NOT EVERYONE WHO LOST HIS LIFE IN VIETNAM DIED THERE...
NOT EVERYONE WHO CAME HOME FROM VIETNAM EVER LEFT THERE
VVA Chapter 1069 Meeting Report for: April 4-11-2018
[posted on: 4-12-2018]
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The meeting was held at Mikeska’s BBQ, El Campo, TX.
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The following Board members were present: Sternadel, Steelman, F. Kulcak, Supak, Woods, Neumann and Mahlmann.
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There were 38 members and 14 guests present.
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The Pledge of Allegiance to the flag was recited and a prayer was said.
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The meeting was then recessed for the meal and reconvened at 1945.
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President Leonard Sternadel declared the meeting open at 1900 hours and the following business was transacted.
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Birthdays were recognized. New member Larry Monroe and prospective member Johnny Schoelmann were also recognized.
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Chapter member, Joe McCreary, then read a letter (see photo below) from the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution)
organization, on behalf of President Sternadel for announcing his selection as the DAR
South Central Texas Division recipient of the
"Regional Outstanding Veteran Volunteer" Award.
The letter arrived earlier, the same day of the chapter meeting.
AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS TO LEONARD!
At this point, we almost need a scorecard to keep track of the progression of the recent list of DAR Awards for Leonard.
Ha, just kidding.
So, with the help of his wife Dana, we have provided a brief summary of the past few months activities,
regarding the sequence of recent DAR events...
Earlier in the year, Leonard was nominated by Patty Jensen, member of the local Comfort Wood DAR chapter for the DAR local
"Outstanding Veteran Volunteer" Award. Leonard was selected as the local DAR chapter's winner!
His application (with required support criteria) was then sent to the DAR State level competition.
These announcements were made at our January 2018 chapter meeting by Patty Jensen - see photo below.
Several of our chapter members attended the official local DAR awards ceremony that was held in East Bernard in February - see photo below.
There are 208 DAR chapters in Texas. Leonard was then selected as the State winner and received his award in San Antonio
on March 10th during the National Defense Banquet that was held at the DAR Texas State Convention.
Photo below shows Leonard receiving the DAR "Texas Outstanding Veteran Volunteer" award in San Antonio at the convention.
CLICK HERE to View the Award Certificate and Medal
His application was then sent to the DAR Regional level, the South Central Region (of the US), which consists of
the following States; Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri.
On April 11 (day of this chapter meeting) he learned that he was selected as the DAR "Regional
Outstanding Veteran Volunteer" award winner!
His application has now been sent to DAR National, so he is now competing with the seven other DAR Regions across the US
for the DAR "National Title" of "Outstanding Veteran Volunteer". Good Luck Leonard!
CLICK HERE to visit the Wharton County DAR Website
CLICK HERE to visit the Texas DAR Website
CLICK HERE to visit the DAR National Website and learn more about their various Public Outreach & Patriotic Awards
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Chapter member and chapter Service Officer, Dwight Winkler, gave his monthly Veterans Benefits presentation.
Dwight is also currently the interim Service Officer for Wharton County. See photo below.
His handout contained the contact information for various persons involved with veteran’s benefits, along with several other
veteran related topics - see list below. Everyone received a handout.
- Contact information for VA claims and other needs
- Wharton County Youth Fair Veteran's Day Event
- Free Legal Aid available at Wharton County Library
- VA Compensation Payment Dates for 2018
- New Medicare Card Receipt
- Some Interesting information in latest VVA Veteran publication
- Free Lifetime National Parks Passes for Veterans with VA Rating
- Court rules Chronic Pain is a VA disability
Profiles of Vietnam Veterans
CLICK HERE to View or Print Dwight's Handout
CLICK HERE to visit Dwight's Veterans Benefits page on our website
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Chapter member, Mike Harbaugh, also gave a presentation about the new VA RAMP (Rapid Appeals Modernization Program).
See photo below.
Mike provided handouts for all attending. Use the link below to View or Print his handout.
Mike also works part time at the Wharton County VSO Office, helping Veterans with their VA claims.
CLICK HERE to View or Print Mike's Handout
Use the link below to read an article about RAMP.
CLICK HERE to read more about RAMP
Use the link below to visit our webpage for the WC VSO Office - includes office location and times open.
CLICK HERE to visit our WC VSO webpage
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Sternadel thanked those who helped with the Everyday Heroes Cook Off.
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TSC meeting was held in El Paso, April 6 and 7, the chapter did not send anyone. We have just received a preliminary report
from the newly elected TSC President, Kerwin Stone - see his items listed below. A full report should be coming soon.
- Attendance at the TSC meeting: 26 out of 37 chapters attended.
- El Paso Ch. 574 did an outstanding job of hosting the meeting!
- The Texas State Council held its biannual elections of officers at the meeting in El Paso on April 7. Our officers for the next two years are:
- President: Kerwin Stone (Ch 292, Beaumont)
- Vice President: Stephen Brady (Ch 343, Houston)
- Secretary: Cheryl van Syckle (Ch 366, San Antonio)
- Treasurer: Jim W. Boyd (Ch 137, Mesquite)
- We are grateful to our outgoing President, Buster Newberry, and our outgoing Secretary, Humberto Nevarez, for their years of
dedicated service to VVA.
- We were honored to have John Rowan, National President of VVA, at our meeting, and he spoke of the issues currently confronting VVA.
- Several awards were presented in the meetings, including the following:
- VVA Commendation Medal: Greg Beck (Ch 278)
- VVA Achievement Medal: Ray Hardy (292), Norman Van Gilmore (137), Alan "Doc" Hill (863), Ray Bush (1013)
- Region 7 Veteran of the Year: Stephen Brady (Ch 343 Houston)
- Region 7 Chapter of the Year: Ch 292 Beaumont
- TSC Pointman of the Year: Ray Hardy (292)
- Our host, VVA Ch 574 of El Paso, did a magnificent job of planning and coordinating our time in El Paso!
- Over 40 of us participated in a tour of Fort Bliss, including opportunities to fire weapons and drive tanks (all in simulators, of course).
- The weather could not have been better, and we were treated to an outdoor Mexican food buffet with live music on Friday evening.
- Our thanks go out to Humberto and all of his VVA and AVVA members who helped make this a visit to remember!
- The October TSC meeting will held be in Galveston, hosted by VVA Chapter 685 (Dickinson).
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VVA 40th Anniversary commemorative coins are available. Note that the chapter will be purchasing
30 of these coins and should have them available in our PX store at the May chapter meeting.
If you would like to purchase the coins directly from VVA National, we have posted the order form on our chapter website.
Use the link below to View/Print the order form.
CLICK HERE to View/Print the order form
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April 24th is Veteran’s Day at the Wharton County Youth Fair. Dwight Winkler has provided some information regarding
the special Veterans Day event. Some of our members attended this event last year.
The following email came from Tricia Potts, Assistant Fair Coordinator.
Good morning Dr. Winkler! Thanks for reaching out to us for this special day! Veteran’s Day will be held Tuesday,
April 24th and all veterans and their immediate family will be allowed free entrance to the grounds. We ask that
they present military identification at the main gate and sign their name on the sign-in sheet. We encourage them
to come enjoy the day at the Fair and then join us during Opening Ceremonies, prior to the start of bull riding,
in the Johnson Arena for special recognition.
Thanks,
Tricia Potts
Assistant Fair Coordinator
Wharton County Youth Fair
979-677-3350
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Sternadel asked the members if anyone had any ideas for any outside activities.
Another fish catch & fry outing at the Sternadel pond was suggested. The details will be discussed at the next May chapter meeting.
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There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
Much Thanks goes out to Chapter Secretary, John Steelman, for providing the meeting minutes.
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