We want you to join us!

Fourth Tuesday of the month
at 1900 hrs (7 p.m.)

Orcutt Christian Church
204 Patterson Road, Orcutt, CA 9345 (map)

The United States Volunteers - America, Inc is a non-profit organization that provides Final Military Honors for Veterans.

Coastal Valleys
Detachment #1340

Coastal Valleys Detachment 1340 serves the communities of Orcutt, Santa Maria, Lompoc, Vandenberg AFB, Santa Ynez, Solvang, Buellton, Los Alamos, Los Olivos, Cuyama and Guadalupe.

Detachment 1340 Membership Brochure

Once a Marine,
always a Marine!

The Marine's Hymn

2009 Toys for Tots

We did it! On Sunday every registered child received a new toy! The Coastal Valleys Detachment 1340 is very proud of this achievement.

On Sunday, December 20 the Santa Maria National Guard Armory was a magnificent bustling center of activity. From start to finish over 4,000 children in 1,770 needy families were provided new toys for Christmas.

Volunteers from as far away as Oxnard handing out bags of toys to all the registered families. Santa (Gus Lopez) was a big hit with all the children. Sitting next to Santa was Roy Noel giving out smiles and candy canes. There were four young military men in dress uniforms (two Marines and Two National Guard) who were passing out stocking stuffers to our tots.

I would like to thank some key Detachment members for their outstanding work on the 2009 Toys for Tots campaign in Santa Maria.

First there is Dan Cadena, Toys for Tots liaison for Detachment 1340 whodeserves our appreciation for the long hours of hard work he gave to this project. Dan coordinated the collection and distribution of each toy at every stage of the process, leading a team of dozens of volunteers. As things started to wind down on Sunday afternoon, it was Dan that had the broom in hand cleaning the Armory floor. Thank you all for your good work that helped make this dream come true for some very special Tots.

The good ladies from the Community Action Commission, Head Start program Maggie Espinoza and Maria Douvia were also very important volunteers. They brought with them a whole staff of dedicated volunteers that worked very hard sorting toys and helping with the distribution of toys to registered families. Almost all the volunteers with Santa hats on in the pictures are volunteers from the Head Start office.

We also have recognize the hard work and cooperation of the men at the National Guard Armory. Staff Sgt. Amador Garcia was our main contact at the Armory and in the fasion of true military NCO's he was a very valuable resource during the campaign. Recently promoted Sergeant First Class Don DenNoyer was also in the mix of volunteers and helped with donations of a number of bicycles.

There were lots of good people doing good work to help make Christmas better for the community. Such long hours of work wears one out, but when it is the good work of Toys for Tots that wears you out, it feels real good.

Ampsurf

At our Ocober 2009 David "Lucky" Waddell, member of Coasta Valleys Detchment 1340 gave a short presentation on his involvement with the Ampsurf organization. David shared his personal commitment to the program based on how he has seen surfing help injured veterans recover their self confidence and health faster. Early in 2010 a more indepth presentation on Ampsurf will be made to the detachment.

The Association of Amputee Surfers, Mission –We are a Non-Profit Organization made up of amputees, those related to amputees, and those who work with amputees and others with disabilities. We want to Promote, Inspire, Educate, and Rehabilitate (PIER) those with disabilities, especially our veteran heroes, through adaptive surfing and other fun safe outdoor activities that all can participate in. We also provide feedback to medical staff, therapist, and manufactures of prosthetic devices for enhancing design and performance of prosthetic equipment in sports and everyday life.

Visit the Ampsurf web site for more information. http://www.ampsurf.org/

Blakeslee Names Purple Heart Trail in San Luis County
Highway 101 to be known as the National Purple Heart Trail

Driving down Highway 101 on the Central Coast will soon serve as a reminder of the incredible service and sacrifice so many courageous men and women have given to our great country.

Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee's Resolution honoring individuals who have received the Purple Heart Metal passed out of the State Legislature this month. The measure, ACR 12, formally designates a 115 mile portion of State Highway 101 from the City of San Ardo to the City of Los Alamos as the National Purple Heart Trail.

The Purple Heart Trail was established in 1992 by the Military Order of the Purple Heart, a Congressionally Chartered Veteran Service organization. The trail originates in Mount Vernon, Virginia, outside the main gate of Washington's Mount Vernon Estate and travels across the United States to California crossing through more than 45 states.

In late 2008, Tim Haley, Commandant of the Marine Corps League Detachment #680 in San Luis Obispo, asked Blakeslee to seek this recognition for Purple Heart recipients and veterans who have fought with integrity and honor, sacrificing life and limbs in defense of our freedoms and ideals.

This resolution is important to the Central Coastal Community because the coast is home to many veteran museums and memorials. This special Purple Heart Trail will join Camp Roberts with Vandenberg Air force Base as a part of the "Freedom Trail". The veteran community along the central coast is in the beginning stages of creating a veterans recognition corridor along this stretch of highway.

"The veteran community hopes this location and trail will become an ongoing memorial for veterans and their families," said Tim Haley, Commandant MCL 680, "Mr. Blakeslee's support to the veteran community and work on the Purple Heart trail is well recognized and appreciated."

"It's a privilege to be able to join with our coastal veteran community to commemorate and honor all men and women who have been wounded or killed in combat while serving in the U.S. armed forces," said Blakeslee. "I hope that this symbolic trail ensures that we always remember those who fought to protect our great nation."

ACR 12 does not require the Governor signature and takes effect immediately.

In the early days of WW II the Marine raiders attacked Makin Island and left behind, 19 dead Marines, after asking the islanders to make sure that they received a proper burial.  In 1999 the remains were discovered.  This is a touching tribute. 

Semper Fidelis. 

Santa Maria VA Medical Clinic

You are a Marine! Perhaps you only served 60 days and were medically discharged, or you served 30 years and were honorably discharged! Your service qualifies you for assistance from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
[ http://www.va.gov ] Do you know what you are entitled to?

The geographical area served by the Marine Corps League, Coastal Valleys Detachment, is also served by the Santa Maria VA Medical Clinic. Located at:

1550 East Main Street, Santa Maria, CA 93454
[ map ]

Phone: 805-354-6000, Fax: 805-349-9542, the Santa Maria VA Medical Clinic is our branch of the Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System.

You know the Clinic exists, but do you know what services it provides?

That is the topic of discussion at our next meeting, September 23, 2008.

Paul Shetley, a United States Army Veteran, and a Volunteer for the Santa Maria Community Based Outpatient, will attend to bring up-to-date information on the Clinic. He will be bringing eligibility forms for those not enrolled.

Can you be cavalier with your health?

General James T. Conway, Commandant U.S.M.C.

The 34th. Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, General James T. Conway addressed The American Legion National Convention on Tuesday, August 26, 2008.

LegionTV, is The American Legion's newest way to deliver updated multimedia to our members, as well as all other visitors to Legion.org. At LegionTV, you will be able to view coverage of Legion events, public service announcements and much more.

During his speech Gen. Conway was asked to address the following topics:

• How the Corps is currently doing
• Health of the force
• Vision of Corps future

If you want to know how the Corps is doing in these difficult times listen to what the Commandant has to say. Gen. Conway's speech can be viewed on LegionTV.

You may also be interested in a document titled the Commandant's Planning Guidance that is posted on the Marine Corps' official web site.

Veterans Can Always Salute Their Flag

Michael Smith brought this to our attention recently. The Flag Code, Title 4, United States Code, Chapter 1 was amended with P.L. 110-116, 110th Congress, First Session, November 13, 2007 to read as follows.

§ 9. Conduct during hoisting, lowering or passing of flag
During the ceremony of hoisting or lowering the flag or when the flag is passing in a parade or in review, those present in uniform should render the military salute. Members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute. All other persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, or if applicable, remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Citizens of other countries should stand at attention. All such conduct toward the flag in a moving column should be rendered at the moment the flag passes.

You can find the complete US Flag code on The American Legion web site at:
[ http://www.legion.org/national/americanflag/flagcode ]