her supreme sacrifice for his country. The family’s
devotion and pride in this sacrifice is encompassed in the star, rather than a sense of per-
sonal loss, which would be represented by
mourning symbols.
In 1936, a Presidential proclamation
stated: “Whereas the American Gold Star
Mothers suffered the supreme sacrifice of
motherhood in the loss of their sons and
daughters in World Wars—
“That the President of the United States
is hereby authorized and requested to issue
a proclamation calling upon the Government officials to display the United States
flag on all Government buildings, and the
people of the United States to display the
flag and to hold appropriate meetings in
their homes, churches, or other suitable
places, on the last Sunday in September, as
public expression of the love, sorrow and
reverence of the people of the United States
for the American Gold Star Mothers.”
The last Sunday in September is designated as “Gold Star Mother’s Day.”
The American Gold Star Mothers at the 15th National Convention in Ojai on June 12, 1952.
Palisades
Homeless
(Continued from Page 1)
Miles started picking up trash.
Clyde Long, 66, from Hopkinsville, Kentucky, said he’s been living outside for 30
years and isn’t in great health. “I don’t ask
for anything,” he said, explaining that he
had been let go from several jobs, thrown
in jail and assaulted in jail.
Next to Gladstone’s, three men were having a smoke and eating. Palisades Patrol frequently gets calls from Gladstone’s about
the homeless, who when drunk harass and
scare customers.
Steven “Boston” Michaud left Boston in
1992 because “Everything was going wrong.”
He had worked on the docks for the Boston
Herald before taking a Greyhound to California. Initially, he found a job at the Santa
Monica Farmers’ Market. “Now I recycle,”
he said, holding up a large bag of bottles
and cans.
Wayne Landen lived in the San Fernando
Valley, was married for 25 years, had a home,
cars, a 401-K, and worked at Home Depot
in Oxnard. But one night he was hit in the
head and went into a three-day coma. Subsequently, his wife divorced him. “Ever since
then I’ve been on the streets,” he said, noting
that Palisades is a good place to live.
“You put up a sign and people give you
change. There’s the bagel people and schools
give us cases of food. People help us out.”
The three men knew Rollerball, the transient who used to live in the water tank
below Via de las Olas. They said he was in
Topanga, but close to getting an apartment.
“You have to go on a program,” Landen said.
[Most homeless housing requires people to
stay clean and sober.]
“Why would you want to stay indoors all
day?” Boston asked.
“You get on the street and you don’t want
to leave,” Landen said. “It’s a hard environment to get out of.”
C
hris Phillips, who was quiet and kept his
gaze focused away, said he worked for
the post office for about 15 years. In 2011, a
psychologist said he wasn’t capable of working. Then he went through a divorce, “they
[wife and two kids] took all of my money,”
Philips said. He thinks his children are about
20 now.
Amy was having dinner with Jaleh at her
Photo: Photo: Courtesy of American Gold Star Mothers, Inc.
RV, which is parked near the Gladstone’s
parking lot. Their dogs, Kaia and Sophie,
ran up barking.
Amy, who grew up in New Orleans, has
four children, 13 grandchildren and an exhusband living in North Carolina. “God
brought me here. I always wanted to come
to Venice, but I hadn’t planned on staying,”
she said, explaining she has a brain tumor
and has had operations that have resulted in
three plates and six holes in her head. “Most
people out here have medical problems.”
Jaleh said she had worked for Neiman
Marcus as a make-up artist and, until last
month, had a membership at Spectrum,
across the highway from Gladstone’s. “They
took $130 out of my account every month,”
she said. Her membership was suddenly
terminated, but not for lack of funds. “They
told me it was business, but I knew some of
The Pacific Palisades Community
Council has joined with California
State Assemblymember Richard Bloom
to set up a task force. To join, please
contact PPCC President Chris Spitz at
[email protected] or Bloom Senior
Field Representative Stephanie Cohen
at [email protected].
American Gold Star Mothers cannot directly contact those who may be in bereavement because when the military makes an
official death announcement, next of kin
are not listed. The military also does not
make that information available because of
privacy laws.
Some AGSM members watch local papers for stories and will sometimes attend
a service and leave a card with contact information so the mother can contact the
nonprofit when she is ready.
The AGSM website explains: “We are very
low key because we know you have a process
to go through and AGSM is not your first
priority. Eventually, either through one of
our prior contacts, mutual friends, veterans
groups or through this website, when you’re
ready, we hope you will contact us but it really has to be on your schedule.”
Visit: goldstarmoms.com
those women complained.”
Jaleh said she grew up with money, but a
guy invested her money and she lost $70,000.
She was evicted from her apartment and
didn’t want to ask her family for help. “I always wanted to live in my RV.” She has a
voucher and wanted to know if there was
any Section 8 housing in Pacific Palisades,
because she wants to stay here.
“Some people choose to stay out here because they have chronic drug and mental
issues,” Amy said. “I am working my problems the best I can.” Her boyfriend Bobby,
bipolar and schizophrenic, is currently in
jail for assault and battery with a deadly
weapon (skateboard), having struck a
worker at the 76 Station.
Back in the Palisades Village, an eighth
transient, whose backside went viral and
who usually sleeps on Palisades streets, said
his name was Timothy Husten, 58. He lived
in Brentwood until, “the Getty Museum
took over the hillside, so I came here.”
He said he has a congenital heart condition that is causing him to need more sleep,
making it difficult for him to maintain an
upright posture, which is why he purchased
a wheelchair. He said he had an appointment
with Dr. Peter Pelikan at the Pacific Heart
Institute. “Maybe he can extend my life.”
Page 8
Post 283 News
November 2014
NOVEMBER 2014
SUNDAY
2
Daylight Savings Time ends
2 a.m.
MONDAY
TUESDAY
3
4
Monday Night Social
Sports and Food
6 p.m.
Election Day
10
11
Garden Club meeting
7:30 p.m. (Womanʼs Club)
9
The Marvelous Wonderettes
2 p.m. (Theatre Palisades)
Post closed for voting
FREE blood glucose
monitoring at Knolls
Pharmacy, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Monday Night Social
Sports and Food
6 p.m.
Veterans Day
Federal Offices Closed
Womanʼs Club Home Tour
11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Start at 901 Haverford
Monday Night Social
Sports and Food
6 p.m.
23
24
Exercise Class
10-10:45 a.m.
Speaker: Rev. Bill Craig
11:30 a.m. (Presby. Church)
Speaker: Dr. Mary Gordon
7:30 p.m. (Tem. Gateway Pk)
30
Monday Night Social
Sports and Food
6 p.m.
16
The Marvelous Wonderettes
2 p.m. (Theatre Palisades)
The Marvelous Wonderettes
2 p.m. (Theatre Palisades)
The Marvelous Wonderettes
2 p.m. (Theatre Palisades)
17
Legion News Deadline
18
25
Exercise Class
10-10:45 a.m.
WEDNESDAY
5
Executive Board Meeting
5:30 p.m.
12
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
Exercise Class
10-10:45 a.m.
Auxiliary Bingo
2 p.m. (West L.A.)
Speaker: Ken Turan
6:30 p.m. (Palisades Library)
Auxiliary Vetʼs Day Lunch
11:30 a.m. (West L.A.)
National Aux. President Dinner
The Marvelous Wonderettes
8 p.m. (Theatre Palisades)
Exercise Class
10-10:45 a.m.
Executive Auxiliary Board
3 p.m.
Community Council Meeting
7 p.m. (Palisades Library)
14
YMCA Dance Party
6-8 p.m. (821 Via de la Paz)
The Marvelous Wonderettes
8 p.m. (Theatre Palisades)
Violinist Hye-Jin Kim
8 p.m. (St. Matthewʼs Church)
15
6
13
19
20
7
Opening Night
The Marvelous Wonderettes
8 p.m. (Theatre Palisades)
21
1
SATURDAY
8
Village Green Clean-up
9-11 a.m. (Village Green)
Volunteers welcome
The Marvelous Wonderettes
8 p.m. (Theatre Palisades)
22
Post 283 & Auxiliary Dinner
And Meeting, 6-9 p.m.
Exercise Class
10-10:45 a.m.
The Marvelous Wonderettes
8 p.m. (Theatre Palisades)
The Marvelous Wonderettes
8 p.m. (Theatre Palisades)
26
27
28
29
Palisades Rec Center fields
closed
Palisades Rec Center fields
closed
Speaker: Jake Steinfeld
6:30 p.m. (Kehillath Israel)
SAL Dinner and Meeting
6-9 p.m.
Thanksgiving Day
Palisades Rec Center fields
closed
DINING WITH GRACE
The Marvelous Wonderettes
8 p.m. (Theatre Palisades)
The Marvelous Wonderettes
8 p.m. (Theatre Palisades)
CASABLANCA
220 Lincoln Boulevard, Venice (at Rose Avenue) • (310) 392-5751
I
f you long for good Mexican food and
a margarita in a totally un-Mexican atmosphere, then Casablanca is for you.
The 1942 atmosphere is filled with memorabilia of Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid
Bergman from the romantic movie
Casablanca.
But if the old romance does not draw you
in, then the handmade flour tortillas, served
warm in a covered pot with salsas while you
study the menu, will certainly get your attention. As will the Tequila Cazadores cart
circulating around the dining room.
The cart master offers tastes of a variety
of tequilas to ensure your margarita is totally enjoyable. The full bar offers more
than 375 tequilas.
Casablanca is famous for its variety of
calamari dishes, each of which is served with
rice and vegetables. These vary from a simple
calamari sauteed in butter and white wine
($12.99) to calamari marisco served with
crab and shrimp ($15.99).
My son looked forward to the “Chicken
Belly Dancer,” which is served with soup or
salad, rice and vegetables for a modest
$12.99. The salad of jicama, a variety of lettuces with mandarin oranges and a creamy
avocado dressing was excellent. The chicken
breasts are prepared “en casserole” with
green chiles, sour cream and cheese, making
this a very tasty dish. The array of vegetables
included corn, peppers, zucchini, broccoli
and carrots, adding another pleasing healthy
dimension to this dish.
Casablanca’s extensive menu allows you
to have a burrito, tostada, tacos, seafood (including Pacific red snapper, salmon, trout,
shrimp) or Mexican specialties, such as my
two seafood enchiladas with green sauce
($12.99). These delicious enchiladas came
with black beans and the salad. Best of all,
you can make your own selection of two
cheese enchiladas, or cheese chile rellenos,
or two hard-shell chicken tacos, or order
one enchilada and one taco, and so forth.
These selections with soup or salad, rice
and beans (refried or black) are $11.99.
There are also eight types of burritos made
with their handmade flour tortillas (also
$11.99). All seafood dishes are in the $13.99
to $15.99 price category.
If pasta is your thing, it is available along
with a quintet of steaks varying from carne
asada with guacamole and salsa ranchera for
$12.99, to a charbroiled filet mignon topped
Palisades Post 283
The American Legion
Grace Hiney has been reviewing the local
restaurant scene for more than 42 years.
with Dos Equis beer and mushroom sauce
($17.99).
For really big spenders there’s the Sam
and Rick Combo with the filet mignon and
three shrimp cooked in garlic sauce with
rice and vegetables for $22.99.
Desserts include a luscious flan and
cheesecake.
Sunday Brunch includes eggs, omelets,
seafood, chicken, beef and Mexican specialties and dessert for $13.99. Brunch is served
from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Live music is offered nightly. Hours are
Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to
10 p.m. and until 11 p.m. on Friday and
Saturday.
15247 La Cruz Drive
Pacific Palisades, CA 90272-3610
(310) 454-0527 • Fax: (310) 230-3980
Local website: www.post283.org
Department website: www.calegion.org
Email: [email protected]
Post meets the 3rd Wednesday each month
POST 283 OFFICERS
Commander: Scott Wagenseller
1st Vice Commander: Frederick Votto
2nd Vice Commander: Jere Romano
Finance Officer: Bob Ryan
Historian: Jared Morgan
Adjutant: Scott Erickson
Judge Advocate: Jay McCann
Chaplain: Bill Branch
Service Officer: John Johansen
Sgt.-at-Arms: Shaphan Koresland
Asst. Sgt.-at-Arms: Jerry Martinez
Executive Committee Members
Jay McCann -2
Everett Maguire -1
Kurt Hiete -1
Lee Barksdale -2
Dr. Michel Martini-3
Lou Cozolino -3
NEWSLETTER STAFF
Editor: Sue Pascoe
Graphics Director: Manfred Hofer
Consultant/Advisor: Bill Bruns