Page 8 - Aerotech News and Review, Sept. 20, 2019

Classic car show raises funds for Vets4Veterans

by Alisha Semchuck operation in 1940. where he “learned everything” about
staff writer Dean Brown, president of the Ante- the Howitzer Cannon. “They wouldn’t
lope Valley Veterans Community Ac- let me adjust it. Because of my rank,
Henry Ford, business tycoon and the tion Coalition, entered his bright red I was in charge of the Ready Reaction
founder of Ford Motor Company, has a 1970 Chevy El Camino in the show. Force.”
name forever linked with manufactur- He said he had that vehicle for about He explained when the unit was be-
ing the first automobile that middle- seven years. ing attacked by the enemy and U.S.
class Americans could afford, which Brown is a U.S. Army veteran. “I soldiers operating machine guns were
helped boost the nation’s economy. was a cook. I served at Fort Knox, Ky., hit, he had to send out replacements
So, it’s no small wonder that a sig- in the Reception Center for almost a ensuring that the artillery was continu-
nificant share of the vehicles on dis- year. From there I went to Germany. I ously manned.
play at the Vets4Veterans annual Clas- was in a medical battalion. From there “I was drafted in 1968,” said Gerry
sic Car, Motorcycle Show and Poker I went to Vietnam.” Rice, a U.S. Army Infantry veteran
Run on Sept. 15 at Poncitlán Square Brown said he served in the military who in civilian life works as a mar-
in Palmdale were Fords. Chevrolets for three-and-a-half years and was on riage and family therapist serving com-
didn’t take a backseat and neither did his second enlistment when he was in bat veterans. He specializes in Post
some of the other makes, although a Nam. Traumatic Stress Disorder, commonly
Moreland truck could probably be con- “I went in the service as a qualified called PTSD, and in deployment issues
sidered the most unusual entry. chef. It kept me out of a lot of things affecting veterans’ families.
The two-and-a-half ton, sunshine until I got to Vietnam. I was still a Rice served in Vietnam as an Infan- Photograph by Evelyn Kristo
yellow vehicle, owned by Palmdale cook in Vietnam.” try Scout Dog handler. “I worked with A meticulously polished car hood reflects visitors viewing rows of classic cars
a German shepherd.” on display at the Vets4Veterans 10th Anniversary Classic Car and Motorcycle
Those dogs are trained to sniff for Show, held Sept. 15 at Poncitlán Square in Palmdale. The afternoon event
the presence of improvised explosive provided a fun-filled day with motorcycles, hot rods and classic cars, along with
devices known as IEDs; ambushes; food, family entertainment and information booths to provide direct support and
and weapons caches. services to local veterans.
“They provide early silent warn-
ings of the enemy’s presence. They “That’s my connection.” was an early estimate before the funds
wouldn’t bark,” Rice said. He was Jodi Kyman, volunteer coordinator had been counted, according to Hil-
stationed at Phan Thiet, LZ Betty, II for the event, checked in volunteers zendeger.
Corps, less than two hours north of who had signed up to work at the car “That money goes directly to our
Saigon. “We took indirect fire from show, which kicked off at noon. By programs — scholarships (and) hard-
mortars (while) in the base. And, on 1:30 p.m. between 65 and 70 volun- ships. We pay rent, we pay utility bills
patrol, we’d make contact with the teers checked in. and we have our transitional home.”
enemy.” “They’re doing registration of the Funds raised “pay for the upkeep of
Although Rice treats veterans suf- cars,” Kyman said. “We have people that home,” Hilzendeger said of a ren-
fering from PTSD, he had also been doing drawings. We also have people ovated one-story house in Lancaster.
diagnosed with the condition. “That’s helping in the food area. Volunteers “We had a plumbing problem, and we
become part of my credentials. I spent are running games in the Kids Zone. have a lot of repairs to do. These funds
three decades living with PTSD, not There’s popcorn and snow cones. It’s will help with that and we’re still hop-
knowing what it was.” That experi- kids from Palmdale Aerospace Acad- ing to buy another house.”
emy, kids from SOAR (High School)
Photograph by Evelyn Kristo ence helps him relate to other veter- and Antelope Valley Young Marines Transitional homes provide tem-
Edgar Juarez, 10, with the Antelope Valley Young Marines casts a pole at one ans coping with the disorder. When working the booth in the Kids Zone.” porary shelter for veterans and their
of several game booths set up at the Vets4Veterans 10th Anniversary Classic asked what helped him, Rice credited Aside from checking out all the cars families.
Car and Motorcycle Show held Sept. 15 at Poncitlán Square in Palmdale. Point Man International Ministries. “I As Hilzendeger spoke, women
learned how to live better with my war and motorcycles, folks who attended dressed in 1950s-style outfits circu-
experience.” the event, browsed through various lated around the event assisting folks
His wife, Carol Rice, sits on the board vendor booths offering food, jewelry in the crowd.
of Vets4Veterans. He serves as a com- and craft items.
resident Bill Rini, boldly stood out as During his 19 months in Nam, Megan Hilzendeger, a board mem- “These are the Bombshell Bettys,”
a giant among the more typically sized Brown said, he “saw base camp maybe mittee member for the organization. ber of Vets4Veterans, said some 200 she said. “They’ve come out the last
“I support Vets4Veterans. It start-
trucks and cars. two months.” There he was stationed vehicles were on display — about 160 few years. Last year they raised money
“I’ve had her probably 30 years,” with the 2nd Battalion, 33rd Field Ar- ed in a Vietnam Veterans group I cars and 40 motorcycles. Her husband for us through their calendar sales.”
said Rini, who never served in the tillery, 1st Infantry Division. That’s was leading at the Vet Center, a VA Tom is the organization’s president. Sometimes, instead of a 1950s look
military, but was there on behalf of his facility in Palmdale,” Rice said. Between the drawings and the par- they dress in military clothes, accord-
brother, the late Frank Rini, a Marine ticipation entry fees, the event raised ing to Hilzendeger. “They’re vintage.
who joined the service in 1972 and approximately $17,000 which will They’re an amazing group of women.
served for eight years. benefit Vets4Veterans programs. That They had a Pin-Up Contest today.”
“He was deployed to Vietnam, but
when he was deployed the war ended
so he got sent back home,” Rini said,
noting that his brother had been based
at Camp Pendleton.
“He was supposed to be here with
me.” Rini said his brother, who worked
for the U.S. Postal Service in Palmdale
and Lancaster, died recently.
“I do a lot with the vets,” Rini said.
“I do all kinds of different charities.”
That includes the more than two de-
cades he participated in Thunder on the
Lot, a nonprofit event in Lancaster that
raised funds for Kid’s Charities.
Rini said when he restored the
truck, he kept the original bright yel-
low color.
“This truck was built custom for
the Los Angeles (Department of) Wa- Photograph by Evelyn Kristo
ter and Power in 1925. It was built in Photograph by Evelyn Kristo Motorcyclists head out early in the day from Antelope Valley Harley Davidson
Burbank,” he added. Mondo Riviera of Tehachapi, right, takes a photo of model, Autumn Rose in Lancaster as they participate in a poker run in conjunction with the
The Moreland Motor Truck Com- as she sits on his Harley Davidson on display at the Vets4Veterans 10th Vets4Veterans 10th Anniversary Classic Car and Motorcycle Show. The riders
pany, founded in 1920, was originally Anniversary Classic Car and Motorcycle Show, held Sept. 15 at Poncitlán ended their run at Poncitlán Square in Palmdale, where they enjoyed a fun-filled
afternoon of motorcycles, classic cars, and family entertainment.
Square in Palmdale.
headquartered in Burbank. It ceased
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