CalVet To Dedicate Veterans Home of California - Lancaster

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CALVET Announces Dedication Ceremony for the William J. “Pete” Knight Veterans Home of California – Lancaster

EVENT: Roger Brautigan, Acting Secretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs announces the dedication ceremony for the William J. “Pete” Knight Veterans Home of California – Lancaster.

DATE: Friday, November 20, 2009 (Rain or Shine)

TIME: 10:00 a.m.

PLACE: William J. “Pete” Knight Veterans Home of California
45221 30th Street West
Lancaster, CA 93536

CONTACT: For more information call Jeanne Bonfilio at 818 - 742-1761.

BACKGROUND: CalVet’s mission is to promote and deliver the benefits provided by the grateful State of California to its deserving Veterans and their families—with a vision for California’s Veterans to live the highest quality of life with dignity and honor. It is the Department’s goal to provide the best long-term care and enhanced quality of life for all California veterans home residents. These Veterans Homes provide California’s veterans with a living environment that protects their dignity and contributes to their feeling of self-reliance and self-worth. The Veterans Homes’ amenities are intended to provide residents excellent care in a homelike environment and foster a sense of community.

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WILLIAM J. “PETE” KNIGHT
VETERANS HOME OF CALIFORNIA—LANCASTER

GRAND OPENING AND DEDICATION CEREMONY

The First Veterans Home of California in Los Angeles County!

EVENT: GRAND OPENING, DEDICATION AND RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY

DATE: Friday, November 20, 2009 -- 10 a.m. ceremony -- Open to the Public

AND: Saturday, November 21, 2009 -- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. -- Community Open House and
Barbecue hosted by Assemblyman Steve Knight -- Open to the Public

NOTE: SPECIAL “MEDIA DAY” WALKTHROUGH ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19 AT
3 P.M. CAN BE ARRANGED BY CALLING 818-742-1761 OR 310-775-7980.

PLACE: William J. “Pete” Knight Veterans Home of California--Lancaster
45221 30th Street West, Lancaster, CA 93536 (corner of Avenue I).

WHO: The Honorable Roger Brautigan, Secretary, California Department of Veterans Affairs
Donna M. Beiter, RN, MSN, United States Department of Veterans Affairs
The Honorable George Runner, Senator, 17th District
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: The Honorable Steve Knight, Assemblyman, 36th District
The Honorable R. Rex Parris, Mayor, City of Lancaster
Master of Ceremonies: Command Chief Mark Brejcha, United States Air Force
Commander Thomas Moran, U.S. Navy (Ret.), Vice-Chair, California Veterans Board
Captain Thomas Craft, U.S. Navy, (Ret.), Chairman, Lancaster Veterans Home Citizens’ Committee
Other invited elected officials and VIPs

FLYOVER: 412th Test Wing, United States Air Force, Edwards Air Force Base

CONTACT: Jeanne Bonfilio, Public Information Officer (818) 742-1761, cell (310) 775-7980

BACKGROUND: This is the first Veterans Home of California in Los Angeles County! As an expression of gratitude toward California’s deserving Veterans, the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) has been constructing three new Veterans Homes of California, referred to collectively as the Veterans Homes of California—Greater Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Individually, the new Veterans Homes are referred to as the William J. “Pete” Knight Veterans Home of California—Lancaster; the Veterans Home of California—Ventura; and the Veterans Home of California—West Los Angeles.

PHOTO OPS: Elected officials, ribbon-cutting, flyover, bagpipes, Veterans from all branches of Military Service, William J. “Pete” Knight High School Band, Air National Guard Band of the Southwest, bagpipes, Boogie Woogie Mamas perform, tours of the William J. Pete Knight Veterans Home and more. Over 1,000 guests anticipated.