JUNE - JULY 2009 NEWSLETTER
| VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA, INC. P.O. BOX 6608 TEXARKANA, TX 75505-6608 www.vva278.org
OFFICERS JOIN VVA and AVVA |
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| VVA # 278's NEXT MEETING |
| VVA # 278's next meeting will be Sunday, June 21, 2009 at the American Legion Post at 525 East Broad Street. The meal will begin at 1:30 pm and will consist of: pot luck. The chapter will furnish soft drinks and coffee. We ask all members to bring a covered dish and/or dessert to share.
The business session will begin immediately after the meal is finished. Topics to be discussed will include: Veterans' issues updates; Committee reports; Legislative news; Fundraising ideas; Upcoming events; Membership's plans & goals for VVA # 278; Report on Texas State Council meeting; National Convention Resolutions & VVA Constitutional Admendments etc. Remember: Sunday, June 21 at 1:30 pm at the American Legion Post at 525 East Broad Street. We hope to see you there! This is your chapter, take part in it! Bring your ideas on what you would like to see this, your chapter, doing! |
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| VVA # 278's CHAPTER ELECTIONS - RESULTS |
| At our April 19, 2009 meeting we elected chapter Officers & Directors for the next two years. The AVVA members also elected the Chapter Representative for two years. The results are: (*denotes changes):
President: Gregory Beck Congratulations to the newly elected Officers, Directors and Representative! We ask the members to assist and support these brothers and sisters. This is your chapter, you make it what it is! It is a group effort! We are family!! |
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| VVA # 278's JULY MEETING |
| VVA # 278's July meeting will be held on Sunday, July 19, 2009 at the American Legion Post at 525 East Broad Street. The meal will start at 1:30 pm and will consist of: pot luck, soft drinks and coffee. We ask members to bring a covered dish and/or dessert to share.
The business session will start immediately after the meal. Topics to be discussed will include: Veteran's issues updates; Committee reports; Upcoming events; Legislative issues; Upcoming Events; Membership's plans & goals for VVA # 278; National Convention; etc. Remember: Sunday, July 19 at 1:30 pm at the American Legion Post at 525 East Broad Street. We hope to see you there! This is your chapter, take part in it! |
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| VVA # 278's LAST MEETINGS |
| At our April meeting we had the Bowie County Special Olympic Bell Ringers come and give a performance, they played several patriotic songs and done a very good job. We thank Larry David for arranging this perfomance. Later in the meeting we voted to donate $300 to the Bowie County Special Olympics.
It was announced that Bill Brockett was named "Man of the Year" by the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. Congratulations Bill!! We had a good discussion on the various bills pending in Texas and in the U.S. Congress. I hope this influences our members to write or call their elected officals to support these bills, especially HR 1016 & S.423. As our fundraiser this year, we are giving away a Model 1000 Stoeger 12 gauge pump shotgun and/or $500.00, with first drawing getting their choice, second drawing getting whatever is left. At our May meeting we had Richard Upson from "At Home Healthcare" who gave us a presentation on the services they offer. He had set up at our "Veterans Information Fair" the day before. I thought it was interesting and could come in handy for many. And we voted to donate one of our "All gave Some - Some Gave All" decal to put on the new DAV van |
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| VVA #278 MEMBERSHIP |
| As of May 31, 2009 VVA # 278 has 138 members: 62 Life members, 42 annual and/or three year members, and 2 Incarcerated members, with 13 Life AVVA members and 18 annual and/or three year AVVA members. We would like to welcome our newest members: John McLeod USN (Retired) VVA and Pamela Pierce USA (Retired) AVVA. WELCOME ABOARD & WELCOME HOME!!
As of April 30, 2009 VVA has 59,337 members comnpared to 56,954 in April of 2008. Region VII has 5,562 members (AR-325, LA-830, OK-1186 & TX-3220). AVVA has 7,377 members compared to 7,186 in April of 2008. Region VII has 701 (AR-27, LA-132, OK-133, & TX-409). Since January 2009 VVA # 278 has 7 members whose memberships have lapsed due to non payment of dues. They are:John Barros, Gary L. Dorsey, Tommy Rutherford, Angela Honea, Tom Powers, John Fooks, and Timothy Fultz. Join VVA & AVVA. |
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| VVA TEXAS STATE COUNCIL NEWSLETTER & VVA # 278 "NEWS & VIEWS" VIA EMAIL |
| For those members of VVA # 278 who would like to receive the "Texas Vietnam Veteran News" and/or the VVA # 278's "News & Views" via e-mail please send me an updated e-mail address. The Texas newsletter is on the VVAFT's website at: www.vvaft.org and the VVA # 278's newsletter is on our website at: www.vva278.org. This would allow both entities to save money with postage and printing which adds up to quite a lot over the year. As a chapter, we alone spend around $1600 to $2000 on printing, postage and permits. |
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| PRISONERS OF WAR/MISSING IN ACTION - POW/MIA |
| As of October 3, 2009, according to the National League of Families and the Dod, there are still 1729 Americans unaccounted for from the Vietnam War. March 2009. of these 1729, 1326 in Vietnam (North-480; South-846), 338 in Laos, 58 in Cambodia, and 7 in China. These numbers have changed again due to investigations resulting in changed location of loss. of this 1729, 19 from Arkansas, 24 from Louisiana, 35 from Oklahoma, and 112 from Texas. 559 are Air Force, 554 are Army, 213 are Marines, 369 are Navy and 34 are civilians. 450 of these are losses over sea. Since the end of the war in 1975 there have been 1644 Americans acccounted for from the Vietnam War. We will never forget!
There are 3349 Americans unaccounted for from World War I. There are approximately 78,611 Americans unaccounted for from World War II. There are 8124 Americans unaccounted for from the Korean War. There are 120 Americans unaccounted for from the Cold War. There is one American, Ahmed Altaie, unaccounted for from Operation Iraqi Freedom, and one American, Bowe Berghal, unaccounted for from Operation Eduring Freedom in Afghanistan. As you may know the one American who was unaccounted for from Operation Desert Storm, Scott Spiecher, was found, returned and identified and buried in the United States! As far as I'm concerned the 22nd Annual POW/MIA Vigil was a complete success. We had pretty good attendance at each of the services and an excellent turnout at the "Ride to Remember" and the following service. Allan Jackson, son of Vietnam MIA, Navy avaitor Carl E. Jackson, missing since June 27, 1965, was with us and shared a few words during our service. Thanks Allan! I want to thank all of those who participated in this event, we will not forget nor will we let America forget! A special thanks to Mike Carter who got us the heluim for the balloon release! The 23rd Annual POW/MIA Vigil will be held September 3 & 4, 2010, Labor Day weekend. We hope to see you there again!! WE WILL NEVER FORGET!! WILL YOU? |
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| TEXARKANA'S ANNUAL VETERANS DAY PARADE |
| The Texarkana Area Veterans Council will again host the annual Veterans Day Parade. It will be held on Saturday, November 7, 2009 and will start at 11:00 am at Hazel & East Broad Streets. The theme this year will be: "Leave no Veteran Behind."
After the parade local McDonald's owner Tom Sadowski will again provide a free meal to all veterans at his local McDonald's outlets (Texarkana, Atlanta and Ashdown). VVA # 278 will be at the one on Richmond Road across from Central Mall. This is the 21st year Tom has done this. THANKS TOM!!! To reserve a slot in the parade, please call 870/773-8279, 870/773-1078 or e-mail USMCgreg@aol.com. So far this looks to be a great parade, lots of interest! |
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| ELKS LODGE # 2771, TEXARKANA, TEXAS |
| The Texarkana Texas Elks Lodge # 2771 located at 3702 New Boston Road has started serving a free breakfast to area veterans on the third Saturday of each month from 7:00 am until 11:00 am. Guests eat for $5.00 each. So go by there and enjoy a free breakfast and let them know how much you appreciate it. Thanks Elks Lodge!! |
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| TEXARKANA AREA VETERANS COUNCIL (TAVC) |
| The November meeting will be held Thursday, November 5, 2009 at 6:00 pm at the American Legion Post at 525 East Broad Street. Remember: The Texarkana Area Veterans Council meets the first Thursday of each month at 6:00 pm at the Post.
VVA # 278's delegates are: Homer Harvin, Billy Walker, and Fisher Plymale. Our alternates are: Donna Carmeli and Freddie Weathers. The new van is in service and the old van is being used to transport needy veterans to the Texarkana VA Outpatient Clinic, especially those outside of the Texarkana bus line service area. To schedule a ride on one of the vans call the following numbers: To ride the van to Shreveport call: 1-800-863-7441, Ext 7025. To get a ride on the local van call 318-286-6735 Our next Chili Cook-of is scheduled for February 19, 2010 at the Truman Arnold Center at the Texarkana College. Help us help veterans! |
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| VVA TEXAS STATE COUNCIL MEETING |
| The next VVA Texas State Council meeting will be held in Killeen, Texas February 12 - 14, 2010. It will be at the Shilo Inn Suites Hotel at 3710 South W.S. Young Drive; Killeen, Texas 76542. For room reservations call 254-699-6999. Room rates are $ 94.00 plus 13% tax.
Registration is $25 for delegates and $20 for guests. Checks should be made out to: Contact Don Kennedy at: badmoonrising69@aol.com or 254-760-0793. Cut-off date for resrvations and registrations is February 1, 2010 |
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| VETERANS ASSISTANCE WEBSITES |
| Department of Veterans Affairs Arkansas veterans website; also www.Arkansas.gov Louisiana veterans website Oklahoma veterans website Texas veterans website; also www.texasonline.com U.S Senate U.S. House Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc. To obtain a copy from your record file or rebuild a lost DD 214 go to: http://members.aol.com/forvets/dd214.htm For VA programs for senior vets: http://www1.va.gov/geriatricsshg For Social Security Adminstration: http://www.socialsecurity.gov VA Agent Orange Veterans Health Council Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc. # 278 |
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| COUNTY VETERAN SERVICE OFFICERS |
| If you need any assistance in filing claims or finding out what's available, contact one of these County Veterans Service Officers, and/or a Veterans service organization for information on VA benefits & programs and on state programs.
*We have recently added a couple of more links to our website: www.vva278.org These sites pertain to Arkansas' veterans. We hope they assist someone! They are: www.ArkansasVeterans.com and www.Arkansas.gov. For Texas veterans go to: www.tvc.state.tx.us |
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| VA FORMS |
| VA Form 40-1330 is the application for a standard Government headstone or marker. It has to be accompanied with a DD 214 or other proof of service. VA Form 40-0247 is the form used to request the "Presidential Memorial Certificate." VA Form 10-5345a is the form used to request a copy of your own health care records from the VA. These forms should be filled out and mailed with the help of a Veterans Service Officer (VSO). If you wish to file a VA claim, for compensation and/or health care benefits, contact an accredited veterans service officer for further information. For more information on accredited vso's check out: www.va.gov/ogc/apps/accreditation. |
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| CALENDAR OF EVENTS
June 4: TAVC meeting June 5 - 7: VVA TSC meeting June 6: D-Day June 14: Flag Day June 21: VVA # 278 meeting July 2: TAVC meeting June 19: VVA # 278 meeting June 27 - August 2: VVA National Convention August 6: TAVC meeting August 8: Hope Watermelon Festival August 12-15: New Boston Pioneer Days August 16: VVA # 278 meeting September 3: TAVC meeting September 4 & 5: 22nd Annual POW/MIA Vigil September 17-26: Four States Fair & Rodeo October 1: TAVC meeting October 1: Sulphur River Waterfowl Banquet October 3: DeKalb Oktoberfest October 18: VVA # 278 meeting November 5: TAVC meeting November 7: Veterans Day Parade - Theme: "Leave no Veteran Behind" November 11: Veterans Day November 15: VVA # 278 meeting December 3: TAVC meeting December 20: VVA # 278 meeting January 7 2010: TAVC meeting January 17, 2010: VVA # 278 meeting February 12-14: VVA TSC meeting February 19: TAVC Chili Cook-off February 21: VVA # 278 meeting March 21: VVA # 278 meeting |
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| VETERANS BENEFIT COUNCIL |
| VVA recently started a new program: "Veterans Health Council." Check it out on the webiste at www.veteranshealth.org.
The Veterans Benefit Council is a network of more than 30 professional organizations invested in the health of America's veterans. Go to the website for a list of VHC participants and how to reach them |
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| INTERNET SITE HELPS VETERANS OBTAIN MILITARY RECORDS (Texas Veterans Commission -Clavin Branch) |
| The extended delays in awaiting copies of official military documents may have been made more reasonable with the use of the internet. The most common request for records is for a copy of a veteran's DD 214. In the past, the delay between request and receipt has been up to six months. A considerable portion of this delay is due to either illegible requests or the transfer process of those requests. By navigating to the following website -- www.archives.gov -- these problems are mininized.
Veterans and their survivors may receive replies in as little a 16 to 18 calendar days for a simple DD 214 request. That's calendar days. Veterans using this method of request for DD 214s have confirmed this with the shortest wait being 16 days and the longest being 20 days, that due to a holiday. This website is user friendly and provides simple and detailed guidance for obtaining personnel records, medical (service treatment) records and information regarding who to contact for various branches of service. Of particulat interest for those with a short-notice need is the method of requesting by internet and authenticating by fax. The applicant is walked through the request process and given a fax number to satisfy the need for a signature. There is even a sub-link for those with a true emergency need. |
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| VA WELCOMES VETS HOME WITH NEW WEB SITE, BLOG (From Texas Veterans Commission Journal) |
| The Department of Veterans Affairs has launched its new "Returning Veterans" web site -- www.oefoif.va.gov -- to welcome home veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts with a social, veteran-centric web site forcusing on their needs and questions.
The web site will feature vidwos, veteran stories and a blog where veterans are encouraged to post feedback. The site also will restructure the traditional index-of benefits format found on other VA pages into question-based, categorized and easily navigated links by topic. This will allow veterans to find benefits of interst easily and discover related benefits as they explore. As the site grows, VA's plans include linking to veterans' blogs and highlighting more of their own stories from their own views. |
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| TEXVET WEBSITE PROVIDES RESOURCES, REFERRALS TO VETERANS (From Texas Veterans Commission's Journal) |
| The Texas Veterans Commission has teamed with Partners Across Texas, 2-1-1 Texas, Texas Military Forces, and other state, federal and nonprofit orgabizations to provide information and referral services via TexVet.com This uniqu website offers information regarding several sources of assistance for veterans and their family members, as well as members of active-duty, National Guard and Reserve military units. Information on services in local areas across Texas can also be accessed by dialing 2-1-1. For more information on veteran benefits and services, visit: www.tvc.tx.us or www.texvet.com. |
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| VIETNAM WAR CASUALTIES & SERVICE |
| According to the Washington Headquarters Services, there were a total of 47,424 hostile deaths in the Vietnam War; 30,957 Army, 13,091 Marines, 1745 Air Force and 1631 Navy. Non-hostile deaths totaled 10,785; 7261 Army, 1749 Marines, 934 Navy, and 841 Air Force. There was 3,403,000 serving in Southeast Asia with 2,594,000 serving in-country Vietnam. In-country Army-1,736,000, Marines-391,000,Air Force-293,000, and Navy-174,000. |