Paying back our veterans

BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED

Gratitude & Service for those Who Serve

by June Silva Kester

MY WHY

Hello from Parkfield, population 18 and the earthquake capital of the world. I am June Silva Kester, many of the readers of this publication are people I would consider close friends. As many of you know, I live on a beautiful ranch and raise cattle, kids and grapes. My husband Kevin and I have our grandchildren living and playing on the ranch. The grandkids represent the seventh generation of our ranching family.

Besides my faith, family and livestock, I have a huge respect and need to give back to all our men and women in the military, veterans or currently enlisted. I thank them every chance I get; if you look military or are in a uniform, I am the lady that comes up and says, “God bless you for your service to our country.”

Because I have been so richly blessed by the freedoms in our country, I feel it is my duty to give back to our service men and women and I am asking for your help in that endeavor through a couple of different causes I am passionate about.

Three generations of Kevin and June Kester's family.

MY CAUSES

The Mighty Oaks Foundation started on a ranch next to ours in Parkfield. It is a faith-based organization that is about saving lives, restoring families and changing legacies. These programs take place all across America, on military bases, at outposts and on rural ranch lodges. Each facility allows these men and women to appreciate the peace of nature and have an “unplugged” experience. Thanks to Cattlemen and Cattlewomen, chefs at these facilities prepare healthy and nutritious meals. We also started taking in our first responders. It is estimated that 21 veterans and first responders a day take their own lives because they aren’t getting the help they need. Please help us find as many men, women and families as we can, is all I ask from you. Also, Mighty Oaks Warrior Programs have helped thousands of men, women, families and marriages.

I have witnessed the healing of our men and women riding on the back of a horse on these magnificent ranches. Please help me find them, too, to help get them into one of these life-changing programs.

Honor Flight is a national organization and as of May 2022, we will have transported 250,000 deserving Veterans to their memorials in D.C., at no cost to them.

I have had the honor of being the guardian for six World War II and Korean War veterans so far. I can tell you there is no greater feeling than to serve the men and women who have kept our great nation free.

I hope you will join me in showing gratitude and hospitality for the men and women who have sacrificed for our well-being and safety here at home.

REFERRALS

I would appreciate anyone who is reading this to help me with these two organizations. Each one is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that gives Veterans and currently enlisted military, a trip of a lifetime, at no cost to them. For some, it is a life changing trip.

Help me find veterans who have not gone to Washington, D.C., to see the memorials that have been built in their honor. We need to find them today, as we are losing 600 veterans a day. There are 130 Honor Flight hubs all over the United States that are waiting to take our fine Veterans. We just need to find them and get them signed up to go. On my first flight as a guardian, there was a 102-year-old veteran, so age is not a factor if they want to go!

We ask that you, your family members, neighbors and friends from church thank our veterans for their service to our country and then ask them if they have been on Honor Flight. I will do the rest. We just need a way to contact them, so I can find the closest hub to where they live. Again, it does not cost them a dime and never will.

CONTACT

I am humbled to be a volunteer for both of these organizations and plan on helping with both until there is no longer a need. Please go to the Honor Flight and Mighty Oaks Warrior programs websites to learn more.

With your help, we can provide the assistance needed for the Veterans and first responders who have and do defend our freedoms.

TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN SO MANY LIVES!

PLEASE CONTACT: JUNE KESTER, (805) 434-7616 OR SERVINGALLHEROES@GMAIL.COM

LEARN MORE AT WWW.MIGHTYOAKSPROGRAMS.ORG OR WWW.HONORFLIGHT.ORG