OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2011 NEWSLETTER
| VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA, INC. P.O. BOX 6608 TEXARKANA, TX 75505-6608 www.vva278.org
OFFICERS JOIN VVA and AVVA |
| VVA # 278's NEXT MEETING |
| VVA # 278's next meeting will be Sunday, October 16, 2011 at the American Legion Post at 525 East Broad Street. The meal will begin at 1:30 pm and will be a pot luck dinner. I will bring soft drinks. We ask members to bring sides and/or a 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; Fund raising ideas; Upcoming events; etc., etc.. We ask everyone to bring some non-perishable items for the "Hero's Pantry." Note: The "Hero's Pantry" is no longer operated out of the VA Clinic, it has moved to Trinity Presbyterian Church.
Remember: Sunday, October 16 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 your chapter doing! |
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| VVA # 278's OCTOBER MEETING |
| VVA # 278 will meet Sunday, November 20, 2011 at 1:30 pm at the American Legion Post at 525 East Broad Street. This will be our Thanksgiving dinner. We will have a turkey & ham. 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; Report on National Convention; Committee Reports; Legislative news; Fund raising ideas; Upcoming events; etc., etc.. We ask everyone to bring items for the Hero's Pantry!
Remember: Sunday, November 20 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 Sunday, December 18 # 1:30 pm at the American Legion Post. |
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| VVA # 278 EVENTS AND PROGRAMS |
| The 24th Annual POW/MIA Vigil & the 17th Annual "Ride to Remember" was, I consider, a complete success. It was our biggest ride so far with well over 100 bikes and close to 20 cars not counting the 9 police escorts. The coverage by the Texarkana Gazette was outstanding as was the media's publicizing of the event beforehand. I would like to thank everyone who participated and attended - we accomplished our mission. But we will be back next year (August 31 & September 1, 2012) to again remind the American public of the plight of the American POW/MIA's and to make sure the government doesn't abandon those serving now!
The weekend of September 11, we had a full schedule: On Friday, we had several members attend the 10th Anniversary Observance of 9/11 at the Texas A&M campus and one participating. It was great! That Saturday we had two members assist with the 5 K run to raise funds for the "Wounded Warriors Program." On Sunday we had several members attend the First Biker's Church for their observance of 9/11. We were going to make a presentation but that got postponed to a later date. We had several members (Donna Carmeli, Larry David, Paul Missildine and Robert Row) work the New Boston Pioneer Days Festival. It was hot and dusty but they persevered and put some funds into the chapter kitty as well as passed out information on VVA, PTSD, Agent Orange, VA claims and benefits, etc.. A big thanks to them!!! We also had 4 members attend the VVA National Convention in Reno, Nevada where the VVA Constitution was amended, resolutions discussed, passed, retired or defeated. We also elected the slate of National VVA officers to carry us forward for the next two years. We had a great 25th anniversary meeting on August the 28, with pizza, hot wings, and birthday cakes; good friendship and comradery, and even accomplished some needed work. Thanks to all for 25 years of service to veterans and the community!!! We recently had two members representing VVA # 278, Johnnie Gentry & Freddie Weathers, recognized at a Texas High football games as honorary co-captains. Also recognized was Mr. Hodge, a WWII ex-POW. We had our annual booth at the Four States Fair & Rodeo where we distributed information and worked on our fundraiser. Thanks to all who manned the booths!!! |
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| VETERANS DAY 2011 |
| Locally, Veterans Day will be observed Saturday, November 12 starting will the annual Veterans Day Parade hosted by the Texarkana Area Veterans Council. It will begin at 11:00 am at Broad & Hazel Streets in downtown Texarkana. Line-up begins at 10:00 am. The theme is "Freedom is Not Free" If you or someone you know would like to enter a float or group have them call me at 870/773-8279 or email me at: USMCgreg@aol.com.
After the parade the local McDonald's will provide a free meal for veterans at all of their local restaurants in Texarkana, Ashdown, & Atlanta. Each location will be manned by a different veterans organization, VVA # 278 will be at the one on Richmond Road across from Central Mall. Come out and eat & see us! On Friday, November 11, the Texarkana Gazette will host their annual "Salute to Veterans" at the Williams Memorial United Methodist Church on Moores Lane from 2:00 pm til 4:00 pm. Support the Troops & Remember the Veteran! |
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| VVA #278 MEMBERSHIP |
| As August 31, 2011 Vietnam Veterans of America # 278 has 103 VVA members; (70 Life members, 31 annual and/or three year members, 2 Incarcerated members), and 27 AVVA members, with 15 Life members and 12 annual and/or three year members. We would like to extend a hearty welcome to our newest members t our VVA # 278 family. He is: Charles Adams. WELCOME ABOARD & WELCOME HOME!!
We have 7 members who are delinquent. They are Boyce Freeman, L. Huddleston, Michael Pearson, Terry Strong, John Webb, Glenda Davison, and Dona Millward. We really want you to remain in the VVA # 278 family. 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. Also, VVA has a program whereas the dues of a permanently hospitalized Vietnam era veteran is waived. If you know of a Vietnam era veteran in these circumstances that would like to become a member of VVA let us know. We need a copy of his or her DD 214 and a letter from the Doctor or Director or the VA stating the veteran is permanently confined to a hospital and/or nursing home. Also, VVA has a time-payment plan for Life membership according to age (see the application attached). 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 September 27, 2011, according to the National League of Families and the DoD, there are still 1682 Americans unaccounted for from the Vietnam War. Of these 1,682 , 1,292 in Vietnam (North-476; South-818), 326 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 1,682, 18 from Arkansas, 24 from Louisiana, 34 from Oklahoma, and 107 from Texas. 537 are Air Force, 534 are Army, 212 are Marines, 367 are Navy and 32 are civilians. Over 450 of these are considered losses over sea. Since the end of the war (1975) there have been 901 Americans accounted for from the Vietnam War, and another 63 before 1975. sadly, none were returned alive after the fall of Saigon.
There are 3,347 Americans unaccounted for from World War I. There are now 73,787 Americans unaccounted for from World War II. There are now 7,984 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. We will never forget!! Remember them!! Our 25th Annual POW/MIA Vigil and our 18th Annual "Ride to Remember" will be held Friday & Saturday, August 31 - September 1, 2012. Help us make this the biggest & best ever! WE WILL NEVER FORGET!! |
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| TEXARKANA AREA VETERANS COUNCIL (TAVC) |
| The October meeting will be held Thursday, October 6 at 6:00 pm. The November meeting will be held November 3. Remember: The Texarkana Area Veterans Council meets the 1st Thursday of each month at 6:00 pm at the American Legion Post at 525 East Broad St.
VVA # 278's delegates and alternates are: Billy Walker, Fisher Plymale, Ann Walker, Donna Carmeli, and Greg Bischoff. The annual Veteran's Day Parade is scheduled for Saturday, November 12, 2011. 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. Help us help veterans! |
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| CALENDAR OF EVENTS
October 7: TAVC meeting October 13 : Navy Birthday October 16: VVA #278 meeting November 5: Cullen Baker Days/Bloomburg November 8: Election Day November 10: Marine Corps Birthday November 11: Veterans Day/Gazette's "Salute to Veterans" November 12: Veterans Day Parade November 14: Golden Corral Free Veterans meal November 20 : VVA #278 meeting November 24: Thanksgiving Day December 7: Pearl Harbor Day December 18: VVA #278 meeting December 25: Christmas January 5, 2012: TAVC meeting January 15, 2012: VVA # 278 meeting: VVA #278 meeting |
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| JOIN VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA (VVA) & ASSOCIATES OF VVA All veterans should belong to at least one veterans organization!! |