Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 380

08/28/2020

We had our monthly Board/Membership Meeting on Monday, July 6th. Due to the current COVID19 10-person limit on gatherings imposed by Governor Whitmer, the announcement for this meeting was not released to the entire membership. We adhered to the mandates for social distancing and the wearing of masks. Seven members and two guests were present for the meeting. For those of you who are interested, here is what we discussed at that meeting:

INTRODUCTIONS - We were graced by the presence of two guests last night. Len Ewalt was there by invitation from Larry Collister. Len made an application for membership while at the meeting. Welcome aboard! Larry also invited Leon Jarvis to the meeting to give a “short” J presentation to the group. See below for details.

CORRESPONDENCE -
(1) We received a letter from the Escanaba Veterans Center thanking us for allowing them to use the chapter building for a picnic on Wednesday, June 17th. The group was so impressed with out set-up and location that they asked if they could use the building to hold their meetings on a regular basis. Vic Romback made a motion we honor this request and Dan Jackovich seconded. Motion passed. Their meetings are every other Wednesday from 1 - 2:30 pm. The next two meetings will be on July 15th and July 29th. Because their sessions are confidential in nature and you must be referred to the group via a medical authority (I’m not sure if it is a doctor or what) before participating, the building will be closed to the public at that time. You will know they are there by the abundance of vehicles in the parking lot. We ask that you respect their privacy.
(2) The chapter building was also used by the UP Veteran of the Year Committee on Wednesday, June 24th. It is nice to see it getting some use.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

HONOR/COLOR GUARD -
(1) Charlie Hawes decorated his truck and represented the VVA, the American Legion, the VFW, and the DAV in the drive-by parade held at Norlite Nursing Center and Jacobetti Home for Veterans on Wednesday, July 1st. THANK YOU, CHARLIE!
(2) Larry Collister and Llewanne Salo also represented our chapter in a parade. Larry just had his truck re-painted by Gary Hegman and he and Llewanne rode in the parade in Gwinn on Saturday, July 4th. THANK YOU ALSO TO LARRY AND LLEWANNE!

VETERANS AFFAIRS - Jacobetti is still closed on account of the pandemic restrictions so Dan didn’t have anything to report from them.
OLD BUSINESS -
(1) DINNER DANCE - after discussing the current pandemic restrictions and talking about the hurdles we may have to potentially face we decided that things were just too uncertain for the chapter to try to pull off a dinner dance this year. So I made a motion that we officially cancel the dinner dance that was scheduled for Saturday, October 10th, and Charlie Hawes seconded. Motion passed. I will have an ad placed in the Mining Journal and see about having this included on the bulletin board for local TV stations and Larry is asking Llewanne to share this information via face book. We ask that all chapter members also share this information via word or mouth and whatever social media they happen to use. THANK YOU!

(2) FORGOTTEN EAGLES - the Forgotten Eagles Motorcycle Group have asked that we host a pit-stop/picnic for their annual fund raising ride across the UP. We agreed, provided we don’t have a sudden spike in COVID cases due to mass of folks at McCarty’s Cove on July 4th (see the Channel 6 website or google McCarty’s Cove on July 4th for photos of the huge crowd on the beach and access the K102-5 website for photos of the trash many members of that undulating hoard of fools left behind). We’ve been hosting this group for about ten years now and would like to honor their request, provided we can do so safely. While walking the dogs this morning I brainstormed this issue, and I welcome any in-put from those of you out there who have ideas to share. Here is what I came up with so far.
(a) Seating - Mary Schenk says they expect to have about 20 riders this year and we do not expect the guys/gals from Jacobetti to participate. To accommodate that number of people we could put up the chapter tent and place two 8-foot tables and a limited number of chairs under this tent (if the weather is either going to be very hot or they are calling for rain). We could also move the picnic tables into the shade under the trees. I have a 7-foot pop-up tent and two 6-foot adjustable umbrellas on weighed stands that we could deploy in the area near the garden and on the north end of our property (where we used to have the horse-shoe pit for those of you old-timers who remember way back when). If Johnnie D still has his 10-foot pop-up tent, that would make four options for seating out of the sun. NO ONE will be allowed to sit in the chapter building to eat, as the place is too small and we will need whatever space we have in there for serving.
(b) Safe entry to the building - to keep people flowing, we could have someone at the front door directing the riders to enter the building from the rear. A second person could stand at the end of the bar and hand out a face-mask to anyone not already wearing one. I will see if we can hit up Leon for masks from Hospice or price the purchase of masks from some other source. The guests will than be directed to enter the serving line from that door.
(c) Serving - because self-serve is a big no-no right now, we could set up an army-style food line using two of the 8-foot tables placed in a right-angle configuration. The servers would be gloved and masked and stand on the back side of the tables. We would need about three people for this and they can easily be socially-distanced from each other behind the tables. The first person would hand out plates, pre-wrapped plastic silverwear, and packets of catsup/mustard/and onions (which we can cut up and put in little sandwich bags ahead of time). The second server could place buns (if wanted), brauts, or mini-pasties on the plate being offered to them by our guests. The third server could ladle a choice of salad or potato chips on to the plate offered. The fourth server would issue the drinks from the frig and pass out the desserts. The guest will than be asked to exit the building using the front door.
(d) Menu - in addition to having brauts and buns, I would like to modify Charlie’s idea and offer sub sandwiches by buying 3 foot-longs from sub-way, cutting them into 3-inch portions and wrapping them in cellophane. I few don’t have a coupon for foot-longs, I figure it will cost about $5-$7 per sandwich. I will donate two dozen mini-pasties from Iron Town at a cost of about $8 a dozen (the last time I bought them). I will use chapter funds to purchase the brauts, buns, chips, pre-packaged condiments, and soda (as needed). Sharon has offered to make a tuna salad and Steve normally donates a broccoli salad for these affairs. I will also make and donate a potato salad and strawberry shortcake for dessert. Sue McCann normally offers to make brownies for this event picnic or I can make a pan myself. If you want to help us keep down costs (the purse strings are a little tighter than normal because this will be the second dinner dance we have cancelled), I will accept donations to the chapter to defray the costs.
(e) Infection control - we could leave both chapter doors wide open so no one has to touch door handles to come in or go out. The worse that will happen is the place may get a little warm inside and we may be inviting the flies in. I have a wonderfully small wooden table that we can place next to the door for the latrine and I will donate a couple of canisters of anti-bacterial wipes and put a sign on the door asking folks to use a wipe for opening and closing that door. We can use a solution of bleach and water to wipe down the tables and chairs before and after the event. We will put the cloth chairs in the office to keep people from using them, as they cannot be adequately disinfected, and use only the folding chairs and the white picnic chairs we have in the shed.
(f) Social distancing - Charlie has donated a couple of audio/speaker units to the chapter in the past few years. We could set up the podium in the parking lot and use one of these set-ups so the guest speaker (during their planned presentation) can be heard without people having to bunch up to listen.

That’s all I have so far. Send me whatever ideas you come up with. We won’t actually know if we can do this picnic until August, so we’re just planning for now. We will have a Board/Membership meeting on Monday, August 3rd to make the final decision on whether or not we can host this picnic safely.

NEW BUSINESS:
(1) LEON JARVIS - Leon has retired as a minister and is now employed by UP Home Health and Hospice as a Bereavement Coordinator. He came to the meeting to make a presentation on end of life issues as they pertain to veterans in particular. Leon was a chaplain for 18 years (retiring two years ago), was a nurse before that, and he’s a dad. He came to the UP from Dearborn and has been in the area for over 30 years. During his tenure as a minister, he has performed funeral services for roughly 500 funerals. We have gotten to know Leon over the years while performing military honors at many of the funerals he has participated in.

UP Home Health and Hospice (and Lake Superior Hospice) are participating in an effort design a program to offer services to veterans who are approaching the end of life. This program is called “We Honor Veterans”. Although he did not serve himself, Leon comes from a background where his father served, his uncles served, and his brothers served in the military. Through association with his family members and serving area veterans through funerals, he has come to realize that many veterans, because of what they have been exposed to during their service, have unique needs that are not being addressed when they pass away at home or in hospitals. For this reason, they are setting up a program that will hopefully match veterans with dying clients, so they have the special understanding and support that only someone who has walked in their shoes can provide. If you have any suggestions for things that hospice can do to make passing easier for veterans, of if you want more information from Leon or hospice for someone you love who is currently facing end of life, feel free to call him at 225-4545.

(2) HOPE STARTS HERE - according to the internet the cancer walk-fund raiser has gone to a virtual format. Larry is still going to pay all entry fees from Patti’s estate and is buying tee-shirts (Patti’s angels) for people who wish to participate. For more information on how to enter, google “Hope Starts Here”, and be sure to give Larry your tee-shirt size.

OPEN FORUM: nothing offered.

List of up-coming events:
Monday, Aug 3rd - next Board/Membership Meeting (bring a mask)
Wednesday, Aug 5th - Forgotten Eagles pit-stop (if not cancelled by pandemic restrictions)
Saturday, Aug22nd to August 30th - Hope Starts Here fund raiser
Wednesday, Aug 15th and 29th - building closed for private meeting
Saturday, Oct 10th - Dinner Dance cancelled.

08/28/2020

Got some good news about the monument at Mattson Lower Harbor.

First - Faye Warner sent the following two emails:

(1) John got the stone from Cleveland cliffs when he worked there. I think fabco in harvey did the rest....
It is rated 7 on the mohs scale. It can chip or scratch but that is ok.

(2) The mohs scale determines the hardest. A diamond is 10. Jasper is 7...call fabco

So, from the sounds of this, the stone John got from CCI is a lot better quality than the guys at Republic Memorials seemed to think when they mounted the bronze plaque on it.
Second - Talked with Pat from Republic Memorials. He went down to the Lower Harbor and looked at the stone. He said the black striping we are seeing in the stone is actually part of the pigmentation in the rock. They tried to scrape it with a plastic scraper and nothing came off......so these are not really cracks after all. He said the only flaw they found in the stone is that small area that is chipping on the upper right corner as you face the front of the monument. As far as that goes, they recommend we leave it alone. Anything we try to do would probably make it worse.

In their opinion, the monument should be just fine for another 24 years. By than, who's going to be around to worry about it?

08/28/2020

Just to let everyone know, The VVA Veteran Sept. and Oct. addition will be online only due to financial reasons due to COVID 19, at www.vvaveteran.org. They are hoping that the next issue may be in print also.
I hope this finds you all healthy and safe!
Vic

THE PENTAGON PAPERS: CONSTRUCTING AN ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE WAR We inaugurate our “Fighting Words” series with the best-known publication to come out of The Vietnam War: the 3,000-page, 4,000-document Report of the Secretary of Defense Vietnam Task Force, better known as the Pentagon Papers: how it...

07/07/2020

We had our monthly Board/Membership Meeting on Monday, July 6th. Due to the current COVID19 10-person limit on gatherings imposed by Governor Whitmer, the announcement for this meeting was not released to the entire membership. We adhered to the mandates for social distancing and the wearing of masks. Seven members and two guests were present for the meeting. For those of you who are interested, here is what we discussed at that meeting:

INTRODUCTIONS - We were graced by the presence of two guests last night. Len Ewalt was there by invitation from Larry Collister. Len made an application for membership while at the meeting. Welcome aboard! Larry also invited Leon Jarvis to the meeting to give a “short” J presentation to the group. See below for details.

CORRESPONDENCE -
(1) We received a letter from the Escanaba Veterans Center thanking us for allowing them to use the chapter building for a picnic on Wednesday, June 17th. The group was so impressed with out set-up and location that they asked if they could use the building to hold their meetings on a regular basis. Vic Romback made a motion we honor this request and Dan Jackovich seconded. Motion passed. Their meetings are every other Wednesday from 1 - 2:30 pm. The next two meetings will be on July 15th and July 29th. Because their sessions are confidential in nature and you must be referred to the group via a medical authority (I’m not sure if it is a doctor or what) before participating, the building will be closed to the public at that time. You will know they are there by the abundance of vehicles in the parking lot. We ask that you respect their privacy.
(2) The chapter building was also used by the UP Veteran of the Year Committee on Wednesday, June 24th. It is nice to see it getting some use.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

HONOR/COLOR GUARD -
(1) Charlie Hawes decorated his truck and represented the VVA, the American Legion, the VFW, and the DAV in the drive-by parade held at Norlite Nursing Center and Jacobetti Home for Veterans on Wednesday, July 1st. THANK YOU, CHARLIE!
(2) Larry Collister and Llewanne Salo also represented our chapter in a parade. Larry just had his truck re-painted by Gary Hegman and he and Llewanne rode in the parade in Gwinn on Saturday, July 4th. THANK YOU ALSO TO LARRY AND LLEWANNE!

VETERANS AFFAIRS - Jacobetti is still closed on account of the pandemic restrictions so Dan didn’t have anything to report from them.
OLD BUSINESS -
(1) DINNER DANCE - after discussing the current pandemic restrictions and talking about the hurdles we may have to potentially face we decided that things were just too uncertain for the chapter to try to pull off a dinner dance this year. So I made a motion that we officially cancel the dinner dance that was scheduled for Saturday, October 10th, and Charlie Hawes seconded. Motion passed. I will have an ad placed in the Mining Journal and see about having this included on the bulletin board for local TV stations and Larry is asking Llewanne to share this information via face book. We ask that all chapter members also share this information via word or mouth and whatever social media they happen to use. THANK YOU!

(2) FORGOTTEN EAGLES - the Forgotten Eagles Motorcycle Group have asked that we host a pit-stop/picnic for their annual fund raising ride across the UP. We agreed, provided we don’t have a sudden spike in COVID cases due to mass of folks at McCarty’s Cove on July 4th (see the Channel 6 website or google McCarty’s Cove on July 4th for photos of the huge crowd on the beach and access the K102-5 website for photos of the trash many members of that undulating hoard of fools left behind). We’ve been hosting this group for about ten years now and would like to honor their request, provided we can do so safely. While walking the dogs this morning I brainstormed this issue, and I welcome any in-put from those of you out there who have ideas to share. Here is what I came up with so far.
(a) Seating - Mary Schenk says they expect to have about 20 riders this year and we do not expect the guys/gals from Jacobetti to participate. To accommodate that number of people we could put up the chapter tent and place two 8-foot tables and a limited number of chairs under this tent (if the weather is either going to be very hot or they are calling for rain). We could also move the picnic tables into the shade under the trees. I have a 7-foot pop-up tent and two 6-foot adjustable umbrellas on weighed stands that we could deploy in the area near the garden and on the north end of our property (where we used to have the horse-shoe pit for those of you old-timers who remember way back when). If Johnnie D still has his 10-foot pop-up tent, that would make four options for seating out of the sun. NO ONE will be allowed to sit in the chapter building to eat, as the place is too small and we will need whatever space we have in there for serving.
(b) Safe entry to the building - to keep people flowing, we could have someone at the front door directing the riders to enter the building from the rear. A second person could stand at the end of the bar and hand out a face-mask to anyone not already wearing one. I will see if we can hit up Leon for masks from Hospice or price the purchase of masks from some other source. The guests will than be directed to enter the serving line from that door.
(c) Serving - because self-serve is a big no-no right now, we could set up an army-style food line using two of the 8-foot tables placed in a right-angle configuration. The servers would be gloved and masked and stand on the back side of the tables. We would need about three people for this and they can easily be socially-distanced from each other behind the tables. The first person would hand out plates, pre-wrapped plastic silverwear, and packets of catsup/mustard/and onions (which we can cut up and put in little sandwich bags ahead of time). The second server could place buns (if wanted), brauts, or mini-pasties on the plate being offered to them by our guests. The third server could ladle a choice of salad or potato chips on to the plate offered. The fourth server would issue the drinks from the frig and pass out the desserts. The guest will than be asked to exit the building using the front door.
(d) Menu - in addition to having brauts and buns, I would like to modify Charlie’s idea and offer sub sandwiches by buying 3 foot-longs from sub-way, cutting them into 3-inch portions and wrapping them in cellophane. I few don’t have a coupon for foot-longs, I figure it will cost about $5-$7 per sandwich. I will donate two dozen mini-pasties from Iron Town at a cost of about $8 a dozen (the last time I bought them). I will use chapter funds to purchase the brauts, buns, chips, pre-packaged condiments, and soda (as needed). Sharon has offered to make a tuna salad and Steve normally donates a broccoli salad for these affairs. I will also make and donate a potato salad and strawberry shortcake for dessert. Sue McCann normally offers to make brownies for this event picnic or I can make a pan myself. If you want to help us keep down costs (the purse strings are a little tighter than normal because this will be the second dinner dance we have cancelled), I will accept donations to the chapter to defray the costs.
(e) Infection control - we could leave both chapter doors wide open so no one has to touch door handles to come in or go out. The worse that will happen is the place may get a little warm inside and we may be inviting the flies in. I have a wonderfully small wooden table that we can place next to the door for the latrine and I will donate a couple of canisters of anti-bacterial wipes and put a sign on the door asking folks to use a wipe for opening and closing that door. We can use a solution of bleach and water to wipe down the tables and chairs before and after the event. We will put the cloth chairs in the office to keep people from using them, as they cannot be adequately disinfected, and use only the folding chairs and the white picnic chairs we have in the shed.
(f) Social distancing - Charlie has donated a couple of audio/speaker units to the chapter in the past few years. We could set up the podium in the parking lot and use one of these set-ups so the guest speaker (during their planned presentation) can be heard without people having to bunch up to listen.

That’s all I have so far. Send me whatever ideas you come up with. We won’t actually know if we can do this picnic until August, so we’re just planning for now. We will have a Board/Membership meeting on Monday, August 3rd to make the final decision on whether or not we can host this picnic safely.

NEW BUSINESS:
(1) LEON JARVIS - Leon has retired as a minister and is now employed by UP Home Health and Hospice as a Bereavement Coordinator. He came to the meeting to make a presentation on end of life issues as they pertain to veterans in particular. Leon was a chaplain for 18 years (retiring two years ago), was a nurse before that, and he’s a dad. He came to the UP from Dearborn and has been in the area for over 30 years. During his tenure as a minister, he has performed funeral services for roughly 500 funerals. We have gotten to know Leon over the years while performing military honors at many of the funerals he has participated in.

UP Home Health and Hospice (and Lake Superior Hospice) are participating in an effort design a program to offer services to veterans who are approaching the end of life. This program is called “We Honor Veterans”. Although he did not serve himself, Leon comes from a background where his father served, his uncles served, and his brothers served in the military. Through association with his family members and serving area veterans through funerals, he has come to realize that many veterans, because of what they have been exposed to during their service, have unique needs that are not being addressed when they pass away at home or in hospitals. For this reason, they are setting up a program that will hopefully match veterans with dying clients, so they have the special understanding and support that only someone who has walked in their shoes can provide. If you have any suggestions for things that hospice can do to make passing easier for veterans, of if you want more information from Leon or hospice for someone you love who is currently facing end of life, feel free to call him at 225-4545.

(2) HOPE STARTS HERE - according to the internet the cancer walk-fund raiser has gone to a virtual format. Larry is still going to pay all entry fees from Patti’s estate and is buying tee-shirts (Patti’s angels) for people who wish to participate. For more information on how to enter, google “Hope Starts Here”, and be sure to give Larry your tee-shirt size.

OPEN FORUM: nothing offered.

Stay safe!

Lynn

***************************************************************
List of up-coming events:
Monday, Aug 3rd - next Board/Membership Meeting (bring a mask)
Wednesday, Aug 5th - Forgotten Eagles pit-stop (if not cancelled by pandemic restrictions)
Saturday, Aug22nd to August 30th - Hope Starts Here fund raiser
Wednesday, Aug 15th and 29th - building closed for private meeting
Saturday, Oct 10th - Dinner Dance cancelled

03/01/2020

I received this email a while back. If interested please give Linda Dillman a call at the number below. Also, please pass this on to non facebook members. Thanks

Hi Tom,
As some of your members may know, one of my volunteer efforts is to interview war veterans for the Library of Congress and for their families. I send one copy of the CD and written memories to the Library of Congress and the family also gets a copy. The veteran can share as much or as little as they wish to. This is a great service for the families, especially grandchildren, who will cherish these memories. If anyone in the VVA is interested, please have them call me at (906) 360-8978. This is at no cost to the veteran.

08/08/2019

https://www.facebook.com/315560631487/posts/10157171066181488/?sfnsn=mo

Veterans were bused to Chapter 380 to meet with the bikers.

07/23/2019

IMPORTANT UPDATE for Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans
A few weeks ago, we alerted you about enactment of the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veteran Act (P.L. 116-23), which makes veterans who served in the waters offshore of Vietnam eligible to receive VA health care and benefits for conditions presumed associated with Agent Orange exposure.
Unfortunately, a week later, the Department of Veterans Affairs issued a blanket stay on all Blue Water Navy claims until January 1, 2020, which would delay granting these claims for at least six months.
After reviewing the law, the Procopio Court decision and the VA stay, and having discussions with VA officials and leaders in Congress, we want you to be aware of actions you should take and actions DAV is taking to ensure that Blue Water Navy veterans get access to VA health care and benefits as soon as possible.
First, although the new law does not take full effect until January 1st next year - and even though VA has issued a stay on all claims - it is imperative that Blue Water Navy veterans begin filing claims right now.
If you think that you or anyone you know may be eligible for these benefits, including survivors of Blue Water Navy veterans, you should contact a DAV Service Officer and file a claim as soon as possible so that you can receive the maximum benefits to which you are entitled, at the earliest date.
Second, DAV strongly disagrees with VA's decision to stay all pending Blue Water claims.
We believe that the Procopio decision gives VA the authority right now to begin granting claims for those veterans who served up to 12 miles from shore, while those who served beyond 12 miles - up to the limits established by the new law - may have to wait until January 1, 2020.
That is why we are working with our VSO colleagues and supporters in Congress to get VA to lift the blanket stay and begin processing claims right now.
For decades, Blue Water Navy Vietnam veterans have been denied benefits and access to health care by VA. They have waited long enough!
VA and Congress must find a way to move forward and begin granting Blue Water Navy veterans claims before it's too late.
Rest assured that we will not relent in our efforts to get VA to lift the stay and begin processing and granting Agent Orange claims for Blue Water Navy veterans and survivors now.
As the situation evolves, we will keep you apprised of our ongoing efforts and any additional actions you need to take.

07/17/2019

I was told that the VA will start making public the ships and the dates when they were in the theater of operations. In other words within thirteen miles of the Vietnam coast. The veterans personnel file should show when the sailor was on each ship that they served on. These lists should start showing up as soon as VA publishes the rules that will award benefits.
If memory serves me, the date of final rule publication will also be the effective date of monetary benefits. Unless the veteran has previously been denied benefits for the condition they are now filing for.
I hope this helps!
Vic

07/17/2019

We had our combined Board/General Membership Meeting on Monday, Jul 1st. For those of you who could not attend, here is what is going on in VVA Chapter 380.

CORRESPONDENCE -
(1) We received a thank you from Jacobetti for the Golf Outing donation..
(2) We received a thank you from Madison Pruett, the remaining Veterans Memorial scholarship recipient.
(3) Steve received an email from John Riling (VVA MI State Council President) regarding the press release written by Mokie Porter on June 5th. In the release they cited “Victory at Last for Blue Water Navy Veterans: Department of Justice Drops Procopio Decision Appeal.” Quote - (Washington, DC) -- “Vietnam Veterans of America applauds the decision by the Department of Justice to drop its appeal of the federal court decision overturning Hass vs. Peake and finding Blue Water Navy Vietnam veterans to be eligible for the same benefits as “boots on the ground” and “brown water Navy veterans.” said John Rowan, VVA National President. “We are grateful to VA Secretary Wilkie for his support of the court’s decision favoring justice for those who served off the coast of Vietnam during the Vietnam War.

On January 29th, in a 9-2 decision, the Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the veteran in Alfred Procopio Jr. vs. Robert Wilkie, finding the intent of Congress in the Agent Orange Act of 1991 was to extend benefits to all veterans who had been awarded the Vietnam Service Medal, including all military, naval services, and air forces that served in the Vietnam theater of operations.

“It’s been 18 years of hardship for these veterans who served our country honorably. Many are sick and many have died of what should have been service-connected conditions. Those who remain will now be eligible to receive treatment and benefits,” said Rowan. “Last month, the House of Representatives voted unanimously to pass legislation echoing the court decision so that any future legal challenge would not overturn the benefits. We urge the Senate to follow suit, passing the legislation with amended language that defines the territorial waters to mirror the exact language of the original legislation challenged in the courts.”

In an abrupt about face, in February 2002, the VA changed its rules, arbitrarily terminating benefits to the Navy, Coast Guard, and FMF Marine veterans serving in the waters of Southeast Asia, there by limiting the scope of the Agent Orange Act of 1991 to those veterans who could provide proof of “boots on the ground” in Vietnam. Suddenly, offshore veterans stopped receiving VA health-care and disability compensation. VVA urges all Blue Water Navy veterans who have not already submitted a claim to the VA to do so immediately.” -- end of Quote.

At the meeting, the guys got to talking about what this all meant. The general gist was that to qualify for “Blue Water” benefits, a veteran must prove he/she was on a ship anchored within 14 miles (?) of shore. This is the extent to which they at one time thought that agent orange run-off spread in open waters. That distance has also been questioned. The problem is being able to prove you were on so-and-so ship during so-and-so time frame (when it was docked near enough to shore to thought to have been exposed). The logs containing the names of persons aboard that ship are not public domain and therefore not easily accessed. This information is believed to be located on your DD Form 214. Another problem is being able to document exactly when that ship was docked where. Vic says that the VA is attempting to help in that respect, although I do not recall how he said they were going to approach this problem. That’s a good reason for folks to come to these meetings and not depend on me to remember all the details.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

HONOR/COLOR GUARD - Larry reported that he and Jerry did their second rifle/TAPS service at the cemetery near his home. He has tentatively agreed with Tom Farley to provide this service on a case by case basis and has made it clear to Tom that the Honor Guard Team is not “back in business.” The Ishpeming Cemetery is only a block and a half from Larry’s house. When Patti’s health permits, he can leave her alone in the house for 30 minutes or so, so he may go running or do quick things this such as this. Leaving her for any longer than that is risky because of her mobility limitations and her tendency to forget that mobility is now an issue. She has gotten very good at sitting in the chair and watching the clock until he returns at so and so time.

VETERANS AFFAIRS - Dan is out of town and nothing else was offered.

OLD BUSINESS -

(1) DINNER DANCE MEETING - has been changed from Tuesday, July 16th to Monday, July 15th at 6:30 pm. This is a very important meeting as we will discuss and decide whether or not to hold the dinner dance this year. Several issues have cropped up recently with the caterer, the band, the day of the week the dance is being held this year, and the very remote possibility of having someone to do the raffle this year. Once we hash this all out, we will either be assembling and sending out dinner dance cancellation letters or sending out the traditional invitational ticket purchase letters. Llewanne has the tickets and they will be given out to the ticket sellers at that time, should we decide to go forward with the dinner dance and hope for the best.

(2) INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE - the members of the Color Guard Team are to meet at the corner of Park Street and Third by 10 am. Uniform is BDU with sleeves rolled up, no cords, and black tee-shirt. Steve will meet Larry and me at the end of the parade route at 9:30 am, to give us a ride back to Park. At the end of the parade, Larry and I will ferry those who need a ride from Division to Park to get to their vehicles.

(3) FLAGS - Wayne teamed with his neighbor, (believed to be) Jim Grove, and did the honors. It looks great to have flags back up on the poles at the Chapter. Thanks, Wayne!!!!

(4) SSFA - the Color Guard team will post the colors for the speeches prior to the picnic at 1pm at Tourist Park. Please report at least 30 minutes prior.

(5) CONVENTION VOTE - Vic will be representing our Chapter at the VVA National Convention in Spokane Washington from July 15-20, and was seeking in-put from the membership as to where they stand on the major initiative that will be discussed and voted on at the convention.

Regarding this issue, he explained that Group #1 is working on laying the framework for dissolving the VVA in the year 2029, using New York State law (because that was the place where the VVA was “born” as an organization) as a guideline. It is not yet clear if 2029 will be the beginning of the end process….or the drop dead date. This is what is referred to as the “Last Man Standing” train of thought.

Group #2 is focused on exploring ways to find a group of younger veterans to potentially merge with that will infuse new blood into both, allowing the VVA to live on perpetually through this merger. Those in favor of this approach feel strongly in not abandoning our mission statement “Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another.” According to the VVA website, “VVA knows what returning veterans face. We have been through it before and we know that, despite all the rhetoric, returning veterans will face major problems. VVA will be here for as long as it takes to make sure that those who serve our country receive the care and respect they have earned.” There is more than one approach to making this happen, should that be the final direction the VVA pursues.

After lengthy discussion among those present for the meeting, we took a vote. Three members were in favor of supporting Group #1 and five were in favor of supporting Group #2. The majority rules and Vic will vote at the National Convention reflecting our choice.

NEW BUSINESS:

(1) FORGOTTEN EAGLES - we further discussed the Forgotten Eagle/Jacobetti veteran pit-stop at the Chapter building on Wednesday, August 7th. We established the menu for the picnic and who was to bring what. We also decided that because the tent was not used these past two years, we will not bother putting up a tent this year. Volunteers - please come to the Chapter building around 11:00 am to help with what little bit of set-up that will be left for us to do. The Jacobetti veterans are not expected to arrive until around noon, but have been known to get here as early as 11:30 in the past. Early arrival means an early kick-off, so let’s be prepared.

OPEN FORUM - nothing offered.