This Veterans Day we feature two articles about organizations that provide services to the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces.
The first is the latest installment in Chris Neklason‘s Doing Good series of articles about “service clubs,” from the Soroptimists to Rotary International, which employ countless volunteers who together wage a vast, ongoing campaign of civic improvement.
This week, appropriately, Chris tells the fascinating story of the American Legion, the organization that brought us Veterans Day.
Also on the Veterans Day theme: a useful compendium of information about services available to California veterans. If you are a vet, or a friend or family member of a vet, you might find this information valuable and might want to keep it handy.
But first, we present a perspective on last week’s election that contains a surprising piece of hope.
Defending Democracy
In defining the justifications for the use of armed power in the world, former US National Security Advisor Anthony Lake put forward what can be seen as the primary mission of the United States military: “To preserve, promote and defend democracy, which enhances our security and the spread of our values.“
As an independent, non-partisan journalistic enterprise, California Local is nevertheless not neutral on the subject of democracy. As most of you know, we are also obsessively fond of the structures and institutions of democracy—including, for instance, the vast army of men and women who make up the federal workforce.
As both the concept of democracy and our democratic institutions themselves face a very real threat, we offer an appreciation of what’s at risk.
Doing Good: The American Legion
The organization responsible for the GI Bill and Veterans Day continues to help service members, veterans, and their families.
Celebrating Veterans Every Day
About 1.8 million veterans live in California. Here are some organizations dedicated to serving the needs of those who served America.
• Operation Green Lights in Santa Cruz
In honor of local veterans, Santa Cruz County is participating in the annual Operation Green Lights by illuminating the main administration building at 701 Ocean Street with green lights through Veteran's Day November 11.
(11/04/2024) → Lookout Local
• CA Workers Could Lose Deportation Protections
Immigration advocates are sounding the alarm over the prospect of mass deportations upending California immigrant communities, which Donald Trump has vowed to initiate when he returns to the White House in January.
(11/11/2024) → CalMatters
• What Trump’s Border Policies Mean for California
President-elect Donald Trump campaigned on implementing a sweeping border crackdown and undertaking the largest-scale deportation effort in history. If carried out, his proposed initiatives will have profound consequences in California, which shares a 140-mile border with Mexico.
(11/08/2024) → CalMatters
Thank you for your service.
