Greetings Eagle Chapter Members and Friends |
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This is a special edition of our Eagle Chapter Newsletter to commemorate the heroes of our Vietnam War.
Today is National Vietnam War Veterans Day. It is a day to reflect on our Nation’s involvement in the Vietnam War and those patriots who answered the call to serve their country at a time when it was not popular. It is a day to honor the nearly 2.7 million Americans (men and women) who served and sacrificed in Vietnam and their families who served and sacrificed in their own special way. But it is not just for those who served in-country, but also for the more than 9 million total who served on active duty during the official Vietnam era from 1 November 1955 to 15 May 1975 regardless of location.
Just a year prior to this day 51 years ago, the Department of Defense sent me my draft notice to join the Army or Marines. With a Selective Service draft number of 003, I knew it was coming. I joined my Air Force instead and that was the greatest decision I never made.
Video: This date is significant because 50 years ago the last U.S. combat troops left South Vietnam on 29 March 1973. The official last man out of Vietnam was US Army Gunnery Master Sergeant Max Bielke who served at the Army Military Personnel Center (in his retired status as a civilian) before he was killed in the Pentagon on 9/11/2001. Clip here for a short clip of the last troops and Max’s departure from Vietnam.
Let’s all take a moment today, March 29, 2023, to stop, reflect, remember, and honor our military and civilian Vietnam War Veterans. And let’s not forget the more than 58,000 who did not return and whose names are now on The Wall in downtown Washington, DC.
Livestream at Vietnam War Veterans Memorial in Washington DC Today. There are a variety of events being held in the Washington DC, Northern Virginia area, and throughout our nation that you may want to check out, including the live streaming of the wreath laying ceremony at the Vietnam Wall at 10:00AM Eastern. Click here for the link.
To those who did return and are still with us, I say “Welcome Home” !!!
Thanks to my American Legion Post 1799 Commander, Ward Nickisch, for his words and leadership to help get the word out about this very important day. Yesterday, we began to honor this day with a special event at the Freedom Museum in Manassas. Please see below.
In closing, I can't say enough for those of us who reach in their pockets and scrape together what they can to donate to our chapter. We are powerless to provide the services shown here as well as paying our bills without your generous support. When you send a donation, let me know what we can do better to serve our SF Airmen, families and our military heritage.
Thanks again.
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 February 17, 2023. Click here to go to our Resources page on our website to see all of our previous newsletters.
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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Manassas Freedom Museum
A Special Display - Vietnam War Veterans
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Maisey Portrait Added to Window Display at the Manassas Museum
Thanks To Eagle's Karl Blinkinsop and Freedom Museum's Kristin Perper
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This project has been in the works since late last year. I asked Kristin for her help to add Captain Reginald V. Maisey JR memorabilia to the special Vietnam War Veterans section that they were creating at the Freedom Museum. She said, "Great! " Then Karl took over. :-)
Using information that he had obtained from the Maisey family that we had not used, he created a display that the museum features prominently at one of the front window displays as you enter the museum. Yesterday working with the museum, our local American Legion Post 1799 Haymarket, and others we helped to kick off the March 29 Vietnam War Remembrance which officially starts today.
The Veteran History Project of the Library of Congress was at the Freedom Museum interviewing and videotaping veteran’s stories, along with a local news reporter doing some interviews.
Additionally, Kristin has provided this short video clip from NBC News Channel 4 affiliate who was there covering the event. You’ll see one familiar Eagle Chapter face if you look quickly. I got about a half millisecond face and another of my back. Click here to see the news segment.
The photos above: top left - Legionnaire Karl helping with set up with other Legionnaires Carlos, Rocky, and Jay; top right - Kristin joins Carlos, Rocky (See Rocky's book below) and Jay while Karl takes the photo outside of the Freedom Museum; bottom left News Channel 4 and Library of Congress History Project Staff interviews Legionnaire Col (Ret) Doug Moore (see Doug's book below), and bottom right our Captain Maisey display at the window of the Freedom Museum. No video or images can show this very impressive museum. I highly encourage you to go by. Park at the train station parking lot in Manassas, free parking and walk up two blocks to the museum.
If you've attended the Eagle Chapter Bolling or Pentagon luncheon, I hope you've met Kristin. She's been both a special guest and helper at both events.
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Vietnam War Veterans Books
from Post 1799 Legionnaires
Featured Interviews in the Library of Congress Video
From the Freedom Museum
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Reminder: Eagle Chapter Vietnam War Veterans Memorial Wash Dates |
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Please Join Us - June 24th and August 26th |
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This will be the first time since the pandemic that we've had both dates and without Covid restrictions. I want to thank Chief Master Sergeant Retired Gary Jones who drives up from Charleston SC and Bob Sherouse and the Waldorf MD scouts and their families that have been a very important part of our annual labor of love.
We start at 0630 on both days with a Pledge of Allegiance, a prayer, and an observance of the date in the history of the memorial by Chief Jones.
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Karl, Thanks for the kind words, I’ll pass them along to Lieutenant Sobecke’s command. Great luncheon, a meaningful tribute, and the best you and Lee have hosted to date!
Thanks again,
Woody
W.G. Kusse
Chief, Pentagon Police
Editor's Note: Thank you sir and below - Amy's note regarding the luncheon and the photos that I placed on our website for Hutch's family use. See the link if you've not seen them.
Thank-you gentlemen for taking the time to provide your feedback!
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Meet: Our Newest Eagle Chapter Member - Eagle Proud Warrior Airman - SF Senior Airman Jonvenette Surial-Jackson |
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Jonvenette has accepted our offer of membership. |
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If you attended the Pentagon Eagle Chapter Luncheon on Jan 31, I hope you had the opportunity to meet her and her SF husband Jacob.
She has completed her application and we've submitted it to AFSFA. Thank-you ma'am and continue to heal.
Thanks to Eagle Member, Larry Zilliox, Chef at the Warrior Retreat at Bull Run to reach out to her to aid her in applying for some R&R at the retreat if she desires with her family.
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Thanks to Our Corporate Donors |
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American Legion Synepuxent Post 166
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BlinkinCo
Program Mgmt - Vulnerability Assessments - Insider Threat
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Transaction Expert
Point of Sale/Merchant Services
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Micron Technology Inc.
Dr. Delbert Parks announced at the luncheon - "We're Hiring!" See their website for more information.
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Both Units and Family Representatives will attend Police Week in DC where Names of SF Fallen Norton, McElroy and Nathan will be Formally Dedicated |
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Technical Sergeant Jason L. Norton
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Staff Sergeant Brian S. McElroy
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Airman First Class Jason D. Nathan
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Starting this year while in Washington DC for the Police Week recognition, Eagle Chapter will present $500.00 donation to the SF Booster Club for each unit that successfully completes the recognition plus plaques. More information will follow about this. The board approved recognition for this year and 2022, and 2021. We're in the process of finalizing qualification for the units involved. So far the 48th Security Forces Squadron at RAF Lakenheath has met our criteria. I'll have more on this in a future chapter newsletter.
To obtain the monetary award, the units must present installation certification as show at the attached. Congratulations to the 48th SFS for being the first to qualify and thanks to our anonymous donor for ponying up matching funds to enable us to make this small token of our appreciation for the dedicated hard work that goes into achieving this recognition for our fallen SF Airmen.
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Plenty Coins are Still Available
Purchase of Eagle Proud Warrior Coin Aid Us to Support Ill and Wounded SF Airman at Walter Reed
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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.
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 April 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 April 6, 2023.
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In conclusion - Thanks to All of our Vietnam War Veterans |
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Again Welcome Home my Fellow Vietnam War Veterans! I am in awe of your contributions then and now. It is a great pleasure for me to help our nation remember your sacrifice today.
I also encourage you to attend the Freedom Museum in Manassas. I was personally amazed at the hard work that has gone into this project and I highly encourage you to go visit when you are in the DC area. Click here for more information on the museum. |
As I close, I want to thank many of you that donate. While I do appreciate the corporate donors, it's our members and supporter donors who do the lion's share of the donations. If you have not ever donated or it's been a while, if your pocketbook permits, please send your check, money order to our Post Office Box or go to any page of our website, scroll to the bottom of the page, and click on the Donate button to give via PayPal. Thank-you all very much.
I look forward to seeing you at a future Eagle Chapter event.
Very respectfully - Lee
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P.O. Box 10501,
Burke, VA 22009-0501
(571) 302-0992
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