Riverbank and area volunteers banded together to help recognize veterans here in the Central Valley, with special events over the course of a week.
AVF Ribbon Cutting
The first event came on Monday, Nov. 3, when American Veterans First, based here in Riverbank, hosted a ribbon cutting at its new downtown location.
American Veterans First is a dedicated organization that focuses on supporting veterans and first responders in their journey of healing.
Their mission is to provide a variety of services and resources to assist individuals in rebuilding their lives.
The organization also plays an active role in connecting individuals with Veterans Service Organizations and assisting them in accessing essential resources such as food, housing, employment, and other necessities.
By providing referrals and guidance, American Veterans First strives to ensure that veterans and first responders receive the support they need.
AVF was originally founded by U.S. Marine Corps veteran Duke Cooper in 2016, to be a refuge for area veterans and first responders. The new AVF location is at 3228 Santa Fe St., the former A.J. Meyers Shoe Shop and Saddlery, which operated there from 1952 until 2013, when A.J. passed away.
Royal Neighbors Annual Luncheon
The next Veterans Day activity in the area was the 17th Annual Veterans Luncheon, offered on Saturday, Nov. 8.
It was held at the Stanislaus County Veterans Facility on Coffee Road in Modesto.
The Royal Neighbors is a Riverbank organization, and they originated the luncheon at the Riverbank Community Center, but the number of veterans and their guests attending outgrew the center.
Volunteers participating included members of several local groups and individuals, along with a number of school student groups as well.
Veterans attended from all over the Central Valley, including Ripon, Escalon, and Oakdale, as well as Modesto and Riverbank.
Veterans Resource Fair
The third local event was held on Monday afternoon this week, Nov. 10, the day before Veterans Day.
The Veterans Resource Fair was staged at the Riverbank Community Center, 3600 Santa Fe, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
It was sponsored by Love Riverbank, Mayor Rachel Hernandez, and the Stanislaus County Veterans Services Office.
Veterans and their families were invited to join for the special community event to connect with essential services, support and opportunities.
Available resources and services were to include employment opportunities, housing assistance, financial assistance, veterans benefits, physical and mental health support, as well as legal counseling.
Veterans Day
Finally, the American flags were set up on both sides of Atchison Street in Riverbank as a symbol of thanks as the community observed the actual Veterans Day on Tuesday, Nov. 11. The federal holiday honors all military veterans.
The observance began as Armistice Day in 1919 to commemorate the end of World War I, which occurred on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.
Today, it is a day for parades and ceremonies in small towns and big cities across the country, such as the one at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington, Virginia and a day for many businesses to offer special discounts and freebies to veterans and active-duty service members.
