SFA 78 3rd Annual Valor Luncheon Fundraiser

SPECIAL FORCES ASSOCIATION CHAPTER 78 HOSTS THIRD ANNUAL VALOR LUNCHEON

On Sunday, April 19, members and guests gathered at the On The Greens Catering & Conference Center at the Navy Golf Course in Cypress, California, for the Special Forces Association Chapter 78 Valor Luncheon. Now in its third year, the event continues to grow in both attendance and impact.

Guests were welcomed by members of the Weekend Social Club, along with Liz Rios and Norberto Villegas, before moving into a lively space filled with raffle and auction displays. Returning sponsors—including Preisker Ranch, Primal Risk, JA&L Ranch, BéBé Farms, DL Farm Management, HomeXpress, ATVIS, AVAG, and Expert Home Loans—were joined by new sponsors Mel’s Mortgage Minute, Advisor Associate, American Legion Post 291, King’s Seafood Company, Home Comfort, and Service to Success.

Weekend Social Club members, Jenny Thurrel, Kelley McBride, Amy Berk, Caroline Gee, Leah Dietz Lisa Rutherford, Laura Anderson, and Jeff Gee

Left to right, Chapter 78 Vice President Don Deatherage, Johann Hindert, Dick Thompson, Mel McLanahan, Chapter 78 President James McLanahan.

Sunburst Youth Academy Color Guard.

The program opened with remarks from Master of Ceremonies Johann Hindert and Chapter President James McLanahan, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance by the Sunburst Youth Challenge Academy Color Guard and an invocation by Chaplain Doreen Matsumoto.

Keynote Highlights

Johann began by asking those familiar with the Ranger Creed to raise their hands, recognizing not only Rangers but veterans from all branches for their service. He then introduced U.S. Army LTC (Ret.) Henry “Dick” Thompson, Ph.D., noting that he embodied the spirit of that creed. As McLanahan later noted, “Dick really blew the roof off the Navy Golf Course.”

U.S. Army LTC (Ret.) Henry “Dick” Thompson, Ph.D.,

Thompson reflected on arriving in Vietnam in his early 20s and volunteering for SOG despite repeated warnings. He humorously attributed the decision to his “immature prefrontal cortex,” a theme he revisited throughout his remarks.

His presentation combined sobering statistics, personal stories, and a tribute to 32 of his fellow SOG teammates, among the 350 KIA and 52-58 still listed as MIA. He spoke to both the evolution of warfare and the enduring value of fundamentals—reminding the audience that even as technology advances, tools like the compass still matter.

Special thanks to Stefanos Kafatos (Macroframing Inc.) and Black Bunny Media‘s Ignacious Fischer and Brad Greenwell for recording the event. Dick’s presentation will be posted to our YouTube channel, @sfachapter78. Subscribe and hit the bell for notifications!

Thank you to all of our event attendees!

Your support is greatly appreciated!

Community and Support

The raffle, led by Mel McLanahan, with assistance from Jenny Thurrell and the Sunburst cadets, was followed by a spirited live auction featuring a wide range of donated items. A silent auction item—an electric vehicle charger with installation from ATVIS—also drew strong interest.

Len Fein, Director at Advanced Technology Vehicle Infrastructure Services (ATVIS), Inc., donated a silent auction item—an electric vehicle charger with installation.

Jenny Thurell was thrilled with her raffle win!

The happy winner of the art by Steve Adams.

A particularly meaningful moment came when Chapter Treasurer Richard Simonian came to the stage with Chapter member Nimo Aslami and his wife, Nazia, members of the Afghan refugee community in Mojave. Simonian shared how meeting Nimo, after the fall of Kabul in 2021 led to Chapter 78’s involvement in supporting Afghan allies resettling in the United States.

Nimo spoke about his service alongside American forces, while Nazia, who grew up in the U.S., shared her experience of being stranded in Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover. Having been in the country to visit family, she spent months evading the Taliban by moving constantly between safe houses before finally reuniting with her family back home.

Nimo shared how an injury suffered while serving with U.S. troops led to the loss of his leg. Currently, wear to the knee socket of his prosthetic now makes walking extremely painful, severely limiting his mobility. It was announced that Affordable Community Living will fund the necessary repairs to Nimo’s prosthetic.

Richard Simonian speaks of how he met Nimo Aslami, who joined him on the stage with his wife Nazia, just days after the fall of Kabul. This meeting inspired Richard to begin an effort to assist Afghan refugees to obtain housing and other assistance.

Giving Back

Sunburst Youth Challenge Academy cadets were presented with certificates of appreciation for their service throughout the event, which played a key role in its success.

The luncheon concluded with a “Raise Your Paddles” fundraiser benefiting both the Sunburst Youth Challenge Academy and the Afghan refugee community. More than $23,200 was raised during the paddle appeal alone, with additional pledges continuing. Proceeds will be evenly split between the two groups.

Sunburst Academy with Dick Thompson, proudly displaying their cerfificates of appreciation.

Chapter member Mark Griffin presented SFC Edward Chang, the officer in charge of the Sunburst academy group, with a certificate of appreciation.

A Team Effort

In addition to welcoming guests, the Weekend Social Club assisted with event setup alongside Sunburst cadets, Wayne and Marla Ogelvie, Julia McLanahan, Liz Rios, Norberto Villegas, Chapter Vice President Don Deatherage, and Mark and Amy Griffin. Appreciation is also extended to Debra Holm for designing and coordinating the printing of event materials.

The 2026 Valor Luncheon reflected the best of Chapter 78—honoring service, strengthening community, and continuing a commitment to those who have stood alongside us.