Orange County Flag Day Celebration set for
Saturday June 14, 2008 at Elks Club in Garden Grove
(from press release – reposted & with new photos because it got mysteriously truncated the first time)
Garden Grove, Calif. – On Saturday, June 14, the 67th Flag Day Celebration Committee will host the 6th Annual Celebration of America’s flag at the Elks Club in Garden Grove (Trask at Newhope) from 1:00pm to 3:00pm.
Refreshments at the event include hog dogs and apple pie; Vietnamese and Folklorico Mexican dancers will entertain beginning at 12:20 PM.
Two civic awards will be given: the Consuelo Nieto Award to Alexandra Gallardo-Rooker. Originally born in Mexico City, she is an accomplished leader in the political and labor arenas at the local, state, and national level.
The Chauncey Alexander Award to California State Controller John Chiang who has done so much for newly assimilated communities. Chiang is the son of immigrants from Taiwan…
Beginning at 10 AM, the American Red Cross will conduct a blood drive on site for all willing donors.
George Giacoppe, (Lt. Colonel, U.S. Army, ret.), the chair of the event, said “Our goals this year are to demonstrate joining together to support our new veterans through Fisher House and The Soldiers Project and through the blood drive for the American Red Cross. We need to end this war but cannot forget those who have sacrificed. This year, we award the Consuelo Nieto Award and the Chauncey Alexander Award to outstanding citizens who have emulated the ideals of those two skilled and dedicated activists. Both Alexandra Gallardo-Rooker and John Chiang are the very fabric of what being American is all about.”
Giacoppe began this event to as a patriotic gesture to support both our principles for freedom and the best side of our human nature.
Giacoppe said, “I was particularly struck by all the hyphenated citizens we have and how we needed to bring these Palestinian-Americans; Native-Americans; Mexican-Americans; African-Americans, Vietnamese-Americans, etc., together as Americans at the margins who need to move from competing for acceptance to collaborating by accepting each other first and then building and then sharing power. If we could heighten their mutual appreciation we might be on the road to greater participation in our process of democracy.”
The event starts at 1:00pm and admission is $30 ($15 for students) with free parking. Proceeds will be donated to the Fisher House in San Diego and the Soldiers Project of Los Angeles charities. Additional information can be found HERE. MORE FUN PHOTOS FROM LAST YEAR AT “READ MORE!”
Hi Vern:
This is our 6th Annual Flag Day Celebration. I will send you a press release from Lou Delgado as well as my summary.We have Loretta Sanchez and likely will have Linda Sanchez.It is non-partisan and it was last year as well when we raised $1,000 each for Fisher House and the Soldiers Project. We will have John Chiang and will present him with the Chauncey Alexander Award for his transformation of government so that it actually helps people directly (ex., He translated tax info into more languages and trained his staff to assist citizens fill out their tax returns).We will have a Red Cross Blood Drive. We will have (just-reelected Jolly) Judge John Nguyen and other elected officials plus Fr. Christian Mondor, Thich Quang Thanh (Buddhist) and Imam Siddiqi (Muslim) provide comments on healing which is our theme.We will have participation from the Elks Lodge 1952 which is strictly non-partisan.Proceeds go to the veterans charities mentioned from last year. Hot dogs and apple pie…as American as you can get!We bring various ethnic groups together as one people together to celebrate our similarities and love for America. Non-threatening entertainment (Vietnamese and Folklorico dancers)…Lisa Robles sings the National Anthem…Jill Hardy sings verse and chorus of God Bless America.
Peace,
George
George is great. I particularly liked this statement: “… together as Americans at the margins who need to move from competing for acceptance to collaborating by accepting each other first and then building and then sharing power. If we could heighten their mutual appreciation we might be on the road to greater participation in our process of democracy.”
So I’ll see you there Vern, it’s going to a great cause.
Wow. Sounds good. I’ll try to make it.
It was a great event…and everyone loved the entertainment, but mostly celebrating “Old Glory” and seeing our friends!
BTW George did not fought in WWII, but in the Vietnam War. Best — Lou