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VHP VOICE
Connecting Students with Veterans
September 23, 2016: Volume 6, Issue 1
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VHP Alumnus Justin Yeck Receives Recognition from
The Daedalion Foundation
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Justin Yeck spent four years in the VHP chapter at Cactus Shadows High School (CSHS). During that time he interviewed nine veterans, “
from strangers to family, all of whom have become people that I look upon very fondly.” His first interview was with Milford “Mel” Frank Naseman, a WWII veteran who served in the Pacific. Mel’s story about Operation Eagle Eye, where he was only one of a few survivors and for which he earned a Purple Heart, inspired Justin to join the military. “
That one interview ignited a flame because a new door had opened and I was so excited to run through.”
Graduating from CSHS in 2013, Justin decided to work eagerly toward a career as a military pilot at Texas Tech University. In August, he was selected as a scholarship recipient by The Daedalion Foundation, a group that supports students who want to learn more about aviation to become military pilots. We are always proud to see our VHP graduates stand out among their peers!
Congratulations, Justin!
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Announcing our 2016-17 theme for
Since You Asked: Volume XIII:
A Salute to Women
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In 2011 we decided to institute a theme for the year's collection of
Since You Asked
veteran stories. We started with the Purple Heart edition, and have honored each branch of the Armed Services since then. This year, we are proud to salute the women who have courteously served our Country. As always, we do not exclude stories from a themed volume, but rather make an extra effort to include stories from those whom we are honoring that year.
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Art by Grace Castellanos,
Sequoia Pathway Academy
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We are thrilled to announce
26 Chapters
will participate in our educational enrichment program this year, including 8 new chapters. With this growth, our goal is to interview and honor 250 veterans in 5 regional editions of Since You Asked.
Interest in starting a new chapter comes from a variety of sources. This year, many of our new chapter leaders learned about the program through VHP presentations given at
a Civic Learning Conference or at a
retirement community.
Our volunteers also spread the impact of the program. Their excitement becomes contagious and motivates action. A student and her family recruited a teacher to help them establish a chapter, and an advocate shared his experience with a teacher friend who started a chapter.
Community groups also see great value and seek out schools as partners. The North Valley Regional Library partnered with Boulder Creek High School, and the Veterans Center
in Eloy engaged Santa Cruz High School. Desert Hills Presbyterian Church in Scottsdale saw a way to share the service of their members with their youth group.
Veterans and parents also help make connections in the community and volunteer to support our program as advocates. THANK YOU to the 28 Teacher Advisors and 11 Chapter Advocates who are making this year possible!
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Boulder Creek High School/North Valley Regional Library, Anthem -
New
Cactus Shadow High School, Cave Creek
Campo Verde High School, Gilbert
Cesar Chavez High School, Phoenix -
New
Chaparral High School, Scottsdale
Chino Valley High School, Chino Valley
Desert Hills Presbyterian Youth Group, Scottsdale/Carefree -
New
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott
Flagstaff High School, Flagstaff
Glendale Community College, Glendale -
New
Ironwood Ridge High School, Oro Valley
Kyrene Akimel A-al Middle School, Phoenix
Marquette Catholic High School, Alton, Illinois
Millennium High School, Goodyear
Notre Dame Preparatory High School, Scottsdale -
New
Paradise Valley Community College, Phoenix -
New
Queen Creek High School, Queen Creek
Royal Palms Middle School, Phoenix -
New
Santa Cruz High School, Eloy -
New
Sequoia Pathway Academy, Maricopa
Shadow Mountain High School, Phoenix
Shea Middle School, Phoenix
Show Low High School, Show Low
Sonoran Trails Middle School, Phoenix/Cave Creek
University High School, Tucson
Westwood High School, Mesa
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Training Provides a Great Start to an Exciting Year!
Chapter Advocate Orientation - Held August 6
Chapter Leadership Annual Kickoff - Held August 20
New! Publishing Chapter Training - Held September 10
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Teacher Advisors, Chapter Advocates, and Student Leaders celebrate the start of a new VHP school year at the Chapter Leadership Kickoff on August 20! We enjoy each other's friendship!
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Barbara Hatch shows UHS Advisor Don Dickinson and his student editors how to navigate Adobe InDesign--the program used to lay out the books--at VHP's first-ever training designed specifically to help publishing chapters apply VHP layout standards and templates to their books.
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Breakout discussions at the Chapter Kickoff help new advisors, like Andrew Williams (middle), learn from experienced volunteers like Jane Anderson (right)--both from Kyrene Akimel A-al Middle School--and Program Assistant Donna Ward (left).
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Our newest publishing group is led by Campo Verde High School's Kathy Diggs in Gilbert! This amazing group of students and teachers are excited to lay out the first East Valley Edition of Since You Asked! Thanks for taking on the challenge!
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Veterans Day Events, November 11
- Phoenix Veterans Day Parade: Each year, Sanderson Lincoln graciously provides cars for VHP chapter students and veterans to participate in the Phoenix Veterans Day Parade. We invite you to come out and enjoy the parade with your families on Veterans Day from 11-1. Be sure to wave at our students and veterans!
For more information, visit: https://www.phoenixveteransdayparade.org/parade-information/
- Carefree Veterans Day Celebration: Veterans Heritage Project, Kiwanis and the Town Council have a co-hosted this event for the past eight years. It is a beautiful afternoon honoring our veterans with musical tributes and guest speakers. Join us at the Sanderson Lincoln Pavilion in Carefree from 3-5!
For more information, visit: https://www.carefreecavecreek.org/event/carefree-veterans-day-celebration/
Other Upcoming Events
- October 28, 2016: Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, 11:30 am-2:00 pm at the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel Paradise Valley-Scottsdale
- October 29, 2016: 6th Commemoration of the Vietnam War Dinner, 7:00 pm at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort, Scottsdale
- January 14, 2017: America in Times of Conflict Panel Series, Memories from the Korean War Front, 10:30 am at the downtown Chandler Library
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Korean War veteran Marvin Schafer
proudly represented that conflict in the
2015 Veterans Day Parade
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The 2015 Veterans Day event in Carefree
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Welcome New Board of Director Members
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Mary Ellen Reilly, Esq.
Wilkes & McHugh, P.A.
Veteran
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Tatiana Huddleston, CPA
VHP Board Treasurer
The Huddleston Accounting & Tax Group
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Drew Peneton
Manifesto Project Apprentice
Uber Technologies
Veteran
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Austin Anton
Technology Consultant
VHP Alumnus
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Welcome New Advisors to the Board
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Veterans Heritage Project thanks
David Lucier for his service as a Board Member and appreciates the work he has done to help share our program and its impacts with the greater community. We are thrilled that he is staying engaged with VHP as an Advisor to the Board. David is a member of the Arizona Veterans & Military Leadership Alliance, Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame, Special Operations Association, and Past President of the ASU Alumni Association – Veterans Chapter.
We are also pleased to welcome new Advisors to the Board:
Jane Barnes, Hospitality and Mobile Events Specialist
J
ason Chamberlain, Senior Advisor; Retired President & CEO of HDT Global
Brigadier General J. Derek Hill, USAF, (Ret) Iowa Air National Guard’s Assistant Adjutant General
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Arizona Humanities grants are helping VHP build sustainable programming. Their recent Mini Grant award allowed VHP to provide chapter advisors and student leaders with resource materials and hands-on instruction on how to use graphic design software and layout standards in order to publish each regional collection of veterans’ stories for
Since You Asked
. A video recording of the
publishing training
is in development for ongoing support to our chapters.
This fall, VHP will also be able to
film six veteran lectures, thanks to a Project Grant from Arizona Humanities. The veterans' stories of service will be made available to partner schools in support of history curricula. In addition to sharing their experiences, each filmed veteran will address his or her personal impact from the oral history process, why they think oral history is important for our next generation, and why the program is bringing justice to veterans and their families. A summary video of their views will be shared at each of our regional
book receptions
at the end of the school year.
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Recent grant awards from these community partners help to enhance education, build appreciation for veterans and service, and develop 21st Century skills in Arizona’s youth. Thank you for your belief in our mission!
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The William L. and Ruth T.
Pendleton Memorial Fund
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Volunteers are the backbone of Veterans Heritage Project! We are so thankful for their support and very appreciative when their employer companies recognize and reward their efforts by matching personal contributions and/or volunteer hours.
Just like our volunteers who work at American Express, General Dynamics, and United Health Foundation, you too can double your impact just by sharing your support of VHP with your employer. Is your employer on this Employer Matching List?
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Col. A. Park Shaw, shown here with Sonoran Trails Middle School Students on Veterans Day 2014, was a WWII Veteran and interviewed in the very first volume of
Since You Asked by Dr. Jeff Tully. Col. Shaw was instrumental in the establishment of the non-profit and remained a strong advocate for Veterans Heritage Project.
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Veterans Heritage Project honors the beloved veterans we have lost in 2016. Your stories live on in our memories, our books, and our hearts.
Col. Thomas Schaefer, Volume II
Patrick D. Wells, Volume XI
Raymond Rodes, Volume I
Lyle Alton Riggs, Volume XII
Col. A. Park Shaw, Volume I
Lewis Lehr, Volume VIII
Marvin Roslansky, Volume XII
William Barney Barnett, Volume III
Alvin Forbach, Volume X
George Pillmore, Volume I
David Dennison, Volume IX
Clifford Gammelin, Volume IV
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VHP volunteers
Debbie Yin & Broox Garrett hosted a table at the annual
Arizona Council for History Education Conference on Saturday, August 20. They had the opportunity to share our mission with approximately 100 teachers & educators. This conference is a wonderful opportunity to recruit schools and advisors and an ideal audience for sharing this educational enrichment program!
Debbie and Broox are dedicated volunteers, also serving as coordinators for our Vets in the Classroom Lecture Series.
Contact us to schedule speakers at your school!
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Veterans Heritage Project |
1-877-VHP-PROJ (847-7765) | www.veteransheritage.org
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