Through a sea of red, white and blue, folks gathered to honor the 250th birthday of the United States at the All American Bash hosted by the Oakdale Enrichment Society on Saturday, June 27. From the musical stylings of Willy Tea Taylor to the fresh barbecue from House of Beef and the cold beer from Dying Breed to the face painting and balloon animals for the kids, there really was something for everyone.
As Scout Troop 43 of Oakdale presented the colors, Mayor Cher Bairos welcomed everyone to the event and shared her gratitude for the community as well as all of those that helped bring the event to life. Buck Condit, Stanislaus County Supervisor for District 1, shared his joy at being part of such a patriotic community while also noting his appreciation for all of those that have served in the armed forces as well as the first responders that work to keep local communities safe and protected.
Winnie Mullins, a member of the Oakdale Enrichment Society, helped to put together a special section to honor those that have served and continue to serve in the armed forces. Veterans and their families were treated to fresh apple pie and special seating underneath some beautiful trees in the park. Mullins also invited special guest Noel Haggard, son of country legend Merle Haggard, to join the fun and help honor those that have served. Haggard, whose resemblance to his father is uncanny, brought smiles and laughter as he regaled the veterans and their families with stories about his father and the country music world.
For some veterans, the opportunity to share their experiences offers a way to connect to others that empathize with their journeys in the service and the transition back to civilian life.
“When my husband came home from Vietnam, he put his medals in a shoebox and really didn’t talk about them. I took them and had them mounted and framed at Michael’s because they are important and I am proud of him and what he did for our country,” said Barbara Jaramillo, whose husband Don Jaramillo served in Vietnam from 1969 to 1971. Jaramillo received several awards for his service including the Purple Heart.
Though he is still quite modest when it comes to discussing the many awards he received for his service, Jaramillo smiled as he shared his stories with other veterans, including Oakdale resident Dan Vigil, who also served in Vietnam and 100-year-old Jim Adams, who served in World War II.
As the evening continued on, a group of performers from the Valley Oak School of Dance presented a special dance to honor the nation, filled with unique choreography and energetic style. From there Rita Taylor’s ethereal voice carried songs of love and loss while Riley Miller and Jake Hankal from the Orange Blossom Band brought songs including Tennessee Whiskey along with Johnny B. Goode to get attendees up and dancing, with Willy Tea Taylor bringing his unique brand of folk, country and storytelling musical style to complete the evening.
There were also some prize drawings, giveaways by the Modesto Fire Department, the opportunity to visit with a princess, and more.
Oakdale Enrichment Society works diligently throughout the year to bring events like this together and their next event is one that gives back to others in a very meaningful way. The annual OES Community Closet Clothing Drive is coming up on Aug. 29 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Gene Bianchi Community Center in Oakdale. This event is free, providing gently used clothing for all ages in a variety of styles. For more information on this event, including when to drop off donations, visit the website: https://www.enrichoakdale.org/
