16th annual Los Angeles

VA Holiday Celebration

On December 7th 2008, the Temecula Valley Young Marines provided support for the Los Angeles Veterans Hospital and the Stories of Service project . Temecula Valley went up to the VA center at the request of the National HQ's. On November 27th an email was sent out from the Inspector General Joe Bles asking for support for this event. The original request came from Mr. Warren Hegg founder and president of "Digital ClubHouse". Digital Club House also represents and produces the Stories of Service project. Mr. Hegg and CO Guiles had been in contact with each other earlier in the week. Mr. Hegg arranged for the Young Marines to escort the honored guests of the evening. Our unit departed Temecula at 0800 and arrived in Los Angeles at 0935 a quick headcount was done and off we went . The momentum was fast we arrived in time to start helping out in the main tent area and for a quick picture for the VA Hospital . The young Marines first assignment was to police call inside the huge tent to ensure the area was presentable to the 2,500+ veterans that were going to be present , , , , , , . While the males were completing their tasks Young Marine females started making Christmas cards and decorations for the Veterans tables , , , , , . The Young Marines started helping to ensure the tables and chairs were in perfect order for all of the guests , , , , . As the morning wore on the Young Marines and the staff moved onto another job the Security force was placed at the main entrance Young Marines 1stSgt Guiles and PFC Simms were on guard to keep anyone not authorized to be inside the tent out until the festivities began . While Young Marines MSgt. Guiles, Cpl. Aguilar, LCpl. Tashoff and PFC McDaneld were sent outside with Mrs. Munoz and Mr.Smith their job was to go through the line of Veterans and register them for the dinner they were going to receive , , , , , . A little later a truck arrived with gift baskets that were unloaded by Mr. Tashoff, Mr. Bloom and CO Guiles and the rest of the Young Marines , , , . There was about 780 presents on the first truckload which took quite a while to unload but it seemed that CO Guiles started a challenge that seemed to catch on when unloading the truck. After the truck was emptied the Young Marines took a small break Young Marines Pvt. Bloom and PFC Riopelle were set as security at the second entrance to ensure nobody came in through that door.

at 1300 everything was in place and now the Young Marines ready for the jobs they were asked to do, the Young Marines lined up the long path on the inside of the tent. The Young Mariens were there to guide and welcome the veterans to the holiday celebration , , , , , , , , . The Young Marines greeted people as they came in I do not think was not one person who did not stop to shake the Young Marines hands and say thank you. You could see the pleased looks on everyone's faces as them talked to the Young Marines most had tears in thier eys. The young Mariens would even jump out of the line to help carry a disabled veterans items to their table for them , , . The first Guest of honor arrived Brigadier General Combs (USA, Ret) Young Marines LCpl. Byers and PFC Tashoff were ready to great and escort the General, his wife and his aid to thier table ,. The two Young Marines escorted General Combs to his table where 1st Sgt. Guiles and a small cadre of Young Marines were ensuring the Generals table remained reserved. As the General came to the table he talked to the Young Marines and expressed his thanks and gratitude for their help , ,, , ,. The Next Guest of Honor arrived which was Mr. Leonard "Lucky" Brugnola, Mr. Brugnola is a Pearl Harbor survivor . Mr. Brugnola told his story to the Young Marines which went like this on December 7th, 1941 Mr. Brugnola asked his friend joe if he could take his watch in the early morning so he could go to church. Joe said sure why not so Mr. Brugnola disembarked the ship and walked to the chapel, soon after that the attack happened. As Mr. Brugnola arrived at his burning and sinking ship he learned his friend Joe had been killed in the attack. The Young Marines sat Mr. Brugnola at General Combs table it was in deed an honor to have met Brugnola. The next guest was the most famous face of the end of World War II. Mrs. Edith Shain Mrs. Shian was on the cover of Life magazine on VJ day. As the War had ended everyone was running around in the streets celebrating Mrs. Shain a nurse at a Doctors hospital in New York. As she got of the subway and entered Times Square a Sailor grabbed her and kissed her . The photograph has become one of the most famous photographs on a Magazine. It was indeed an honor to meet Mrs. Shain. Mrs. Shain and Mr. Burgnola were seated in the front row of the stage they were to be honored on the stage and in front of everyone. Young Marines MSgt. guiles and LCpl. Munoz were escorting Mr. Burgnola , ,, , and Young Marines. LCpl. Tashoff, PFC Riopelle and PFC McDaneld were escorting Mrs. Shain , ,, , , . When the time came CO Guiles waked in front of the Young Marines to clear the way for the two honored guests. the Young Marines escorted their guests up the stairs on onto the stage. Mrs. Shain was presented and she had lots of applause as Mrs. Shain's speech completed she turned around and told everyone to give her new friends the Young Marines a round of applause. Again the crowd went crazy with whoo-ah's and Ooh-Rah's for the Young Marines. Mr. Burgnola was up next and the same applause and recognition were given to him.

The Young Marines escorted both of these honored guests down the stairs and to their seats when both guest were at their seats. The CO gave the word for the Young Marines to join the rest of the unit for chow. Mrs. Shain stood up and told her VA escort that she did not want to eat at the same table as the general because she did not know anyone. Instead she said she would like to go outside and eat dinner with her new Young Marine friends . The Young Marines and Mrs. Shain ate a nice dinner provided by the Los Angeles VA Hospital and enjoyed conversations and pictures. Mr. Hegg was present and coordinated several pictures with Mrs. Shain, Mr. Brugnola and the Young Marines, ,, , Young Marines it was a long and tiring 6 hour day but it was one with instant rewards as was seen on the faces of the veterans who enjoyed their holiday event and who took the time to stop and shake your hands to thank you most of which had tears in their eyes. Aallof our Young Marines and Staff members outstanding job I know that everyone at the Los Angeles VA and Mr. Hegg Appreciated it. CO Guiles would like to thank Mr. Hegg and the Los Angeles VA Hospital for allowing us to partake in this special holiday tribute for our veterans. Semper Fi Young Marines you did an outstanding job today!!!

More photos can be seen on our units photo page

Thank you to the Following Young Marines and Staff Members:

Unit Staff	Young Marines
CO Guiles	1st Sgt Guiles
Mrs. Aguilar - Unit XO	MSgt. Guiles
Mrs. Guiles - Unit Adjutant	Cpl. Aguilar
Mrs. Munoz - Female Advisor	Cpl. Blake
Mr. Smith - Male Instructor	LCpl. Tashoff
Mr. Tashoff - Male Instructor	LCpl. Munoz
Mrs. Tashoff - Unit Hisorian	LCpl. Byers
Mr. Bloom - Parent Volunteer	LCpl. Riopelle
	LCpl. Hoover
	PFC. McDaneld
	PFC McDaneld
	PFC. Riopelle
	PFC Simms
	PFC hoover
	PFC. Tashoff
	Pvt. Bloom