OCFA Honor guard.
OCFA Pipes and Drums Perform Honored Guests.
(L to r): Exalted Ruler Pat Martino and Lake Forest Deputy II Christine Chang.
(L to r): Exalted Ruler Pat Martino, Mission Viejo Lt. Mike Gavin and Deputy Rob Franz.
(L to r): Exalted Ruler Pat Martino, OCFA Battalion 4 Captain Dave Rose.
(L to r): Exalted Ruler Pat Martino, Lt. Paul D’Auria (San Clemente) and Dana Point Deputy K C Calder.
(L to r): OCFA Division Chief Rick Robinson (Background), Exalted Ruler Pat Martino, OCFA Battalion 6 Reserve Firefighter Scott Mermel.
Mission Viejo / Saddleback Valley Elks Lodge No. 2444 (“Elks Lodge”) hosted its South Orange County Law Enforcement and Firefighter Appreciation Awards Dinner (“Awards Dinner”) for over 150 firefighters, law enforcement personnel and family members of the personnel being recognized for their work over the past year. The dinner was funded by the Lodge’s bingo operation which is managed by Newt Seal, Lodge Secretary and Past Exalted Ruler (“PER”) and Jim Wessling, House Committee Chair.
Honored guests included Orange County Sheriff-Coroner Sandra Hutchens, Highway Patrol Captain Sandra Houston, Orange County Fire Authority (“OCFA”) Division Chiefs Mike Boyle and Rick Robinson, Laguna Beach Fire Division Chief Dan Stefano and Chief of Police Services for Aliso Viejo (Lt. Bob Osborne), Laguna Hills (Lt. Steve Doan), Laguna Beach (Lt. Jeff Calvert), Lake Forest (Lt. Doug Doyle), Mission Viejo (Lt. Mike Gavin), Rancho Santa Margarita (Lt. Stacy Taylor), San Clemente (Lt. Paul D’Auria) and San Juan Capistrano (Lt. John Meyer). Also in attendance were Mission Viejo Mayor, Dave Leckness and City Council member, Trish Kelly. OCFA Captain Dave Rose and Chief of Police Services for Dana Point (Lt. Mark Levy), Laguna Woods (Lt. Chuck Wilnot) and Laguna Niguel (Lt. Andy Ferguson) were unable to attend due to previous commitments.
The honored guests were welcomed by event chair and Lodge officer, Roger Yarnell. Following the opening prayer from Lodge Chaplin Mike Alarcon, the OCFA Honor Guard presented the colors and led the pledge of allegiance to the America Flag. The OCFA Pipes and Drums group then marched with great style into the dining room filling it with music from the bag pipes and drums – quite a stirring moment. The OCFA Pipes and Drums perform at a variety of functions such as academy graduations, promotional ceremonies, colleges, dedications, memorials and funerals for the OCFA. The OCFA Pipes and Drums has previously performed in the 2004 Rose Bowl Parade, the Jerry Lewis Telethon, the Jay Leno Show, the opening ceremonies to the Long Beach Grand Prix and with other Fire Departments from Houston, Seattle, New York, Boston and other cities.
After the Pipes and Drums performance, Elks Lodge Exalted Ruler Pat Martino introduced the dignitaries in attendance. Dennis Keffer, PER, was Master of Ceremonies for the evening’s program. The Elks volunteers preparing the beef filet and shrimp dinner were led by Elks Lodge PER, Harvey Boelts. To serve the dinner, the Elks obtained the services of members of the girls Laguna Hills Lacrosse team. The Elks provided a donation to the team.
Awards were presented to the following law enforcement and firefighters:
California Highway Patrol: Officer Phil Apodaca
OCFA Battalion 4: Reserve Fighter Jeff Overman; Captain Dave Rose
OCFA Battalion 6: Reserve Fighter Scott Mermel; Firefighter Tom Forrester
OCFA Battalion 7: Reserve Fighter Scott Oldfield; Engineer Bob Feldtz
Laguna Beach Fire Department: Reserve Fighter Zach Wuchner; Engineer/Paramedic Chip Gillmore
Police Services
Aliso Viejo: Deputy Eric Brown
Dana Point: Deputy K C Calder
Laguna Hills: Deputy Shannon Meier
Laguna Niguel: Deputy Clinton Byrd
Laguna Woods: Deputy John Frey
Laguna Beach: Officer David Gensemer; Officer Jesse Schmidt; Sergeant John Falk
Lake Forest: Deputy II Christine Chang
Mission Viejo: Deputy Rob Franz
Rancho Santa Margarita: Deputy Alan Villanueva
San Clemente: Deputy Al Alinaya
San Juan Capistrano: Deputy Thomas Spratt
Elks Lodge Exalted Ruler Pat Martino said, “Listening to the heroic work of the award winners was awe inspiring. On our behalf, the dangers that law enforcement and firefighters face on a day-to-day basis is at times unimaginable. The communities of Saddleback Valley are so blessed to have such dedicated personnel. They are the reason we live in an oasis of relative security and tranquility in an increasingly stygian world.”
The Mission Viejo / Saddleback Elks Lodge No. 2444, celebrating forty-one (41) years of service to the Saddleback Valley communities, is one of ten lodges in the Orange Coast District of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE) whose headquarters is in Chicago, Illinois. The BPOE is a charitable organization with a 143 year history of giving, “Elks Care, Elks Share.”
