Greetings Eagle Chapter Members and Friends | |
Above, US Army Color Guard member (left) presents the folded US flag to Eagle Chapter Member, Larry Zilliox, representing the family of Major Joseph Nay, 1909-1989, US Army WWII veteran. Major Nay's remains were one of four cremated remains that had been abandoned that received full military honors on July 14 at the Quantico National Cemetery Quantico VA. See Larry's article below. | |
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This month on July 22, Eagle Chapter completed it's 20th year of operation as an AFSFA chapter. Rather than me listing how essential I think the chapter has been in our 20 years, I'd like you, our members and supporters to let us know what value the chapter has provided. Has our Air Force, our Security Forces, our families, the families of the fallen, and our military heritage benefitted from the association having an Eagle Chapter for 20 years? Please send your comments to me for publication in a future newsletter. Also, let me know how we can make the next 20 years even better. Thanks for taking the time.
I just realized a problem this year with my schedule. Our August Wall Wash at the Vietnam War Veterans Memorial in Washington DC (see below) is on the same week-end as the AFSFA Annual Meeting in San Antonio. I absolutely must attend the annual meeting. I've been missing in action way too long. Thanks to Ian Campbell, Deputy Vice Chair AFDW Wing, who has stepped up to ensure the logistics support and a smiling face from the board will continue of the wash without me.
I solicit your support to nominate two of our board members for your nomination to HQ AFSFA for consideration to the AF Security Forces Association Hall of Fame. Please see below. In your annual meeting packages that AFSFA has sent to you as a member, there is a form to nominate for this distinction. I am providing that form to you to submit for these two members of our board. Please see below. Click here to download the AFSFA HOF form and please submit for AFSFA consideration. You do not need to be at the meeting to nominate. Please complete the form and send it soonest.
When our chapter first started 20 years ago, we were honored to have Col Retired Robert (Bob) Smoak, Major Retired Luther (Luke) Duffield, others who were our WWII vets who were active in our chapter. They're no longer with us and have passed that baton to the next era of war fighters - our Vietnam War vets. According to the VA, we're losing 530 Vietnam War Vets per day. We've all seen them wearing their hats. When you do see one, let's give them a warm hello and "Welcome home!"
I sure hope to see you at an Eagle Chapter event.
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 June 23, 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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4 Defenders Among the 12 Air Force Outstanding Airmen of the Year! | |
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UNPRECEDENTED - The Air Force 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2023 includes four (4) repeat 4 Defenders. Listed below - alphabetically, by Defender, by rank, command of assignment, and Security Forces Squadron (SFS) when selected) are this year's winners:
• Technical Sergeant Jennel L. Edwards, Air Force Global Strike Command - 91st SFS Minot AFB ND)
• Technical Sergeant Michelle A. Fernandez, Air Mobility Command - 6th SFS MacDill AFB FL
• Senior Airman Ryan G. Hospelhorn, United States Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa, 52d SFS Spangdahlem Air Base Germany
• Senior Airman Jacob T. Tawasha, Air Force Reserve Command - 349 SFS Robins AFB GA
Click here to see the full list of 12 OAY Airmen for 2023.
Thanks to our partners - AFSFA Oklahoma Heartland Chapter and Pete Magwood Chapter (NM), we will provide a three-year membership in the Air Force Security Forces Association. On behalf of Eagle Chapter - an early welcome aboard and Way to go Defenders!
Will provide more information about these defenders in a future newsletter.
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Reminder: Vietnam War Veterans Memorial Wall Wash Washington DC
August 26 2023-4th Saturday
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Come Join us - RAIN or SHINE - We start at 0630 with a Pledge of Allegiance, a prayer, and an observance of the date in the history of the memorial by Eagle Chapter member Chief Master Sergeant (Retired) Gary Jones of Charleston SC.
Eagle member Willie Squires is our ceremonial Flight Chief. Thanks to Eagle Vice Chair AFDW Wing (Tech Sgt) Ian Caldwell for providing logistics and the smile that Lee normally provides. Lee will be at the AFSFA Annual Meeting.
We're always done by 0800. So the rest of your day is open to tour Washington DC monuments. See you then.
Below, images from our June Wall Wash - 1st Row CMSgt Gary Jones discusses the Mayaguez incident which includes the last names added to the Memorial on Panel 1W; 2d image-Chief Jones was joined by his son, Russel (a defender and life member AFSFA, daughter, Kelly, a Navy vet, and grandson, Josh, back to camera. 2d Row shows all of the veterans that were in attendance; 3d row is the class photo which includes my very bashful son, Daniel.
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Eagle's Larry Zilliox, Lee Chambers Participate in Missing in America Project | |
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Larry spoke at the Willing Warrior Retreat Vettes 4 Vets fund raiser where he made these remarks. Larry is the Executive Chef who leads culinary services for the Willing Warrior Retreat. In his words -
On Friday, July 14th, I joined members of my American Legion Post, #1799, at Quantico National Cemetary to intern several cremated veterans. Volunteers from the Missing in America Project scour the country to locate, identify, and intern the unclaimed cremated remains of American Veterans. I was honored to receive the burial flag for WWII Army Veteran Major Joseph Ney. Major Ney passed in 1988. For 35 years, his remains lay unclaimed. On July 14th, he was laid to rest with honors. Today his burial flag flies above the Warrior Retreat at Bull Run, where we honor his memory. Larry Zilliox Eagle Chapter
We submitted more information about this event to the SF Magazine.
In the photos above - First Row-Combat Vets Motorcycle club bring the cremated remains from the hearse to the pavilion as part of the color guard service. Eagle Chairman joined the combat veterans and other motorcycles and vehicles at the Harley Davidson in Manassas to participate in the 100+ convoy escort of the 4 cremated remains - 2d photo Army Color Guard fold the flag, 3d photo Larry accepts the flag for Major Nay.
Second row, I participated in the convoy. Shown with me 1st photo and middle photo - this former Defender says he served on the HQ A4S staff with Brig Gen Shamess, Chief Monaccio, others - we know a lot of the same people. Waiting for him to respond to my business card so we can make him a member. He says he was the HQ A4S POM Guy. As you can see, he's living large on his BMW motorcycle - standing next to me in the bottom right photo is the Prince William County Sheriff, Glendell Hill. The convoy rolled under police escort from Manassas to Quantico.
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Dennis Eberly Joins the Eagle Chapter Board as Vice Chair DE Wing
Focusing on Dover Air Force Base
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Dennis becomes our fifth Vice Chair to serve as lead for the Eagle Chapter Delaware Wing on August 1
Living in Rehoboth Beach DE, Dennis recently moved from Pennsylvania to Eagle Country. Then when I called to welcome him aboard - he eagerly accepted my request to lead our operation in DE focusing on the 436th SFS and other SF units. A life member of AFSFA, we look forward to Dennis' leadership to reestablish the great relationship we've had with the 436th SFS.
Dennis operates his On Target Investigation and Consulting Service LLC. Please check out his website. It is awesome!
His academic background includes A.A.S. degree in Police Science – Community College of the Air Force, B.S. degree in Criminal Justice – York College of Pennsylvania, M.S. degree in Human Organization Science (Criminal Justice Administration) – Villanova University, and 78 credits toward a D.Ed. degree in Adult Education – Penn State University.
Please reach out to welcome Dennis aboard.
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Eagle Chapter National LE Officers Committee Reports - Great News | |
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Staff Sergeant John D. Self will be the first Defender that we will submit this year to the National LE Officers Memorial.
While deployed from Little Rock Air Force Base AR, SSgt Self died May 14, 2007 by means of a roadside bomb while patrolling Baghdad Iraq. His nomination is supported by an awesome Project Manager, Tech Sgt Shane Miller, who has actually completed all tasks. We decided to give the National Archives six months to provide the data needed. In September we proceed with/or without their support.
When the AF decided to stop archiving SF training data and send it to the National Archives - that was a losing proposition for our purposes. The Archives have never provided the data requested for these old records that the Center no longer stores.
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In the photo above, Airman First Class Carl Jerome Ware, JR poses with one of his daughters. Carl's death occurred at the hands of another defender who has been court-martialed and is now in jail for manslaughter.
While deployed from Hickam AFB HI, Airman Ware died July 1, 2006 at Camp Bucca Iraq. The Air Force originally classified his death as being caused by a non-combat incident. His previous commander denied our request and I don't fault that commander. I needed to do a better job of presenting the facts.
His new commander came on board, armed with a better presentation of the facts - he immediately said yes. We're off and running. I expect a Project Manager to be assigned this week.
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We are currently working five open cases. I'm hopeful that we can get at least one more done this year - for a total of two. Will keep you posted. | |
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Thanks to Our
Military Service and 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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My 2023 AFSFA Hall of Fame Nominees
Eagle's Rachel Vis and Karl Blinkinsop
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All AFSFA members received a package in the mail about the upcoming annual meeting. One of the documents that HQ AFSFA sent us is a nomination form for the AFSFA Hall of Fame. Two of our board members immediately came to mind - Rachel our Chapter Secretary who has held numerous offices and is now dual-hatted as Secretary and Vice Chair Public Information (VCPI). The 200 word max limited me. So if you have other words that you'd like to send to HQ, please take a look at what I've written - add yours so that they know it's not just me. She's been an awesome asset. In the above photo, Rachel (holding the goodies) is celebrating Law Enforcement Appreciation Day with the HQ Air Combat Command SF Staff. | | |
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Just like Rachel's nomination form, the 200 word limit makes it difficult for me to adequately state how Karl has truly benefitted our SF Airmen, families, and our military heritage in Eagle Country. It is not hyperbole to state that he raised the stature of the Eagle Chapter Vice Chair AF District of Washington Wing position to a higher level. I know you can add more - so please take a look at my nomination form for Karl and state your reasons for nominating him.
In the photo above, Karl is leading our formal wreath laying ceremony at Joint Base Anacostia Bolling Washington DC.
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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 3-D 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. 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 August Monthly Board and Committee Meetings | |
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Your Eagle Chapter Board of Officers meets the first Thursday via conference call. Contact Rachel, our Chapter Secretary if you want to attend. She will provide the meeting call in information and meeting minutes.
Our board meetings are open to all members and significant others. The board will meet at 2000/8:00 PM Eastern Thursday August 3, 2023.
The Eagle Chapter National LE Officers Memorial Committee meets the fourth Thursday of the month. Our next meeting will be August 24, 2023.
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Photos above or from a Vettes4Vets Car Show fund raiser for the Willing Warrior Retreat at Bull Run in Manassas. | |
American Legion - our avenue of finding other SF members to aid in our application of services in Eagle Country.
Larry Zilliox - in the photo at the very top is a great example. I met him through an American Legion field trip to the retreat where he's the executive chef. In a three-day period while attending American Legion events for my local posts, I met one Chief of Police and one Sheriff, plus four former Defenders! The Defenders see my hat and it is a conversation starter. I'll have more about these Defenders in the weeks ahead. The Defender in the middle, top row served at Ellsworth. He is a major executive sponsor for Home Depot. See all of the landscaping at the retreat - he makes it happen.
The guy with me in the bottom photo is a Marine who lost his legs via an IED in Afghanistan. I'd met him at another American Legion event. I just hadn't seen his all-terrain vehicle chair.
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Again, I look forward to seeing you at a future Eagle Chapter event. If I knew I'd be having this much fun in retirement, I would have retired a long time ago!!!
EAGLE CHAPTER MEMBERS - HAPPY 20TH ANNIVERSARY!!!
Very sincerely,
E. C. Lee Chambers
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P.O. Box 10501,
Burke, VA 22009-0501
(571) 302-0992
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