OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2010 NEWSLETTER
[ NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES ]
| 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, October 17, 2010 at the American Legion Post at 525 East Broad Street. The meal will begin at 1:30 pm and consist of Mexican style food. The chapter will furnish the soft drinks and coffee. We ask members to bring a covered dish and/or desserts 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; Planning for the "Veterans Information Fair" and 24th Annual POW/MIA Vigil;etc. We ask everyone to bring some non-perishable items for the "Heros Pantry" (see below). Remember: Sunday, October 17 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 NOVEMBER MEETING |
| VVA # 278 will meet Sunday, November 21, 2010 at 1:30 pm at the American Legion Post at 525 East Broad Street. This will be our Thanksgiving dinner with ham and turkey, dressing, etc., etc. We ask all members to bring a covered dish and/or dessert to share.
The business session will begin right after the meal. Topics to be discussed will include: Veteran's issues updates; Committee Reports; Legislative news; Fundraising ideas, Upcoming events; etc., etc. We ask everyone to bring items for the Hero's Pantry! Remember: Sunday, November 21 at 1:30 pm at the American Legion Post. We hope to see you there! This is your chapter, be part of it! Together then - Together Now! The December meeting will be held Sunday, December 19 at 1:30 pm at the American Legion Post at 525 East Broad Street. This will be our Christmas dinner. |
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| VVA # 278's RECENT MEETINGS & OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS |
| Over the past couple of months VVA # 278 has: Made donations of $250 to the United States Marine Corps Reserve Unit for their Care Package program to the troops overseas; Sent a Care package to Kyle Stout's unit in Afghanistan ($250); Made a $250 donation to the "Hero's Pantry at the VA Clinic; Awarded a $500 scholarship; Approved our fundraising project for next year; Donated $132 to the Texas Capitol Vietnam Monument ($2 for each name on our local Korea/Vietnam Memorial from Texas from the Vietnam War); Made a $300 donation to the Bowie County Special Olympics; Replaced a Director who hasn't made a meeting in over seven months; Handed out over 350 of the 2010 VA Benefit Booklets; Set up at the New Boston Pioneer Days and the Four States Fair where we passed out info on VVA, POW/MIAs, Agent Orange, VA Claims & Programs, PTSD, worked on our fund raising, etc., etc. Hosted our 23rd Annual POW/MIA Vigil & 17th Annual "Ride to Remember"; Thanks to all who helped in the set-ups and the Vigil and everything else!! You make me proud to belong to VVA # 278!! |
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| VVA #278 MEMBERSHIP |
| As of July 31, 2010 VVA # 278 has 110 VVA members; (70 Life members, 38 annual and/or three year members, and 2 Incarcerated members), and 26 AVVA members, with 14 Life members and 11 annual and/or three year members. We would like to extend a hearty Welcome to our newest members of our VVA # 278 family. They are: Larry Burgess, Amber Burgess, Franklin Ferguson. WELCOME HOME & WELCOME ABOARD!!! Also - Herb Davison will be back from his trip to Afghanistan. Welcome back Herb!
We have two members whose membership have lapsed. They are: Tom McLeod and Pamela Pierce. We want you, we need you!! A reminder: To become a member of the Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc, you do not have to have served in-country Vietnam. You just have to have served in the United States military (for other than training purposes) between August 5, 1964 and May 7, 1975. If you served in-country: between February 28, 1961 and May 7, 1975. VVA has a program whereas the dues of a permanently hospitalized Vietnam era veteran is waived. If you know of a veteran in these circumstances that would like to become a member of VVA let us know. We need a copy of his DD 214 and a letter from the Doctor stating the veteran is permanently confined to a hospital and/or nursing home. We want you, we need you!! Together then, together now!! Help us help veterans!!! Join VVA & AVVA. |
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| PRISONERS OF WAR/MISSING IN ACTION - POW/MIA |
| As of October 1, 2010, according to the National League of Families and the DoD, there are still 1708 Americans unaccounted for from the Vietnam War. March 2009. of these 1708, 1307 in Vietnam (North-478; South-829), 335 in Laos, 59 in Cambodia, and 7 in China. These numbers have changed again due to investigations resulting in changed location of loss. of this 1708, 18 from Arkansas, 24 from Louisiana, 34 from Oklahoma, and 109 from Texas. 548 are Air Force, 546 are Army, 213 are Marines, 369 are Navy and 8 are civilians. 450 of these are losses over sea. Since the end of the war (1975) there have been 875 Americans accounted for from the Vietnam War, sadly, none were returned alive after the fall of Saigon. We will never forget!
There are 3347 Americans unaccounted for from World War I (two more sets of remains have recently been identified). There are now 74,064 Americans unaccounted for from World War II. There are now 8,021 Americans unaccounted for from the Korean War (108 from Arkansas; 151 from Louisiana; 152 from Oklahoma; and 451 from Texas). There are 125 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 Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Our recent 23rd Annual POW/MIA Vigil was a success. Our goals are to remember and honor the American POW/MIAs, both those returned and those still unaccounted for - from all wars, and to make the public aware of the plight of the American POW/MIAs. I believe we accomplished that what with the articles in the Texarkana Gazette and the clips on the news on TV channels 3, 6 & 12, and on the radio - KPPG, KEWL & KKYR. The "Ride to Remember" was the best yet with more bikes and cars then ever and plenty of police escorts. We would like to extend our sincerest thanks to the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Bowie and Miller County Sheriff's deputies for their escort service. And a big thanks to all who participated in the "Ride" and the Vigil. We'll see you next Labor Day Weekend - (Friday & Saturday) September 2 & 3, 2011 for our 24th Annual POW/MIA Vigil and our 18th Annual "Ride to Remember." (Please note I had mis-numbered this year's "Ride" as the 16th when it was really the 17th). WE WILL NEVER FORGET!! WILL YOU? |
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| POW/MIA T-SHIRTS |
| We now have t-shirts that have a POW/MIA logo on the front and have the list of the Vietnam POW/MIAs for that particular state on the back. We have both Arkansas and Texas. These shirts are black (no pocket). The names are listed along with the city and branch of service. These go for $20 each, with XXL, XXXL & XXXXL $2 extra. We will have these at the next meeting. These t-shirts are made in the U.S.A.! We also have some "Vietnam" t-shirts left. These have a colored map of Vietnam and are also $20.00 each. |
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| TEXARKANA AREA VETERANS COUNCIL (TAVC) |
| The October meeting will be held Thursday, October 7 at 6:00 pm. The November meeting will be held November 4. Remember: The Texarkana Area Veterans Council meets the first Thursday of each month at 6:00 pm at the American Legion Post.
VVA # 278's delegates and alternates are: Billy Walker, Fisher Plymale, Ann Walker, Donna Carmeli, Freddie Weathers, and Greg Bischoff. The TAVC meetings are open to all members of the member organizations. Other Veteran organizations in Bowie, Miller, Cass, and Little River Counties are invited to join the TAVC. The 12th Annual Chili Cook-off is scheduled for Friday, February 18, at the Truman Arnold Center at Texarkana College. 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. Volunteer drivers are needed to drive these vans and provide this service for our veterans! You do not have to be a veteran to drive the van, just a clean driving record and be able to pass a VA physical exam. Help us help veterans! |
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| RAFFLE |
| VVA # 278 is raffling off a POW/MIA assortment: POW/MIA t-shirt, POW/MIA hat, POW/MIA Eagle decal, POW/MIA Eagle throw (50"X60"), POW/MIA bracelet, and an American Eagle lighted statue. Other items may be added. Drawing will be November 6 at Bloomburg. Tickets are for a dollar donation or 7 for a $5 donation. |
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| VVA TEXAS STATE COUNCIL MEETING |
| The next VVA Texas State Council meeting will be in Beaumont February 11-13, 2011 at the MCM Elegante hotel. Room rates are $89.00 per night. Call 409/842-3600 for reservations. Use code VVAC. Rates are good until January 21, 2011. Registration is $40 for delegates, $35 for AVVA & guests. Forms will be available at 278's next meeting. VVA # 292. Beaumont is host.
Borger Chapter # 440 will host the June TSC meeting on June 3 , 4, & 5, 2011. |
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| VETERANS DAY 2010 - TEXARKANA |
| Veterans Day will be observed Saturday, November 13, 2010 here in Texarkana. It will start with the Veterans Day Parade in downtown Texarkana beginning at 11:00 am at East Broad & Hazel Streets. The theme is "Veterans Helping Veteran." After the parade the local McDonald's (Texarkana, Atlanta & Ashdown) will furnish veterans with a free meal from noon til 4:00 pm. All you have to do is go in any of his local stores and sign up. Tom Sadowski, owner of the local McDonald's, has been doing this since 1988 when we dedicated the Korea/Vietnam Memorial. Please thank him and his staff for putting on this gracious effort. Tom also has a drawing at each location.
Remember the Veterans - Support the Troops |
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| FOUKE'S VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK |
| On Saturday, November 6, 2010 Fouke's "Citizens for a Better Community" will host a Dedication ceremony for their "Veterans Memorial Park." This is the Park VVA # 278 bought a brick in and have been selling cook-books to help support. By the way, we still have cook-books available at $10 each. The dedication ceremony starts at 10:30 am. |
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| IN MEMORY OF KYLE B. STOUT |
| Sgt Kyle Brandon Stout, 25, of Wake Village, Texas gave the ultimate sacrifice for his country and his countrymen July 30, 2010 while serving in Operation Enduring Freedom in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Kyle had served two previous tours in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom, one in 2008 and returning in 2008.
Kyle was born in Texarkana, Texas November 2, 1984 to Mike and Robin Stout. He graduated from Texas High in 2003. He joined the Army in 2006 and was Sergeant in the 101st Airborne Division. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers! VVA # 278 has made a donation to the United States Marine Corps Reserve Unit in Texarkana in Kyle's name to their Care Package program for deployed Marines. We will also send a Care Package to his unit still in Afghanistan in Kyle's honor. LEST WE FORGET!!! |
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| County Veteran Service Officers |
| To find a County Veteran Service Officer in Arkansas go to the web site: http://www.veterans.arkansas.gov/cvso.html
Ray Harmon is in the Miller County Courthouse at 870/779-3604; Franklin Ferguson is in the Hempstead County Courthouse at 870/777-8429. To find a V.S.O. in Texas go to: www.tvc.state.tx.us/about/county-service-officers James Sellers is at the Bowie County Courthouse at 903/628- 6807; Robert Dotson is in the Cass County Courthouse at 903/756-5221. To find a Texas Veterans Commission claims office go to: www.tvc.state.us/about/claims.office. |
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| HERO'S PANTRY |
| The "Hero's Pantry" is a food bank that is specific for our Texarkana area veterans and their families who are having trouble putting food on their tables. The most needed items are: peanut butter, chunky soups, canned meats, canned tuna, canned vegetables, juice, cereal, macaroni & cheese, pasta, pasta sauces, pudding cups/fruit cups/jello cups, crackers, sugar-free snacks, dried milk, reduced sodium soups, high fiber cereals, canned chicken, dried fruits & nuts, coffee, and paper goods (plates, napkins, towels, toilet paper). Any non-perishable item will be accepted. Please don't use this to get rid of all your out-dated stuff! All donations can be dropped off at the Texarkana VA Clinic during normal working hours (8:00 am til 4:00 pm) - ask for Stephanie or Jeff Greer. Also we will collect this items and/or cash for this pantry at our VVA # 278 meetings, starting at the August 15 meeting. This is an easy way to assist local needy veterans. I think we need to really get behind this! |
| CALENDAR OF EVENTS
October 7: TAVC meeting October 17: VVA #278 meeting November 2: Election Day -- GET OUT AND VOTE! November 4: TAVC meeting November 6: Dedication of Fouke's Veterans Memorial Park November 6: Bloomburg's "Cullen Baker Days" November 10: Marine Corp's Birthday November 11: Veterans Day November 13: Veterans Day Parade November 21: VVA #278 meeting December 2: TAVC meeting December 19: VVA #278 meeting January 6, 2011: TAVC meeting January 16: VVA #278 meeting February 3: TAVC meeting February 11-13: VVA Texas State Council meeting February 18: TAVC Chili Cook-off February 20: VVA #278 meeting March 3: TAVC meeting March 20: VVA #278 meeting April 7: TAVC meeting April 17: VVA #278 meeting May 5: TAVC meeting May 15: Peace Officer's Memorial Day May 21: Veterans Information Fair May 22: VVA #278 meeting May 29 : TAVC Memorial Day Service May 30: VVA # 278 Memorial Day Service June 2: TAVC meeting June 3 & 4: VVA TSC meeting - Borger June 19: VVA #278 meeting July 7: TAVC meeting July 17: VVA #278 meeting August 4: TAVC meeting August 21: VVA #278 meeting September 2 & 3: 24th Annual POW/MIA Vigil |