Veterans get funds from American Legion post...

Veterans get funds from American Legion post

The American Legion Harbor Post 291 and its yacht club have raised

more than $250,000 to benefit Veterans Affairs hospitals in Southern

California, according to Post Commander Randy Eling.

Eling said the funds will be used to underwrite a variety of the

VA’s existing programs and services. In addition, the money will help

pay for additional staff, replace outdated diagnostic equipment and

supply the hospitals and outlying care facilities with new computers

and big-screen televisions.

Two more nonprofit veteran’s family support groups, the Ladies

Auxiliary and the Sons of the American Legion, assisted with the

fundraising campaigns, Eling said.

The 4,000-member Newport Beach American Legion post, founded in

1924 by a group of World War I veterans, raises awareness of

veterans’ issues and supports community programs, Eling said.

City honors captain who rescued diver

Sea Capt. Fred Bockmiller will be honored Tuesday by Costa Mesa

Mayor Gary Monahan for rescuing a stranded scuba diver from the ocean

in April.

Bockmiller and his crew of 13 high school students were on their

way to Avalon in the tall ship Argus, when they spotted a scuba diver

who had gotten lost and was adrift in the water for four hours. They

pulled him aboard and gave him dry clothes to prevent hypothermia.

Bockmiller will receive the Mayor’s award at Tuesday’s city

council meeting at 6:30 p.m. in council chambers, 77 Fair Drive.