Honoring the men and women of our armed forces

The Color Guard of the 115th RSG

Honoring the Men and Women of Our Armed Forces

Saint Anna Greek Orthodox Church holds a deep respect for those who serve our country. Through military connection and dedicated outreach, our parish family actively supports our active-duty service members, veterans, and their families.

Our Flagpole Dedication

On October 8, 2011, our clergy and parishioners joined Chaplain (CPT) Collins and a Color Guard from the 115th Regional Support Group (RSG) of the California Army National Guard for a special dedication. Together, we raised an American flag that had been flown over the United States Capitol on September 1, 2011. This flag flies daily as a symbol of our ongoing prayers for the safety of our Armed Forces and in honor of our veterans.

Support Our Troops Ministry

The St. Anna Support Our Troops Ministry is a parish-wide effort to bring comfort and care to deployed service members. The ministry focuses on two vital areas:

Col Brian Fair (195th WG) adminstering the Oath at Fr. Christopher’s promotion ceremony

  • Care Packages: We collect and ship special provisions and comfort items that are difficult for troops to obtain through standard military supply chains.

  • Spiritual Connection: Most importantly, we send Orthodox reading materials alongside personal notes of gratitude, encouragement, and Christian love to those serving far from home.

Our Military Connections

Located in close proximity to Beale Air Force Base, Saint Anna is blessed to frequently welcome Airmen and their families into our parish community. We share a strong personal bond with the military: our own Fr. Christopher serves as a Chaplain (Maj), and parishioner Natali Avelino serves in Religious Affairs (TSgt) with the 195th Wing of the California Air National Guard.

Fr. Christopher speaking with an Airmen on a search and recovery mission following the Paradise Fires

Whether ministering to airmen on active duty or offering comfort to those assisting in local disaster relief missions, our parish is honored to stand by our military community.

May God bless the men and women of our Armed Forces, our veterans, and their families!