Supporting Regional Veterans, Active Duty Military and First Responders since 2015

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     When the Merced Field of Honor started the last thing we expected was to make any money. The first years were a struggle with the Club spending all of its resources just to put the Field on. In time however regional sponsors and families alike responded with resources understanding the importance of the Field and the Service it salutes. In 2015, after all the Field expenses were paid, the Charity had a small obligated amount dedicated to regional veterans. In time this support expanded to include certain active duty and first responder projects. To date the Charity has carefully granted over $200,000 after 12 years of expenses to regional projects directly related to uniform service.

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     At the suggestion of our Presenting Sponsor, the Peter J Gallo Memorial Foundation and Joseph Gallo Farms, the Field first supported the expansion of the Veterans Resource Center at Merced College. In time, those efforts moved to supporting American Legion, The Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and specifically the VFW California District 13 Honor Guard mission at San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery in Santa Nella and Merced County.

 

     Each year bring new opportunities and ideas. Some of our more notable projects include; The Wall That Heals - the 3/4 size traveling Vietnam War Memorial, the Yosemite Veterans Education &  Leadership Seminar, Castle Air Museum aircraft restoration projects, Merced County Blue Star Mothers and Families holiday care-packages to forward deployed military, Merced Police Officer Memorial, the purchase of emergency equipment for Merced Fire Department, as well as the re-naming of M Street in Merced to Veterans Boulevard and Honor Flights to Washington DC and the annual Merced Run for the Fallen.

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Applications for Merced Field of Honor grants and gifts can be made here.