Greetings Eagle Chapter Members and Friends |
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Happy New Year as we start our 20th Year! Yes, it has almost been twenty years when in the summer of 2003 eleven of the 154 association members living in DC, DE, MD, VA, and WV that I invited, by letter, to meet one night at a diner in Woodbridge VA to petition the then Air Force Security Police Association to authorize a charter for Eagle Chapter. That night began an era where our chapter has been a benefit to the career field, Security Forces Airmen and their families, our members and families and our military heritage. Over the course of this year, I will remind you of the activities and programs. In this newsletter, see our sponsorship of the association's 20th Anniversary annual meeting in Washington DC.
We rely on several professionals to help us deliver service. In the photo above, Ms. Marzetta Swain (at left), Air Force Wounded Warrior Program Manager at Walter Reed Bethesda Maryland is one of those professionals. Through her, we make our connection to injured, ill Security Forces Airmen who are medically evacuated to Walter Reed. One of those Airmen is currently at Walter Reed and our Air Force has relocated her husband (also a Security Forces Airman) to be near her. He serves at a local SF squadron while they await the outcome of his wife's medical board. I've invited them to our chapter luncheon at the Pentagon as my guest. Hopefully, she will be able to attend. Thank-you Ian for making our initial contact with Marzetta and thanks to Marzetta for finding time in her schedule to meet with me. I gave her an Eagle Chapter coin. She reciprocated by giving me an Air Force Wounded Warrior Care Beyond Duty pin. Thanks again.
Have you signed up yet - 55th Commemorative Maisey Wreath Laying and Luncheon? In a few days, you can join us to commemorate one of our Security Forces heroes with members of his family. We'll also have family members of Col (Ret) Stephen Hutchens. Please see those details below.
One more question - Donation? We operate exclusively through your donations. We charge no membership dues or obtain any money from the association as in the case of the American Legion and other organizations. When you do donate send me a note about what you'd like us to do, to do better, or stop doing. I look forward to hearing from you.
We are delighted to welcome the Honorable Michelle Davis-Younger Mayor of Manassas as a special guest at our Pentagon Luncheon. Mayor Davis-Younger will help us open the luncheon by singing the National Anthem. Click here to learn more about Mayor Davis-Younger. OUTSTANDING MA'AM! THANK-YOU SO MUCH.
Another farewell from the board - Eagle Vice Chair of our Delaware Wing, John Kimbler, has moved on. Thanks to John for coming aboard and expressing your heartfelt support to try to get an operation started back again at Dover. I hope you can join us when we have an Eagle Chapter luncheon at Dover in the Spring. Thanks for your help. When one door closes, another one opens.
Again, we appreciate your donations that help us to operate and support our SF Airmen, families, our members, and military heritage.
Very respectfully,
"Lee"
Elia C. (Lee) Chambers, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Eagle Chapter Air Force Security Forces Association
P. O. Box 10501
Burke, Virginia 22009-0501
Email: chairman@afspaeagle.com | C: 571-302-0992
We published our previous newsletter on December 16, 2022. Click here to see it again. By the way, to see all or our 2022 chapter newsletters, please click here to go to our Resources page on our website.
Eagle Chapter AF Security Forces Association membership is FREE to all AF Security Forces Association members who work or live in DC, DE, MD, VA, and WV. Contact Chairman for more information.
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Reminder - 55th Commemorative Maisey Wreath Laying at Bolling and Eagle Chapter Luncheon at the Pentagon - January 31, 2023 |
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On January 31, 1968 - Start of the Tet Offensive - Defenders at Bien Hoa Air Base Republic of Vietnam Repelled an Aggressive, Overwhelming Enemy Onslaught. |
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Each year on the anniversary of Captain Maisey's heroic death, Eagle Chapter holds a wreath laying ceremony in his honor at the Maisey Building. On the 5th anniversary - starting in the 50th - we hold a special ceremony where we invite Maisey family for the wreath laying and other events on the anniversary of his death.
Karl, Eagle Chapter Vice Chair AFDW Wing, has done a masterful job of coordinating with the Maisey family, HQ USAF (Taps Bugle Player, National Anthem Singer, and Color Guard) and both HQ AFDW (Deputy Commander 11th Wing Commander, and Chaplain) officials plus our association's own - Jim Saulnier, President AFSFA, to provide a superb day of events that include the wreath laying in the morning and concluding with an Eagle Chapter luncheon to honor that sacrifice and welcome the family in their attendance. We're pending responses from other speakers.
The Eagle Chapter Luncheon is a special reception for the Maisey family attendees. Our keynote speaker will be Colonel (Ret) Marty Strones who fought alongside of Captain Maisey and was his best friend.
WE NEED YOU TO MAKE THESE EVENTS A SUCCESS! Please schedule around your doctor's and auto maintenance appointments and come out. Please click below to let us know which event (or both) that you will attend.
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Start time is 0800 31 January 2023 - Uniform of the Day and Business Casual dress. No cost event.
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$15.00 luncheon cost or free to Technical Sergeants E-6s and below. Start time is noon on January 31, 2023. Uniform of the Day and Business Casual dress.
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Hutchens Family - June 9 2005, Change of Command when then Colonel Select Hutchens replaced Colonel Michael Irwin as Commander of the Andrews Security Forces.
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Come meet Hutch's Family! We are so honored to also have as our guests at the Pentagon Luncheon, the family (former wife, Amy, and daughter, Leah, and son, Spencer, of Colonel Retired Stephen Hutchens "Hutch" who passed away in October. Hutch was the SF Commander at Andrews as well as an Eagle Chapter board member.
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Christmas Eve!
Tech Sergeant Atkins Riddick submitted the final two of the three Names of Security Forces Heroes Nominated for 2022 to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial (NLEOM) in Washington DC
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Now we wait. The selection board will meet this month to review all submissions that made it to the 12/31/2022 submission date. Included in the 2022 submission this year are Tech Sgt Jason Norton (left), Staff Sergeant Brian McElroy (center), and Senior Airman Jason Nathan (at right).
It wasn't Santa Clause - but Tech Sgt Riddick that made my day when he completed all requirements on Christmas Eve to make the final submission to the NLEOM. Thank-you very much.
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Colonel Stephen Hutchens' Funeral will be held at Arlington National Cemetery February 3, 2023 at 1100 |
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Hutch visits Proud Warrior Airman at Walter Reed September 2013 Colonel (Ret) Stephen Hutchens (at right) then Eagle Chapter Vice Chair Air Force District of Washington visits with Proud Warrior Airman Marie Anne Raguso who was injured while providing escort in Afghanistan.
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Attendees should plan to be at the Arlington Memorial Gate 45 minutes prior to the funeral in order to attend. |
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Come and bid your final farewell to Hutch and join Amy, Leah, and Spencer with other family members. If you could not meet them at the Pentagon luncheon, here's your chance. We will have a special observance in recognition of Hutch and his contributions to Eagle Chapter.
Thanks to Amy! She has provided information that qualifies Hutch for being placed on the NLEOM in Washington DC. Will have more about this in a future newsletter.
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2023 National Police Week Invitations |
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The Concern of Police Survivors (COPS) organization sent invitations out to all registered survivors inviting them to register. COPS has blocks of rooms at the discounted rates. Moreover, your state COPS organization may have funding to help offset the cost. You must be registered with them. Contact Eagle Chairman for more information.
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Chairman's Annual Arlington Visit at Christmas 2022 |
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Luther's tombstone now correctly shows his Army World War II service in addition to his service in Korea as an Airman. I could not make this correction because i have no status. The family and I have communicated about this and it's great to see this correction made. Luther, "Luke" wrote me before his death that he served with General Patton in the 3d Reconnaissance Brigade during World War II. Luther was our first member to die after the creation of the chapter. He and his wife, Effie, whose ashes he maintained were buried together at Arlington. |
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Each year after the Wreaths Across America visit at Arlington, I go the following day to ensure that all of our graves have a wreath. I also lay the second wreath at the group burial of Tech Sergeant Jason Norton and Staff Sergeant Brian McElroy and I lay a wreath for the family member who is also buried with the member (as Effie Luke's wife's name is inscribed on the back of his tombstone.. At the columbarium, I tape a Christmas ornament at Nancy's internment. Nancy is the wife of Captain Curtis Wallace who asked me to visit his wife's grave when I met him at an AFSFA annual meeting.
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We Still Need Your Biography! |
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AF Security Forces Association Needs More Bios to Publish Volume III History Book |
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With your help, we're going to assist our headquarters with their goal of publishing the AF Security Forces Volume III History book. We've already begun. So far we have seven biographies - six (so far) from your Eagle Chapter Board Members and one from one of our awesome retired Security Forces Brigadier Generals to get this ball started for our chapter.
You've seen the advertisements in the Security Forces Magazine. I'm providing them here for your convenience. There is no charge if you keep your bio to 150 words or less. If you get long winded like me, it'll cost you $0.15 cents a word. Please click on the image or see the instructions by clicking here.
Here's our simple two-step process:
• (1) submit your MS Word biography document and photos to Rachel, our Chapter secretary at her email address. Note: To see the word count in your MS Word document - go to the menu bar at the top and select "Review" then look over to the left and you'll see a "Word Count" menu item. Click on it and it'll tell you how many words.
• (2) If you go over the 150-word limit, submit your check, money order or use our credit card document to pay the cost. Rachel, will handle it from there to make sure your package gets to AFSFA.
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An Update - Eagle Proud Warrior Coin |
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We've updated the Eagle Proud Warrior Coin. The new coin has a gold brass finish instead of the pewter finish as before. It still is a 3d coin based on the original design that we created in 2006 between a collaboration with Veronica Gonzales of KV Coins of San Antonio and Liz Jacobson's grandmother Sondra Millman. Veronica took out photo image and created the 3d image and the rest is history. We first offered the updated coin for donation at the Eagle Chapter Pentagon Luncheon in October where attendees paid $20.00 each in donations. The quality of the coin really speaks for itself.
We're charging the same amount that we've always charged - $12.00 donation - this legacy amount now incurs at a subsidized cost to Eagle Chapter. So, we ask that you add about $3.00 for shipping and handling (1-3 coins) and - consider donating more to our program. See the examples below:
Example:
1 coin + shipping is $15
2 coins + shipping is $27
3 coins + shipping is $39
4 coins + shipping is $51
5 Coins + shipping is $63
We use proceeds to help offset our costs for attending to SF Airmen at Walter Reed Bethesda. I'm headed up there next week to meet with the new Walter Reed Bethesda AF Wounded Warrior Leadership. With the combat drawdown, we now extend our program to any SF Airman that is medically evacuated to Walter Reed Bethesda.
Click here to see the Eagle Proud Warrior Coin page for a ready reference to these costs as well as an easy way to donate via credit card or PayPal.
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Eagle Chapter February Monthly Board Meeting |
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Our board meetings are open to all members and significant others.
The board will meet at 2000/8:00 PM Eastern Thursday February 2, 2023.
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Eagle Chapter 20th Anniversary
Newsletter Reader Contest
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Name the Eagle Chiefs in the Above Photo and Win $$! |
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First person to correctly name (provide first and last names) of the Chief Master Sergeants (active and retired) shown in this photo gets a $25.00 gift card. For extra credit and demonstration of your expertise in the career field, name the base that the two active-duty chiefs at the left were assigned.
background: On March 10, 2005 - Eagle Chapter held a luncheon at Bolling Air Force Base Washington DC. Chief Master Sergeant Levy Scott, then the HQ USAF Security Forces Career Field Manager was the guest speaker. We invited all of Eagle's chiefs to come out. Wow! did they show up! In addition to the Chief Master Sergeants (E-9) shown here, Chief Master Sergeant Retired Cleveland (Cle) Perkins former HQ USAF SF Career Field Manager, Chief Master Sergeant (Retired) Clara Duhon (now serving at PFPA), and Chief Master Sergeant (Retired) James Goudie, then Eagle Chapter Vice Chair Delaware Wing (now deceased and interred at Arlington) also attended.
In addition to naming all correctly, you agree to us providing your name as winner and you will provide a photo of yourself that we can use.
First email with the correct names wins.
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Featured 20th Anniversary Eagle Chapter Article
A Look Back 20 Years
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Eagle Chapter Hosted the 20th Anniversary Air Force Security Forces Association |
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In 2005, at the 19th annual meeting of the then Air Force Security Police Association, then President Jack Brokaw (now deceased) asked the Eagle Chairman for Eagle Chapter to host the 20th Anniversary association meeting and golf tournament the next year in Washington DC. My first reaction was to remind Jack that we've only been existence as a chapter for two years - we're still trying to figure out how to be an Eagle Chapter! :-) Of course, when Jack asked, we responded and respond we did. Without extended this newsletter a lot, I'll just share with you two pages of my orientation brief that shows the extraordinary accomplishments we made to honor our association for it's 20th anniversary. Highlights include: vendor donations of six American Airline round trip tickets, two convertible Ford Mustangs, two 9mm Baretta handguns and congratulatory letters from then President and First Lady George W. Bush, Governor of VA, the Arlington County Executive, HQ USAF and Major Command Top Cops and Chiefs, plus local Security Forces commanders at Andrews, Bolling, Dover, and Langley plus participation by the AFDW Commander.
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In conclusion - Vietnam War Veterans Memorial Wall Wash in DC - Tentative Date(s) |
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Two dates requested - 4/22/2023 and 8/26/2023 |
This year, we are competing with 149 other organizations that want to wash the wall. That's a great problem to have. The National Park Service, initially, didn't have the process all ironed out as they were waiting for the Annual Cherry Blossom Festival schedule to be finalized. As soon as they made the application process available, we applied. So we're standing by and I'll inform our guest Master of Ceremony Chief Master Sergeant Gary Jones (shown above with his hand raised) from Charleston South Carolina and our great Boy Scout Troop #1778 of Waldorf MD. Former Eagle Member and Chaplain Jim Stastny has moved to TN. We'll miss you Jim (shown above with the three fingers raised.) |
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A shout out to another helper - Weinegar's Sweets and Treats of Manassas VA for the great anniversary cake that they made for us at our Joint Base Anacostia Bolling Luncheon. In the photo, they are sooo happy to receive this letter of appreciation and thanks to Karl (at right), Vice Chair AFDW Wing for doing the honors.
One final request for your consideration - annual donation drive - Our members are a major source of our funding. Your thoughtful consideration is very much appreciated. I look forward to your contributions and your notes. We can't succeed without you.
Please send a check, money order or go to any page of our website to send your donation via PayPal. See the address below for mailing your gift. Thank-you!
Eagle Chapter is an IRS-approved 501 (C) (19) Veterans Services Not for Profit organization.
Very respectfully,
//Lee//
Elia C. (Lee) Chambers
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
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P.O. Box 10501,
Burke, VA 22009-0501
(571) 302-0992
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