A Message from the 10th Mountain Descendants President & A Note from the Scholarship Committee Chairman

President's Letter | Winter 2021

January 2021

Greetings 10^th Mountain Descendants and Friends,

What a year 2020 was… Whew! Well, a New Year is finally here!

Let’s welcome it with our best wishes for health, prosperity and renewed hope for what’s ahead: 2021 is going to be a great year!

Your Descendants organization has been hard at work. Several members answered Val Rios’ call to serve on the Scholarship, Education and Action Plan committees. Please refer to Val's note, immediately following this letter.

A lot was accomplished that will enrich our organization and help to serve our Mission to Honor and perpetuate the legacy of our 10^th Mountain Veterans. A sincere thanks to all who stepped up to help us complete these goals. It’s heartwarming that so many wanted to participate, including Ann Thomas, widow of Sam Thomas 87-I! I also received emails from folks asking questions and giving ideas. Thank you all for your continued interest!

You should have received your membership packet in the mail recently and if not please check out our website, 10thMountainDivisionDescendants.org. I’m sure you noticed that the chapters have been “realigned” in hopes of better serving our membership. As always, you are welcome to sign up for any chapter, even more than one if you wish. We had an increased number of new and renewing members sign up for 2020. We hope to see folks step up again for 2021. Your membership makes a difference!

Your 10^th Mountain Descendants organization participated in some “Good Works” projects in 2020. One that I’m especially proud of is “Santa’s Make a Wish” which helped numerous 10^th Mountain soldiers and their families in need at Ft. Drum for the holidays. I’d like to give a shout out to the following chapters:

Armadillo, Delaware River Valley, Metro New York, Midwest, Rocky Mountain, Utah, Upstate New York and to the National Descendants organization for their participation. Also, a special acknowledgement to Captain Harry Ross for being our liaison for this very special project. Thank you for your hard work.

Other 10^th Mountain Division Descendant chapters will be participating in the “Adopt A Platoon” project, which provides care packages to our deployed troops. This is yet another very worthy project we are so proud to support.

I’m sure folks are wondering what’s happening with the Italy trip. As I’m sure you’re aware, June 2021 is out, and very likely the Fall of 2021 too. This darn COVID has put a “monkey wrench” in our plans. One thing for sure, we can’t wait to see our Italian friends!

We are working on ways to bring interesting and educational information to you regarding the 10^th Mountain Division. Stay tuned for upcoming events. We have some interesting topics and speakers in the works!

IMPORTANT: BEWARE OF SCAMMERS! Many of you may have received emails that appear to be from me, asking for money or gift cards to help support Veterans Hospice or asking “Are you available right now.” I’m sure you’ve surmised that I would NEVER ask for money in this way. These scammers are shameful!

Don’t forget to check out the electronic publication, Blizzard, to keep up on what’s happening with the 10^th Mountain Division Descendants, the National Association of the 10^th Mountain Division and our Tenth Mountain Division Foundation. You can read the most current issue, as well as previous issues on the National Association of the 10^th Mountain Division website: 10thmtndivassoc.org.

We are hopeful that we can get back to local chapter events late next summer so we can all catch up with our 10^th Mountain family again. We miss you! Don’t forget, your voice matters to me. Please reach out with thoughts and ideas to make our organization the best that it can be!

Respectfully,

Denise Taylor, President

A Note from

Val Rios | Chairman,

Scholarship Committee

Dear 10^th Mountain Division Descendants and friends,

You recently received the 2021 Membership Packet or a Renewal Reminder Postcard. We do hope that you read over them carefully and that, in doing so, you will renew your membership!

There are, however, recent changes to the Finn-Thornton Descendant Scholarship that need to be brought to your attention.

The original award amount for this scholarship was $1,000. Thanks to the generous contributions of our members and friends of the 10th, we have been gradually been able to increase the award amount.

The Renewal Reminder Postcard indicates an award amount of $3,500. However, just prior to the mailing, the scholarship committee reviewed the amount and criteria for the scholarship and proposed that, instead of only one scholarship being offered, we offer two scholarships in the amount of $2,500 each, for a total award of $5,000 for 2021.

In this way, we hope that more of our younger descendant members will benefit from this scholarship. It is also our hope that with continued contributions to this scholarship fund, we will be able to increase the award amount in the future!

Two other changes that need mentioning are:

Descendants of the WWII 10th Mountain Division and descendants of the Modern 10^th Light are now eligible to apply for this scholarship.
Eligibility is now extended to great grandchildren and to great grandnephews/nieces.

The two descendant recipients will have demonstrated meritorious service, exemplifying the ideals and values of the 10^th Mountain Division, above all other descendant applicants.

The updated scholarship information and revised application form have been revised, and can be downloaded from the Descendants’ web site: 10thMountainDivisionDescendants.org.

The scholarship committee and all of our board members thank you for your understanding and we want to wish you a very blessed holiday season and especially thank you for your generosity and support to the Finn-Thornton Descendant Scholarship!

Sincerely,

Val Rios

Chairman, Scholarship Committee