Sparkimur Friends

On this date in history (September 4), 1781, a small band of settlers founded a city that would one day become a global metropolis.

This group of 44 people, known as ‘Los Pobladores,’ arrived at a site in Southern California after a long and difficult journey from what is now Mexico.

They were a remarkably diverse group for their time. Historians note that about half of the settlers had African roots, and many were of mixed Indigenous, African, and European ancestry.

Spanish Governor Felipe de Neve had personally selected the location for this new civilian settlement, or pueblo, choosing it for its fertile land and reliable water source from a nearby river.

He intended for the new town to support the military presidios of Alta California by growing crops and raising livestock.

The settlement was given a long, formal name: El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles de Porciúncula.

This translates to 'The Town of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels of Porciúncula.' Over time, it was shortened to simply Los Angeles.

From these humble beginnings, started by just eleven families in the wilderness, the city of Los Angeles was born.

The original founding site is now commemorated at the El Pueblo de Los Ángeles Historical Monument on Olvera Street in downtown Los Angeles.

BREAKING NEWS: U.S. Marine Corps Headquarters has issued orders today to Master Gunnery Sergeant S. Claus, recalling him to active duty, with a RNLTD of 24 Dec 2022.

MGySgt. Claus, known to use the alias “Saint Nicholas”, “Kris Kringle”, “Father Christmas”, or simply “Santa”, is a reserve Marine with 1,743 years of service.

He specializes as a tactical operator of the next generation DEC-25B, Cargo Airborne Delivery (CAnDY) Carrier.

The DEC-25B is contractor-modified and fully equipped with Cargo Antlered Navigation Equipment Sensors (CANES).

It has also been retrofitted with eight high-powered, air-cooled Rangifer Tarandus carrot-fed generators.

As a single seat cargo delivery platform, it is capable of vertical delivery of high-value items, take-off and landing without pilot controlled lighting (PCL).

These unique specifications, coupled with the additional Public Affairs skill sets possessed by Master Gunny Claus, classify the entire deployable package as a low-density, high-demand (LD/HD) asset.

Also recalled, were MSgts Dasher and Dancer, GySgts Prancer and Vixen, SSgts Comet and Cupid, Cpl. Donner, and PFC Blitzen (recently selected for LCpl.)

PFC Rudolph is also authorized to report for duty; however, he must first successfully complete his Phase II SERE Training, which he has failed three times due to a medical condition related to his nose.

Although the above Marines are on orders for only 24 hours, it is anticipated that they will submit a travel claim for 24,901 miles at .56/mile, using a POV. Suitable Government transportation is not available.

As a special operations unit, each member is granted a high level of uniform flexibility, as well as relaxed grooming standards.

Per diem has been modified to include large quantities of hot cocoa and cookies.

Government travel card use has been authorized.

It is hard when we lose our heroes and today we lost a member of the Greatest Generation who was one of our first WWII veterans to go on their Honor Flight. Today, at 101 years young, we lost WWII U.S. Army D-Day Paratrooper Tom Rice. 🇺🇸

He often told the story about how Honor Flight San Diego had changed his life. In his words, he was "sitting in his recliner after his wife passed and just getting skinnier and skinnier. Then one day his angel (HFSD volunteer Donna Hester) called him to ask if he wanted to go on his Honor Flight." He went in 2012, and for the last 10 years Tom had a new spring in his step and a new purpose. He could be found speaking to organizations and children's classes about his service, he was very involved in all our events, joined us for outreach to find his military brothers and sisters, and helped us raise the funds to send more veterans on their Honor Flight.

For those who didn't know Tom, in WWII, he served in the 101st Airborne Division, parachuting into Normandy on D-Day. He served with Charlie Company, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. His first experience in combat was parachuting into the dark flak-filled skies above Normandy—dropped at 160 mph as the pilots of his C-47 tried to evade the enemy fire.

Three months later, he parachuted into Holland and fought in Bastogne, where he was severely wounded. Nothing could keep him from joining back with his unit, though. He returned just in time for the capture of Hitler’s Eagles Nest and seeing the war’s end.

Post war, Tom completed his degree at San Diego State University and went on to teach in the local community.

He was able to return to Normandy for the 75th anniversary of D-Day and jumped to commemorate the event. Then, he jumped on to the beaches of Coronado for his 100th birthday. We were there to watch his jump and to help celebrate his birthday. Today he took his final jump. He was deeply loved by all of us with Honor Flight San Diego and he will be missed by all who knew him. He was a charismatic, charming, funny, humble American hero who saved us all and he will never be forgotten.

He and his wife loved us as much as we loved him. She has requested that in lieu of flowers, his friends, family, and supporters can send a donation to Honor Flight San Diego in Tom's memory. For anyone wishing to donate, you can donate here through Facebook or, you can go to our website at: www.honorflightsandiego.org

We ❤️ you Tom and may you Rest in Peace!

"Airborne - ALL THE WAY!"

May we pause to remember the sacrifice of those who paid the great price for our freedom. We will never forget.

Today we give a big shout out and a big THANK YOU to The Thursday Club Juniors who are hosting a gala for us on Saturday, April 23rd. Proceeds from this event will help to get our senior veterans on THEIR Honor Flight at no cost to them. 🇺🇸

They are offering a special way to help us meet our mission by "Honoring a Hero." They will put a picture and information about a veteran on the big screen to run during the event. They are also working to have framed pictures of these special veterans displayed at the event as well.

Several of their members have chosen to honor grandparents and other family members through this sponsorship. The cost is $250 and since they are a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, the donation can be tax-deductible.

To do this, please enter your veteran's info here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf0Xy0hM7Berr3kGI2p3U4L-8bDGPmhIhazz7qo_hFyzEHCNQ/viewform

Then click here to donate or send a check: https://www.thethursdayclub.org/donations/

Here's info about the gala:
https://www.thethursdayclub.org/2022honorflight/

We could not continue to give our veterans their Tour of Honor without community support. So THANK YOU!

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