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| LIFE IN SOLERA | SEPTEMBER 2024 | 37 There were no occasions to raise the Flags in August. The Flags will be raised in September as follows, Labor Day - up on Aug. 30, Patriots Day - stay up, POW/MIA Day - stay up. The Flags will be taken down on Sept. 23. 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. Contact for the Flag Brigade – Nick Gercis, nick. gercis@gmail.com. Upcoming Flag Schedule: Labor Day: Mon., Sept. 2; Patriots Day: Mon., Sept. 11; National POW/MIA Day: Fri., Sept. 20; Veterans Day: Sat., Nov. 11; Pearl Harbor Day: Thurs., Dec. 7. To all veterans, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE! For some, this will be old news, but for others, this will be new information. Solera is a community that remembers those in both our present and past. Let us start as we approach our Clubhouse. We f ly three f lags, The U.S., State f lag and a branch of the military f lag. Every two months Solera changes this branch of the military f lag. Now, as we walk into the main doors of our Clubhouse, just before you enter, on the ground to your right is a large stone that has had its top ground down to accommodate a bronze plaque. Take a moment to read the message dedicated to our veterans. Inside our Clubhouse, if you turn left and walk to the kitchen area, there is our community's troop bulletin board. Every month it will be changed with new messages and photos from our service members. Many of you have seen the many f lags being f lown in our community. They are not just decorations. Our Flag Brigade f lies these on 12 specific holidays. The f lags on our main streets were purchased and dedicated to a Solera Veteran. Below each f lag is a plaque. On the driveway to the Clubhouse, around our Mail Room, tennis courts, and the large parking lot, are more f lags. These f lags were sent to Solera by active military in appreciation of our support. They also have a plaque. If you walk throughout the community, you may wish to sit on one of the benches. Each bench was dedicated to a loved one. Lastly, on the edge of our green belt are some trees, also dedicated to loved ones. Solera is a community that honors those in the present and those of the past. Solera's first homes were built about 22 years ago. The Support Our Troops care project has been in existence for 19 of those years. When we adopt a group of soldiers, we support them from the time they go on tour, until they are ready to come home. We will send them letters, photos, cards, emails and packages. Each package is often shared by a group of soldiers. Just think how many service men and women you have touched, with the over 5,300 individual packages you have sent. Thank you for caring. . ~ Jesse Donardt SUPPORT OUR TROOPS VETERAN ASSISTANCE FLAG BRIGADE Billy (Mitch) Mitchell 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 for, contact Mitch at (951) 797-0800.