Vietnam War Veterans Remember Those Lost at the ‘Wall that Heals’

By Camille DeVaul

In 1982, a 200-foot-long wall was built with the names of over 58,000 servicemen and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country during the Vietnam War. Since then, the wall has stood in silence as a memorial for survivors to come and remember their fallen brothers, sisters, fathers, sons, and daughters.

In March, a replica of the famed Washington D.C. memorial, the “Wall That Heals,” made its way to the Madonna Meadows in San Luis Obispo as the wall’s first stop on its 2023 tour.

The wall displayed the same names of 58,281 men and women who lost their lives serving their country in the Vietnam War. The wall was last at the Madonna Meadows five years ago, and the location is the first ever where the wall has returned for a second visit.

SLO County Veteran Services Officer Morgan Boyd told Paso

Robles Press Magazine the county was approached to host the wall again over a year ago. After completing the vigorous application process, the county was given the green light in December 2022 to host the wall.

“There’s a lot of things that we had to pull together quickly and we were able to do that with the support of the community,” said Morgan, who hosts the event alongside the Central Coast Veterans Memorial Museum.

There were over 60 sponsors for the wall, including the SLO County Board of Supervisors, Madonna Inn, and the Legacy Wellness Center located in Nipomo. On Tuesday, March 14, the wall was escorted from Camp Roberts in San Miguel to the Madonna Inn. Despite the wet weather, over 100 people showed up to escort the wall.

“To them they are escorting their fallen brothers on the wall, so it is like a memorial service for them,” said Morgan, who passed out special momentos to those who participated in the transport.

The wet weather created a muddy setting for the wall after set-up. It was common to overhear veterans who served in Vietnam to crack a few jokes saying, “looks like they brought the Vietnam mud along with it.”

Wednesday, March 29, marked the 50th anniversary of the removal of American combat troops from Vietnam. Templeton resident Rodney Dykhouse served as an Army helicopter pilot flying Hueys from 1970 to 1971, and came to see the wall at Madonna Meadows.

“[It] tugs at the heart strings — [the] first time in Washington I cried my eyes out,” said Rodney of seeing the wall again and of his first time seeing the original in Washington, D.C.

The “Wall that Heals” made its debut in 1996. It stands 375 feet long and 7.5 feet high. In its 27 years of touring, the wall has been on display in more than 700 U.S. communities, according to vvmf.org.

Like many veterans who were visiting the wall, Rodney had a list of people to find and visit on the wall. He was looking for his roommate from flight school, a high school classmate, a neighbor, and some men from his company that were killed in Vietnam.

“These guys were good young men. They died doing what their country asked them to do,” said Rodney while he searched the wall.

Volunteers and a resource center at the wall in Madonna were crucial for those finding names on the wall. Photos and remembrances of each service member on the wall can be found on vvmf.org/wall-of-faces as well as their exact location on the wall.

The Vietnam War is most commonly and briefly described as a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia with the purpose of preventing the spread of communism. But the war and its purpose were strongly debated within the U.S.

“The American government screwed it up,” said Rodney, who went on to tell us what he wished people knew about the Vietnam War. “They never went in there with a plan to win. They went in there with a plan to try to neutralize the North and hopefully give the South enough time to grow up and take care of themselves, but that’s not the way to win a war.”

Rodney is the third generation of his family to serve in the U.S. military. His grandfather served in the trenches of World War I, his father was a World War II veteran who went across the Omaha Beach during the Battle of the Bulge, and then one of his sons served as an Airborne Ranger.

“We have kept America free for four generations,” said Rodney, who added that made him feel proud of their services.

Morgan was impressed at the community’s support of the wall coming back to San Luis Obispo County.

The SLO County Veterans Resource Center connects veterans to their accredited benefits. Last year, Morgan’s office was able to bring in $9.668 million to local veterans and are responsible for over 800 million annually — all with a nine-person team.

“We pride ourselves in being efficient and good at helping the veterans navigate their benefits,” added Morgan.

Veterans can find more information on the County’s Veteran’s Services at slocounty.ca.gov/Departments/Veterans-Services.aspx

TBy Camille DeVaul

he Floral Parlor was a vision long in the making, but after a night at the Paso Robles Inn, and a morning walk for coffee, that vision was on its way to becoming a reality for Sunny Sheldrake.

Sunny opened The Floral Parlor on Spring Street in the hub of Paso Robles. Within her brick walls, Sunny and her team bring to life whimsical and modern floral designs. With each coming season and holiday, the shop is brought to life with creations only imagined in fairy tales. An Orange County native, Sunny is a mother of four grown children and grandmother of three. She escaped the corporate world to live a life she always romanticized having.

Creating designs from the heart, Sunny continues making personal connections with the community with her “sunny” disposition, sourcing quality florals, and adding value to each design or event she touches.

The Floral Parlor strongly believes in giving back to the community. One way they do this is with its auction donation item of “Flowers a Month for a Year,” which has been key in raising charitable funds for the Redwings Horse Sanctuary and Rescue, and Paso Robles Youth Arts, just to name a few. They are looking forward to promoting and contributing to its newest nonprofit, Applause Children’s Theater (ACT) of Paso Robles.

For Mother’s Day, the small-town floral shop will be offering a fabulous selection of luxury designs, fresh bouquet wraps, hand-picked greeting cards, and an array of unique gifts to pair with them, like its candles and floral-themed goodies — truly a one-stop shop.

In the shop, you can find fresh flowers ready for pickup or order online for delivery. They deliver flowers daily all over the Paso area and do floral designs for weddings, corporate events, and winery parties.

“I want to thank the community of Paso Robles for their support and for making The Floral Parlor possible,” says Sunny of her newfound home. “This is such a special place, and I give thanks every day that I get to live here. I love seeing each and every one of your faces when you come in to visit the shop, and every time we get an order my team and I do a happy dance.”

1321 Spring St #101 • (805) 286-4512 thefloralparlor.com

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Monday, 29, 2023 at 11:00 AM ooking for care regarding injuries, pain, malfunctions, or basic mobility is essential when it comes to improving daily lives. When a business meets the needs of that care, it thrives. Hart Family Chiropractic in Atascadero has been serving the community for close to 30 years with the goal to assist patients of all ages in obtaining optimum health.

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Dr. Darren R. Hart, who was born and raised in Atascadero and attended Atascadero High School, Cal Poly and Palmer College of Chiropractic, started his practice in 1994. After getting a lifesaving adjustment as a young child, he became inspired. In fact, most of the employees there has a story related to chiropractic care, and it relieving symptoms they were experiencing. Working with Dr. Jon Wells, who is now the primary chiropractor, and Dr. Dieter, Hart also hired his nephew Justin Hart as the care coordinator, chiropractic assistant Lindsay Trupe and office manager Elle Freeman. There are two massage therapists, Seth Daugherty and Rachel Wisener. Specialized services provided are to offer a natural, holistic, and drug-free approach to health. Patients get help maintaining spinal alignment, restored balance, and increasing the life, health, and energy in the body. They also see expectant moms and work with their spine and nervous system throughout all stages of pregnancy, pre and post-partum. In addition, they have alleviated pinched nerves causing heart dysfunction. They were able to bring a patient back to his active lifestyle that specialists couldn’t figure out.

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Working with the community is important and so “each year Hart Family Chiropractic donates to Okalhaven Children’s Chiropractic Center, an organization specializing in getting chiropractic care to children in need,” Freeman says. In the past Dr. Hart has also volunteered with Chirofeed, a local event for chiropractors to feed the homeless community.

Hart Family Chiropractic has been providing an assortment of wellness and full body restoration for those in need of it. The business has sustained as a result of the compassionate care they put forth towards each individual that walks through the door.

Hart Family Chiropractic

3546 El Camino Real, Atascadero • (805) 466-6378 hartfamilychiro.com

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The Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center is a hub of information and resources for those visiting the Central Coast. As a key destination for those seeking information about the local area, the Visitors Center has seen an eventful month of April with an abundance of calls and visits requesting information about the blooms happening in and around the Central Coast. The Visitors Center is dedicated to keeping track of the blooms and providing up-to-date information to visitors about where to find them.

Whether you're a wildflower aficionado or simply enjoy discovering new sights on a

Sunday drive, the Superbloom is an opportunity not to be missed. After a rainy winter, the hills are now covered in a vibrant tapestry of colors from various wildflowers such as Lupine, Brittlebrush, Sticky Monkey Flower, Indian Paintbrush, California Poppies, Tidy Tips, Sand Verbena, Evening Primrose, and Fiddleneck. The colors range from yellow, bright white, deep purple, periwinkle, hot pink, pastel, and vivid green, making for a breathtaking sight.

Visitors can find the blooms east of Santa Margarita along Highway 58, Shell Creek Road, Bitterwater Road, and La Panza Road. For those who want to venture further afield, Carrizo Plain National Monument and California Valley are must-see destinations.

The Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce has been serving the local business community since 1920. By developing and strengthening a network of businesses, the Chamber has cultivated dedicated leaders who give their time, share their expertise, and help to strengthen the economic well-being of the Paso Robles community. The Chamber is dedicated to its work and sees the positive impact it has on the local businesses and community. With a collaborative team that is passionate and dedicated to moving Paso Robles forward, a visit to the Visitors Center is not just about getting information but also about experiencing the office camaraderie and the positive energy that drives the Chamber's work.

So call or visit the Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center today for additional information on the Superbloom and local events and programs. The Visitors Center has all the information you need at its fingertips and is here to help make your visit to the Central Coast a memorable one. Visit pasorobleschamber.com

The General Store Paso Robles Celebrates Ten Years of Connecting Local Makers to the People

By Camille DeVaul

For hundreds of years, communities gathered their daily goods and trades at the local general store. These shops were the people’s connection to the world and to each other. The General Store Paso Robles has been our connection to our local makers and creators for the past decade.

Three women, Jillian, Erin, and Joeli, bonded by their appreciation and enthusiasm for artisan producers and all things tasty, lovely, and useful, opened the General Store Paso in the heart of downtown Paso Robles in 2013.

Co-Founder Joeli said, “We saw a need for an easier way to connect local makers to the people who wanted handmade, artisan goods, and wanted to do that in a welcoming, warm, and Paso-focused way.”

But without the encouragement of another local and woman-owned business, The General Store Paso may have never opened on the park. Longtime and beloved boutique Firefly opened in downtown Paso Robles in 2006, offering a unique and thoughtful collection invoking the whimsical side of life. Ten years ago, they made the move from 13th and Park Street to 12th Street. The General Store Paso team, longtime Firefly customers, found support and encouragement from the mother-daughter duo, Laurel and Emily, to open their own little slice of heaven.

Paso Robles Press Magazine sat down with the women at General Store Paso and Firefly to learn more about their decade in business and what the next 10 years hold for them.

PM: What is it like to own a business with three women?

GS: We could find no examples of a business run by three women when we started out, not one. But we had done research about the importance of vision work and business planning in partnerships, so we did a ton of personal, group, and legal work to make sure we were all on the same page. Our friendship was invaluable, so we put as many guardrails in place as we could business owners, and, ultimately, it has given us strength, stamina, and joy.

PM: What inspired you to open Firefly?

FF: My mom, Laurel, and I had always daydreamed about opening our own store. I grew up going on shopping trips with her and my grandma, and we always loved finding creative places with interesting and unique items. We used to talk about what our store would be like. When I moved back to the Central Coast in 2006, we decided that it was the right time to finally start something together. Paso was rapidly growing into a serious wine destination, but the downtown was pretty quiet at the time. We wanted to be a part of the downtown resurgence and to provide locals and tourists with a fun spot to find beautiful and affordable things.

Our first version of Firefly was a combination fine art gallery and craft gallery that was located at the corner of 13th and Park. As time went on, we transitioned away from the gallery, moving instead to a more traditional retail space, while still keeping the creative presentation and elaborate window displays.

PM: What does it mean to you to have been open for 10 years?

GS: We remember so clearly the day we opened how the register drawer jammed just minutes before we were set to pull the paper off the front windows. We were overwhelmed by the support of our friends and community, but we also remember people saying, “are you going to get more stuff?” Ten years in, it’s powerful to think of so many businesses we’ve seen launch and then blossom. And those goods are what fill our much, much more full shelves.

PM: What is it like to run a business with family?

FF: It has been both wonderful and challenging. Wonderful because you know that you always have each other’s back, and there’s a deep level of trust. Challenging because you can’t just walk away. If there’s a conflict, you have to work it out because, at the end of the day, this is your family, and you love them. But we’ve learned so much about each other over the years, and we both value that. It’s definitely made our relationship stronger over time, and I’ve enjoyed getting to know my mom as a person (and not just as my parent).

PM: How have Firefly and General Store Paso supported each other?

GS: Firefly was generous from day one about their plan to move to the location on the park. It was only after talking with them that we decided to go for it. Sometimes people talk about us as competitors, but we don’t see it that way. The pie is big enough for all of us. Also, they are very glamorous neighbors to have. We’re more of a jeans and Sharpie vibe, and they always have incredible style.

PM: What are you most proud of when it comes to your business?

GS: We love each other and are more family than we were the day we opened. We have built a business that’s sustainable and takes care of people. And that we’ve been able to support groups like ECHO, Must! Charities, and World Central Kitchen, in meaningful ways.

PM: What advice would you give to other women who hope to become business owners?

GS: Love and respect each other by doing the very tedious but critical groundwork, including an operating agreement. Also, get ready to work really hard, and be seen and known and supported in a way that will change your life.

PM: How do you contribute to the community?

GS: We give in the ways we can (either time, money, or a crock pot of chili) to Must! Charities and ECHO. We also feel strongly about promoting inclusiveness and respect for our neighbors in the store. We want every person who walks through our doors to feel welcomed.

PM: What would you like people to know about your shop?

GS: When we opened, it looked like online shopping could be the end of independent stores, and COVID accelerated that even more. Fortunately, our community did not let that happen to us and so many of our neighbors. People still have a need for human connection. We see it every day in their willingness to seek out the small and handmade, how much fun it is to talk to a person in real life, and the satisfaction of discovering things without an algorithm. Stores like ours only work when people walk the walk, and our community does that.

PM: What does the next 10 years look like for your shop?

GS: More inspiration, more dancing behind the register, more small makers, more big laughs. More giving, more hugs, and a ton more joyfulness together.