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| LIFE IN SOLERA | MARCH 2022 | 23 In past years, I used to spend my summers fishing in Idaho. Any items donated would be placed in our storage locker. On my return, one of the items taken in was a Gerber Applegate Combat folding knife. An elderly man in our community had donated it. The man said the knife had belonged to his Marine son. He had asked that the knife be given to another Marine. When asked about the Marine son, the elderly gentleman only stated, "He died." Having just returned and hearing this unusual request, I went to the man's residence but he had moved away. I was never able to get the full story. At this same time, we were supporting and communicating regularly with a Marine Staff Sergeant in Iraq. I told him the story and expressed my wish to give him the knife. When he said that he would be honored to accept it, I included it in his next package. When Sgt Palmer was about to return stateside, he messaged me to say that he would like to return the knife so I could pass it on to another Marine. I later received a package with not only the knife, but a beautiful, framed plaque. The plaque hangs on my office wall. It happened at this time we were supporting and communicating with an Army Chief Warrant Officer 4, in Kuwait. It was his last tour before retiring from military service. He asked if we would support his son, a Marine Sergeant, who had just gone to Iraq. I contacted the young Marine and for a time we were supporting the father in Kuwait and the son in Iraq at the same time. This was the first of three fathers, and then their sons, who we have had the honor of supporting during our 16 years of sending care packages. After building a rapport with the Marine Sergeant, I offered the knife to him along with the story behind it. I informed him he could keep it, pass it on to another Marine, or at the end of his tour, return it to me and I would pass it on to another Marine. After a couple of months of correspondence, he asked if it would be okay if he kept the knife. Of course he had my blessing. Thank you for caring. ~ Jesse Donardt SUPPORT OUR TROOPS Recycling is good for the health of our community. The Sunshine Club is continuing its recycling activities as usual. We accept all plastic water, juice, and tea drink bottles, with caps removed, as well as all aluminum cans (for which you paid the redemption fee). Each recyclable item must be clearly imprinted on its label or side with the words CA-CRV or CA CASH REFUND. Please be aware that plastic containers such as milk, Clorox, peanuts, etc., for which you have not paid the CRV fee, are not recyclable and should be put in your appropriate Waste Management Cans. We would love to have you join our friendly, lively group of residents who believe in putting "Sunshine" back in our lives by sending cards and flowers to residents who are sick or have experienced a death in the immediate family. We meet on the third Wednesday of every month at 2 pm in the Arts & Crafts Room. If you have any questions about our Club or its activities, please contact Judy Charlick at (951) 769-6465. SUNSHINE CLUB The flags were raised on Feb. 21 for Presidents Day. They will be raised on Tues., March 29 for Viet Nam War Veterans Day. Thank you to those few dedicated resident volunteers who are up "at the crack of dawn" on these special days to put up and take down our flags. The contact for the Flag Brigade is Nick Gercis at nick.gercis@ gmail.com. Jesse Donardt, a resident of Solera, is someone who cares for our troops overseas. Jesse collects things that our troops need and enhances the morale and well-being of these troops worldwide by shipping care boxes containing items specifically requested by them. Please support Jesse and the SUPPORT OUR TROOPS program. Jesse can be reached at (951) 845-9028. To all veterans, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE! Billy (Mitch) Mitchell is a resident and veteran who has voluntarily worked with individuals and the Veterans Administration (VA) in order to assist veterans in obtaining veteran benefits. If you are a veteran and interested in finding out which benefits you may be eligible to obtain, contact Mitch at (951) 797-0800. FLAG BRIGADE VETERAN ASSISTANCE Billy (Mitch) Mitchel is a resident and veteran who has voluntarily worked with individuals and the Veterans Administration to assist Veterans in obtaining benefits. If you are a Veteran and want to know which benefits you may be eligible to maintain, contact Mitch at (951)-797-0800.

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