Yuba-Setter Veterans Stand Down

The Foundation made a donation of $1,000 to the Yuba-Sutter Veterans Stand Down. They provided services to over 1,000 veterans and family members, making the Yuba-Sutter Veterans Stand Down one of the largest in California.

The original Stand Down for the homeless veterans was modeled after the Stand Down concept used during the Vietnam War to provide a safe retreat for units returning from combat operations. At secure base camp areas, troops were able to take care of personal hygiene, get clean uniforms, enjoy arm meals, receive medical and dental care, mail and receive letters, and enjoy the camaraderie of friends in a safe environment.

Stand Down is an intervention that was conceived from the ground up specifically for veterans. It is designed to transform the despair and immobility of homelessness into the momentum necessary to get into recovery, to resolve legal issues, to seek employment, to access health and benefits, to reconnect with the community and to get off the streets.

Tri Counties Blue Star Moms

The Matthew Axelson Foundation presented the Tri Counties Blue Star Moms with a check for $1,000 to support their program of sending care packages to troops serving overseas. Each year they send 500 to 1,000 packages of snack and hygiene items to the soldiers. They also provide free “Mommy” and Daddy” dolls to children needing help dealing with the separation of their military parent.

The group is a local chapter of the Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc. and was chartered in 2007. They serve Yuba, Sutter and Colusa Counties. They support each other, our troops, their families and our veterans while promoting patriotism.

April 23, 2016, was the official commissioning of the Yuba Sutter Sea Cadets Corps which is named after Matthew Axelson. The leaders, LTJG Donald Herkel and his wife Ensign Sherry Herkel have done a fantastic job of starting and building the unit to almost 50 young people in a year.

The US Naval Sea Cadet program may very well be the “best-kept secret in America”. Established by an act of Congress and sponsored by the US Navy League and the US Navy. We provide young Americans the opportunities to learn the values of our naval history and traditions including patriotism, courage, self-reliance and kindred virtues. We espouse the US Navy’s core values of “Honor, Courage and Commitment”.

The Sea Cadets Corps is a youth program for Cadets between 13 and 17. We hold “Drills” once a month for 8 hours. The Drills consist of Naval Non-resident training courses. We additionally provide and participate in local community service programs and provide multiple opportunities to be of service to our local veteran groups.

We are not an enlisting organization and many of our trainings are not specific to the Navy. We conduct trainings and lectures about all 4 branches, including tactical maneuvers and communications. Our goal is to prepare our youth to become mature, self motivated leaders in whatever path they choose to follow in their lives.