VVA CHAPTER 936
November 2004
PRESIDENT'S CORNER
During these events we were able to have great discussions with many who were uninformed about several Veterans issues. We met many parents and families of troops currently serving overseas. It is extremely gratifying at these events to see how much attention our table attracts. The positive feedback and clear overwhelming support makes you feel good and proud to be a veteran. People were actually looking for our table. Everyone was enjoying the conversations and a lot of laughs were had by all.. That has a great impact on so many, especially the children. They get the opportunity to evaluate the Veteran as a person, a loved one or a family member. Those smiles and THANKS were very sincere.
I know all of us who were at the events ate well (I did!). We laughed a lot and enjoyed the weather. On both occasions, the organizers of these events were of great help and support. The Chambers of Commerce for both Mount Jackson and New Market gave us excellent table sites.
We now have our own Chapter Banner which we unveiled in New Market. It was a hit. Everyone knew who we were and had no trouble locating us. No doubt who we are! The banner reads "Vietnam Veterans of America", followed by the VVA Logo centered with "Chapter 936", and below that is "Shenandoah Valley".
A vendor at the New Market event donated a large wooden American Eagle to the Chapter. This carving retails for approximately $150.00. A very grateful Thanks!
It’s fun giving out the poppies! The reaction from the children and responses accompanied with the smiles makes you understand how much a Veteran is appreciated.
Members of the Chapter who have not received their map of Vietnam, please call me so we can get you one. The map is in color in newspaper page size and indicates Vietnam and surrounding countries,---a great piece of history, and it can be of great help for history/geography reports for the children/grandchildren.
Do you want to have a Christmas get-together? I would like to plan for one. Please call me with ideas and/or suggestions. Don’t forget Veterans Day and all the scheduled events. If possible try to come by the Woodstock event on Veterans Day, November 11th at the County Court House. This event is being sponsored by the American Legion Post 199. "Let Us Not Forget!".
Don’t forget to vote on November 2nd. A lot has been sacrificed for this right and privilege. It’s yours, you earned it. Don’t forget your dues renewal as they come up.
Thanks folks for a job well done. We are growing and we are doing it together. You can’t beat that!
Please check out our web-site. It looks great.
OFFICERS
NEXT MEETING
UPCOMING EVENTS
THE VIETNAM FILES
CORRECTION
POW/MIA
"Jennie will be profoundly missed by all those whose lives she touched with the sheer force of her will,” Corey said. “She was a magnificent woman who spoke out loudly and strongly for Vietnam veterans."
REMEMBRANCE
WELCOME HOME
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
FROM THE WEBMASTER
FROM SHABOOM’S KITCHEN
The month of October was a busy month for us. We covered and participated in two community events. The first one in Mount Jackson, Saturday, October 9th and then New Market on Saturday, October 23rd. On both occasions we had a nice turnout of members. Their participation helped so much to make these events a success.
Pete
President: Pete Mulligan (540) 740-3392
Vice President: Roger Stevens (540) 856-2871
Treasurer: Jon Clark - (540) 984-3056
Secretary: Venus Hammack - (540) 477-2923
Sergeant at Arms: Martin Ritenour
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Venus Hammack
Russell Hasler
Jon Clark
Pete Mulligan
William Mader
Harry Scheeler
Roger Stevens
STATE DELEGATES
Jon Clark, Pete Mulligan, Roger Stevens
Our next Meeting will be November 13th, 2004 at the VFW in Edinburg. The Board will meet at 10AM and the Chapter at 11AM. NOTE: We will be meeting here on the 2nd Saturday of every month.
November 9th: "In The Shadow of the Blade" The Board of Directors of In The Shadow of the Blade (ITSOTB), Inc., with the cooperation of the DUSTOFF Association, the Paralyzed Veterans of America, the Vietnam Helicopter Crew Members Association, the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, and the Vietnam Veterans of America, and with the support of the Women In Military Service For America Foundation, invite you to a Veterans Day "Tribute to Vietnam Veterans" Tuesday, November 9, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. featuring a special Director's Cut screening of the documentary film "In The Shadow of The Blade." The event will be held at the Women's Memorial located at the Ceremonial Entrance to Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. Brigadier General Wilma L. Vaught, USAF (Ret.) will serve as Mistress of Ceremonies. Combat journalist Joseph Galloway will give an introductory address. Events are free and open to the public.
November 10th: There will be a candlelight ceremony to dedicate a Memorial Plaque and to honor those who gave their lives, but whose names are not inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The ceremony will be held on Wednesday, at 7pm at the Three Soldiers Memorial at the
"wall".
November 11th: At the Virginia War Memorial, 621 South Belvidere St., Richmond, VA, 10:00am. The ceremony honors all veterans who have served our country past and present and to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice and died in battle. Keynote speaker is Congressman Eric Cantor.
November 11th: At the County Court House in Woodstock, VA there will be a gathering in front to Honor all Veterans, past and present. Please stop by at 11:00am and join in the ceremonies. This event is being sponsored by American Legion Post 199 in Woodstock and there will be a free dinner at the post following the ceremonies.
November 12th: VFW Post 2447 in Edinburg is sponsoring a free dinner for all Veterans. Social hour begins at 5:30pm followed by dinner at 7:00pm.
November 15th: Golden Corrals Fourth Annual
2004 Military Appreciation Monday. Free dinner to our nations military, past and present To show their thanks
Monday Night, from 5-9PM at your local Golden Corrals Restaurant.
December 3-5: Virginia State Council Meeting at Virginia Beach. The meeting will be at the Virginia Beach Resort Hotel, 2800 Shore Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23451. Telephone (757) 481-9000 or (800) 468-2772.
The Vietnam Files contain thousands of official United States Marine Corps records and documents, indexed by unit and command. Representing the USMC deployment to Vietnam from 1960 through 1975, this searchable archive contains documents from the field unit level to Fleet Marine Force Pacific Headquarters. You will locate, review, download, and copy documents from daily, weekly, monthly and annual reports. Unit incident reports, after action reports, and more. The document index to this archive is over 290 pages, listing more than 40 unit documents per page, and many single documents are hundreds of pages long. www.vietnamfiles.com (caution, there is a charge).
Last month I indicated that the records at the National Personnel Record Center would be destroyed after automation. This part of the article was based on a rumor circulating around the internet. The records will not be destroyed. However, the rest of the article was factual.
"If you are able, save them a place inside of you and save one backward glance when you are leaving for the places they can no longer go. Be not ashamed to say you loved them, though you may or may not have always. Take what they have left and what they have taught you and keep it with your own. And in that time when men decide and feel safe to call war insane, take one moment to embrace those gentle heroes we left behind.” (AUTHOR UNKNOWN)
VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA MOURNS THE LOSS OF AGENT ORANGE ADVOCATE JENNIE LEFEVRE
Jennie LeFevre, a nationally known advocate for Vietnam veterans and their families suffering health problems due to exposure to Agent Orange in the Vietnam War, died September 7 in Shady Side, Maryland. “Vietnam Veterans of America is deeply saddened by the news of the death of Jennie LeFevre, founder of The Quilt of Tears,” said Thomas H. Corey, the VVA’s National President. “After the death of her husband from Agent Orange-related cancer, Jennie was a tenacious advocate for those still suffering the effects of the Vietnam War.
Jennie was buried in Arlington National Cemetery on September 28 next to her husband Jerry.
As Veterans Day approaches I thought the following reading from the VVA Ritual book to be appropriate. Roger S.
In the rising of the sun and in its going down, we remember them.
In the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter, we remember them.
In the opening of the buds and in the rebirth of spring, we remember them.
In the blueness of the skies and in the warmth of summer, we remember them.
In the rustling of the leaves and in the beauty of autumn, we remember them.
In the beginning of the year and when it ends, we remember them.
When we are weary and in need of strength, we remember them.
When we are lost and sick at heart, we remember them.
When we have joys and special celebrations we yearn to share, we remember them.
When we see our nations young marching behind our flag, or hear ‘taps’ played, we remember them.
So long as we shall live, they too shall live, for they are part of us.
And when we answer the final roll, we know that our brothers and sisters will fulfill their duty, and greet us with the words of compassion and friendship, peace and love:
"Welcome home!"
A warm welcome home to our new members; George Rogers and Reino Oksa, both of Basye, VA. Welcome to Chapter 936.
Keeping with the tradition of our great nation in recognizing the birthdays of our American Heroes, we would like to wish a very Happy Birthday to our heroes who celebrate a birthday this month:
Ron Zerkel; 6 November
The new VVA936 website includes a Memorial page featuring photos of the “Wall” where personal memorials may be added. If you would like to post your personal memorial honoring someone who shared your service in Vietnam, I will be happy to post it there for you. I will need:
- Person’s name, rank and branch of Service
- Approximate years of service
- One or two lines for your message
- Your name, or nickname, or just "Anonymous"
You can send it to me by e-mail at shaboom@shentel.net or snail-mail to:
Carol Stevens
P. O. Box 299
Basye, Virginia 22810
The website also has a Message Board where you can leave message and respond to messages for other members. The gallery section contains some recent photos. You’ll find it all at www.caros.net/vva936
HAPPY THANKSGIVING! If you don’t want to cook a whole turkey this year, here’s a really yummy way to prepare a turkey breast!
1 5-6 lb. whole turkey breast with bone and skin
Kosher salt and coarse ground pepper
1 medium onion -- quartered
2 stalks celery with leaves -- cut in 2" pieces
2 medium carrots -- cut in 2" pieces
SEASONING MIXTURE:
3 sprigs fresh thyme
3 sprigs fresh sage
2 sprigs fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
4 tablespoons butter
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Wash turkey breast thoroughly inside and outer surfaces. Place on a cutting board, breast side down, and pat dry inside and outer surfaces with paper towels. Liberally salt and pepper the cavity and outer surfaces. Pack enough pieces of the onion, celery and carrot, plus half of the sprigs of fresh herbs into cavity, but do not overload. Scatter remaining pieces of the vegetables and herbs into the bottom of a 13x9x2 roasting pan.
Cut a piece of heavy duty foil about 12" x 12", loosely wad it up and place over the vegetables in the cavity. Press down slightly to be sure all vegetables will not fall out. Turn turkey breast over and carefully place in the roasting pan, skin side up, on top of the vegetables and herbs.
In a small microwave-safe bowl, place all ingredients for the seasoning mixture, and microwave on HIGH 25-30 seconds. Stir to combine well. With a large spoon or pastry brush, liberally slather the turkey breast all over the top and sides with the buttery seasoning mixture.
Cover the turkey breast loosely with foil "tent", place the pan in the oven and roast 1 hour undisturbed. Remove and reserve the foil tent and roast approximately 1 hour longer, basting occasionally with pan juices, until it registers 165 degrees F. on an instant-read thermometer.
Remove the pan from the oven and transfer turkey breast to a platter. Remove and discard the piece of foil, and the vegetables and herbs from the cavity. Replace the foil tent and allow to sit 15-20 minutes before carving. Note that the meat continues to cook as it sits.
If gravy is desired, place the roasting pan on top of the stove. Add 2-1/2 cups chicken or turkey broth and bring to a boil, stirring to loosen any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Mix 2 tablespoons cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cold water, and stir into the boiling mixture. Reduce heat to medium; cook and stir until thickened, adding more water if needed. Serve with sliced turkey.
Enjoy many more of Shaboom’s recipes at Shaboom’s Kitchen www.shaboomskitchen.com
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VVA Chapter 936
594 Cave Spring Lane
Edinburg, VA 22824