WESTWEST VALLEY 2021 - A SPECIAL TRIBUTE SECTION CELEBRATING THOSE WHO SERVED OUR COUNTRY - YOURVALLEY.NET
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
WEST VALLEY SALUTE YourValley.net | Sun City Independent | June 30, 2021 27 West# #Valley Salute # A special tribute section celebrating those who served our country 2021
28 June 30, 2021 | Sun City Independent | YourValley.net WEST VALLEY SALUTE
Sharing a Military Way of Life
#
This Naval couple call Sun City West their home port
By Jennifer Jimenez
INDEPENDENT NEWSMEDIA
N
avigating underwa-
ter by way of subma-
rine was a way of life
for a local Sun City West man,
whose wife also served the Unit-
ed States as a member of the mil-
itary forces.
Kai and Dianne Repsholdt
made the move from Hawaii to
Sun City West and made their
home at Grandivew Terrace, 14515
W. Granite Valley Drive. After a
30-year career, Kai Repsholdt had
to leave the United States Navy,
by law. He explained only if you
“It was a desire of mine for my had an Officers Christian Fellow-
are an admiral can you serve lon-
whole career to go back to the ship group going in Vallejo to re-
ger. He did not take the upward
Naval Academy to invest some main connected.
path toward flag rank when it was
time in the next generation,” he The two connected in 1976 at-
offered.
explained. tending bible study together.
For Kai Repsholdt, his inter-
But a phone call changed Kai Then Kai Resholdt was sent out
est in submarines started during
Repsholdt plans when a subma- to sea and she was sent for nucle-
grade school after watching a 1942
rine detailer shared the news say- ar weapons training in Colorado.
movie starring Cary Grant called
ing if he leaves no one will be put The pair corresponded via letters,
“Destination Tokyo.” Then in high
in his place. And the detailer re- but Dianne Repsholdt describes
school he read a two-volume non-
minded Kai Repsholdt the work the nice weather updates were
fiction book called “Silent Vic-
he was doing with two projects growing old and she was going
tory” that was a compilation of
and how critical those were to the to let the relationship fizzle out.
World War II submarine war pa-
success of the submarine force for But Kai Repsholdt had a different
trols in the Pacific.
the foreseeable future. But the plan, calling her up and asking if
“If I was going to be in the ser-
promise remained. he could head out to North Dako-
vice, I wanted to be in subma-
“The fact that he would ask me ta to visit her for Christmas leave.
rines,” he explained.
and tell me those things was very “It was during that visit that he
As a high school student with
satisfying and it was actually true. proposed to me. This threw me for
homework spread upon the kitch-
Without bragging and this is a a loop after very platonic corre-
en table, including a couple cata-
statement of truth. One project spondence he finally said he was
logs for colleges, his father walked
involved the conversion of four really liking to pursue me as his
by and suggested he consider the
Trident submarines to guided wife and I said yes,” she explained.
service academies.
missile submarines. The whole The pair were married in July
“I went to the Naval Academy
bureaucratic with the exception of 1978. Dianne Repsholdt was
and graduated in 1973 and entered
of the submarine force, including out of the Air Force in Decem-
the nuclear power program im-
the whole bureaucracy inside the ber of 1981. The couple has a son,
mediately. After that I did a year
Pentagon, was against it. But I was daughter and four grandchildren.
of special training to be able to op-
the guy who was the lead on the After retiring, the couple looked
erate nuclear propulsion plants on
project to get it approved and in for a place to call home and left
submarines then was assigned to
the works,” he said. Hawaii for Grandview Terrace
my first submarine crew in Octo-
And it did happen. Kai Rep- in 2011 and have not regretted it.
ber of 1974,” Kai Repsholdt said.
sholdt said the senior unified war- Dianne Repsholdt looks back
Kai Repsholdt was an officer
fare commanders think those sub- on her time in the service and as
on four different submarines in-
Dianne Repsholdt and Kai Repsholdt entered Naval Academy in 1969 and marines are critical in military a Navy wife and said that was her
cluding division, department, ex-
graduated in 1973 before retiring in 2003 and consulting for eight years. diplomacy. One submarine can normal. She said Officers’ Chris-
ecutive and commanding officer. [Kai Repsholdt/submitted photo] carry 150 Tomahawk missiles. tian Fellowship was a big influ-
He also served shore duties be-
“All you have to do is drive up to ence in life and as a family and
tween sea tours. signed on the staff again as the working for a private company. a port nearby a country you are they are happy they were involved
“One at the Pentagon. The first submarine commander at the Pa- Looking back, Kai Repsholdt not friendly with and they recog- and help support ministries.
was at Pacific Headquarters of cific Fleet. recalled the time the admiral in nize the threat is there, and when Reporter Jennifer Jimenez can be
Submarine Force commander He said he loved being a sub- charge of all Pacific Fleet sub- reached at jjimenez@newszap.com
a submarine goes to sea and you or follow her on Twitter @SCW_
in Pearl Harbor. And then I went mariner and navigating under- marines between 1999 and 2000 don’t know where it is, that is a Independent.
back to the recruiting command water, which he said was particu- promised him his final tour in the veiled threat,” he explained.
headquarters after I was an ex- larly interesting and challenging. Navy from 2000 to 2003 would Dianne Repsholdt attended col-
ecutive officer and after a com- His first three sea tours were have been assigned at the Naval lege as part of the Reserve Offi-
manding officer went to the head- out of Hawaii, which is where he Academy. He was penciled in for cers’ Training Corps. in Minneso-
quarters of Central Command in spent about 25 years on and off. commanding officer at the naval ta. An internship brought her to
Florida,” he explained. However the last eight of the 25 station across from the Naval California, where it was suggest-
Kai Repsholdt served there years he was out of the Navy and Academy. ed she contact Kai Repsholdt who
for three years and then was as-
WEST VALLEY SALUTE YourValley.net | Sun City Independent | June 30, 2021 29
LOW PRICES, BRAND NAMES, BIG SELECTIONS, CUSTOMER SATISFACTION, CARING SERVICE
LOW PRICES, BRAND NAMES, BIG SELECTIONS, CUSTOMER SATISFACTION, CARING SERVICE
THANKS TO ALL OUR NURSES FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO
Eat In-Take Out Floors ‘n More Sun City
Catering CALL Vac & Sew
Available
Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
623-972-5641 Vacuum Cleaner or
Sewing Machine Tune-Up
Mexican Beer & Margaritas for most makes & models
623-875-1611 623-875-3474
36
Years FREE Estimate 623-933-5437
Free Ring Cleaning & Inspection
Don’t wait at the MVD
Open
7:30 to 5:00
“Serving the Sun Cities for 51 Years”
623-972-6130 623-977-3540 623-792-8088
Mon.-Sat. 623-972-5781 www.setterbergs.com Next Door to Line Thai Restaurant
AUGIE’S Sun Health
HAIR STUDIO Pianos, Organs, Yamaha Genos Resale Boutique
Keyboard, Roland Digital
Accordions, Guitar Accesso- M-F 9am-4pm
Full Service Salon ries, Hohner Harmonicas Sat 9am-1pm Mark Borruso
Music Books & Lessons
623-977-1232 623-374-6423 623-974-2000 623-875-7019
SHOP WITH Pressler Estate LineThai
THE FRIENDLY Planning
MERCHANTS AT Insurance • Retirement Planning
Restaurant
CAMPANA Quilting Supplies • Classes • Fabrics 623-977-3395 623-977-8940
SQUARE Machine Repair 623-972-2091 www.presslerinsurance.com
ENJOY A LOWER SALES TAX
SUN CITY SALES TAX ONLY 6.3%
Campana Square
Since 1981
98th AVE. & BELL RD.
Across the street from Sun City Post Office
There’s more to buying here than low prices…You’ll always get brand names, big selections, customer satisfaction and caring service-plus lower sales tax!
30 June 30, 2021 | Sun City Independent | YourValley.net WEST VALLEY SALUTE
In the Air is Where He Wants to Be
#
‘Altitude adjustments’ help with his mental health
By Rusty Bradshaw
INDEPENDENT NEWSMEDIA
T
he Cessna 172 drops
smoothly out of the sky
and lines up on the dirt
airstrip somewhere in rural Arizona.
The aircraft continues a steady de-
scent until its tricycle landing gear
touches down. The plane loses speed
as it rolls along the dirt and gravel
surface until it finally comes to a stop.
It then taxis to the side and the en-
gine shuts down.
The lone occupant climbs out of
the cockpit, retrieves his lawn chair
and sets it up under the plane’s over-
head wing. There he sits for a few Taking a few minutes to look
around during a weekend
minutes, enjoying a small snack, bev- flight, Jim Stark gets ready to
erage and the quiet, picturesque Ar- take off from a dirt strip west
izona scenery. of the Estrella Mountains.
A short time later, he loads his chair [Rusty Bradshaw/Independent
Newsmedia]
and climbs back behind the controls
and roars down the strip headed for 34 years, accruing numerous “saves”
home. Jim Stark in the cockpit of his Cessna 172 preparing to take off for a short flight from the Goodyear Airport. [Rusty and two Life Saving Medals.
It is trips like these, made frequent- Bradshaw/Independent Newsmedia] “It was mostly search and rescue
ly, that helps Sun City resident Jim left the aircraft industry, the family flights, but I also did drug and fire
Stark settle his mind. He is more settled in Prescott. Between grad- surveillance,” he explained. “But the
comfortable in the air. uation from Prescott Senior High Air Posse disbanded not long after
“I call these trips ‘altitude adjust- School in 1959 and joining the Air Paul Penzone was elected sheriff.”
ments,’” he said. “My wife tells me Force in 1960, Stark was briefly an Stark eventually moved to Anchor
that I seem much calmer when I engineering student at the Universi- National Life Insurance Co. as a vice
come back from a flight.” ty of Arizona and worked for the U.S. president. In 1990 he was offered a
The off road, back country airstrips Forest Service then AT&SF Railway. senior vice president/general coun-
are his favorite destination. While His first assignment was to C-124s sel position at Xerox Life in Chicago.
his wife rarely flies with him, Mr. with the 85th Military Air Transport Two years later he accepted the se-
Stark’s flights have included some Squadron at Travis Air Force Base nior legal vice president position at
cross-country excursions to visit in California. He also navigated in Capitol Life Insurance Co. in Denver.
friends for hunting and other plea- C-130E and C-135B aircraft all over When that company wound down, he
sure trips. the world, including numerous trips retired to Sun City. But a year later he
“Kay is not real fond of the small over the North Pole and to Antarcti- was offered a vice president position
planes,” he said. ca, eventually becoming an instructor in the legal/compliance department
Stark was exposed to aircraft from navigator and then a nav flight exam- Jim Stark at his navigation board during a flight while in the U.S. Air of Charles Schwab & Co. in Phoenix.
an early age. His father, Glaen, worked Force. [Submitted photo] He worked for Schwab for five years
iner with 26 world circumnavigations.
for Stearman Aircraft and later Boe- His most memorable trip was navi- to Korat Air Base, Thailand where rious Service Medal, an Air Med- and finally retired to a part-time con-
ing Co. That set the course for his life. gating the Bob Hope Christmas-USO he ran the 388th Tac Fighter Wing al with one oak leaf cluster, the Air sulting/expert witness position with
“I had ‘Stearman Aircraft’ em- trip from Los Angeles to Japan in scheduling office. Force Commendation Medal with Bates Private Capital.
blazoned on my birth certificate,” 1962. With the Vietnam War winding one oak leaf cluster and a Vietnam Fully retired in 2008, his wife
he said. “My mother said my first After Travis, he flew classified mis- down, Stark was offered an opera- Service Medal with 12 bronze stars. “volunteered” him for the Sun City
spoken word was ‘hairplane’” sions from Eglin AFB for two years tions inspector position at the USAF He had also graduated the Air Com- Homeowners’ Association Board of
That, quite naturally, led to a career in C-130Es and C-118s to many Eu- Inspection and Safety Center at Nor- mand and Staff College and the In- Directors, ultimately a six-year “sen-
in the U.S. Air Force. But that is not ropean and Middle East countries, ton Air Force Base in California. In dustrial College of the Armed Forces. tence,” during which he was presi-
where Stark learned to fly. including Greece, Jordan and Iran. 1975 he was invited to join the USAF/ “The military was very good to dent for three terms.
“I wanted to be a pilot, but they Upon the wind-down of that unit, IG staff in the Pentagon. While there me,” he said. Stark has nurtured a life-long love
made me a navigator,” he explained. Stark studied, while still in the Air he met the love of his life, Kay Lynne With substantial help from his for and devotion to shooting, the Sec-
“I never had any flight training in the Force, at the University of Nebraska, Carey, and they were married in 1982. wife, he completed his judicial doc- ond Amendment and hunting. He
Air Force. I suppose that was lucky, finishing his degree in business and Attending night school, he com- torate, passed the New York and Ar- is a Life-Benefactor Member of the
because four of the five I did train political science. He then went to Mc- pleted his master’s degree in busi- izona Bar exams and was recruit- National Rifle Association and a life
with were killed.” Guire Air Force Base in New Jersey ness via a Central Michigan Universi- ed by Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner member of the Air Force Naviga-
He applied for flight training fre- where he was an operations inspec- ty extension program. Following that, & Smith. After two years as a Mer- tor-Observer Association as well as
quently, but was never accepted. tor with the 21st AF/IG. He later be- he was accepted to the night school rill Lynch litigation attorney in New the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots
“They needed navigators and I was came a scheduling officer responsi- law program at George Washington York City, Stark was granted a per- Association (River Rats).
good at scheduling,” Stark said. “So ble for transport aircraft scheduling University. missive move to Phoenix. In his early years with the family
I learned to fly on my own.” in the Eastern hemisphere. Stark retired from the Air Force in By that time, Stark had earned his moving around so much, Stark de-
Stark’s family moved to Globe After McGuire, he was assigned December 1980 as a lieutenant colo- pilot’s license and owned his own air- veloped a wanderlust that has nev-
when he was 4, but the family up- to Luke Air Force Base for weap- nel/master navigator, having accrued craft. In an effort to “give back,” he er left him.
rooted to Kansas, then Texas, back ons systems officer training in the 7,935 hours of flying time, including volunteered for the Maricopa County “We are always going somewhere,”
to Kansas, back to Arizona in Tucson, F-4 Phantom. Six months later, as 148 hours of combat time, and earn- Sheriff’s Air Posse and flew search- he said.
back to Kansas then, when his father a newly minted WSO, he was sent ing, among other awards, a Merito- and-rescue missions for more than
WEST VALLEY SALUTE YourValley.net | Sun City Independent | June 30, 2021 31
Har
extends
We Do: BETTER LEGS TODAY!
•
•
Complete Re-Roof
Tile & Shingle Accepting NEW Patients!
Military
•
•
Repairs
Coating
Call NOW for a FREE Screening
and • Foam
Veterans • Metal
Free Estimates
602.358.8458
Lic #209598 Bonded & Insured
Tru Builders is THANKFUL and
APPRECIATIVE of All Our Veterans!!!
For over 15 years we've built our
practice with our patients’
health and comfort in mind!
623-546-8681 13629 W Camino del Sol
We especially thank our children, Air Force Veteran-Tori, Sun City West, Arizona
(623) 584-7874
& twin Marine Veterans Erich & Max, as well as extended family that served:
Lewis Jones-Army WWII, Don Armstrong-Marine WWII, Norman Christiansen-Air Force,
Bill Hutchison-Navy Vietnam, Bill Jones- Navy Vietnam, Bryan Jones-Navy Gulf Conflict,
Nick Chatham-Air Force Veteran, and Dan O’Toole-Air Force Active. veincarearizona.com
Land of the Free
Because of the Brave.
We Salute You!
Ventana Winds
101
60 Chaparral Winds
17
N
101
Desert Winds
10
32 June 30, 2021 | Sun City Independent | YourValley.net WEST VALLEY SALUTE
Air Force Retiree Gives Back by Helping
Preserve Luke AFB Training Mission
#
Chris Toale leads Community Initiatives office
By Kelly O’Sullivan pervisor to control tower
INDEPENDENT NEWSMEDIA
and radar approach control
C
hris Toale was a chief controller.
college student He served as approach
without a solid control chief controller in
goal when he decided to Taszar, Hungary, during Op-
enlist in the U.S. Air Force eration Joint Forge and as
in 1984. air traffic control superin-
“I didn’t know what I tendent for personnel and
wanted to do, that’s why operations at the Joint Air
I didn’t join until I was 21, Operations Center at Al
going on 22,” said the Erie, Udeied Air Base in Qatar
Pennsylvania, native and during Operations Iraqi and
Goodyear resident who Enduring Freedom.
leads the Community Ini- “It was interesting,” he
tiatives office at Luke Air said of his four-month de-
Force Base. ployment to the Middle East
What he calls “the sec- in 2003, where he played a
ond-best decision of my key role in the U.S. effort Airman 1st Class Chris Toale was serving as a 18-wheel
life” was the beginning of a semitrailer operator at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam
to establish new airways when this photo was taken in 1985. He would later transition
military career that would for commercial air traffic to the air traffic control field. [Toale family photo]
span 22 years and take him in Iraq.
around the globe while pro- “That was a significant
viding the foundation for a accomplishment for the
successful private and gov- country and the Air Force,”
ernment sector careers af- he said.
ter he retired from the Air It was also significant for
Force in 2006 at the rank of Toale, who was charged
chief master sergeant. Today, Chris Toale is the civilian director of Luke’s
with establishing relation- Community Initiatives office. [Luke AFB photo]
The best decision he ships with representatives
ever made? Asking his and flight rules, and chang- nities.
of multiple countries, in-
wife, Nezie, whom he met es don’t come quickly. Rules Today, Toale reports to
cluding Iraq, Jordan, Ku-
while stationed in the Phil- like the one Toale developed Luke’s commanding gen-
wait and Turkey.
ippines in the late 1980s, to usually take seven years to eral, works directly with
“I was in Qatar for two
marry him. receive FAA approval, he county, state and federal
days when I was sent to
She held down the home said, adding with a sense legislators, and West Val-
Turkey to speak with the
front during his military of pride, “it was approved ley mayors and city coun-
minister,” he recalled.
deployments and frequent three-and-a-half years lat- cils, and leads a team that
After the Middle East,
trips he made during the er.” works with local planning
Toale was sent to San An-
10 years he worked for Dy- After leaving the Air departments.
tonio. He arrived at Luke,
namic Science Inc., a Phoe- Force, Toale joined Dy- “Even rezoning doesn’t Senior Master Sgt. Chris Toale poses with the mobile
his final duty station, in
nix-based company that namic Science as general happen without Luke’s in- air traffic control radar system in Baghdad, Iraq, during
2004, where he oversaw 75 Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. [Toale family photo]
provides aviation and tech- manager over its aviation put,” he said.
air traffic controllers moni-
nical research services to division, and was named By ensuring pilots can
toring thousands of military,
the Department of Defense. president in 2009. continue to train at Luke,
commercial and private air-
Together, they raised By 2016, he was tired of as they have for the past 80
craft flying in the area.
their daughter, Angela, who leaving his wife and daugh- years, the office helps to en-
“The growth that we’re
was born in 1999 when the ter for two to three weeks sure the base’s viability and
seeing now in the West Val-
couple was stationed in En- each month, so he accepted the Air Force’s continued
ley, we were seeing then,”
gland. a position in the Community $2.4 billion-plus annual con-
Toale said.
“She was a very positive Initiatives office working on tribution to the state and lo-
To prevent private pi-
influence that allowed me to encroachment issues affect- cal economy.
lots from flying too close
be successful,” Toale said. ing Luke’s training mission. That’s a source of satis-
to the base and impacting
During his first few years He was named director faction and pride for Toale,
Luke’s fighter pilot training
in the Air Force, Toale in 2020 of the five-person who said he hopes to contin-
mission, Toale developed a
worked in field transpor- office after his predecessor ue making a difference for
special air traffic rule that
tation, a field he didn’t find retired. Luke and its local, county,
was submitted to the Fed-
challenging enough. It’s a big job that re- state and federal partners
eral Aviation Administra-
When he transitioned to quires Toale to use skills until he retires in about five
tion a month before he re-
air traffic control in 1989, his he learned throughout his years.
tired from active duty in
career took off. military career, especially “I get to give back to the
August 2006.
Over the years, Toale rose establishing and maintain- Air Force, after they’ve been
Those with knowledge
from a radar approach con- ing relationships with lead- so good to me,” he said. Chief Master Sgt. Chris Toale was serving as Luke Air Force
of U.S. airspace know it’s
trol watch supervisor and ers pursuing different goals Kelly O’Sullivan can be Base’s radar approach control chief when this photo of him
a complicated issue with seated at an air traffic control radar scope was taken in
control tower watch su- for their respective commu- reached at kosullivan@
multiple classifications newszap.com or 760-963-1697. 2005. [Toale family photo]
WEST VALLEY SALUTE YourValley.net | Sun City Independent | June 30, 2021 33
Glendale Veterans Memorial Turns 20
#
Sculpture outside main library honors those who served
By Steve Stockmar
INDEPENDENT NEWSMEDIA
T
wenty years ago,
local artist Joe
Tyler complet-
ed his sculpture work as a
memorial to veterans ev-
erywhere.
The work, entitled “For
Every Drop of Blood,” re-
mains prominently on dis-
play outside the Glendale
Public Library, 5959 W.
Brown St., and includes ac-
tual pieces from the sunk-
en USS Arizona.
“My goal, as an artist, was
to create a special place, a
peaceful setting and to cre-
ate a mood suitable to honor
every drop of blood and ev-
ery life devoted to the cause
of liberty for American cit-
izens,” reads a mounted
plaque with Mr. Tyler’s
words.
Three years after the
Civil War ended, on May 5,
1868, the head of an organi-
zation of Union veterans es-
tablished Decoration Day as
a time for the nation to dec-
orate the graves of the war
dead with flowers, the U.S.
Department of Veterans Af-
fairs notes. Maj. Gen. John The veterans memorial
outside the Glendale
A. Logan declared that Dec- Public Library includes
oration Day should be ob- actual pieces from the USS
served on May 30. It is be- Arizona. [Steve Stockmar/
lieved that date was chosen Independent Newsmedia]
because flowers would be in
bloom all over the country. “This is a tribute for the vet-
It was not until after erans who returned -- but
World War I, however, also for the brave souls
that the day was expand- who can never come home
ed to honor those who have again.”
died in all American wars, The intertwined limbs of
the VA adds. In 1971, Me- each sculpted tree symbol-
morial Day was declared a ize the combined efforts of
national holiday by an act of the Air Force, Army, Ma-
Congress. It was then also rines, Navy and Coast
placed on the last Monday Guard. The leaves in the
in May. sculpted canopies repre-
“For Every Drop of sent the thousands of vet-
Blood” is made of bronze, erans who have served, are
copper, steel, sandstone currently serving and will
and concrete, and was com- serve in the Armed Forces.
pleted in 2001. The artwork In the center is an obe-
includes five welded steel lisk featuring a depiction of
the battleship silver service Artist Joe Tyler completed his tribute to veterans, “For Every Drop of Blood,” in 2001. [Steve Stockmar/Independent
trees, one for each branch Newsmedia]
of the armed services. pattern commissioned for
“This memorial honors the USS Arizona, and ac- the ship’s gallery, and the the powder magazine and 1915, entombs 1,177 officers
the human sacrifice and tual salvaged pieces from steel rings were cut from ammunition areas. Fifteen and crewmembers. TO VIEW
courage of every military the USS Arizona. the USS Arizona Memori- minutes after the assault Learn more about the art- “For Every Drop
veteran who defends the The city of Glendale ac- al flagpole. on Pearl Harbor began on ist who created “For Every of Blood”
freedom of all Americans, quired the historical ar- The USS Arizona sus- Dec. 7, 1941, six battleships, Drop of Blood” at artistic-vi- Glendale
regardless of the battle- tifacts. The rusted metal tained multiple bomb hits including the USS Arizo- sion.com. Main Library
front,” the sculpture reads. pieces are from a portion -- one that penetrated sev- na, were sunk. The Arizo- 5959 W. Brown St.
of the potato locker in eral decks to explode in na, which first launched in
34 June 30, 2021 | Sun City Independent | YourValley.net WEST VALLEY SALUTE
For these married stars of Trilogy Veterans Club
‘Service Before Self’
Continues into Retirement
#
By Philip Haldiman
INDEPENDENT NEWSMEDIA
TRILOGY
W
ith 50 years
of combined
VETERANS
service to CLUB
the U.S. Air Force, Jose Mission Statement:
Lopes and Colleen Tuck- To engage military
er live by the motto “ser- veterans, cultivate
fellowship, create
vice before self.” missions and
The married couple, who opportunities that
have known each other for support military
veterans in need;
more than 30 years, lived undertake support
by the motto during their for charitable, social,
time of service and now do and like events;
so in their retirement, giv- and to advocate
for legislation that
ing back to the community. promotes benefits to
Tucker served 23 years, military veterans and
from 1979 to 2002 sta- their families.
tioned in England, Ger- Established: 2014
many, South Korea, Col-
Meetings: The club
orado, Nevada, Idaho and meets on the last
Jose Lopes and Colleen Tucker have 50 years of combined service between them in the U.S. Air Force. [Submitted photos]
Alabama. She also was de- Tuesday of each
ployed to Saudi Arabia in month at 4:30 p.m.
support of the war on Iraq. Website:
Lopes served 27 years, PRAISE FOR JOSE LOPES AND COLLEEN TUCKER tvaveteransclub.
weebly.com
from 1972 to 1999 stationed Bob Meizinger, acting president of a hand-up and not a hand out. She on him for help in many of our
in Germany, Japan, Texas, the Trilogy Veterans Club, said Jose has collected boxes of clothes to help missions. When we were feeding the Eligibility: Served on
Arizona, Georgia, Louisi- Lopes and Colleen Tucker are two veteran women in need, including homeless vets, he would be part of active duty, reserves,
dedicated members who exemplify the Navajo Nation during COVID-19 the team transporting food, serving or National Guard
ana, Idaho and Alabama. the TVC motto, “Ready, Reliable problems. She assists in many activities the vets, and cleaning up. He assists for any amount of
He was also deployed twice Relevant.” Mr. Meizinger had more with the club from veteran ceremonies, Colleen with her missions. He helps time and honorably
to NATO Forward Operat- praise for the couple. golf outings, Toys for Tots and Flag at St. Marys Food Bank, Toys for Tots, discharged. Allied
Ms. Tucker: “She serves on the Team. Prior to COVID-19, you could delivering items to our other missions Forces also eligible for
ing Base-Aktion in support membership.
TVC board and her ideas and input find her contributing time to feeding including Totes for Troops. If we need
of allied forces during the contribute to the success of the our homeless vets at the MANA transportation for any delivery, Jose is
Bosnia War in 1992 and 1993 TVC. She is the mission leader for House. She volunteers routinely ready. He will serve as our grill master More info:
Veteran’s First, that has grown from helping at St. Marys Food Bank.” for our fall picnic and serve with me russlbrown1@cox.net
and to Portugal during Op-
just the MANA House to include Mr. Lopes: “He is a great example as a member of that committee for
eration Linked Seas in sup- other veterans in need by providing of the club motto. You can count planning.
port of linking the Atlantic the tradition of integri-
and Mediterranean naval ty, service and excellence.
fleets. ora of ways,” said Duke, a She said when she re- their lives. numerous locations, includ- Our future is in great hands,
Today they continue their retired Air Force service- tired, the American Legion “We’ve just completed ing South Carolina, Massa- we just have to find a way
service during retirement man. “They do so much vol- (not in Arizona) wanted her a very successful cloth- chusetts and Belgium. to not mess things up too
— Tucker to the St. Mary’s unteer work for veterans to become a member of the ing, bedding and hygiene Lopes continued his guid- much before they take the
Food Bank and at the Trilo- in the Valley, it’s amazing.” auxiliary even though they drive for our Native Amer- ance at the JROTC pro- wheels of our government
gy Library; Lopes as a Luke The mission of the Tril- were aware she was a vet- ican sister veterans on the gram at Cactus High School and guide us to a future
AFB Retiree Activities Of- ogy Veterans Club is to eran. Hopi and Navajo nations,” after retiring in 2018, when that fulfills the ideals of that
ficer, a volunteer position in engage military veterans, “I found that insulting as she said. he helped establish compe- more perfect union so el-
an all-volunteer office, and cultivate fellowship, create though my 23 years in the Similarly, Lopes said join- tition drill and color guard oquently memorialized in
as a volunteer with a local missions and opportunities military wasn’t worthy of ing the TVC allowed him to teams at the school. the Preamble to the United
high school JROTC unit. that support military veter- their cause. Female veter- continue to serve his com- With the pandemic slow- States Constitution. That
They also are members of ans in need, as well as un- ans do not have as loud a munity and uphold Air ing, he said plans to con- union which benefits and
the Trilogy Veterans Club dertake support for chari- voice and presence in the Force core values — integ- tinue to help in the com- uplifts all Americans — the
in north Peoria. table, social, and like events. communities across the rity, service and excellence. ing year. United States of America.”
Trilogy Veterans Club Tucker is a mission lead- country, and I felt the need “[They] are a way of life It has been an honor Philip Haldiman can be
President Scott Duke said er for the TVC and Lopes to be seen and heard for my that we not only teach as working with such great reached at phaldiman@
newszap.com, or on Twitter @
the husband-and-wife team serves as the Flag Team sister veterans,” she said. leaders, but that we seek cadets and staff, he said. philiphaldiman.
are the most active of the member and director. So Tucker became the to embody,” he said. “Everywhere you go, you
club’s more than 220 mem- Tucker said she didn’t mission leader for the Part of giving back is can’t help but be impressed
bers. want her retirement to be TVC to Veterans First, a nudging the younger gen- with JROTC cadets rep-
“Both of these mem- self-centered, so she got nonprofit that helps fight eration in the right direc- resenting all branches of
bers of the Trilogy Veter- involved with like-minded homelessness and helps tion. Lopes has done this by military service,” he said.
ans Club support military people in the Trilogy Vet- meet the unique needs of teaching in the JROTC pro- “The cadets of Cactus High
veterans in need in a pleth- erans Club. women vets and stabilize gram for nearly 20 years at School are well steeped in
WEST VALLEY SALUTE YourValley.net | Sun City Independent | June 30, 2021 35
Do you experience restless legs, leg heaviness,
discomfort, swelling, tingling or cramping?
COVID-19 WE CAN HELP!
Sun City SAFETY IS
OUR TOP
NOW
TREATING
SPIDER
SENIOR EXPO
PRIORITY
VEINS
INDEPENDENT NEWSMEDIA
You are invited to
participate in the
Sun City Senior Expo BEFORE
In-office procedures • Non anesthesia risk • Immediate return to normal activity
Covered by Medicare & most insurances • Clinical expertise • On-site imaging • Experienced staff
AFTER
Tuesday, September 28, 2021 Dr. Jordan Glenn, D.O.
9a.m. – Noon Board Certified Surgeon
Sundial Recreation Center
14801 N 103rd Avenue, Sun City 6750 W. Thunderbird Rd.,
FREE
Ste. B108 • Peoria compression
Sun City Senior Expo 602-843-8317
(next to Union Coffee)
stockings
one pair with consultation
THUNDERBIRD VEIN • 602-843-8317
Has It All! www.thunderbirdvein.com With this coupon. Not valid with any other offer or prior purchases. Expires 7/31/2021
It’s the premier senior health and lifestyle
expo that displays the most exciting and Reserve Your 2022 Arizona
comprehensive range of products and services
related to retirement and improved lifestyle. If
Scenic Wall Calendar
Are you happy you live in beautiful Arizona?
your business can provide a healthier, happier
Then you will want one - or more - of our great 2022 2021 Scenic r
and wealthier lifestyle for seniors, caregivers and Wall Calendars featuring scenic photos of Arizona. Arizona Calenda
Showcasing the beau
ty of Arizona
their families, join us! Purchasing a 2022 calendar will help support
our nonpartisan journalistic mission.
Makes a Nice Gift!
Celebrating and connecting our communities To reserve your calendar just fill out the coupon
with payment and tell us if you want to pick up your
calendar or have us mail it to you. Then, return it to
Independent Newsmedia’s office by August 4, 2021.
Calendars will be
available September 15th
Presenting
sponsor:
$3.50 ea. or 2 for $5 or 5 for $10!
PLEASE ADD POSTAGE PRICES
to your payment for mailed calendars
Hosted by: 1 Calendar…$1.45 • 2 Calendars…$3.20
3 Calendars…$4.30 • 4 Calendars…$5.40
5 Calendars…$10
SUN CITY Independent Newsmedia’s 2022 AZ Scenic Calendar Order Form
Name _____________________________________________________________________
INDEPENDENT Email or Ph.# ________________________________________________________________
*Address ___________________________________________________________________
Reserve your Sponsorship Today: __________________________________________
*Only if we are mailing your calendars
Number of Calendars ___________
Contact 623-972-6101 or K Please mail my calendars K I’ll pick mine up K Yes, I have included my payment (including postage)
Return coupon and payment to: Independent Newspapers • 17220 N. Boswell Blvd., Ste. 101, Sun City, AZ 85373
Email: AZads@newszap.com
36 June 30, 2021 | Sun City Independent | YourValley.net WEST VALLEY SALUTE
After Serving Her Country,
She is Helping People
# N
ina Louis comes
from a military fam-
ily, so it’s no surprise
she served nearly a decade in the
U.S. Army.
She helped to treat people who
prepared for war by working in
base pharmacies, so she knows ex-
actly what dealing with COVID-19
is like.
Valley around 111th Avenue and
Indian School Road when there
was nothing but dairy farms and
fields of corn and cotton surround-
ing her subdivision.
“We didn’t have one Burger King
or a McDonald’s, and we only had
one grocery store,” Louis said. “We
had to go into Phoenix just to get
to an actual clothing store.”
By Jason Stone
INDEPENDENT NEWSMEDIA
what her dad experienced in the
Air Force.
“I went Army because as a child
you want to prove yourself to your
family member and to you mom
and dad especially,” Louis said.
She graduated high school ear-
ly at 17 so she needed her par-
ents’ permission to join the mil-
itary early.
ence because our residents care,
and they’re very engaged,” Louis
said. “I love that so much. They
want the best for themselves. They
want the best for future residents
who are coming. Sun Health is
100% supportive and promotes
that type of lifestyle.”
Louis said more than 90% of
her residents are vaccinated af-
“You felt like you were going to Her father was in the U.S. Air She considers her nearly de- ter several clinics helped give out
war,” Louis said. “I guess that’s the Force and is now retired, while her cade of Army service more of a 700 shots to those living there.
best way to describe it. We were mother is from England. job, since she worked daily as a “My residents come first,” Lou-
fighting for our residents’ and pa- Her parents were married in En- pharmacy technician in hospitals is said.
tients’ lives.” gland and had five children. Lou- at Fort Sam Houston in San Anto- Jason Stone can be reached
Louis is referring to her time as is and a twin sister are the last of nio and Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. at jstone@newszap.com. Visit
executive director of health care the couple’s children. She met her Marine husband yourvalley.net.
services at LifeStream Complete The family traveled across the toward the end of her time in the
Senior Living in Youngtown right country, as most military families Army.
in the throes of the coronavirus do. She spent time living in Cali- “We decided to have a family,
Nina Louis today is the executive
pandemic. fornia, Florida and Illinois. director of the Colonnade for Sun so we both started the process of
She’s now heading operations “That was my life was military,” Health in Surprise. [Courtesy Nina getting out,” Louis said. “And we
at the Colonnade for Sun Health Louis said. “I didn’t know anything Louis] landed here in Arizona.”
in Surprise, an active-adult com- different.” Louis said the events of 9/11
munity on Grand Avenue, where Louis and her siblings all took changed her. She originally
she took over last fall. up the family business and entered planned to make the military a
Louis, 40, is a licensed nursing military life when the family set- career, but family became more
home administrator, certified as- tled in Arizona for high school in important to her after that infa-
sisted living manager and a board the mid-1990s. mous, deadly day.
member of the Nursing Care Insti- First, it was the Civil Air Patrol, “That was the hardest couple
tution of Administrators and As- then it moved on to ROTC at West- of years after 9/11, just what we
sisted Living Managers. view High School in Avondale. gained and what we lost,” Louis
She met everybody at her cur- “It was something to do while we said. “It changed the group of peo-
rent job through Zoom because went to school,” Louis said. “The ple I was with and what we saw
of the pandemic. older we got, we just continued important in life.”
“It’s pretty interesting to start a to involve ourselves in that mili- Her husband, James, left home
job and not really meet the people tary tradition. for a year and a half to serve in
that you work with until months “It was something that was very Iraq after 9/11.
later,” Louis said. important to the core of our fami- She now focuses on her family as
Louis is married with three chil- ly unit. It was natural for me and well as residents at the Colonnade.
dren — ages 9 to 14 — and lives in my siblings to go into the military.” Nina Louis of Litchfield Park “Sun Health and the Colonnade
served nearly a decade in the U.S.
Litchfield Park. She said she wanted to do some- Army as a pharmacy technician. are the first communities where I
She grew up in the southwest thing a little more “hardcore” than [Courtesy Nina Louis] really feel like I can make a differ-
How Do I Know My News is Fair & Balanced?
The best way to ensure your news is real is to use a trusted, reputable source.
WE PLEDGE
We believe in the ideals of the First Amendment. • We treat people with courtesy, respect and compassion.
We report the news with honesty, accuracy, neutrality, fairness, objectivity, fearlessness and compassion.
Subscribe to your paper • azdelivery@newszap.com
Tells us what you think • aznews@newszap.com
623-972-6101 • yourvalley.netWEST VALLEY SALUTE YourValley.net | Sun City Independent | June 30, 2021 37
Award Realty Salutes All Those Who Serve
Our Country, Military and First Responders.
You are the Face of Courage and Service. We Salute
1-800-786-2489 / awardrealty.com /
our Veterans
& Active Duty
Have a Safe & Happy
4th of July
17420 N Avenue of the Arts • Surprise AZ 85378
Arizona Fire & Medical Authority • www.afma.az.gov
At Least There’s One Fair And Honest Mechanic!
PAVERS • Seat Walls
WE
SALUTE
YOU!
• Patio • Walls
• Driveways • Concrete BBQs • Travertine Thank You to all the
602-432-8070 Over 40 Years
Experience Brave Men & Women
who Serve our Country!
www.litchfieldauto.net 10%
Family Owned
and Operated (623) 882-8700 military discount
off labor
671 N 137th Avenue, Suite 106, Goodyear
ONE•MONTH•ONLY
WINDOW & DOOR
Flash Sale
Less than 4 weeks left!
SAVE $320 SAVE $870
on every window1 on every entry and patio door1
This is a Flash Sale, and that means it with
won’t last! You only have 31 days to get
this discount & special financing, and
EXTRA 3% DISCOUNT
when you pay for your whole project with cash or check1
there are limited appointments available! or
Sale ends July 31st! NO NO NO for 1 year
Money Down Payments Interest
1
LESS THAN 4 weeks left to book 602-427-6849
your FREE Window & Door Diagnosis PerfectWindowFix.com
1
Offer not available in all areas. Discount applied by retailer representative at time of contract execution and applies to purchase of 3 or more windows and/or entry or patio doors. 3% cash discount for payment in full by cash or check applied at time of sale. Cannot be
combined with other offers. Initial contact for a free Window and Door Diagnosis must be made and documented on or before 7/31/21, with the appointment then occurring no more than 10 days after the initial contact. No payments and deferred interest for 12 months available
to well qualified buyers on approved credit only. Not all customers may qualify. No Finance Charges will be assessed if promo balance is paid in full in 12 months. Renewal by Andersen retailers are independently owned and operated retailers, and are neither brokers nor lenders.
Any finance terms advertised are estimates only, and all financing is provided by third-party lenders unaffiliated with Renewal by Andersen retailers, under terms and conditions arranged directly between the customer and such lender. Southwest Windows & Doors LLC, d/b/a
Renewal by Andersen of Arizona. AZ ROC lic. #311233. “Renewal by Andersen” and all other marks where denoted are marks of Andersen Corporation. ©2021 Andersen Corporation. All rights reserved. ©2021 Lead Surge LLC. All rights reserved. All sales, marketing and
installation of windows is conducted by Renewal by Andersen of Arizona, an independently owned and operated affiliate operating in AZ.38 June 30, 2021 | Sun City Independent | YourValley.net WEST VALLEY SALUTE
Welcome to Sunshine Service
People, meeting needs of people is what Sunshine Service Sunshine Service, Inc has received local, state and
is all about. Sunshine Service lends medical and children’s national recognition. Awards received include the George
equipment to residents of Sun City and we have been Washington Honor Medal for services to the sick and
doing so for over 59 years. We are a charitable non- handicapped from the Freedoms Foundation of Valley
profit Arizona corporation and are funded by voluntary Forge in Pennsylvania.
contributions and memorial gifts.
While the equipment is available for the use of all residents “The Cleanest and Most Sanitized
or visitors staying with residents, the equipment must not Equipment Around”
be taken out of Sun City on a permanent basis. As a matter
of control, equipment is loaned only to Sun City residents.
Records show that as the population of Sun City grew, so
did use of our medical equipment. Savings for Sun City
residents have been calculated periodically; in 2019, it was
estimated that residents saved over two million dollars in
cost of equipment for that year alone.
Some Of The Many Items We Carry:
Arm Exerciser • Bath Bench • Bed Rails • Bedside Commodes • Companion Chair
Crutches • Foot Massager • High Chairs • Hospital Beds • Lift Chairs
Overbed Tables • Pack-N-Play • Ramp - Aluminum • Rollaway Beds
Strollers Trapeze Walkers • Weights • Wheel Chairs Translator Chairs • Knee Scooters
Monday-Friday • 9am-4pm
9980 W. Santa Fe Dr. • Sun City 85351-3197
623-974-2561 • www.sunshineservice.orgYou can also read
