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| LIFE IN SOLERA | APRIL 2025 | 35 Since August of 2024, we have been supporting Navy AZ2 Joash Daguplo, aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, better known as "HST." Joash was born in the Philippines, but lived all his life in Los Angeles. He is part of the crew that works in the Electronic Attack Squadron. They service the airplanes that are filled with all sorts of electronics, far more than the standard fighter planes. They are the planes that can better search out the enemy's electronics and block it. They are few in number, compared to all the fighter/attack planes, but provide an important role. Joash Daguplo and his group loved to cook in their free time. In doing so they often eat in their own area of the ship, skipping going to the time consuming ship's mess hall. They have a hot water kettle, air fryer, rice cooker and microwave. They are very creative in their cooking, and we help them in this endeavor. In addition to the common snacks and candies, chips, cookies, etc., we are sending hot sauces, dry rice, beans, cans of peppers, noodles, sauces, diced tomatoes, soups and salsa, just to name a few of the kitchen type items. They also have quite a few readers in their unit, so that has ment boxes of paperback books, magazines and even a few comic books. I will miss our supporting Joash and his group and have invited him to stay in touch, and let us know when he is doing another tour. Our aircraft carriers are like small cities. They have around 5,000 personal aboard, and around 90 aircraft. The carrier Harry S. Truman has been in the news lately, and not in a good way. On this Feb. 24, in the crowded waters near the Suez Canal, off Egypt's coast, the Truman collided with a 617 foot long bulk carrier ship. The damage done to the Truman is high above the water, so the ship is not in any danger. No photos are available of the smaller ship. The Truman did stop in Greece for emergency repairs. The damage will not prevent the carrier from completing its duties or change its schedule. The ship is due back at its home port at Oak Harbor, Whidbey Island, Washington State, around the end of April. 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. There are no occasions in April to raise the Flags. 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 is Nick Gercis at nick.gercis@gmail.com. Flag schedule for 2025 Armed Forces Day: Sat., May 17 - up 5/16, down 5/19 Memorial Day: Mon, May 26 - up 5/23, down 5/27 D-Day: Fri., June 6 - up 6/5, down 6/9 Flag Day: Sat., June 14 - up 6/13, down 6/16 Independence Day: Fri., July 4 - up 7/3, down 7/7 Labor Day: Mon., Sept. 1 - up 8/29, down 9/2 Patriots Day: Thurs., Sept. 11 - up 9/10, down 9/15 National POW/MIA Day: Fri., Sept. 19 - up 8/18, down 9/22 Veterans Day: Tues., Nov. 11 - up 11/10, down 11/12 Pearl Harbor Day: Sun., Dec. 7 - up 12/5, down 12/8 To all veterans, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!