Operation Yellow Ribbon

SAVE THE DATE! JULY 4th 2011!!

Town of Los Gatos on the Fourth of July -- Recognition of Soldiers and Families Welcome Home at Airport! 2012

Operation Yellow Ribbon

Michael Frangadakis is chairman of Operation Yellow Ribbon, an organization under the auspices of the afternoon Los Gatos Rotary Club whose purpose is to help local military personnel serving overseas. The former Vietnam War veteran formed Operation Yellow Ribbon in 2003, after the war in the Middle East started.  Frangadakis is also in the California State Military Reserve where he works to help support the troops. He re-enlisted seven years ago and reports to the San Jose Armory on West Hedding Street where he teaches combat life saving to National Guard soldiers being deployed overseas.

Support Programs

  • The Fischer House (for families of wounded soldiers Palo Alto VA Hospital
  • BBQ’s schedule at Fisher House and Christmas Activities
  • Town of Los Gatos - Fourth of July--  Recognition of Soldiers and Families a welcome-homecoming at the airport
  • Homecoming  luncheon and special certificate of appreciation from the  Town of Los Gatos and Monte Sereno
  • Care Packages
  • Solider Sponsorship
  • Email Encouragement

"We've been sending them goodies, care packages, email encouragement. When they come home, the Los Gatos Rotary Club offers them lunch and presents them with a special certificate of appreciation from the Town of Los Gatos and the City of Monte Sereno," Frangadakis said. "We invite their families, too." New Generations

List of Local Military Personnel

Frangadakis began compiling a list of such personnel in 2004, which he gave to town officials.

He also asked the Los Gatos weekly-Times to publish the names and the newspaper complied, he said.

Every year since then, town officials and the newspaper contact him to get the list.

Frangadakis added another name to the list. A 25-year-old female soldier deployed a month ago who has a baby and has been serving in Afghanistan for a month. "She's got 11 more months to go and we're going to email her and ask her if there's anything she needs and start sending her a care package.

"Every year, when the list is published, I get a call from someone saying, 'Hey I have a relative living in Los Gatos who's not on the list. Can you please add them?' That's how we've been getting the names.

"It's a way for all of us to say 'thank you' for what they do ... The Fourth of July is a perfect time to do that."

When Pirzynski reads the names on Monday, the whole town will acknowledge relatives of those being recognized, he explained.

Operation Yellow Ribbon has a booth during the event and Frangadakis will be asking for donations for his cause. "We need money for the care packages and the Palo Alto Veterans Hospital. It's all related."

The festival this year will also have a special presentation by Scott Shelsta, retired principal trombonist for the United States Army Band in Washington, D.C.

Event sponsors this year include the Town of Los Gatos, Los Gatos Saratoga Recreation, Los Gatos High School and A Place for Teens

The Fischer house

Los Gatos Rotary under the direction of our members Dr John Dooley, Dr Lloyd Grant and Bill Cilker started supporting the Fisher House at its Grand Opening approximately six or eight years ago. The first year our Club donated and raised over $80,000 which supplied the Project with most of its current furniture for its 21 rooms. Through the years we have worked with the House Director helping support the needs of their guests. (Such as Christmas gifts and food for the kitchen) The FH is support for and located across from the Poly Trauma Center at the Palo Alto VA Hospital. It is where the Families of injured service related patients can stay at no cost to support their loved ones. 

Our Committee supports and works with the Director of the Poly Trauma center as well which includes the Christmas Delegation. Our Members visit injured service people periodically to say "THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE" which goes a long way for the patients and their families.

Thanks for your help and support, together we can do some great things for those who support all of us in the military.

CONTACT:  Michael Frangadakis :
mikethegreek@earthlink.net (preferred)
mike.frangadakis@us.army.mil

San Jose and San Rafael National Guard Armories: www.calguard.ca.gov/casmr