RSVP / ORANGE COUNTY : Patriot Games Benefit South County Clinic

Fourth of July came early when the South County Community Clinic Auxiliary unfurled the stars and stripes for its 12th annual gala, “Made in the U.S.A.”

A sellout crowd of more than 450 guests, most dressed in star-spangled red, white and blue attire, attended the patriotic dinner/dance Friday at the flag-draped San Juan Capistrano estate of Arthur and Gaye Birtcher. The $150-per-person gala netted more than $90,000 for the clinic, which provides health care to the needy in Orange County.

Home Sweet Home

American flags greeted party-goers as they arrived at the Birtcher home, a French chateau the couple designed themselves. The Birtchers traveled throughout France taking photographs of 17th-Century chateaus, then incorporated favorite features like towering turrets into their design.

“We’re Francophiles at heart,” said Gaye Birtcher, the event’s chairwoman. Nevertheless, she chose the U.S.A. theme. She sported stars and stripes on her shirt and cowboy boots.

Guests wandered about the grounds listening to the Barbersharps Quartet and sampling all-American hors d’oeuvres such as Maryland crab cakes and Virginia ham on cornmeal biscuits.

“Everyone likes the U.S.A. theme,” said Thyra Decker, event co-chairwoman. “You bring out the flags, and they start crying.”

The dress code called for clothing that was made in the United States, and those not following the code received a fine from a posse of “All Stars” volunteers.

“It’s going to cost me tonight,” said Linda Berkshire, auxiliary president, whose navy pantsuit was not American-made but who showed her allegiance by sporting a stars and bars scarf.

Jon Liuzzi, who accompanied his mother, Mary Liuzzi, dressed like Abraham Lincoln, complete with fake beard and top hat.

“I look like him, and I’m honest,” he said.

Mom and Apple Pie

After the reception party-goers gathered in an outdoor arena surrounded by trees with twinkling lights. There they bid on items in a silent auction that were representative of all 50 states, from a woven wrap bearing a buffalo a la Wyoming to a Maine lobster.

Tables decked with sunflowers were set up amid bales of hay and a campfire, where guests later had s’mores, those roasted marshmallow concoctions that are Scouting favorites.

For dinner, the Four Seasons Hotel in Newport Beach prepared American specialties, serving a salad of California field greens with Oregon dried cranberries, grilled Montana range chicken, Minnesota wild rice with Georgia pecans and, of course, Granny Smith apple pie.

Party-goers spent the rest of the night stomping their boots to the sounds of the Diamond Back Band, with country singer (and committee member) C.D. Buchanan making a special appearance.

The South County Community Clinic in San Juan Capistrano serves people who can’t afford health care.

“You think of San Juan Capistrano with houses like these (the Birtcher home), but you find the hidden poor. They’re there,” said Dr. Thomas Bent, medical director of the clinic. Bent attended with his wife, Carolyn, a committee member.

“We’re seeing more people who used to have everything--a nice house, station wagon and fluffy dog--and suddenly one person gets laid off. They’re the nouveau poor. They’ve never had to seek help before. They’re embarrassed and angry.

“They come to our office expecting to take a number and sit on plastic furniture, but it looks, feels and smells like a doctor’s office should.”

Mike Walker, who has staged fund-raisers for the clinic at his Marbella Plaza in San Juan Capistrano, received the auxiliary’s Community Leadership Award for his contributions.

Other faces in the crowd were Susan Matthews, past auxiliary president; Tom and Beth Carney, Mary Kate Carter, Anne Crawford, Dana and Lynn Dowers, Anita Houston, Michael and Marcia McCormack, Doreen Pagel, Donald and Eunice Parker, Robert Regan, Jim and Ruth Rothwell, Jim and Cynthia Williams and Brad and Rose Wright.