Salute to service
3 generations of county veterans gather ahead of special day
Three generations of Tuolumne County veterans gathered Thursday at the county library on Greenley Road in Sonora, which has been featuring books and special displays about World War II and the Korean War ahead of Veterans Day on Saturday.
Among them was Denny Thompson, of Sonora, who holds the distinction of being most decorated living member of the 8th Army Air Corps — a unit which was pivotal in the European theater of war during WWII.
Thompson, who turned 101 this year, was awarded 14 medals for his WWII service, including two distinguished Flying Crosses, two Purple Hearts, four Air Medals, four Bronze Stars, a French Freedom Medal and a French Legion of Honor.
Also at the library with Thompson on Thursday were Donald Jacobsen, of Sonora, who served in the 1st Infantry Division in the Vietnam War; Frank Smart, of Columbia, who served in the 1st Cavalry Division in Vietnam; and Jill Main, of Twain Harte, who served in the 1st Cavalry Division in the Iraq War.
“I was happy to lead the way for females,” Main said, before pointing over to Thompson, Jacobsen and Smart. “These guys led the way for me.”
Thompson is scheduled to be at Doc’s Dawgs in front of the Wilco farm store on Mono Way from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday for anyone who wants to meet him.
Smart, meanwhile, is helping with the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4748 to organize the annual Veterans Day ceremony at the 9/11 Global War on Terrorism Memorial outside of the Tuolumne Veterans Memorial Hall that takes place at 11 a.m. Saturday.
U.S. Rep. Tom Mcclintock, R-elk Grove, who represents the Mother Lode area in Congress, is scheduled to speak at the event that’s free and open to the public.
Also scheduled to make remarks at the ceremony Saturday is retired Air Force Col. Debora Esque, the county veterans services officer, who will be speaking about her father’s service in the Navy during WWII, Korea and Vietnam.
Here are other Veterans Day events happening Saturday to check out in Tuolumne and Calaveras counties:
Tuolumne County
• The Columbia Foot Dragoons and the Grenadine Belles will host a ceremony beginning at 11 a.m. at the historic cemetery at Columbia State Historic Park. The ceremony will include an explanation of the significance of Veterans Day and how it came into being, and a single volley will be fired.
• The Divide Cemetery in Big Oak Flat will host a short Veterans Day Ceremony at 11 a.m. to honor all who have served in the United States armed forces.
The flag will be lowered and “Taps” played. There will also be time given to those who would like to share memories.
The cemetery is at 11300 Memorial Drive, Groveland.
• Sonora Sunrise Rotary Club will host an opening ceremony at 11:30 a.m. for its second annual Tuolumne County Field of Honor
display of 35 American flags at Standard Park Sports Complex, 18500 Standard Road in East Sonora.
The field of flags will be open daily from noon to 4:30 p.m. and is free to the public through Nov. 15.
• The Game Room will host a fundraising concert, Sounds of Freedom, to raise money for Sonora Vets Helping Vets, a nonprofit organization that helps veterans with immediate short-term needs such as groceries, furniture and clothing.
The concert will be held from 7 to 11 p.m. and will feature live music by Adynamia, Borrowed Time, After the Disaster and Jesse Tracey.
Admission to the all-ages event is $10 in advance or $15 at the door. Advance tickets can be purchased at the Game Room, 14888 Peaceful Valley Road in East Sonora.
Calaveras County
• The Copperopolis Community Center will offer a pancake breakfast from 8 to 10:30 a.m. at the Historic Civil War Union Guard Armory, 695 Main St., Copperopolis.
The breakfast will include pancakes, scrambled eggs, ham, fruit, coffee, juice and milk for a cost of $5 for veterans, $8 for adults, and $4 for children 10 and younger.
The breakfast will be followed by the annual Veterans Day Parade presented by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 12118 of Copperopolis. The parade will step off at 11 a.m. in downtown Copperopolis.
• Native Daughters of the Golden West Ruby Parlor No. 4 and Native Sons of the Golden West Chispa Parlor No. 139 will offer a Veterans’ Day Dinner at the Native Sons Hall, 389 Main St.
Doors will open at 5 p.m. and Boy Scout Troop 343 will conduct a flag ceremony at 5:30 p.m., after which a pasta dinner, including wine and dessert, will be served. The dinner is free for veterans and $15 per person for all others.
For more information, call (209) 743-2551.