BY KRISTINA HACKER AND JOE CORTEZ

Turlock Journal

TIE A YELLOW RIBBON: Vietnam veterans represented nearly 10% of their generation, according to the Vietnam War 50th Year Commemoration website. They fought under challenging conditions, and when their service ended, were not always welcome when they returned home. The City of Turlock and the Turlock American Legion Post will be giving local Vietnam veterans the recognition they deserve at a public event being held from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. today at the Turlock Public Safety Facility Parking Lot at 244 N. Broadway. Yellow ribbons will be available for those who wish to pay tribute to a Vietnam veteran. 

The speaker for the event with be Rick Kindle, a U.S. Navy veteran, an American Legion Post 88 member and a United States Commemorative Partner. Since 2016, Kindle has provided ceremonies for Vietnam veterans in Turlock, Sonora, Pioneer, Stockon, Lodi and has provided over 500 lapel pins to Vietnam vets. Veterans and their families from Turlock and surrounding communities are encouraged to attend and if they have not already received a Vietnam veterans lapel pin to step forward to be properly honored. Those who served on active duty between Nov. 1, 1955 and May 15, 1975, regardless of location of service, are eligible to receive the lapel pin. If the Vietnam veteran is not physically able to attend the ceremony, their spouse or close relative may stand in for them.

The Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act, signed into law in 2017, designates March 29 of each year as National Vietnam War Veterans Day. On that day in 1973, the last combat troops were withdrawn from Vietnam and the last prisoners of war held in North Vietnam arrived on American soil.

Journal editor Kristina Hacker will at the ceremony, not only to cover it for our readers, but to remember her dad, Jack Gilbert Stout, who served in the Army during the Vietnam War. 

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DOG GONE IT!: Have you been to Footers lately for a hot dog? As most everybody knows, the best hot dog in town (the state?) can be found at Footers on Main Street. For those who've been living on Neptune, Footers is a not-much-to-look-at storefront with just a handful of tables inside, and more than a handful outside. One of life’s great pleasures is enjoying a chili-cheese dog (hold the onions) and a drink with that sublime nugget ice. But perhaps the most notable feature of Footers’ is its chalkboard menu, featuring dozens of options, perched high on the wall above the counter-workers' heads. Only ... the chalkboard menu is no more. Gasp! Gone are the offerings written neatly on slate with multi-colored chalk, replaced by an electronic, rotating-billboard-style menu. The dogs remain fantastic, but we’re sad to see the chalkboard go.

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GET READY TO LOVE TURLOCK: It’s that time of year once again. Local families, businesses, church groups, service clubs and youth groups all gather on one day for a united purpose — to make a difference in their community. Love Turlock is a non-profit group that hosts an annual citywide volunteer day the last Saturday in April where volunteers donate their time, skills and resources to serve their community in various ways. On the day of Love Turlock, hundreds of volunteers will go out into Turlock sharing time with a lonely senior, collecting canned food for the hungry, helping with handyman chores, cleaning city parks, among other projects. In 2024, over 700 Love Turlock volunteers completed 36 projects. There are projects are available for all ages, abilities, and skills. For more information about Love Turlock and to see the 2025 project list, visit: loveturlock.com.

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TRIVIA ANSWER: Last time, we asked which Turlock native was MVP of the College World Series and helped Fresno State claim the 2008 national championship. Bonus points if you know what uniform number he wore for the Bulldogs. It was Turlock High graduate Tommy Mendonca who helped Fresno State win its first and only National Championship. Mendonca, who was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the second round of the 2009 MLB Draft, wore No. 32 for the Bulldogs.

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TRIVIA QUESTION: Let’s stick with the spring sports theme once again. Which City of Turlock official in their four years of competition at Stanislaus State established school records in the javelin and shot put and was a three time NCAA Division III All American in the javelin, and two-time Northern California Athletic Conference champion in the javelin?