Post Commander Jerry Olivas said later that in typical VFW fashion even one latecomer was served.
“We had a lady show up at 7:30 p.m., she’d been at work and we were cleaning up,” but after her assurances that she would gladly reheat the spaghetti at home, she was given a hefty to-go container.
“Her spaghetti wasn’t hot but she left happy,” said Olivas.
The sauce recipe was a hit with diners: “It’s a recipe that’s been passed down, people really enjoy it,” the blend of meat and mushrooms, the warm, balsamic and aromatic flavor of oregano amid the spices.
With the aging of WWII and Korean War veterans and the reluctance of those that served in Vietnam and the Mid-East to join veterans groups - perhaps opting to forget, at least for now - Olivas said it has become harder to stage events.
But volunteers have stepped up, if not brothers in arms at least brothers in seeing that those that fought for others can now be helped themselves.
And that includes the children of VFW members, both past and present: “We had Rodney Cobos helping us out,” whose late father “Bill” Cobos was highly active with the Post, as well as “Chris Lopez and George Lopez,” among those others said Olivas, “so many that helped us out... and the community, Santa Paula is always wonderfully supportive of the veterans.”
Only a small portion of the funds raised directly benefit the Post by picking up the cost of required liability insurance, and the balance is donated to the plethora of community programs and organizations supported by the veterans’ group.
Each year the Post loyally donates to the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley, City Recreation Department programs, YMCA, and the Santa Paula Little League.
Also on the long list of Post-supported organizations are the Rotary Christmas Basket Fund, Hospice/Home Support Group of Santa Clara Valley, Isbell Middle School Washington, D.C. trip, Santa Paula High and Isbell schools’ bands, Santa Paula Theater Center, Food Share, Blanchard Community Library FLAIR, Isbell Condor Chorus, Optimist Club Christmas Parade (the Post is a featured favorite in all Santa Paula parades), and the Salvation Army Bell Ringers holiday drive, among others.
