Women Veterans Honored at Rancho Cordova’s 4th Annual Veteran’s Day Celebration

A packed crowd honored veterans of foreign wars with the City of Rancho Cordova at the city’s fourth annual Veteran’s Day Celebration event Wednesday morning. The crowd was filled with veterans of foreign wars, and service and therapy dogs came out to celebrate as well.

The event, held in the plaza area of the Sacramento VA Hospital, was a tribute to women in the military. A representative for Congresswoman Doris Matsui made an appearance, as did Congressman Dan Lungren, Assembly Member Alyson Huber and Rancho Cordova Council Members Linda Budge and Robert McGarvey.

Dr. Brian O’Neill, the director of the VA Northern California Health Care System, said he was honored to take part in the celebration. “America’s veterans have earned our respect and appreciation for their sacrifices,” he said. “It’s more than a duty — it’s a privelege.”

Council Member Linda Budge also urged Rancho Cordova to show their support for veterans daily. “Every day is military appreciation day in Rancho Cordova,” she said, and urged the city to add the quote to signs and billboards throughout the area.

Congressman Dan Lungren (R- Gold River) held a special ceremony honoring three women enrolled in the W.A.S.P. program during World War II. The women were three of only 1,100 who were accepted into the program, and Lungren offered them congressional gold medal awards for their service. Dorothy Goot of Fair Oaks, Captola Johnson of Fair Oaks and Barbara Kennedy of Sacramento were in attendance to accept the awards, and a fourth W.A.S.P., Doris Ohm, was honored but could not attend.

“To me there is no word more honorable than ‘veteran,’” Goot said to the audience, “and I’m proud to be one.”

Click on thumbnails below for larger pictures of the celebration: