HONORING OUR VETS
NOVEMBER 8, 2019
Service from page 4B group, and Butler was sent to Japan where surgeons removed the bullet. “Nurses would come in and check on me every day, and ask if I could feel my legs,” he recalled. “I couldn’t. But then, one day, I felt needles all over my legs.” Butler called the nurse and described the sensation. He still couldn’t feel her touch, but when she told him to move his big toe, he could. “I’d been worried at that point that I’d never walk again,” Butler recalled. “But thank God, I came out alright.” After surgery and only a couple months of rehabilitation, Butler was sent back into battle with three months of time left to serve. For his efforts to save his comrades and getting wounded in battle, Butler was recognized with the Purple Heart in 1968. Upon his return home, however, Butler found himself feeling out of place. He’d changed and no longer fit in with the friends who hadn’t. He couldn’t stand any noise; chairs scraping along the floor in the apartment above or a car backfiring made him drop to the ground. And while his family was happy to see him return, the welcome wasn’t so warm from many Americans. “When we came back, we heard a lot of people saying to us, ‘You’re a baby killer,’” he said. “I still battle with the dreams, and every Thursday I go to counseling at the (Veterans Affairs) center. They make sure we don’t have thoughts
Veterans Day Events
I wear this every day, and I wear it proudly.
Friday, Nov. 8 Veterans Day Dinner and Game Night
– Edward Butler, Purple Heart recipient of suicide.” Despite the hardships that came with service, Butler had a calling to return to the military. He hadn’t lost his rank of sergeant, as a full year hadn’t yet elapsed since he’d left. He managed to secure a position that kept him out of the battlefield, handling weapons and supplies at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, with his military occupational specialty (MOS) changed from infantry to supply. He stayed in the military for 20 years before getting into law enforcement, where he remained for another 25 years until his retirement. Butler recalled his worried mother’s initial reaction to the job change. “My mom said, ‘You jumped from one bad job to another bad job,’” he said, adding that she’d fainted upon first hearing of his injury in Vietnam. But he credits his time in service as what kept him on a steady course. Grasping the Purple Heart hanging from his neck, he said, “I wear this every day, and I wear it proudly.” To comment, visit www.thepress.net.
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Saturday, Nov. 9 Challenge Walk/5K for Veterans
The Brentwood Concert Band will host an evening of patriotic and popular music to salute veterans at the Brentwood Veterans Memorial Hall, 757 First St. in Brentwood. Doors open at 7 p.m., and donations are welcome. For more information, please visit www. brentwoodconcertband.com.
Pittsburg Veterans Day Ceremony
The City of Pittsburg will host a Veterans Day ceremony at 11 a.m. at the Pittsburg Senior Center, 300 Presidio Lane in Pittsburg. For more information, call 925-252-4890.
Monday, Nov. 11 City of Oakley Veterans Day Observation
Tuesday, Nov. 12 Free Notary Services for Veterans
The City of Oakley will observe Veterans Day from 11 a.m. to noon at the Oakley Civic Center plaza, 3231 Main St., in Oakley. The program will include a presentation of colors, student essays, performance by the Freedom High School band, a rifle salute and more. For more information, contact Amy Sylvestri at sylvestri@ci.oakley.ca.us or 925-413-2284 or visit www.ci.oakley.ca.us.
Suzanne Salamy of Sealed with Integrity will provide free notary services to veterans from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Intero Real Estate, 651 First St. in Brentwood. RSVP to 925-308-6060 to reserve your spot. Two free signatures per veteran. For more information, visit www. sealedwithintegrity.setmore.com/class.
ALEX COONS
Director of Business Development NMLS ID# 1055487
NMLS ID# 240904 | CA DRE ID# 01423655
(925) 418-3956
(925) 418-3751
teamomalley@summitfunding.net
acoons@summitfunding.net
GEORGE MUNOZ
PEGGY VALLEY
Sr. Loan Officer NMLS ID# 256715
Sr. Loan Officer NMLS ID# 221369 | CA DRE ID# 01000599
angelic.hetrick@summitfunding.net
peggy.valley@summitfunding.net
WE HONOR OUR VETS!
Veterans Day Musical Salute
The Las Positas College Veterans First Program and the Las Positas College Foundation, in partnership with the Sean Brock Foundation, will host a 2.2K challenge walk and 5K to raise awareness for veteran suicide and advocate for mental health support services for veteran students. The 5K begins at 9 a.m.; the 2.2K walk begins at 9:15 a.m. Come enjoy the family friendly atmosphere with an event expo, car show and concert by ThumpWhistle. For cost, registration and more information, visit www. laspositascollege.edu/cal/22walkrun.php.
Branch Manager / Sr. Loan Officer
Sr. Loan Officer NMLS ID# 252207
(925) 418-3936
(925) 418-3951
BRIAN WIEBER
The Marine Corps League, the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars invite all to attend a Veterans Day Ceremony at 10:30 a.m. in Veterans Park, 3841 Balfour Road in Brentwood. The event will include speakers, music, military vehicles and more. For more information, contact Mike at 925-787-8087.
The Knights of Columbus will host a dinner and game night from 5 to 10:30 p.m. at 500 Fairview Ave. in Brentwood. Dinner and game tickets are $70; dinner-only tickets are $20. For more information, call Anthony at 925-382-4842.
ROB O’MALLEY
ANGELIC HETRICK (925) 584-4721
Veterans Day Observance in Brentwood
george.munoz@summitfunding.net Hablo Español
COYNDA LOZANO
Sr. Loan Officer NMLS ID# 243294
Sr. Loan Officer NMLS ID# 242505 | CA DRE ID# 01755157
bwieber@summitfunding.net
coynda.lozano@summitfunding.net
(510) 964-0621
(925) 584-4824
VA HOME LOAN SPECIALIST
Hablo Español
141 Sand Creek Road, Suite C Brentwood, CA 94513 | Branch NMLS ID# 880995 | 3088 Pinole Valley Rd. Pinole, CA 94564 | Branch NMLS ID# 1151809 | Summit Funding, Inc. NMLS ID# 3199 | www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org
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