Operation Gratitude

Yesterday was Veterans Day, commemorated unlike any other time in our history. In years past, veterans from our local American Legion Post 288 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1614 would host a ceremony at the Two Strike Park to recognize local veterans. The community would turn out to honor those who served in the military and listen as dignitaries extolled the importance of their work of “keeping us all safe.” The Boy Scouts typically would end the ceremony with a flag retirement ceremony.

Thanks again to COVID-19, there was no ceremony yesterday. Due to safety restrictions we couldn’t gather at Two Strike Park. Thankfully, though, members of the American Legion and VFW made sure to find another way to honor our local WWII veterans through Operation Gratitude.

According to its website, the mission of Operation Gratitude is to “forge strong bonds between Americans and their military and first responder heroes through volunteer service projects, acts of gratitude and meaningful engagements in communities nationwide.” Members of Operation Gratitude worked with the Veterans Hall members to identify older veterans in the Crescenta Valley so care packages could be delivered to them. Phil Downs, a longtime supporter of the community, volunteered to be among those who delivered the packages around town.

His first delivery was to WWII veteran Don Norbut, whom we profiled last week. Don was, in fact, reading the CV Weekly when Phil arrived at his door with the care package from Operation Gratitude. He then continued on his spirited journey, delivering packages to Charles Tucker, 96, George Lovejoy, 93, Miles Wollum, 92, Barbara Lewis, 92, Ken Burns, 97, and Don Bonk, 94. He chronicled his deliveries, sharing some of the comments he received from the recipients.

“Military service made a man out of me and benefitted me all of my life,” said Miles.
“Life at home was challenging on many fronts, all loaded with emotion,” Barbara shared with Phil. “There were lots of jobs everywhere that needed to be done – if one could walk and talk (even youngsters 12 and 13 years old) you went to work.”
Phil spent time with each of the folks to whom he delivered packages, as did the other vets who delivered Operation Gratitude care packages. The stories told reminded everyone how different life was, how the country came together in dire circumstances and everyone understood the importance of making a contribution – though the WWII vets typically shrugged off the importance of their contributions.
Phil was especially touched by the vets’ gratitude.

“The packages’ value was exponentially extended, for both the receiver and the deliverer, by the quality of the visit,” Phil said in an email. “Thank you for letting me being part of the Operation Gratitude program.”

The enthusiasm that Phil felt was echoed by members of the American Legion and VFW who also delivered packages. It reminds me how fortunate we are to live in a community so rich in patriotism and whose members are eager to show their gratitude to those who served.
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I’m feeling a surge of gratitude as well. As you know, CV Weekly created Fun and Frights in the Foothills – a Halloween drive-by tour. The response was overwhelming and many folks requested that we organize a Christmas one as well. With the support of several local businesses, we are in the planning stages of Merry & Bright – a self-guided holiday display/light tour. More information will of course be delivered as it becomes available, but if you’re someone who loves decorating your house and yard for the holidays, send us your address to be added to the tour: merrybright@cvweekly.com.

It’ll give us all something to look forward to.

Robin Goldsworthy is the publisher of the Crescenta Valley Weekly. She can be
reached at robin@cvweekly.com or (818) 248-2740.