The City of Pleasanton encourages residents, community organizations, and businesses to support all active Armed Forces personnel and Veterans.  The following opportunities are available to connect you to local residents serving in the Military, their families, Americans deployed in the war zone(s), and Veterans who have made personal sacrifices for our freedoms.

If you know of residents deployed at this time, or returning home, have ideas or information to add to the website, or have a question about the programs listed below, please contact Community Services Manager, Kathleen Yurchak, (925) 931-5346 or email at kyurchak@ci.pleasanton.ca.us.

City Council Recognition

The City Council will present a Commendation during a regular public meeting to resident military personnel returning from a tour of duty in the war zone.  Family and friends will be encouraged to participate in the ceremony.

Veterans Memorial Building and the Veterans Organizations of Pleasanton

In 1932, the County of Alameda constructed the Pleasanton Veterans Memorial Building located at 301 Main Street, Pleasanton, California.  On April 3, 1973, the City of Pleasanton entered into an Agreement with Alameda County regarding the Facility and agreed to operate it in accordance with the Military and Veterans Code Section 1260, et seq. for the use or benefit of “Veterans’ associations”, as defined in Section 1260, and to provide space for City-sponsored educational, social and recreational functions.  In 1997, the City of Pleasanton assumed ownership of the Facility and underlying land, and indicated its intention to retain this ownership.

Pursuant to Resolution No. 97-01, dated January 7, 1997, the City accepted the transfer of title to the Facility under Military and Veterans Code Section 1262, providing that the Facility would be used for a variety of City recreational activities, social events, meals programs, City offices and meetings, which would not unduly interfere with the continued access to and reasonable use of the building by the Veterans.

Today, the Veterans Memorial Building is home to the Veterans Organizations of Pleasanton (VOP), American Legion Post 237, VFW Post 6298, and VFW Post 6298 Ladies’ Auxiliary.  The VOP plays an essential role in Pleasanton’s military support programs. To learn more about local veteran’s events, parades, military benefits and volunteer opportunities, please contact the VOP at 925.249.1559. or visit the VFW POST 6298 website at http://www.vfwpost6298.com/.

If you are interested in renting the Veterans Memorial Building, please contact the Community Services Department at 925.931.5340 or by clicking here.

Adopt-A-Unit Program

On May 20, 2008, the Pleasanton City Council reconfirmed its adoption of Company C-526, BSB, 101 Airborne; a group of soldiers who are being re-deployed to Iraq this year, nearly two years after their first deployment.

Pleasanton's Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 6298 is the liaison between, the City, community, the adopted unit, and America Supporting Americans, as the organization which facilitated the adoption.

The 80 soldiers in Company C-526, BSB, 101 Airborne, will receive letters and packages from city residents, students and council members during their deployment, which are very important to these soldiers as they provide a connection to “home”.

The VFW is looking for Pleasanton citizens who are interested in adopting a soldier. For details, contact David Ham at 925-580-6661 or dave.ham@parc.com. For details on the Adopt-A-Unit program, visit

www.asa-usa.org

Pleasanton Military Families

Organized in 2004, as a support group for active military personnel and their families.  The group provides on-going emotional support, as well as goods and services as needed to address the needs of families impacted by key wage earners being deployed for extended periods away from home.  It facilitates counseling services through local churches and nonprofits to address emotional distress, financial assistance, and services for those returning from deployment.  Special welcome home celebrations are coordinated when a comrade returns.  For information on the Welcome Home events, please contact Dorothy Pearson, Homecoming Coordiantor at wepearsons@comcast.net.

For additional information on Pleasanton Military Families, please visit www.pleasantonmilitaryfamilies.org or contact Pat Frizzell, Chairman and Communications at (925) 918-3766 or patbob79@pacbell.net or email the Pleasanton Military Families at pmfsg.ca@gmail.com.

• Yellow Streamers on Main Street

Pleasanton Military Families also implements a public recognition program by hanging yellow streamers on Main Street poles naming residents serving in the combat zone(s). For more information, contact Chris Miller, (925) 730-1604, or email at millercj3@comcast.net.

Operation S.A.M.

Operation Supporting All Military (S.A.M.) is a Livermore-based nonprofit organization, serving Livermore and Pleasanton, with volunteers from throughout the Tri-Valley collecting donations for small necessities to put into comfort packages to ship to local military personnel serving in the war zone(s). For more information contact, (925) 443-7620, http://www.operationsam.org, or email operationsam@comcast.net.

Blue Star Moms

Blue Star Moms is a Danville-based organization that is a chapter of the Blue Star Mothers of America, founded in 1942 by a mother who had two sons serving in World War II.  It provides opportunities for Tri-Valley mothers of sons and daughters now in the military to share concerns, needs, and emotional support.  It also prepares and ships care packages. For more information contact, http://www.bluestarmoms.org, or email at

info@bluestarmoms.org.