Bakersfield National Cemetery to honor unaccompanied veterans

While these veterans were buried at Bakersfield National Cemetery without known family, they are not to be forgotten.

The cemetery will memorialize such veterans interred at the cemetery in the past six months during a public ceremony to be held at 10 a.m. April 23 at the cemetery, 30338 E. Bear Mountain Blvd.

All are welcome to attend to honor these servicemen and women, according to an advisory from the cemetery. There will be patriotic music performed by the Veterans Family Band, a eulogy and the Kern County Associated Veterans Honor Detail will conduct a rifle salute and the playing of taps.

CASA of Kern County will raise awareness for the need for more CASA volunteers and to help end child abuse and neglect at an event today as part of National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

At the Haggin Oaks Farmers Market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Kaiser Permanente, 8800 Ming Ave., CASA will honor every child in the Kern County foster care system through 1,900 whimsical pinwheels on display.

Community members can sponsor a pinwheel for a $10 donation by visiting kerncasa.org or CASA’s Facebook or Instagram page.

CASA volunteers are assigned to one child or sibling group to advocate for their best interest in court, in school and other settings. There are 85 children on CASA of Kern County’s waitlist.

The Devil Pups Youth Program for America, which emphasizes “Growth Through Challenge,” seeks boys and girls ages 14 to 17 for the 2024 summer camp program to be held in July at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.

Applications for the competitive leadership development program must be received by May 4. Those who are interested must pass a physical fitness test and interview with local Devil Pups liaison representatives.

The tryouts, including a physical fitness test, will be held at 6:30 a.m. May 11 at the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, 1350 Norris Road in Bakersfield. Applications must be submitted prior to the tryouts.

Devil Pups applications are available at www.devilpupskern.org then “Download Application.” Fill out the application online, then print, sign and submit the application packet. Mail the entire packet to Devil Pups Kern County, P.O. Box 81422, Bakersfield, CA 93380-1422, or drop it off at the Kern County Veterans Service Department, 1120 Golden State Ave. in Bakersfield, during regular business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and closed for lunch from noon to 1 p.m.

Questions about the application are to be directed to Kern County Liaison Representative Dick Taylor at devilpupsbakersfield@ hotmail.com or 661-332-8394.