Vietnam Veteran 862 member Jim McGeehan

holds a plaque representing the Army's 1st Avia-tion Brigade at his home in Hopewell Township. McGeehan is planning a trip this summer to visit the family of his old buddy Dennis Stecker, who was killed in Vietnam in 1970. Mark Stecker always wondered about the events surrounding his brother’s death in 1970 on an airbase in South Vietnam, and for 40 years Jim McGeehan remembered. Stecker, of Manitowoc, Wisconsin. near Green Bay, will fi-nally get some answers this summer when he

and his family meet with McGeehan of Hopewell Township, who served with Dennis Stecker at Bien Hoa Air Base and was there the day he died. “I thought about him often,” McGeehan said. “I’d see his name on The Wall (the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.), rub my hand across his name and think about that day. It’s just one of these things that you never forget.” McGeehan, a lieutenant with the Beaver County Sheriff’s De-partment, and Dennis Stecker served in the U.S. Army’s 118th Assault Helicopter Co. McGeehan was a helicopter door gunner. Stecker repaired the choppers. They met by chance, possibly in a mess line or at the enlisted men’s club, or the maintenance han-gar where Stecker worked. McGeehan isn’t sure. McGeehan said Stecker was quiet, not loud and boisterous like many of the soldiers on base. McGeehan liked that. They only knew each other for a short period — maybe five months — before Stecker was killed, but they forged a bond. “We just became friends,” McGeehan said. “I was from a steel town in western Pennsylvania (Midland) and he was from the Midwest. We always talked about our friends and families and the type of life we had back home.” (Cont on Page 4)

VIETNAM VET “GAZETTE” IssueIssueIssueIssue 96 96 96 96 Together Then ..... Together Now June 2010

Up-Coming Meetings BOD Meeting

2nd Wednesday of the Month

7:00 PM Regular Meeting 3rd Wednesday of Month

At our “New Home”

ROCHESTER VFW

Be Sure To

Important Dates to Remember

Upcoming Events— Page 11

Page 2 Vietnam Vet Gazette August 2001

COMMITTEES

Executive Board All 724 Area Codes

L. Skip Haswell - -President -843-6930 Mike Mikulich - - 1st V.P.—266-6663 Jon Neely - - - - -2nd V.P.—891-2089 Lee Corfield - - Secretary —775-3027 Bill Muns - - - - Treasurer-—643-9169

Board of Directors

Blaine Allinder——————375-4168 Bob Eiler———————— 457-8234 Bill Harlow——————-—378-0984 Bill Laughner———-———-843-6828 James Montgomery———-—827-2782 John Namath———————847-9296 Nick Pavkovich——————847-0592 Don Villella———————-843-7401 Bill Weiss————————827-2460

Delegates

JoAnna Williamson 1st —— 847-9389 Tracey King ———————513-0389 Reuben Fuller ——————-378-4990

Nominating Committee

* - - Denotes Chairman Bill Bischak - - *- - - - - - - - - 774-4198 JoAnna Wiilliamson - - - - - 847-9389 Tony Squadrito - - - - - - - - - - 643-1714

Agent Orange

Jon Neely- - *- - - - - - - - - - --891-2089 John Helbing - - - - - - - - - - - 843-0706 Tony Yannachione - - - - - - - -770-2267

Associate Liaison

Cheri Pickering - - * - - - - - 643-4397 Dave Tucker - - - - - - - - - - - 774-4074 John Wakeley - - - - - - - - - - -378-6938

Color/Honor Guards

James Montgomery - - * - - - 827-2782 Don Pickering - - - - - - - - - - -643-5267

Community Affairs

John Namath - - * - - - - - - - --847-9296 Don Villella - - - - - - - - - - - - 843-7401 JoAnna Williamson - - - - - - - 847-9389

Constitution & By-Laws

Reuben Fuller - - * - - - - - - - 378-4990 Bill Muns - - - - - - - - - - - - - -643-9169 Tony Squadrito - - - - - - - - - - 643-1714 JoAnna Williamson - - - - - - - 847-9389

Finance Bill Muns - - * - - - - - - - - - - 643-9169 Bill Bischak - - - - - - - - - - - - 774-4198 Lon Hogue - - - - - - - - - - - - - 846-8857 Bill Laughner - - - - - - - - - - - 843-6828

Legislative

Pete Petroskey - - * - - - - - - - 643-8999 Mike Mikulich - - - - - - - - - - 266-6663

Membership

Lee Corfield - - * - - - - - - - - - 775-3027 Bill Harlow - - - - - - - - - - - - -378-0984 Bill Bischak - - - - - - - - - - - 774-4198 Tracy King - - - - - - - - - - - - - 375-4046

Page 2 VIETNAM VET GAZETTE June 2010

POW / MIA “REMEMBER OUR POW/MIA'S”

When one American is not worth the effort to be found,

We as Americans have lost.

According to Department of Defense (DOD) figures, as of 2 May, 2010, 1,720 Americans are still listed as missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War, though over 450 were at sea or over water losses. In South Vietnam there are 835 still missing. In North Vietnam, there are 478. Another 341 are missing in Laos and 59 in Cambodia. An additional 7 are missing in the Peoples Republic of China territorial waters. The number of Americans returned and identified since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975 us now approximately 863, though another 63 American personnel were recovered post-incident and identified before the end of the war, bringing the total to approximately 926. Of the 1,720 unreturned Americans still unaccounted for, 90% were lost in Vietnam or areas of Laos and Cambodia under Vietnam's wartime control. From 20 May to 22 June, JPAC will do another excavation at the site of Major Bobby M. Jones (Flight Surgeon) and Pilot Jack Har-vey. The site was last excavated in 2008, where a blood chit was found. They are hoping to find co-mingled remains of the crew. If enough DNA evidence is found, it will make the identification possi-ble. They are also hoping to find dog tags belonging to either of the two men. With this evidence, they will close the cases of the two men. Ma-jor Jones's sister is a member of the board of the "National League of POW/MIA Families", and a former executive director of same. The author has mentioned before that in the course of research, he asked questions and went to lengths that had a tendency to step on peo-ple's toes. One of the several organizations he offended was the "National League of Families". The major source of contention with this organiza-tion was the resignation letter of Colonel Millard Peck. For those of our readers with computer access, type in Colonel Millard Peck on the search line, and you will be able to access his resignation letter. What you may not find was that Colonel Peck attached his resignation to his superior's door with a K-Bar. Ergo, one of my closest contacts from the National League is no longer speaking with me. Because of this, I take most information received from the League as questionable. It is the belief of the author that many just want to remove names from the list, and will use any means avail-able.

POW News (cont on Page 3)

Chapter 862 Officers & Committees

(All 724 Area Codes)

Executive Board

L. Skip Haswell - - -President - 843-6930 Jon Neely - - - - - - -1st V.P. - -891-2089 Pete Petrosky - - - - -2nd VP - - 643-8999 Lee Corfield - - - - Secretary - - 775-3027 Larry Googins- - - Treasurer- -- 869-7090

Board of Directors

Cliff Hawes - - - - - -3- - - - -- 728-5065 Blaine Allinder - - - - 3 - - - - - -375-4168 Nick Pavkovich - - - -3- - - - - - 847-0592 Bill Laughner - - - - -1 - - - - - -843-6828 Tom Robes - - - - - - 1- - - - - - 728-4334 Don Villella - - - - - - 1- - - - - - 843-7401 Rich Kamzelski - - - - 2- - - - - -728-2479 Gary Shaffer - - - - - - 2- - - - - 643-8941 Rich Tindell - - - - - - -2 - - - - - 336-5457

Delegates

Skip Haswell - - - - - - - - - - - 843-6930 Jon Neely - - - - - - - - - - - - - 891-2089 Bill Laughner - - - - - - - - - - - -843-6828 Nick Pavkovich - - - - - - - - - 847-0592 Lon Hogue - - - - - - - - - - - - - 846-8857 Lee Corfield - - - - - - - - - - - - -775-3027 Pete Petrosky - - - - - - - - - - - - 643-8999 Larry Googins - - - - - - - - - - - 869-7090 Rich Kamzelski - - - - - - - - - -728-2479 Phillip Morris - - - - - - - - - - - 643-5725

•••• - - Denotes Chairman

••••

Agent Orange

Jon Neely- - *- - - - - - - - - - - - -891-2089

AVVA Liaison

Linda Pavkovich - - * - - - - - - -847-0592

Color/Honor Guards

Ray Litzinger - - - - - - - - - - - - 378-5855

Community Affairs

Dan Sinclair - - * - - - - - - - - - -846-7475

Constitution & By-Laws

William Weiss - * - - - - - - - - 827-2460

Newsletter Lee Corfield * Editor* - - - - 775-3027

Finance Larry Googins - - - - * - - - - - -869-7090

Legislative

Bart Farzati - -* - - - - - - - - - - -777-2193

Membership

Gary Shaffer - - -* - - - - - - - - -643-8941

Merchandise

Bill Laughner - - - - - * - - - - - 843-6828

Minority Affairs

Reuben Fuller * - - - - - - - - - - 378-4990

Vets 4 Vets Rich Tindell - - - - - - - - - - - -- 336-5457

Page 3 VIETNAM VET GAZETTE June 2010

VVA 862

COMMITTEES (Cont)

POW/MIA Gary Wink - - * - - - - - - - - - - 728-2810

PTSD

Jon Neely - - - - * - - - - - - - - - 891-2089

Scholarship

Lon Hogue - - - - * - - - - - - - - 846-8857

Sgt of Arms

Roy Barlett - - - * - - - - - - - - -378-0272

Veterans Affairs

Jon Neely - - - - * - - - - - - - - - 891-2089

Hospital Committee

Blaine Allinder - - - - - - - - - - - 375-4168

Auditing Committee

Bill Wright * - - - - - - - - - -- - -775-0738 Wayne Cumer - - - - - - - - - - - -947-3859 Joe Mavero - - - - - - - - - - - - - 494-1505

Webmaster

Lee Corfield - - - - - - - - - - - - - 775-3027

Nominating Committee

Lon Hogue -*- - - - - -- - - - - - -846-8857 Bart Farzati - - - - - - - - - - - - - 777-2193 Gary Myers - - - - - - - - - - - - - 728-8620

Please Note, Next Edition

VIETNAM VET

GAZETTE

DEADLINE

July 7th 2010

VVA 862 WEBSITE

http://www.vva862.org

__________________________

Do we have any VVA Musicians?

If you play an instrument and

haven’t played for awhile, and

would like to get together for some

fun,

Please Contact:

Chet Kozlowski @

724-775-4117

POW News (cont from Page 2)

This brings us once again to H.R. 111. This bill is asking for a congressional committee to investigate POW affairs, and has over 280 co-sponsors. To put this in perspective, more than half the members in congress have signed on to this bill. This bill has been in committee for years, is re-introduced every year, and has never been to the floor of the house for a vote. POW/MIA affairs are just the author's little niche. We have oth-ers in our organization dealing with other Veteran Related bills. I have checked on some of these bills, including Agent Orange, the Homeless Bills, and several other bills, particularly those related to Vietnam Veter-ans. Most of the bills have been in committee as long as H.R. 111, with enough co-sponsors to get them passed. It is only the author's opinion, but it is very convenient for our congress people to tell us they support us, citing that they co-sponsor all these bills. My question is why, If supporting our veterans is so popular, can none of these bills ever get to the floor of the House or Senate to get passed? We need to get H.R 111 on the floor for a vote before we are too old for it to matter. "THIS IS OUR SOLEMN PLEDGE" ***UNTIL THEY ARE HOME*** "WHATEVER IT TAKES" "HOWEVER LONG IT TAKES" "WHATEVER THE COST" **********************************************************

FRIENDSHIP RIDGE

Come and visit our Veterans!

Next Visit is Monday

June 14th, 2010

Come out give us a hand as we visit each Veteran

At the Friendship Ridge Facility.

PAGE 8 VIETNAM VET GAZETTE February 2007 Page 5 VIETNAM VET GAZETTE December 2009

McGeehan Story (cont from Page 1)

McGeehan remembers that Dennis Stecker always had on a white T-shirt, unlike the other guys who typically wore olive green. He always had a smile on his face. He never got angry. “I never even heard him swear,” McGeehan said. That was Dennis, Mark Stecker said in a recent telephone interview from his home. “He would be smiling, no matter what,” he said. Mark, who was one year younger than his brother, said he always regretted not being there for his brother when he was killed. Maybe things would have been different, he said. Maybe he could have done something. “Ah, who knows,” he said with a sigh. He vividly remembers the day two local po-lice officers pulled up at the family’s home. Everyone was there: his parents, two younger brothers and a sister. They knew immediately. Dennis Stecker was dead at age 21. Killed in action. “They (the officers) didn’t have much more to say than that,” he said. Later, the official Army version came in a letter: early morning attack; shrapnel; Dennis didn’t make it. “All we knew is my brother came home in a coffin,” Mark Stecker said. “It was all a dark area.” McGeehan remembers Nov. 17, 1970, like it was yesterday. The rockets looked like giant sparklers falling from the sky, he said. ****************************************************************************************

“SUPPORT THE TROOPS”

RALLY

SUNDAY

Date: JUNE 13TH, 2010

Location: Gazebo in Beaver

Time: 1:00 PM

Come and Bring a Lawn Chair and enjoy the festivities.

Your own “American Flag” would look nice too!!!

Remember our VVA Motto:

Never again will one generation of Veterans abandon another!

Page 4 VIETNAM VET GAZETTE June 2010

PAGE 7 VIETNAM VET GAZETTE September 2005

Page 5 VIETNAM VET GAZETTE June 2010

Lee’s Tid Bits Hi Folks,

The Ride to the Wall 2010 - turned out to be another great trip. We did have a few who went for the first time and I’m sure if you ask them, They will agree, it was great. We also had some new folk do the Rolling Thunder ride on Sunday morning also. They were very impressed.. We again are looking forward to next year. Well, You will notice that the minutes from the May meeting are missing. I still haven’t figured out what happened. We had an outage here at the house where we lost everything, Cable, Phone & Internet. I’ve been able to recover mostly everything, but I can’t find the minutes from the May meeting. I was working on the newsletter at the time and I believe I hadn’t clicked on “save as” yet. When I went to open everything back up, after the power came back on, everything I worked on was gone. So I had to start over. If I find them, they will be in the next newsletter. As some of you know, We have 2 of our members are under strict medical care. Bob Grant has had some problems and was at the Kindred Care section of the Medical Center and has been moved to the Friendship Ridge for rehab for his knee and he is doing very well. He is on Annex 2 in room 233W. Our President Skip Haswell has recently undergone a Triple By Pass. After a few days in the Medical Center, Skip is now at home recuperating.

Support The Troops Rally - Don’t forget the upcoming “Support the Troops Rally” on Sunday June 13th at the Gazebo in Beaver. Bob Gwin has put a lot of work into this and has asked for our help. If you have some free time on that Sunday, stop down a little early and see where we can give him some assistance. It will be greatly appreciated. Upcoming Bike rides - I have been approached by several of our Riding members to look into some upcom-ing rides during the summer. I know there is one coming up in Butler July 17th which leaves out of the VA hospital and ends up at the Lyndora American Legion Picnic Grounds. There is also another veterans ride coming up in Pittsburgh. SW Viet Vets Parade Aug 22nd. As I get the details, I will send them out. Don’t for-get the Ride out in Ohio on July 24th. Details are on Page 7. Well, that’s it for now, Don’t forget to get signed up for Kokomo if you’re going. We can’t wait till the last minute. This must be done early. Let Skip know if you want added to the list. It will be here before you know it.

The views and opinions are solely that of the writer and

do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions or poli-

cies of the Vietnam Veterans of America, (National, State

or Local).

All articles written by the editor unless otherwise stated.

Submissions will be gladly accepted by the editor.

Lee Corfield - Editor VVA 862 Beaver County, Pa

140 Knob Vue Drive

Freedom, Pa. 15042

We reserve the right to edit submissions as space allows.

Mailing Deceased Members

Newsletters

Out of all the deceased members,

I’ve had one phone call

Who asked to remain on our mail-

ing list.

.

All others will be removed.

PAGE 8 VIETNAM VET GAZETTE February 2007 ShortRounds

Page 7 VIETNAM VET GAZETTE December 2009 Page 6 VIETNAM VET GAZETTE June 2010

What Blumenthal might have learned from the war zone

I have a thing for Marines, always have. It began a long time ago when I watched my older brother amble away in the night toward his barracks at Camp Pendleton near San Diego. I cried myself dry that evening, thinking that I might not see him again, knowing that the next morning he was off to Vietnam. Khe Sanh, his ultimate destination, might as well have been another planet. As it turns out, it was Hell. Jack came home eventually, a different boy than the one who left. Still just a teenager, he was leaner and meaner. His eyes gave nothing away. When our father and I visited Jack at the Naval Hospital in Philadelphia, where he was being treated for "battle fatigue" and other afflictions, we stuck to safe subjects: college, cars and girls, his primary interests at that point. To this day, I've yet to hear any stories of war from him, or, for that matter, from any of the men in my family, all of them veterans of various conflicts. A few scattered pictures of tough boys sporting knives and guns occasionally find their way to the top of a shoe box, but there are no videos or journals, no displays of Purple Hearts. Like most veterans, with a few notable exceptions, my brother has expressed no desire to re-visit that time and place, nor any need to boast of his exploits. When you've witnessed the horrors of war, you apparently don't need to tell anyone. Blumenthal had every right under the law to seek deferments. He had every right to be proud of his service during the Vietnam era. But he did not have the right to build personal equity on the borrowed suffering of others. Had he gone to Vietnam, as he apparently thinks he should have, he would have learned that, and this: Real heroes never brag, and real Marines don't lie. This was from the Washington Post today and written by Kathleen Parker

Special Thanks goes to VVA 862 Mike Rampenthal from Port Angeles Washington for this article

Ohio Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park

Clinton Ohio

July 24th, 2010

This is a Very Special\Motorcycle Ride in Honor of the

3,095 Ohio Vietnam Veterans who paid the ultimate price!

Clay’s Park

Canal Fulton, Ohio

Staging will be from 10:00 AM to 1:00 AM

We will be leaving here early Saturday Morning

_________________________________________________

We Are Collecting “Eyeglasses”

Last year, Bill Laughner assisted one of our VVA members Tom McCormack in collect-ing 4 boxes of eyeglasses. Tom McCormack travels every year to South America to take them Medical Supplies. Bill would like to do the same thing this year. He will be bringing in boxes from the Lions Club to collect your old eyeglasses. He will be doing this for the next 3 meet-ings. That would be June July & August If you have some, Bring them in: See Bill Laughner

VVA CHAPTER 862 GOLF LEAGUE VVA CHAPTER 862 GOLF LEAGUE VVA CHAPTER 862 GOLF LEAGUE VVA CHAPTER 862 GOLF LEAGUE

STONECREST GOLF COURSE Every MONDAY EVENING LEAGUE TEE-TIMES 5:30 PM

BLACKHAWK GOLF COURSE

Every THURSDAY EVENING LEAGUE TEE-TIMES 6:00 PM

Page 7 VIETNAM VET GAZETTE June 2010

Page 8 VIETNAM VET GAZETTE June 2010

VVA CHAPTER 862 IS ACCEPTING ORDERS for memorial walkway bricks to be placed at the Vietnam Memorial in Beaver. You may honor Veterans of the armed services, loved ones and friends (both living and deceased) with an “In Memory of” brick. You may also want to honor your American Legion post, your Veterans of Foreign Wars post and/or all Veterans Service Organizations. Orders are accepted year round, with placement every spring and fall. Engraving is donated by Rome Monument in honor of county veterans.

Mail completed forms to:

William Laughner 119 Jonathan Drive Darlington, PA 16115

BEAVER COUNTY VETERANS EXPO

JUNE 19th, 2010

10:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Penn State, Beaver

100 University Drive

Monaca Pa 15061

A FREE EVENT FOR VETERANS, SOLDIERS AND THEIR FAMILIES

THE PUBLIC IS INVITED

CONTACT: BEAVER.PSU.EDU.VETERANSEXPO

Sponsored by

Penn State & Beaver County Times

Page 9 VIETNAM VET GAZETTE June 2010

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

TO OUR

MEMBERS

July Albert Walters July 1 Charles Inman July 2 John Elliott July 2 Dan Householder July 2 Ray Nixon July 2 Doug Smith July 2 Gary Wink July 2 Luke Patrino July 3 Rich Raich July 4 Ronald Dominici July 7 William Reed July 9 Louis George III July 10 William Silver Sr July 10 Nick Veitz July 10 Jim McTaggart July 12 John Wakeley July 12 Roy Barlett July 13 Steph Bollard July 13 Dennis Smith July 14 Randy Tallon July 14 James Boots July 17 Huxley Lipscomb July 17 Bernie Strauss July 17 John Malack July 19 Tom Devin July 20 John Vongray July 20 George Haskell July 21 Dennis McFee July 21 Ken Phillips July 21 Joe Russell July 22 Gale Mussey July 23 Dave Ondrusek July 24 Cliff Pflugh July 24 Gary Shaffer July 25 Larry McGrown July 26 Chas R. Smith July 29

If you don’t see your

Birthday listed, it’s

probably because I don’t

have it.

I don’t have AVVA

Birthdays.

Legislative Update June 2010 VA Sec. Shinseki has proposed legislation titled “The Veterans Benefits Im-provement Act of 2010 “intended to change the way the VA would deal with the claims backlog. He proposes that the law do away with “reasons and ba-sis” for board decisions and impose only a “plausible” reasoning requirement on the VA boards. This means that almost no VA decision will be overturned by a court and will surely do away with the backlog caused by those pesky attorneys who represent veterans. (See vawatchdog.org for more info) Senator Jim Webb (VA) has delayed the implementation of the payment of claims for the three new Agent Orange presumptives. Hairy cell leukemia and other chronic B cell leukemia's, Parkinson's disease, and ischemic heart disease have been added to the list of presumptives for service connection and now congress will have 60 days to rule on the VA decision. The Senate has completed its version of the Defense Authorization bill. This bill would reduce this year’s military pay raise from 1.9% (as proposed in the House version) to 1.4%. It would also take the first steps toward repeal-ing the DOD “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy which will allow openly gay peo-ple to serve in the military. H.R. 5041 has been signed into law. It recognizes all VA health care pro-grams as meeting Minimal Essential Coverage under the new national health care law. H.R. 1017 “Chiropractic Care to all Veterans Act” has passed the House and is now in the Senate. If this bill passes it will make chiropractic care avail-able in 75 VA hospitals and clinics by 2013 The Agent Orange Equity Act now has 257 cosponsors and is still in com-mittee with no planned action. S-1939 in the senate had a hearing on 19 May.

Here’s the VA position on the legislation: “Herbicide was used to defoliate trees. We already provide for pre-sumptive service connection for naval personnel and Air Force personnel who were in brown water where we can demonstrate that they were ashore or even if they transited for only a very short time in Vietnam. But many of these ships were hundreds of miles away from the shore. In fact, a very sen-ior naval officer told me when he was working for VA that when he was a submarine commander, they would make it a point to go inside the tactical zone so that they could get the Vietnam Service Medal. They were sub-merged at the time. So we do not believe that herbicide would have extended hundreds of miles offshore, nor would it have affected high altitude aircraft “ (STATEMENT OF THOMAS J. PAMPERIN, ASSOCI UNDER SEC-RETARY FOR POLICY AND PROGRAM MANAGEMENT, VETERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS)

Page 16 VIETNAM VET GAZETTE December 2009 Page 14 VIETNAM VET GAZETTE December 2009 Page 10 VIETNAM VET GAZETTE June 2009

AVVA Minutes May 19, 2010

Chapter Representative Linda Pavkovich called the regular meeting of AVVA Chapter 862 to order at 6:00 PM with 17 members present. Minutes of the previous meeting were approved as published. The report was given on our line item in the VVA budget and will be filed.

Unfinished Business: Our planned visit to Friendship Ridge is scheduled for Monday, June 14, 2010. Our request for Chapter Incorporation has been approved by National. We have 60 days from the date I re-ceive the registered confirmation letter and return the card to get our 25 signatures. The Vet Center donation this month will be to the Upper Beaver Valley Veterans Service Center. We have ordered a supply of Agent Orange Remembrance Pins. We will be giving them to the widows and children of Vietnam Veterans who have died as a result of Agent Orange. We will have them for sale for any-one who wants to pay tribute to those who are living with the result of exposure to AO. Please notify Bobby Morris or Linda Pavkovich with names of anyone who should receive one of these pins. New Business: Bob Gwin spoke about the upcoming Troop Rally and asked for AVVA help this year with setting up and dur-ing the rally. He also asks that we contribute new ideas for next year’s rally. A motion was made by Robb Lane, seconded by Marilyn Piccirilli, to donate $100 from our VVA line item to the rally. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned. Next meeting will be June 16, 2010 at the Rochester VFW in the Board Room at 6:00 PM.

ATTENTION ALL AVVA MEMBERS:

We have begun the procedures for becoming an Incorporated Chapter of AVVA. At present we are an AVVA Chapter affiliated with VVA 862. Incorporation will enable AVVA 862 to elect officers, maintain our own finances, and work more effectively with VVA 862 to support their projects and programs. We are dedicated to helping all veterans, their families and their communities. We will continue to work closely with VVA 862 in these efforts. The first step is to complete a petition with 25 signatures of AVVA members who are at least 18 years of age and have been a member of AVVA for at least 3 months. (AVVA members who are also VVA members cannot sign the petition.) We only have until the middle of July to complete and return the petition to National AVVA, so please come to the June 16, 2010 meeting at 6:00 PM at the Rochester VFW to sign the petition and help us to become incorporated.

Calendar of Events for 2006 PAGE 12 VIETNAM VET GAZETTE January 2006

‘TOGETHER THEN” “TOGETHER NOW”

Calendar of Events for 2010

#218186

Page 11 VIETNAM VET GAZETTE June 2010

“TOGETHER THEN” “TOGETHER NOW”

June

June 2 Newsletter Deadline June 5 & 6 VVA PA State Council Meeting State College Pa June 9 VVA BOD Meeting - Rochester VFW 7 PM June 13 U S Army Birthday 1775 June 13 Support the Troops Rally - 1:00 PM Gazebo in Beaver June 14 Flag Day “Fly them Flags” June 16 VVA Regular Meeting Rochester VFW 7 PM June 20 “Happy Fathers Day”

July July 3 Independence Day * Parade in Midland* July 7 Newsletter Deadline July 14 VVA BOD Meeting Rochester VFW 7 PM July 17 BIKERS For VETS Run - Butler VA PA. 10:00 AM July 21 VVA Regular Meeting Rochester VFW 7 PM AVVA meets @ 6:00 PM

August

Aug 4 Newsletter Deadline . US Coast Guard Birthday 1790 Aug 10 - Aug 15 National VVA Conference Orlando Fl Aug 11 VVA BOD Meeting Rochester VFW 7 PM Aug 13 - 15 Regatta - Bridgewater (Booth will be set up)

Chairmen will be Rich Kamzelski

Aug 18 VVA Picnic - Industry Park Aug 22 Honor SW PA Viet Vets 10AM to 6PM South Park Fairgrounds Parade 11:00 AM Aug 24 - 28 “Hookstown Fair” Booth set up all week Aug 27 VVA “Duck Race” 6:00 PM @ Hookstown Fair

PLEASE

“READ YOUR NEWSLETTERS”

You wouldn’t believe how many people call

me looking for information on upcoming

items. I’ll bet I had 5 calls about when the

Butler VA was coming to our meeting. I

know it was covered at least 3 times in the

newsletter.

Also check this page to see if your item is

listed under Calendar of Events.

Lee

September

Sept 1 Newsletter Deadline Sept 6 “Labor Day” Sept 8 VVA BOD Meeting Rochester VFW 7 PM Sept 11 POW / MIA Run & Memorial Program Sept 15 VVA Regular Meeting Rochester VFW 7 PM Sept 16 - 19 Kokomo, In. Vietnam Vet Reunion Sept 18 US Air Force Birthday 1947 Sept 26 “Gold Star Mothers Day”

October

Oct 6 Newsletter Deadline Oct 13 U. S. Navy Birthday Oct 13 VVA BOD Meeting Rochester VFW 7 PM Oct 16 - 17 PASC Meeting State College Pa Oct 20 VVA Regular Meeting Rochester VFW 7 PM AVVA meets @ 6:00 PM Oct 23 Hi-Way Clean Up Meet @ Baden McDonald’s 9:AM

Clean Up detail starts at 10:00 AM Oct ?? Agent Orange Poppy Days

November

Nov 2 “Election Day” Be Sure to Vote’ Nov 3 Newsletter Deadline Nov 7 Daylight Savings Time Ends Nov 10 US Marine Corp Birthday Nov 10 VVA BOD Meeting Rochester VFW 7 PM Nov 11 Veterans Day Parade in ???????? Pa Nov 17 VVA Regular Meeting Rochester VFW 7 PM Nov 25 “Happy Thanksgiving “

December

Dec 1 Newsletter Deadline Dec 7 “Pearl Harbor Day” Dec 8 VVA BOD Meeting Rochester VFW PM Dec 15 VVA Regular Meeting Rochester Elks 7 PM Dec 25 “Merry Christmas” Dec 31 New Year’s Eve

Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc Beaver County Chapter 862

Lee Corfield, Editor 140 Knob Vue Drive Freedom, PA 15042

Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc

Beaver County Chapter 862

Lee Corfield, Editor

140 Knob Vue Drive

Freedom, PA. 15042

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE

PAID PERMIT NO. 862

ROCHESTER PA. 15074

VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA MEMBERSHIPVIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA MEMBERSHIPVIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA MEMBERSHIPVIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA MEMBERSHIP

IS OPEN TO ANY VETERAN WHO SERVEDIS OPEN TO ANY VETERAN WHO SERVEDIS OPEN TO ANY VETERAN WHO SERVEDIS OPEN TO ANY VETERAN WHO SERVED

ANYWHERE DURING THE VIETNAM WAR ERAANYWHERE DURING THE VIETNAM WAR ERAANYWHERE DURING THE VIETNAM WAR ERAANYWHERE DURING THE VIETNAM WAR ERA

Name:______________________Phone:_______________Birthday___/___/___ Address:__________________-City:________________State:______Zip______ ____I served in the US military (for other than training purposes) between 8/5/64 & 5/7/75

Or ____I served in the US military in Vietnam between 2/28/61 and 5/7/75 ____DD-214 enclosed (Applications without DD-214 will be processed as Associate Memberships) ____Renewal Membership Card #_________________New Member:_____________ ____I wish to join the (AVVA) - Associates of the Vietnam Veterans of America $20.00 P/Year Type: __ 1 Year Individual Member- $20.00 __ 3 Year- $50.00 __ Life Member Optional Time Payment $50 down/ $25/mth __ $250.00 (Ages 49 and under) __ $225.00 (Ages 50-55) __ $200.00 (Ages 56-60) __ $175.00 (Ages 61-65) __ $150.00 (Ages 66 + )

Return this form to:

GARY SHAFFER

VVA CHAPTER 862

709 OHIO AVE

MIDLAND, PA 15059