Las Positas Student Veteran Honored

From Las Positas College:

March 6 2020

(Livermore, CA) -Las Positas College student veteran Ron Payne was honored at a recent Mentoring Veterans Program (MVP) event on campus with a surprise presentation of a Quilt of Valor. This gift is handmade and donated by volunteers, and was presented by Michael McCumber, co-chair of Amador Valley Quilt Guild.

In addition to the handmade quilt, Payne was presented with certificates of recognition from City of Pleasanton vice mayor Kathy Narum, City of Livermore vice mayor Bob Woerner, Pleasanton Veterans of Foreign War (VFW) representative Phil Stage, and American Legion representative Elizabeth Freitas, as well as a challenge coin from post commander Michael Gilmore and a Welcome Home medal from president of Pleasanton Military Families Pat Frizzell.

A native of Milwaukee, Payne served 26 years in the Army as a combat medic. He recalls chasing his dream after high school just like his friends did - but while their dreams took them to college, his led him to serve his country. During his career, Payne served 8 deployments: Operation Gothic Serpent in Somalia, 1993; Operation Safe Haven in Guantanamo Bay, 1994; Operation Safe Passage in Haiti and Suriname, 1994 and 1996; Operation Bright Star in Egypt, 1997; Operation Desert Fox in Saudia Arabia; Operation Enduring Freedom in Jordan; Operation Persian Gulf Way in Qatar, 2004-2006; and Operation Persian Gulf War in the Green Zone in Iraq, 2009.

After his retirement, Payne acknowledged a degree would help him move forward in his next career. He knew that though he was no longer in the military, he still wanted to serve his country as a mayor or congressman.

"One day I hope to be a mayor or congressman, working on behalf of people to be their voice," said Payne. "I have chosen Las Positas College as my starting point, majoring in politics and criminal justice. I plan to transfer to a four-year college and afterward find work in the government in a field representing the veteran community."

The Quilts of Valor Foundation began in 2003 with the mission to "cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor." Founder Catherine Roberts intended that quilts be made with the highest standards of excellence, and awarded with intention to say "Thank you for your service, sacrifice, and valor in serving our nation."

To date, the foundation has presented over 200,000 Quilts of Valor.

This press release was produced by the Las Positas College. The views expressed here are the author’s own.