Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide

Giving back to our veterans locally

The community of American military veterans is not large. Only seven percent of all Americans have served in our military forces in all the history of our country. Every American owes everything they are and everything they have to these few because without them, there would be no America. Military service has many traditions including the two most basic: We take care of our own, and we leave no one behind. Operation Second Chance (OSC) is a national veteran’s organization that is committed to these two principles.

OSC is a group of patriotic citizens committed to serving our wounded, injured and ill veterans. They support veterans and their families by building relationships and identifying and supporting immediate needs and interests. They are dedicated to promoting public awareness of the many sacrifices made by our Armed Forces. The national organization has provided over $10.5 million in support for over 14,000 veterans to date. The Bakersfield chapter of OSC came to the Tehachapi Sportsman Club on Saturday, Jan. 29 to provide a small group of area veterans with a diversion from their normal routines by introducing these heroes to the sport of trapshooting. OSC participants included Jason Duran, local OSC chapter leader, Andy Selga, Jason French, Josh Arman, and Ed Keefe. Other OSC guests included Katrina Rivera and Lainey Arman. Hosting the group for TSC were Ed Keefe (U.S. Marines), W. W. “Buzz Wells (U.S. Air Force), Jimmy Scimonetti (U.S. Navy), Vince Rondone (U.S. Navy), Jim Faber (TSC secretary), Ralph and Diane Bhirdo. The group spent about two hours enjoying and learning the sport of trapshooting at the TSC trap range in Sand Canyon east of Tehachapi. Following shooting, the group enjoyed pizza, beer and camaraderie at TK’s Pizza in Tehachapi. A good time was had by all.

The Sportsman Club would like to thank Butch and Candy at Southern Shooters Supply of Tehachapi for supporting this event by furnishing shotgun shells at a discounted price.