The Army Jr. ROTC from Verdugo Hills HS, under the direction of Sgt. Rodney Scott, did a beautiful job with the flag ceremonies. It was touching to see them, on the edge of the Pacific, looking out toward Pearl Harbor across the water. It made us all proud to see these stalwart young men do the honors so beautifully.

Harpist Melani Mitton played beautifully, the National Anthem, then Christmas music; she also sang and played “Memorial,” which she wrote especially in honor of Sgt. Bobby Ayers. His “second mother,” Nancy Schellkopf, and his lovely fiancée, Geri Lin Krieger, spoke about Sgt. Ayers, a Malibu H.S. graduate who was killed by a sniper in Iraq in September. Then Taps was played by Melani and trumpeter Ryan Swenson.

Thank you to all the lovely cooks and hard workers who made this all happen. And a special thank you to those who brought stuffed animals for the My Stuff Bag Foundation.

And for our members who lost their homes in the recent fires, our hearts go out to you. We passed around three cards for everyone to sign, to Jennifer Grossman, David Swain (associate member) and Pat Kenney, who lost everything. Pat had been in her home for 46 years. They were then sent out by Erika Barbaric, who enclosed our $50 gift certificates to CVS Pharmacy in each.

Here’s to a wonderful New Year to all our kind and stout-hearted members!