Local Veterans honor the fallen

 The James D Piper VFW Post 12118 of Copperopolis begins each monthly meeting held at the Copperopolis Fire Department with a flag ceremony honoring the military personnel that have given the ultimate sacrifice. 

The veterans, though previously happily chatting together as they walked to the flag pole, immediately fell into line and gave their utmost solemn respect as the ceremony began. A salute was called by Commander Al Gilbert the response was quick and precise. Chaplain Rick Westberg then gave a prayer for those fallen and read a list of names of all that had given their lives for our freedom in the month of December fighting in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn.

VFW Post 12118 Proudly presents colors at Angels Camp Patriotic 4th of July Celebration

The James D Piper VFW Post 12118 from Copperopolis proudly presented the colors at the 4th of July Patriotic Picnic in Angels Camp on July 4, 2013.

Wearing their pressed uniforms and caps the veterans carried the American Flag, POW Flag and VFW Flag, followed by flags representing each military branch. The Flag Ceremony was carried out while the Navy Seamen Cadet Band, comprised of 13-19 years olds, played patriotic music.

The James D Piper VFW Post 12118 Ladies Auxiliary also was in attendance and helped with the checking in of veterans in attendance so that they would receive their much deserved recognition for their service.

Mel Ogg, the Posts only WWII veteran, received a beautiful quilt and recognition for his service from the ladies of Quilts of Honor, a lovely group of women who gently and lovingly wrap veterans in the warmth of a handmade quilt.

To view full photo coverage from thepinetree.net CLICK HERE
The Copper Gazette would like to thank thepinetree.net for the use of their photos.

Bret Harte students listen to living history

Wearing their pressed uniforms, veterans representing World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the Cold War era filed into the Bret Harte High School gym to participate in Bret Harte’s annual Veteran Oral History Project.
The project was started in 1997 by Bret Harte High School history teacher Jennifer Truman with the desire to teach outside the box.

“The old school way of teaching, opening a book and simply reading,” was not engaging her students, said Truman. As she brainstormed how to connect young people to history, to make it real, she realized that she herself remembered the many stories her grandfather had told her as a young girl and how those stories were still fresh in her mind. It was then that she knew oral history would bring history alive for her students.

To read full Calaveras Enterprise story by Charity Maness CLICK HERE

VFW Post 12118 Distribute Poppies

11-5-12
Over the weekend members of the James D Piper VFW Post 12118 of Copperopolis handed out poppies at Savemart in Angels Camp and Payless Market in Coperopolis.

The poppies are a memorial symbol of the Veteran of Foreign Wars, yet today have come to be a symbol of those that have gone before, those that have served and those still serving.

VFW Post 12118 lend a helping hand to Copperopolis Elementary PTC

Each year the Copperopolis Elementary hosts a fireworks booth as one of their largest fund raisers for the entire school. The monies brought in from this 6 day event help pay for school supplies in the classrooms, field trips, assemblies, sports equipment and more.

As the hour approached to open the booth PTC President Jessica Welch, thankful to all the parent volunteers that signed up, found that there were more hours than volunteers. This is where the veterans of VFW Post 12118 stepped in. The vets volunteered to take any shifts not manned. "This is our community, our kids." Said one veteran when asked why he was helping. Commander Gilbert said, "We are a community group, if we can help, we will."

VFW veterans and CFPD Cadets restore Copperopolis Cemetery Flagpole

On May 17, 2012 members of the Copperopolis VFW Post 12118 and Copperopolis Fire protection District Cadets spent a morning repairing and erecting the Copperopolis Cemetery flagpole in preparation for the VFW Memorial Day flag ceremony to be held May 28, 2012 at 8 am at the Copperopolis Cemetery. 

Earlier in the week Commander Gilbert and Quartermaster/Adjutant Ralph Murphy removed the existing pole in order to straighten, prime and re-thread it. With the help of Senior Vice Commander Bill Skellenger, the pole was threaded correctly and ready to paint and install.

Local Veterans to take part in Oral History project at Bret Harte High School

Veterans of the Copperopolis VFW Post 12118 have been invited to speak with the student body of the junior and senior classes at Bret Harte High School on May 7, 2012 to share their experiences while fighting for our country. VFW Post 12118 will have representatives from WWII, Korea, Vietnam and Iraq all present for the event.

This event, which began in 1997, is the brainchild of Bret Harte History teacher Jennifer Truman. After speaking to some veterans from the American Legion in Valley Springs  the idea was created to let veterans tell their stories, their experiences to the youth of the community through an organized presentation. Following on the heels of the completion of the studies through Vietnam in their course work, the children have a "simple idea of the conflicts in which the presenters were participants of."

VFW Post 12118 meeting

The Copperopolis VFW Post 12118 will be holding a special "called meeting" on February 12th at 2 pm Building 8A. This meeting is being held to review and to finalize the Post's plans for the February 19th Instituting/Swearing of Officers Ceremony.
If you would like more information about Copperopolis VFW Post 12118 or would like to help please contact interim Commander Al Gilbert at coppervfw@gmail.com.

VFW Post 12118 Meeting

The Copperopolis VFW Post 12118 will be holding a special "called meeting" on February 12th at 2 pm Building 8A. This meeting is being held to review and to finalize the Post's plans for the February 19th Instituting/Swearing of Officers Ceremony.
If you would like more information about Copperopolis VFW Post 12118 or would like to help please contact interim Commander Al Gilbert at coppervfw@gmail.com.

VFW Meeting TODAY 1-15-12

Copperopolis VFW Post 12118 will be holding a meeting Sunday January 15, 2012 at 2:00 pm at the 8A Meeting building on Feather Drive just behind the Copperopolis Branch Library.
If you are interested in learning more about the VFW, would like to join or help out, please attend the meeting or you can contact interim Commander Al Gilbert for more information at coppervfw@gmail.com.