Congratulations to our Fourth annual Outstanding Community Services Honorees Award winners!  As usual, our nominations come to us from a variety of backgrounds and just as many positions in and out of the community.   2009 winners are as follows:    

Outstanding Community Service Award Honorees

Bruce Cripe - Southwestern Region Director, United Way of Inland Valley, Temecula, California 

Reverend Robert Ruffato - USS Utah (BB 31), Pearl Harbor Survivor, Pastor, weddings and Religious ceremonies 

Pedro "Pete" Ramos - Adjunct American Legion, Temecula, California  American Legion Post 852 

Dorothy J. Allen - Charter Member and Field Representative, Women in Military Service for American Foundation 

                        ---------------------------------------

Congratulations to Temecula Middle School for submitting the most essays in our contest!

Sixth Grade Essay Contest Winners

Veterans - Temecula Valley proudly presents our Fourth Annual Tribute to Veterans -   Temecula Valley  "Why We Honor Veterans"  Sixth Grade Essay Contest Winners!!!

Olivia DiOrio

"Veterans risk their lives for us.  They put their own future at stake so that we can do the things we do today.  A lot of veterans don't make it through the battles, but he fact that they try means a great deal to us."

"Have you ever wondered why the citizens of the U.S.A are allowed to vote, practice religion, and go to school where we want?  It's because veterans have fought for us to have that."

Christopher Floyd

"We also honor Veterans because they fought for democracy and American rights.  I think that shows that Veterans really want to help us.  But, a lot of Veterans have families and when the soldier dies, the soldier's family dies inside a little bit.  It's really sad.  Today, the Iraq War is happening, also in Afghanistan.  There are many Veterans coming from Iraq, but a lot are still in Iraq."

David Larson

"Veterans helped keep America safe.  They gave their lives to keep enemies away from the United States.  Without Veterans wars would have been fought in the United States."

"America is a free country because of Veterans.  The United States has to fight for their freedom sometimes.  Who did it other than the Veterans?  America is the place it is today because of Veterans.  Americans owe a lot to Veterans."

Bryan Tapley

"Veterans have easily earned the honor of having their own day since they protect our country with their lives.  Veterans were battling in war while we sat at home twiddling our thumbs.  They sacrificed every limb to protect our country from its enemies.  All veterans were in mortal peril, from plane testes and to plane fliers, from gun markers to men-at-arms."

"Veterans put their hearts, minds and bodies to the tasks of being in, or training for, a war.  As they trained, they left behind everything for nothing but excruciating work and hard requirements."