In a heartfelt display of hometown unity, the La Mirada Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), together with Councilwoman Michelle Bean and community volunteers, hosted a special letter-writing activity during a recent Veterans BBQ event that brought families together to support deployed service members. The gathering blended the simple comforts of a backyard barbecue with a meaningful purpose: sending encouragement and gratitude to soldiers stationed overseas.
The idea for the event began when Councilwoman Michelle Bean reached out to members of the VFW Post and connected with Amanda and Carlos Rovira to help facilitate the effort. What followed was a collaborative community gathering that combined food, music, faith, and service. Veteran Rene Macias, Carlos, and Pete helped elevate the event by firing up the grill and serving hot dogs and hamburgers to attendees. Meanwhile, the VFW Auxiliary contributed donations of hard candies and personal hygiene items that will be included in care packages for troops.
Councilwoman Bean and volunteer Cindy Lancaster added patriotic decorations throughout the hall, transforming the space into a welcoming and festive setting for families. As guests arrived, patriotic music played overhead, including Bruce Springsteen’s iconic Born in the U.S.A., along with other country classics that set the tone for the evening.
One particularly meaningful moment came when a female Marine, a former student of Councilwoman Bean, was introduced to the room and thanked for her service. The recognition served as a powerful reminder of the personal connections many in the community have with those who serve.
Before the letter-writing began, the group gathered in prayer. Candace Bulone shared that she prayed quietly at the table with Councilwoman Bean before the event officially began. Later, Bean led the entire room in a moment of prayer over the letters themselves, asking everyone to raise their hands together in blessing. She began with the verse from Matthew 18:20: “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
The letters themselves were filled with heartfelt encouragement. Messages such as “Be safe,” “Godspeed home,” and “Thank you for your service” were common themes as children and adults alike wrote to soldiers serving far from home. La Pluma Elementary teacher Ana Jure also joined the effort by having her first-grade class participate. The students eagerly wrote letters and drew colorful pictures that were included in the collection. Jure even encouraged other teachers to contribute, resulting in an abundance of letters and drawings from local students.
Some participants added a touch of humor and humanity to the effort. According to Bulone, a few single women even included their addresses in their letters in case any of the soldiers might want a pen pal, a lighthearted gesture that drew smiles from the room.
As the evening continued, the hall filled with laughter and conversation. Children ran through the room playing before eventually settling down after dinner to write letters and decorate drawings for the troops. “There was definitely a buzz of hometown unity in the air,” Bulone recalled.
Many of the letters and donated items are expected to reach soldiers stationed overseas, including those serving on a base where Cindy Lancaster’s son is currently deployed.
Through food, fellowship, prayer, and handwritten messages of encouragement, the La Mirada community once again demonstrated the power of local support for the men and women serving in the armed forces.
Sometimes the simplest acts — a handwritten note, a child’s drawing, or a shared meal — can travel thousands of miles and remind a soldier that home is thinking of them.
By Candace Bulone
