Members of the Mountain View-based California Air National Guard 129th Rescue Wing with Senator Jerry Hill receive 400 valentines made by South San Francisco seniors for Wing members who were recently deployed to Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa. From left, Hill, Captain Jennifer-Ruth Green, Staff Sergeant Jerald See, Airman First Class Tajudeen Mackey-Shittu, Airman First Class Joseph Harris, Airman First Class Raymond Perdue and Senior Airman Jet Crisostomo.
Four hundred handmade valentines created by South San Francisco seniors are on their way to members of the California Air National Guard 129th Rescue Wing who were recently deployed to Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa.
State Senator Jerry Hill joined seniors at South San Francisco’s Magnolia Center to complete their annual valentine crafts project and present their handiwork to members of the California Air National Guard 129th Rescue Wing, based at Moffett Federal Airfield in Mountain View.
The seniors, staff members of South San Francisco Senior Services and volunteers made the valentines over several days. They put the finishing touches on their greeting cards on February 1 with Hill, other friends of the senior center and six members of the 129th Rescue Wing, who came to the senior center that day to receive the valentines and ensure their delivery to the deployed airmen.
Left to right, Consuelo Marin, Michelle Foster, Toni Edwards, Senior Airman Jet Crisostomo (behind Edwards), Staff Sergeant Jerald See, Dolores Martinez, Senator Jerry Hill, Airman First Class Tajudeen Mackey-Shittu, Jane Healey, Charlie Healey, SSF School Board Trustee Judith Bush, Leonor Rochette, Airman First Class Joseph Harris, Jeanette Holt, SSF Parks & Rec Commissioner Richard Holt, SSF Park & Rec Supervisor Joe Hunziker and Captain Jennifer-Ruth Green
About 165 members of 129th Rescue Wing were deployed in support of missions in Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa on January 25.
“I look forward to this event with South City seniors every year,” said Hill, D-San Mateo. “The prospect of brightening Valentine’s Day for troops who are overseas and far from their loved ones means a lot to everyone involved in this annual project.”
“We love being able to show our support and pride in the servicemen and women who are stationed abroad at this time of year,” said Laura Gigi, program coordinator at the Magnolia Center. “This project is fun and uplifting for all of us, and we’re delighted to be celebrating our fifth year of this activity with Jerry Hill.”
“This is an incredible opportunity for us to be a part of this [event] and to see the people who really support us, to see the people we’re fighting for,” said Captain Jennifer-Ruth Green of Rio Linda, Calif.
“When you’re down range or deployed, you often get attention at Christmas and Thanksgiving, but throughout the year there are holidays that you wish you could be back to celebrate,” Green said. “For people who may be homesick and away from their families and loved ones, having a valentines option is incredible. I know that the 165 people who are deployed will definitely appreciate it.“
Staff Sergeant Jerald See of San Mateo, Senior Airman Jet Crisostomo of Fairfield, Airman First Class Tajudeen Mackey-Shittu of Anchorage, Ala., Airman First Class Joseph Harris of Oakland and Airman First Class Raymond Perdue of San Francisco joined Green to lend a hand to the seniors and admire the many greeting cards.
South San Francisco School Board Trustee Judith Bush and Parks and Recreation Commissioner Richard Holt and his wife, Jeannette, also rolled up their sleeves to help with the crafts project.
The senior center’s valentines go to deployed members of locally based military units or veterans of locally based units each year. With the valentines going to National Guard airmen this year, the activity held extra special meaning for Hill. He served as a staff sergeant in the California Army National Guard from 1966 to 1972.
Hill began the valentine crafts project with the South City seniors as a state assemblyman in 2009. The activity continued for each of his four years in the Assembly. This is his fifth year of participating in the seniors’ project; his first as a state senator.
Source: Press Release
Leslie Guevarra
Senior District Representative, Communications
13th Senate District
California Legislature