DECEMBER 2010 - JANUARY 2011 NEWSLETTER
MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR
[ 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, December 19, 2010 at the American Legion Post at 525 East Broad Street. The meal will begin at 1:30 pm and will be our Christmas dinner and will include smoked turkey and ham, dressing, cranberry sauce, etc., etc. 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 "Heroes Pantry" (see below). Remember: Sunday, December 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! Bring your ideas on what you would like to see this, your chapter, doing! |
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| VVA # 278's JANUARY MEETING |
| VVA # 278 will meet Sunday, January 16, 2011 at 1:30 pm at the American Legion Post at 525 East Broad Street. This will be our New year dinner with black eyed peas, cornbread, 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.
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, January 16 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 February meeting will be held Sunday, February 20 at 1:30 pm at the American Legion Post at 525 East Broad Street. |
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| 2011 FUNDRAISING PROJECT FOR VVA # 278 |
| VVA # 278's major fundraising project for 2011 will consist of a raffle for a Smith & Wesson MP 15 in .223 caliper. This is an M-16 type rifle. It will come with six 30 round magazines and a hard case. Second place drawing will be a handmade patriotic quilt. Tickets will be $2.00 each; 3 for $5.00; & 7 for $10.00. Drawing will be at the next Veterans Day Parade on Saturday, November 12, 2011. Tickets are available now! |
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| VVA # 278's RECENT MEETINGS & OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS |
| On Thursday, November 11 we had several VVA # 278 members attend the Texarkana Gazette's annual "Salute to Veterans." The Gazette staff done a fantastic job again. THANKS! After this Robert Row and myself went shopping at Sam's where we purchased some supplies for the "Hero's Pantry." On Friday, November 12 we took almost $300 worth of non-perishable foods and paper products to the Hero's Pantry for their distribution to needy veterans and their families. We would like to extend a big thanks to Jeff & Stephanie for their efforts with this Pantry -THANKS!!
On Saturday, November 13 VVA # 278 participated in the annual Texarkana Area Veterans Council's "Veterans Day" parade. We were awarded the 2nd place trophy for the Veterans division. Thanks to all who worked and rode on the float and to Larry David for the use of the trailer. And to Larry & Amber Burgess who also drove a truck under the VVA banner. From the parade we went to the McDonald's on Richmond Road where we signed in veterans for the free meals that Tom Sadowski has provided on the day of the Veterans Day parade for years now. He does this at all his local McDonald's here in Texarkana, Atlanta & Ashdown. THANKS TOM!!! Between the Gazette's "Salute" and the McDonald's feed, we handed out almost 100 2010 Veterans Benefits books. That makes right at 500 for us this year, thanks to Homer who stole acquired them from the VA! hahaa That's on top of all the other info we pass out: VVA Self-help guides on PTSD; Agent Orange; Filing VA Claims; POW/MIA info,; Info on the Texas Veterans Land Board; Info on Vietnam Veterans of America; VVA brochures on Agent Orange, PTSD, Hepatitis, Prostate Cancer, Diabetes, Women Veterans, etc., etc. I think that is our biggest job - to get this information out to those who need it -the veterans and their families! |
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| VVA #278 MEMBERSHIP |
| As of September 30, 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: Gary Wolfe and Jean David. WELCOME HOME & WELCOME ABOARD!!!
We have two members whose membership have lapsed. They are: Tom McLeod and Pamela Pierce. We want you, we need you!! Together then - Together Now!! 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 December 1, 2010, according to the National League of Families and the DoD, there are still 1707 Americans unaccounted for from the Vietnam War. March 2009. of these 1707, 1306 in Vietnam (North-478; South-828), 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 1707, 18 from Arkansas, 24 from Louisiana, 34 from Oklahoma, and 109 from Texas. 548 are Air Force, 546 are Army, 212 are Marines, 369 are Navy and 8 are civilians. Over 450 of these are considered losses over sea. Since the end of the war (1975) there have been 876 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. Candance Lokey, of the National League of Families, has worked for many years trying to locate photos of every American who was MIA or KIA/BNR at the end of the war to put a face with a name, to make our missing loved ones real. She only lacks 36 and needs some help locating these last few. From the VVA Region VII area there are nine she needs. They are: Samuel Almendariz, McAllen, TX USA, July/12/1967; Frank L. Bytheway, TX, Civilian, October/02/1968; Isom Carter Cochran, Jr., Houston, TX, USA, May/23/1968; Charles David Hardie, Houston, TX, USN, July/27/1967; Rayford Jerome Hill, Houston, TX, USN, October/02/1969; August David Johnson, Houston, TX, USN, February/03/1967; Anastacio Montez, Presido, TX, USA, May/24/1969; Linus Labin Oakley, Carthage, AR, USAF, October/29/1971; & Samuel Joesph Padgett, Tulsa, OK, USA, April/10/1968. Please help if you can! WE WILL NEVER FORGET!! WILL YOU? |
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| TEXARKANA AREA VETERANS COUNCIL (TAVC) |
| The December meeting will be held Thursday, December 2 at 6:00 pm. The January meeting will be held January 6. 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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| COGNITIVE PROCESSING THERAPY |
| John Abney is a Marine vet [Korea era 1951-1954] who does peer to peer counseling, utilizing CPT= cognitive processing therapy, very similar to cognitive behavioral therapy. He was trained by VA out of Dallas (still in training, takes a year to complete). Primary function for John is: 1] be friend to the vet; 2] deal with PTSD, general anxiety disorders, alcohol and drugs, and depression. These four symptoms seem to be the major areas that most of our vets suffer with after returning home. 3] Vet brings his DD214 to him, makes application through Andrews Mental Health. 4] NO RECORD OF THEIR VISIT GOES TO THE VA. 5] When they are approved by Andrews, then they make an appointment with John for one on one counseling using the approved CPT by the peer to peer. 6] Their counseling time with him does not cost them anything; he is paid through a grant by a gentleman in California.
Personal info: I have a Ph.D.; Board Certified Professional Counselor; NCACI which is nationally certified alcohol and drug counselor, SAP substance abuse professional. Been at this for 45 years. For more information call John Abney at: 903/276-5262. |
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| FOUKE'S VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK |
| On Saturday, November 6 several members of VVA # 278 attended the dedication of Fouke's Memorial Park. It was a moving dedication including a flyover of a couple of A 10 WartHogs from Barksdale Air Force Base.The Park and Memorial are fantastic. VVA # 278's brick is in a prominent, easy to find location and we also received (I really think a little overrated) recognition on the Donors' plaque at the main entrance. A POW/MIA logo is also very prominent at the entrance. After the dedication there was a reception at the Fluke's Community Center where VVA member Larry David won a beautiful quilt (which he donated to the chapter). I would recommend that if you are in the Fluke's area, to stop by and see this fantastic salute to veterans. They done good!!! |
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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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| BLOOMBURG'S CULLEN BAKER DAYS |
| On Saturday, November 6 VVA # 278 had a booth at the Bloomburg Cullen Baker Days where we distributed information on VA benefits & programs, VVA, POW/MIAs, Agent Orange, PTSD, etc., etc. We also worked on our fundraising project and sold some POW/MIA t-shirts and assorted hats. It was COOL man, COOL. I think we done real well and a special thanks to Glenda Davison for manning our booth while we attended the Fluke's dedication! |
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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
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 |
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| JOIN VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA (VVA) & ASSOCIATES OF VVA All veterans should belong to at least one veterans organization!! |
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| TEXARKANA AREA VETERANS COUNCIL 12th ANNUAL VETERAN'S BENEFIT CHILI COOK-OFF |
| FRIDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2011 11:00 AM TO 1:00 PM TRUMAN ARNOLD CENTER TEXARKANA COLLEGE COME TASTE SOME OF THE WILDEST, TANGIEST, AND MOST OUTLANDISH CHILI CONCOCTIONS IN NORTH EAST TEXAS - SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS. TASTE THEM ALL AND CAST YOUR VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE! $5.00 GENERAL ADMISSION ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT THE: TEXARKANA AREA VETERANS COUNCIL "SALUTE TO HOSPITALIZED VETERANS WEEK" |