LAKE COUNTY – Many organizations are gearing up in preparation for festivities and ceremonies to honor and celebrate veterans around the county Sunday, Nov. 11, and are seeking community participation and volunteers to help them fly flags.
Operation Tango Mike, a volunteer organization that sends dozens of packages overseas to troops in Iraq each month, will be lending a hand at the Lake County Fairgrounds November 11th, where a flag raising ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. followed by a barbecue.
They are asking for community volunteers to help with setting up and tearing down. “If several people help, many hands will make small tasks and quick work,” said Ginny Craven, a former peace officer with the Lake County Probation Department and founder of Tango Mike, which stands for “thanks much” in military lingo.
The Avenue of Flags Veterans Memorial also needs volunteers to help raise and lower flags on Nov. 11. Community members can help honor veterans by placing flags on veteran graves and assisting the organization in their ceremonies, or just show their support by attending. The locations to see the Avenue of Flags are: Upper Lake Cemetery, Hartley Cemetery in Lakeport and Lower Lake Cemetery. The flags will be raised at 7 a.m. and lowered beginning at 4 p.m. For more information please call 994-5642.
“If you have not seen the Avenue of Flags in all its glory and splendor you can”t miss this,” said Craven. “Let”s not forget those who have protected our freedoms. God bless our veterans.” She said that throughout the day the flags fly, and at one location, friends of her father (a veteran), help fly the flags. “It”s just a beautiful sight. The meaning behind it, the memories and the honor?it”s very moving.”
Tango Mike exists to create joy in the lives of military members, and in doing so, elicits comfort in their family members and friends, Craven said.
The organization is non-profit and relies on the donations of community members. A fundraiser, “Tips for Troops” a week from today will help pay for items and shipping and handling to send gifts to troops this holiday season.
“I think besides sending packages, Tango Mike offers a feeling of support to the family and a real sense of community and camaraderie?There”s always a way for someone to help, even if they can”t physically, they can help write cards or mailing labels. If someone doesn”t have time they can donate money, and if they can”t afford to, they can volunteer their help. There”s just always a way to make it happen,” Craven said.
“Tips for Troops” is Saturday Nov. 10 from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the new Riviera Hills Restaurant and Lounge.
Dinners are $10 each including tax and all the tips go to Operation Tango Mike. The restaurant is located at 10200 Fairway Drive, Kelseyville. For more information, please call 277-7575. Tango Mike already has enough volunteer wait staff and they”re hoping for a big turn showing of patrons and large tips to benefit those serving in Iraq.
“Some of our waiters are military personnel. That tells you what it means for them that they”re willing to give their time to volunteer. We have one young man home on leave from Iraq and he will be there for Tips for Troops. It re-emphasizes how much those care packages mean,” Craven said.
Denny Salisbury, 20, a Lake County resident serving in the Marine Corps, is home from a tour of duty in Iraq. “I hope the public supports the troops because we definitely need it. We always got boxes from the veterans and Tango Mike and it was greatly appreciated. It really helped us out and I need to thank them because they gave me a lot of boxes.”
Contact Elizabeth Wilson at ewilson@record-bee.com
