Saturday, November 14, 2009, Veteran’s Park City of Redondo Beach California

Operation S.E.R.V.E. Kickoff Celebration A huge success!!!!!!!!!!!


With a lone bugler playing taps in a frosty but beautiful November Saturday morning at Veteran’s Park in Redondo Beach and full color guard hoisting the Star Spangled banner and OP serve colors, The Operation S.E.R.V.E. team kicked off it’s first celebration in which it hopes to have many more to follow.

Operation Scuba Education &Rehabilitation for Veterans Empowerment (Operation S.E.R.V.E.) is a non-profit tax-exempt (501-C3) pending national organization chartered in the state of California. Operation S.E.R.V.E' s purpose is to empower our returning military veterans by promoting physical healing, uplifting lives and providing a lifelong level of success. Primary goal of Operation S.E.R.V.E. is to improve the lives of veterans with disabilities through the sport of Scuba diving.

Festivities included as previously stated a full color guard with military bugler, a military flyover by the United States Coast Guard, a dive team from the elite LAPD dive unit,  a delicious lunch served by Mexican Chipotle Grill, A huge raffle with numerous prizes donated graciously by various Dive Boats and dive shops in Southern California, a visit and a written proclamation from Mike Gin mayor of Redondo beach and a finally a phone call of congratulations from Senator Diane Feinstein of the Great State of California.  

Vladimir V. Ilinsky, Founder and CEO stated in a speech , “Our purpose is clear and simple, to empower our returning military veterans by promoting their physical healing and well being by the use of aqua therapy in the sport of SCUBA Diving.

We are committed to actively raising a community awareness of our wounded warriors and to improve the quality of life for each and every wounded soldier that comes our way.

It is the “Carpe Diem” spirit that Operation S.E.R.V.E. hopes to instill in all its participants and volunteers.  Giving them the confidence and independence that allows them to face their own life challenges and overcome barriers that before might have seemed insurmountable and unattainable.

As said once by  Former President Clinton “Citizen service is the very American idea that we meet our challenges not as isolated individuals but as members of a true community, with all of us working together. Our mission is nothing less than to spark a renewed sense of obligation, a new sense of duty, a new season of service. Though government has an important role to play in meeting the many challenges that remain before us, we are coming to understand that no organization, including government, will fully succeed without the active participation of each of us. Volunteers are vital to enabling this country to live up to the true promise of its heritage.”

I truly believe that otherwise you wouldn’t all be here supporting this cause”.

“Various Coast Guard and LAPD dive personnel have pledged their volunteer support to this cause” said Ilinsky, officers’ Aron Algren and Chris Mckinney from the Elite LAPD underwater dive unit stated, “I  will discuss your organization with some friends and people at our department and dive unit in order to help generate some volunteers, ideas, etc.  Thanks again for your hard work and effort.  There are going to be a lot of vets who really appreciate it” while in another conversation Ilinsky said that Lt. Adam Ziegler, Rescue pilot from the USCG Air Station Los Angeles and fellow diver, stated,  “If you’ll let me know when and what kind of diving help you're looking for, we also have several recreational divers here that I'll pass along the information to”. Ilinsky was truly grateful for all their support.

Ilinsky further said, “We need to send a huge thanks to some key people in our organization that made this event happen and a huge success, such as Leandro G. Chayra our head instructor, Morris DeMayo our CFO, Jennifer Frew, Advisory board member, Renee Valet-Volunteer, Renee Miranda-Volunteer, Ross Ward- IT Advisor. The Operation S.E.R.V.E. volunteer team, The military color guard, The USCG Rescue team out of , The LAPD Underwater Dive Unit, Mayor Mike Gin of the City of Redondo Beach and Senator Diane Feinstein of the Great State of California.

A Special Thanks to our Sponsors;  California Dive News, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Smart Gear USA, Special Forces Gear, Redondo Dive'N Surf, Pacific Wilderness, The Spectre Dive Boat, The Magician Dive Boat, Competitive Development & Manufacturing Dive Platform, Sea D’ Sea Dive Shop,  The Sun Diver Dive Boat, Truth Aquatic Boats, Eco Dive Center, The Sand Dollar Dive Boat, Hollywood Divers, the USC Business Foundation for their technical Support.