SCORP. Katherine Matos Margarita Ríos NORA Madeleine Luchsinger Presidente.
A MESSAGE FROM OUR President, Terry (T.J.) …PR/Newsletter Cathy Karl 920-901-6999 Marietta Johnson...
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A MESSAGE FROM OUR President, Terry (T.J.) Johnson – December 2019 As the year is winding down for us, our families and VVA Chapter 731, it has been a busy and memorable year. We have much to be proud of, especially bringing "The Wall That Heals" to the community twenty years after we brought "The Moving Wall" to Manitowoc. Bringing TWTH was quite the undertaking, but it was a very satisfying one as well. People are still talking about it when they see our members out and about in the community. Thank you again to Cathy Karl for all of her hard work and for her vision for the many activities during the visit of TWTH. Thank you to everyone who stepped up to serve on the various committees that were needed to make this undertaking a success. Thank you to everyone who sold raffle tickets. Ken and Margie Wentker run this fundraiser like a well- oiled machine. A big thank you goes out to them and to all their helpers. The raffle was a success again for the chapter. The new ticket prices seem to have worked out. The Christmas party is just a couple of days away, December 7th. It will be at Knox's Silver Valley. Cocktails are at 5:30 and dinner is at 6:30. You needed to sign up by November 18th for the party. Marietta keeps reminding me that I need to mention at a meeting that a new picnic chairperson(s) needs to volunteer soon or there will not be a picnic in 2020. We are stepping down after chairing, co-chairing and frying for it for many years. It is not a difficult activity to organize. It just takes a little leg work and we will help whoever takes it over for the first year. Next Regular Meeting: 6:30 pm, Thursday, December 5th, AMVETS Post 99 4310 Conroe St., Manitowoc Rapids If you see a $ next to your name on your mailing label, contact John Salzman about changes in the dues structure!
Transcript of A MESSAGE FROM OUR President, Terry (T.J.) …PR/Newsletter Cathy Karl 920-901-6999 Marietta Johnson...
AMESSAGEFROMOURPresident,Terry(T.J.)Johnson–December2019
Astheyeariswindingdownforus,ourfamiliesandVVAChapter731,ithasbeenabusyandmemorableyear.Wehavemuchtobeproudof,especiallybringing"TheWallThatHeals"tothecommunitytwentyyearsafterwebrought"TheMovingWall"toManitowoc.BringingTWTHwasquitetheundertaking,butitwasaverysatisfyingoneaswell.Peoplearestilltalkingaboutitwhentheyseeourmembersoutandaboutinthecommunity.ThankyouagaintoCathyKarlforallofherhardworkandforhervisionforthemanyactivitiesduringthevisitofTWTH.Thankyoutoeveryonewhosteppeduptoserveonthevariouscommitteesthatwereneededtomakethisundertakingasuccess.Thankyoutoeveryonewhosoldraffletickets.KenandMargieWentkerrunthisfundraiserlikeawell-oiledmachine.Abigthankyougoesouttothemandtoalltheirhelpers.Therafflewasasuccessagainforthechapter.Thenewticketpricesseemtohaveworkedout.TheChristmaspartyisjustacoupleofdaysaway,December7th.ItwillbeatKnox'sSilverValley.Cocktailsareat5:30anddinnerisat6:30.YouneededtosignupbyNovember18thfortheparty.MariettakeepsremindingmethatIneedtomentionatameetingthatanewpicnicchairperson(s)needstovolunteersoonortherewillnotbeapicnicin2020.Wearesteppingdownafterchairing,co-chairingandfryingforitformanyyears.Itisnotadifficultactivitytoorganize.Itjusttakesalittlelegworkandwewillhelpwhoevertakesitoverforthefirstyear.
NextRegularMeeting:6:30pm,Thursday,December5th,AMVETSPost994310ConroeSt.,ManitowocRapids
Ifyouseea$nexttoyournameonyourmailinglabel,contactJohnSalzmanabout
changesintheduesstructure!
VeteranHelpAgencies
ManitowocCountyVeteransServiceOffice:920-683-40551701MichiganAve.,ManitowocClevelandCommunityBasedVAClinic:920-693-5600or1-877-693-56991205NorthAve,ClevelandVAHealthCareClinic(GreenBay):920-431-2500or1-877-204-79702851UniversityAve,GreenBayAgingandDisabilitiesResourceCenter(ADRC):920-683-41801701MichiganAve.,Manitowoc
UpcomingEvents
Dec.7th-ChristmasPartyKnox'sSilverValleyCocktails5:30-6:30
FamilyStyleDinnerat6:30
Dec.14th-BellRingingPickNSaveinTwoRiversFestivalFoodsinManitowocSignupwithGeorgeGottierattheDecembermeetingorcallhimat:
(920)629-5920
Dec.18th-SOUPForVETS!DateisMovedupforDecember
andwillbeaHamDinnerNOONatElksLodge#687
1807N.RapidsRd.ManitowocFREEtoVets,Guests$2.00
Soup,rolls,beverage&dessertsReservations:920-682-0403
VVAChapter731Officers
President(TJ) TerryJohnson 920-645-3566VicePresidentMarvinDecker920-973-6945Secretary BillWojta 920-901-0010Treasurer HaroldOlson,Jr. 920-682-5026PastPresident KenDecker 920-682-2508Sergeant-at-ArmsPeterSchramm 920-684-0146Chaplain RanJansen 920-553-5355 BoardofDirectors2017-2020KenWentker 920-755-2386SteveNoworatzky 920-684-40252018-2021MikeLaughrin 920-686-0724BillPike 920-901-02982019-2022RonWiesner 920-682-0770DaveWanek 920-682-1127CommitteeChairpersonsColor/HonorGuardTomHoffman 920-682-5073Education TomHoffmanFinance&Audit HaroldOlson,Jr.FundRaising DaleSchroeder 920-323-4814Membership JohnSalzman 920-629-1124PR/NewsletterCathyKarl 920-901-6999
MariettaJohnson920-901-7769Scholarship DickLuchsinger920-682-9232Legislative TimThiers 920-905-5951GetWell/ThankYouDonnaFranz 920-973-3017
Findinformationatourwebsite:www.VetsOfAmerica.org
VeteransCrisisLine:1-800-273-8255,Press1
OrTextto838255
VVAChapter#731GeneralMembershipMeetingMinutesNovember 7, 2019 53 in attendance Call To Order: Peter Schramm, Sgt of Arms Pledge Of Allegiance: TJ Moment of Silence for MIA, POW and fallen comrades: TJ Intro of New Members: Jane Babcock, Auxiliary member Approval of Minutes: The minutes were approved as printed. Treasurer's Report: Harold Olson, Jr went through the report. It was filed as printed. Secretary's Report: Thank you notes were read. Song written and produced by our member Carl Baumann, was played to the approval of all members. Great job, Carl. VP Report: Marv Decker- Christmas party is 12/07 at Silver Valley. It will be family style chicken and ribs plus sides. Cost is $10 each person. Cocktails are from 5:30-6:30, dinner is at 6:30. Details are in the Commo Bunker. Pay Marv tonight or send him a check. State Council: Mike Demske - Concerned Vets of America are working with Vietnam Vets with Agent Orange and related issues. President's Report: TJ - read a thank you from Fr. Foley on the placement of his Legacy stone at High Ground, his compliments on TWTH and his willingness to continue to help as long as he is able. Color Guard: Tom Hoffman - Past events- 09/28, Suicide prevention walk/Run. 10/26, Funeral Honors for John Shoop. 11/07, Two Rivers High School and LB Clark Middle School Program. Upcoming events: 11/09 MCUVC Banquet. 11/11 firing at Monuments. 11/11 St Johns Lutheran School Newtonburg. 11/11, Felician Village Veterans Day program. 11/12, Rotary Veterans Breakfast. 11/13, Realtor Veterans Banquet. 11/27, Christmas Parade 6:00 pm. Scholarship: Dick Luchsinger - information has been sent to all schools. A third scholarship has been approved and is named for Earl Herman, VVA Chapter 731 first member to pass away. Membership: John Salzman- 194 VVA, 36 Associate = 230 members Old Business: Tom Hoffman- received $500 from St. Nazianz Fire Dept for preservation of the Eternal Flame. Pet Skull had a fundraiser for the Flame and donated $1500. New Business: George Gottier - Ringing of Bells on 12/14 for Salvation Army at Pick and Save in Two Rivers and Festival Foods in Manitowoc. We usually bring in about $2,000 from our group. Wonderful!!! Annual Raffle: Preliminary report from the Wentkers - total income is $10,500. GREAT job by the Wentkers AGAIN! Winners of the Raffle were drawn. Top Prize of Topaz necklace was won by Chad Radtke. 50-50 Raffle was won by Harold Olson, Jr. Wm Wojta, Secretary
David,thesonofMaryZywickeofManitowocWIandRaymondJ.Zywickewhopredeceasedhisson,enlistedintheUSMarineCorpsonDecember61966inMilwaukeeWI.HegraduatedinMarchof1967fromMarinerecruittrainingattheMarineCorpsDepotatSanDiego,CA.HecompletedindividualcombattrainingattheCorpsbaseinCampPendleton,CA.HewaspromotedtohispresentrankinOctoberwhileservinginVietnam.HearrivedinVietnamonJune21967whereheiswasassignedfordutywithCompanyH,2ndBattalion,1stMarineRegiment,1stMarineDivision,ThirdMarineAmphibiousForce.HisspecialtywasMortorman.DuringthemonthofDecemberthe2ndBattalionwasoperatinginnorthernQuangTriProvince,andonDecember7,CompanyHcameunderanNVAattacksouthofQuangTriCityintheMaiLinhDistrict.Thefirstplatoonwashitwithautomaticweaponsfirewoundingfourmen,thesecondplatoonwhichwasashortdistanceawaywasengagedbytheenemyfiringautomaticweapons,throwingM-26grenadesandsatchelchargesattheMarines.Twomenwerekilledandanotherthreewerewoundedduringthefirefightwiththeenemy.LanceCorporalZywickewasoneofthecasualties;hewaskilledasaresultoffragmentationwoundsfromoneoftheexplodingenemysatchelcharges.(Aside:thereisalengthydetailedexplanationofwhathappenedbyoneofthesoldierswhowastherewithhimatthetimehewaskilledontheVVMFwebsite.)
ManitowocCountyhastiesto35NamesonTheWall.We’lllearnabouttheseyoungmenwhogavetheirlivestoservetheircountryduringtheVietnamWar.OnesoldierwaslostinDecember…
Please keep our members & their families who are grieving and those who are recovering from injuries, surgeries and treatments in your thoughts and prayers.
DECEMBER
LCPLDavidLeeZywickeManitowoc,WIDecember4,1947-December7,1967(WallPanel31E,Line62)
IN MEMORY OF THE OF THE
58,276 BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO NEVER RETURNED VIETNAM WAR 1959-1975
BLUE WATER NAVY “Veterans who served on open sea ships off the shore of Vietnam during the Vietnam War are referred to as "Blue Water Navy Veterans." ...a vessel operating not more than 12 nautical miles seaward from the demarcation line of the waters of Vietnam and Cambodia,...” https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/locations/blue-water-veterans.asp As you may already know the VA has finally reversed its decision to not grant Agent Orange exposure Presumptive conditions to Blue Water Navy as defined above. You may have recently received a letter telling you that you MAY be eligible for benefits and to contact a Service Officer to file a claim. The time is now to schedule your appointment with your County Veterans Service Office to either start the claim if you have never filed a presumptive condition claim before or to re-open a previously denied claim. If you have supporting documentation such as copies of your ships logs or dates of when you were on the ship and what locations you believe the ship to have been, that would help your claim extensively. You will also need verification like a diagnosis of the Presumptive Agent Orange condition, but you WILL NOT need to verify Agent Orange exposure. If you do not have this information you should still file a claim, the Compensation and Pension review process will be delayed as the VA determines your Blue Water Navy status and possible eligibility for compensation of the Presumptive Agent Orange conditions that you are claiming. The VA is stating they will not start to process the claims until January 1st, 2020. Let’s get those claims filed starting now. If you know of a widow/er of a Blue Water Navy veteran who passed away from Agent Orange presumptive conditions please pass the word in order for the widow/er to file a claim for Dependents Indemnity Compensation. (sharing from Todd Brehmer, Manitowoc County CVSO) WhatconditionsarerelatedtoAgentOrangeexposure?AgentOrangepresumptiveconditionsare:
•ALamyloidosis•Chloracne,orotheracneformdiseaseconsistentwithchloracne•ChronicB-cellleukemias•Diabetesmellitus,Type2•Ischemicheartdisease•Hodgkinlymphoma,formerlyknownasHodgkin’sdisease•Non-Hodgkinlymphoma•Multiplemyeloma•Parkinson’sdisease•Peripheralneuropathy,early-onset•Porphyriacutaneatarda•Prostatecancer•Respiratorycancers(lung,bronchus,larynxortrachea)•Soft-tissuesarcoma(otherthanosteosar-coma,chondrosarcoma,Kaposi’ssarcoma,ormesothelioma).
—Secondaryhealth issues thatare related tooneormoreof thesePresumptive conditionsmayalsobeconsideredaServiceConnectedDisability.Makesureyoudiscussallyourrelatedhealthissueswhenfilingaclaim. Contact your County Veterans Service Office with questions and to schedule an appointment to go over any State or Federal VA benefits that you may have coming. Manitowoc County CVSO number is: 920-683-4055.
1stPrizeWinner:Adrienne&ChadRadtkeshownwithKenWentker,Tom&KathyMuenchandHaroldOlson,Jr.The1stprizewasaPassionTopazanddiamondnecklacedonatedbyBoelter'sJewelers.Tomwasoneofourtopticketsellersthisyear,selling80raffleticketsforVVAChapter731.(Thankyou,Tom!)
2ndPrizeWinner:WinneroftheSpringfieldArmoryPistoldonatedbyLakeshoreDentalisAshleyBeeman.PhotofromproudDad,Kent,inJanuaryCommoBunker.
3rdPrizeWinner:JudySchulzwonthetwoPackerTicketsdonatedbyCusterStreetAuto&Towing.ShownaboveisJudy'shusband,Tom,ontherightwithKennyandChrisWallace,OwnerofCusterStreetAuto&Towing.
4thPrizeWinner:NoelHansen,proudmemberofVVAChapter731wonthe32"VisioHDTVdonatedbyVVAChapter731member,RoyTegen.NoelandKennyareshownaboveafterthe11.7.19drawing.
5thPrizeWinner:JacobSchuster&hisfamilyreceivinga$250checkfromKenWentker,oneofthetwoprizesdonatedbyVVAChapter731.
6thPrizeWinner:JohnFellboughthiswinningticketfromGeneErdman.ShownwithJohnareHaroldOlson,Jr.andGene.Johnwontheother$250prizedonatedbyVVAChapter731.JohndonatedhiswinningsbacktotheChapter.Thankyou,John!
7thPrizeWinner:RichJuedeswonthegolfpackagedonatedbyAutumnRidgeGolfClub.RichandKenWentkerarepictured.
8thPrizeWinner:GesperAutoofSheboyganwontheBranchRiverCountryClubGolfPackage.DalePostisgettingthephotoanditshouldbeintheJanuaryCommoBunker.
9thPrizeWinner:DonnaFranz,AVVALifeMemberandprolificthankyounotewriter,wontheFirePitRingdonatedbyThorIndustrialServices.OnceDonnahasselectedthestyleshewants,wewillgetaphotofortheCommoBunker.
10thPrizeWinner:CherylDuchow&herhusband,DeltonarepicturedwithMikeHartman(left),ownerofStardustLimowhodonatedtheLimoRide,andDonTienor,whosoldCherylthewinningticket.
11thPrizeWinner:TomGilmoreispicturedwithRoyTegenandLindaStreu,ownerofDalebrouxJewelers,holdingtheprize,aWoodSeikoQuartzClockdonatedbyDalebroux.
