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Firm steps up to aid victimized veterans
vfw donation
Golden Valley Energy President Alex Williams, left, presents a check for $602 to VFW Post 6311 Commander Mike Clearly.

Alex Williams — president of Golden Valley Energy — has come to the aid of Manteca Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6311.

After reading on Facebook about vandalism of the post’s front door at their facility on Moffat Boulevard he attended the VFW’s Taco Tuesday where he presented Post Commander Mike Clearly $605 to cover the expense of replacing the front door.

The discovery of a late-night break in at Manteca VFW Post 6311 last week was bad enough for those who visit the facility on a regular basis. 

But when two men came on early Wednesday morning and shattered the building’s other front door in another attempted break-in, exasperation turned to anger as volunteers from the non-profit veteran’s organization tried to regroup and find the money for the costly repairs. 

“We’ve got them on video – for all the good that does us,” said VFW Auxiliary President Kitty Walker, who posted pictures of the damage on Facebook. “They had their faces covered so we can’t see who they are and don’t know much about what they look like. 

“It’s frustrating to have this happen – we don’t know what to do.”

According to Walker, the vandals over the weekend shattered the glass front door and then entered the facility and went straight for the safe on the premises and the cash register – something that puzzled those who reviewed the security footage.

As a precaution, the staff at the facility brought in the golf cart that they use with a trailer and backed it up to the front door on Tuesday night just in case those who were responsible for the first break-in came back. Walker said that the two perpetrators saw what was behind the door when they broke the window Wednesday morning and thought better of trying to come inside. 

“It’s just very frustrating for us – we work so hard here to build up money so that we give scholarships and do things for the community,” Walker said. “It’s a wonderful community with very kind-hearted people so when we have people that do things like this, it’s devastating.”

The facility, located along Moffat Boulevard near the Tidewater Bikeway, was constructed by the City of Manteca so that veterans could a place in the community to come hang out with other veterans. Plans for the building and the joint partnership were laid between former post commander and former mayor Carlon Perry and then-Mayor Willie Weatherford, and the site has become a popular hangout for veterans who come down for the social hours and participate in activities. 

Walker said that Roadrunner Glass was wonderful in helping to repair the initial glass door that was broken over the weekend, and will now have to come back out and replace the second – prompting the possible discussion about additional security and safety measures to prevent future break-ins and vandalism from draining the group’s already meager budget. 

“I think that we’re going to have to look at roll-up doors or something like that because we can’t afford to keep replacing doors,” Walker said. “Maybe that’s something that we’ll have to talk about.”

Anyone willing to make a donation to the organization to help offset the cost of the recent repairs can do so by contacting VFW Post 6311 at 209.823.8700.


To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.