Liz Gibson
The sold out seventh annual Republican Club’s Patriotic Event and Dinner in Honor of PebbleCreek Republican Veterans was a very moving evening filled with inspirational speakers and our never to be forgotten veterans.
Held Thursday, November 3 in the Tuscany Falls Ballroom, the extensive program began with a welcome from President Linda Migliore, the Posting of the Colors and Star Spangled Banner, the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation. Sandra Hand showed a beautiful and memorable Veteran’s Honor Roll video she produced depicting PebbleCreek Republican Club veterans from WWII, Korea and Viet Nam in their uniforms from their theaters of service.
Congressman Trent Franks spoke eloquently, reminding us of our gifts from God and the rights of all men derived from these gifts. Sue Harrison explained the Memory Table with its single red rose and yellow ribbon in remembrance of the missing and the club’s annual donation was presented from Operation Thunderbox to Luke Air Force Base. The sound of America the Beautiful filled the room.
Following dinner President Linda Migliore thanked Bari Cavallo, Karen Rubsam, Sandra Hand, Sue Harrison and Camille Grabb for their hard work in making the evening a great success and the many that helped set up the tables. Sheriff Joe followed with a lively presentation of life in the Pink Zone.
The Veterans Recognition was presented by U.S. Congressman Trent Franks, Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Arizona Senator Don Shooter, Arizona Senator Russell Pearce and Arizona Representative Steve Montenegro as the veterans came forward for their pictures by service groups. The mottos were given for each group: Army – “This we’ll Defend”; Marine – “Semper Fidelis”; Navy – “Honor, Courage, Commitment”; Air Force – “Aim High – Fly – Fight – Win” and Coast Guard – “Always Ready.”
The 2016 Honoree Presentation was made to Joe Bonnaville who received an American Flag courtesy of Congressman Trent Franks and an American Eagle statue. Joe joined the Navy shortly after Pearl Harbor, was ashore the day after D-Day and witnessed the horrors at Normandy. Later he served during the invasions of Okinawa and Iwo Jima and in Korea and is currently involved in his nonprofit foundation to fund WWII veteran visits to the Normandy beaches.
The evening’s main speaker Steve Chealander, the 2014 Honoree, gave a great insight into his years as a personal aide to Ronald Reagan, beginning in 1986 through his presidency which included the trip to Berlin and the famous “Tear down this wall” speech. He is still very involved with the Reagan Library.
With a much too extensive portfolio to list in its entirety, some of Steve’s highlights include Air Force security from 1964-68, followed by graduate studies before becoming an Air Force officer in 1973, serving as a fighter pilot, instructor and flight examiner. Following a stint with the Thunderbirds and after serving President Reagan, he became an F-5 commander, was in the Luke Tactical Fighter Wing and then an American Airlines pilot before retiring.
The memorable evening ended with God Bless America.