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| THE COLONY NEWS | NOVEMBER 2023 | 17 VETERANS DAY BALL By Rita Nastri, 951-698-8640 I am so excited that the Veterans Day Ball is returning next year! As many of you know, I have a long connection to the military and the Ball. Many years ago, I married a Marine Lieutenant and traveled the world with him for 22 years until his retirement. The Veterans Day Ball was our first event in The Colony, only days after we moved in. I wrote a history and tribute to the Veterans Day Ball for my Outreach to History column a year ago. Twenty years ago, the City of Murrieta began its own week of Veterans Day events and activities and they have been widely popular, as has been the Rotary Club's Field of Honor in Town Square. This year there will be a parade and speeches on Saturday, Nov. 11, and a special event will be a dedication of the new Vietnam War Memorial Wall. I encourage you to visit the Wall and the Field of Honor. The Field of flags will bring chills to you as you see them waving in the breeze and realize there is a history to go with each one. It used to be that Colony residents culminated the day with our own Veterans Day Ball, where we had another opportunity to honor our friends and neighbors who served our country in its military. It wasn't just a BALL. It was a special evening of appreciation, reverence, protocols and patriotic songs, as well as community camaraderie and fun. Blame Covid or otherwise, but there has been a gap, and for a few years we have had no Ball. Because I had chaired it for a few years, people have asked me over and over when we are going to have another one. I am delighted to now say that Linda Santana has offered to revive the event for 2024. I have handed over to her all the information I had accumulated for a successful evening. She and her Ball co-chair, Gloria Brosky, won't be able to do this alone, of course. They will need a committee of willing helpers. We have a year to get it together again, so please give either of these ladies a call to help bring the Veterans Day Ball back to The Colony on Nov. 11, 2024. For further information, contact Linda Santana, 661-492-1799, lindajsantana@ yahoo.com or Gloria Brosky, 714-292-8507, gabrosky@att.net. The Colony Elf is working again this year with the Southwest Riverside County Marine Corps League and the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve to provide and distribute toys to needy children. The USMC Toys for Tots program was established in 1947 by the then Major Bill Hendricks and his wife, Diane. My husband and I worked closely with them in the late '70s when we were stationed in Los Angeles and my husband was the Commanding Officer of the Marine Corps Reserve Training Center there. As in the past, this effort has not only provided gifts during the holidays, but with them sent a message of hope, which can motivate children to grow into responsible, productive, patriotic citizens and community leaders. I know there are many similar programs, but to see the organization of the collection sites and fair distribution of your gifts is to know why this is a program that many have copied. As has been the protocol, a bin will be available from Sunday, Nov. 12, to Sunday, Dec. 10, in the Clubhouse Lobby for your unwrapped gifts for children of all ages. Last year, through the generosity of the Colony residents, we collected hundreds of toys, and this year we would like to surpass that number. The Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation is an IRS Recognized 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit public charity. If any club or organization would like to participate in this worthwhile endeavor, please contact me at 951-698-8640. I can book the Elf to appear at your holiday function, who will give a little history of the program and personally accept your Toys for Tots gifts. Let's make this holiday special for as many kids as we can! TOYS FOR TOTS By Rita Nastri, 951-698-8640