The restaurant at Madera Municipal Golf Course was filled with more than just club members for the Madera Rotary Club’s meeting Tuesday. The special event was to honor Madera’s veterans, especially America’s Greatest Generation of World War II, and to present to the Central Valley Honor Flight Project a check for $34,000.
Club President Ren Hallett was master of ceremonies for the luncheon that saw more than 40 veterans attended. Microphone in hand, Hallett, who initiated the fund-raising in Madera County for local Honor Flight recipients, went to each table to allow the veterans to introduce themselves, their branch of service and in what conflict they participated.
“Throughout the country we are losing these World War II veterans at a rate of a thousand a day and there are 5,000 veterans here in the Valley, so time is of the essence,” said Hallett.
Also in attendance were Mayor Robert Poythress and members of many service clubs, businesses and individuals who contributed to the next Honor Flight for Madera veterans to Washington, D.C...