Pictured (L to R) Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9934’s Bob Fowler, Dana Hills senior Matthew Stafford, VFW post commander Maurice Hansen and Gerry Bill at the Dana Hills High School Honor the Valor presentation Feb. 13. Photo by Madison May
By Steve Breazeale
A yearlong initiative put on by the Dana Hills Honor the Valor fundraising team came to a close on Feb. 13, when football players, fellow students and parent organizers presented the Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 9934 and the Dana Point 5th Marine Regiment Support Group with a total amount of $31,500 in donations. The ceremony was held during lunch break in the quad at Dana Hills High School.
Honor the Valor had been raising funds at city events and football games throughout the year. Commemorative hats and t-shirts, as well as donations, were collected at 22 Dana Point city events. The Honor the Valor team was also a strong presence at every Dolphins home game. This year, Capistrano Toyota donated a car that was raffled off under the Friday night lights.
The crowning moment took place on Nov. 1, when 70 military veterans took the field following a Dolphins home game and were awarded game-worn jerseys by Dolphins players. Each custom, camouflaged jersey had the name of a veteran adorned on the back.
“It was a lot of work but it was so worth it,” said Honor the Valor co-chair Kirsten Stafford. “It’s amazing. Everyone was able to thank the veterans personally. That’s what is so special about it.”