Article snippet: Posted at 6:33 pm on July 4, 2017 by Jennifer Van Laar The “small” city of Simi Valley, California is known for its sense of community and patriotism. After all, it is the home of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, where thousands are gathered today to celebrate Independence Day. Just 30 miles from downtown Los Angeles, Simi Valley is, in many ways, a world away. When a motorcycle officer returned home from the hospital after nearly losing his life in an on-duty collision, residents holding posters and US flags lined the street to welcome him. When the owner of a popular mom-and-pop restaurant needed a kidney, community groups banded together to raise funds, and another Simi Valley resident donated a kidney. One small thing the city does on a regular basis is honor and thank its veterans. Red, white, and blue banners with a “thank you” message and the names of individual veterans and their military branch line the main thoroughfares in town. Peter Bolanos is a Simi Valley native who served for nine years in the US Army. Mariana Reid, his girlfriend, recently surprised him with a banner of his own. His reaction to this honor – really, one of the smallest things we can do to show our gratitude – demonstrates the humility of our military veterans. (Warning – language) He was flabbergasted, and look on his face says it all. When the banner is pointed out to him, the conversation goes like this: The banner program is administered by the City of Simi Valley, who... Link to the full article to read more