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Next Meeting August 26, 2015 at the BETTENDORF PUBLIC LIBRARY 7:00 P.M. - 19 00 hours “NEVER AGAIN WILL ONE GENERATION OF VETERANS ABANDON ANOTHER.” Vol. 18 Issue 8 Officers and Board of Directors President Greg Paulline 563 650-3055 Dir. David Woods 563 326-8723 Vice-President Bruce Cheek 563 349-4129 Dir. Ed Gaudet 563 349-9456 Treasurer Harold Hansen 563 505-9674 Dir. Bill Matthews 563 355-5618 Secretary John Lavelle 563 355-4213 Dir. Steve Satre 563 289-1776 Trustee. Lyle Peterson 563 386-1286 Dir. Larry Witt 563 388-7179 THE SPIRIT OF ‘776 AUGUST 2015 NEWSLETTER VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA CHAPTER 776 Veteran Service Officers & Service Coordinators Clarke Barnes 309 944-3674 Ed Gaudet 563 343-9456 David Woods 563 326-8723 Ernest Ledjte 563 785-6182 Tom Lemon 563 359-3201 Honor Guard John Lavelle 563 355-4213 Web Master Roger Granbois [email protected]

Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 776 August 2015 Newsletter

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Page 1: Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 776 August 2015 Newsletter

Next Meeting August 26, 2015 at the BETTENDORF PUBLIC LIBRARY

7:00 P.M. - 1900 hours

“ N E V E R A G A I N W I L L O N E G E N E R A T I O N O F V E T E R A N S A B A N D O N A N O T H E R . ”

Vol. 18 Issue 8

Officers and Board of DirectorsPresident Greg Paulline 563 650-3055 Dir. David Woods 563 326-8723Vice-President Bruce Cheek 563 349-4129 Dir. Ed Gaudet 563 349-9456Treasurer Harold Hansen 563 505-9674 Dir. Bill Matthews 563 355-5618Secretary John Lavelle 563 355-4213 Dir. Steve Satre 563 289-1776Trustee. Lyle Peterson 563 386-1286 Dir. Larry Witt 563 388-7179

THE SPIRIT OF ‘776 A U G U S T 2 0 1 5 N E W S L E T T E R

V I E T N A M V E T E R A N S O F A M E R I C A C H A P T E R 7 7 6

VeteranService Officers

&Service

CoordinatorsClarke Barnes309 944-3674

Ed Gaudet563 343-9456David Woods563 326-8723Ernest Ledjte563 785-6182 Tom Lemon

563 359-3201

Honor GuardJohn Lavelle563 355-4213

Web MasterRoger Granbois

[email protected]

Page 2: Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 776 August 2015 Newsletter

Minutes of July Membership Meeting The meeting was called to order by President Paulline at 1900 hours. Officers present, Vice-president Bruce Cheek, Secretary, John Lavelle, Treasurer Harold Hansen. The members recited the pledge of allegiance and observed a moment of silence for POW/MIA and also for those still serving in harms way. A sheet was passed for members to sign and add their email address. The minutes from the JUNE meeting were accepted as posted in the newsletter. Larry Witt informed the group that our current membership is now at 206. Larry also spoke of the VVA Fire Sale Membership Drive, $100 for a life membership starting in August. Harold Hansen informed the chapter on our current financial status. We learned of members in distress to include Tom Hanesworth, who had back surgery and Steve Bredar, who is now at home recuperating from his surgery. We heard coin stories from Bruce Cheek, Denny Grey, David and Darrell Thode, Tom Hanesworth, and Sonny Kempf. Each of these stories advances our legacy and poignantly welcomes these veterans home. Ed Gaudet discussed his experience at the National Convention, Greg Paulline and John Lavelle emailed a report to members. Lyle Peterson presented Don Valley with a framed flyer from the classic car cruise that he so graciously guided the chapter through for the second year, Don also presented the chapter with a check for $1,150 from the car cruise and told the members that there will be a third annual car cruise. During our clover sales we learned that Papa was able to raise $738 to help with his project of getting furniture and household goods to veterans. John Lavelle told the members of the funerals the honor guard has been involved in as well as the opening ceremony of the Wall that Heals which will be displayed at the Rock Island Arsenal. The chapter budget was shared with the members and expenditures and fund raising projects were explained in depth with the membership, after some discussion Ed Gaudet asked that the budget be approved by the members and after a vote it was approved as explained. The membership voted on the future location of chapter meetings and after a number of members spoke the vote was taken and by a simple majority the Bettendorf Public Library was voted as the meeting place. Meeting was adjourned. Minutes submitted by John P. Lavelle, chapter secretary.

Life Membership $100Contact Larry Witt

Provide a copy of your DD 214

Page 3: Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 776 August 2015 Newsletter

2667 5th St. Rock Island, IL

Leisure Time Billiards & Sports Bar

845 Avenue of the CitiesEast Moline , IL

Full Kitchen

2 Sports Bars

8 Dart Boards & 13 pool Tables

H.R. 1769 & S. 901While VVA’s exploration has centered on the families of Vietnam veterans, the veterans of more recent wars also report health issues in their children. For this reason, VVA is calling for more research on the generational legacy of toxic exposures for ALL WHO have been exposed while serving in the armed forces.VVA has succeeded in introducing identical bills in both chambers of Congress, H.R. 1769 and S.901—the Toxic Exposure Research Act of 2015. Both bills have bipartisan sponsorship.The Toxic Exposure Research Act of 2015 directs the VA secretary to select one VA Medical Center to serve as the national center for the research of the diagnosis and treatment of health conditions of descendants of individuals exposed to toxic substances while service in the Armed Forces.It is our hope that this legislation will be passed so that the research can begin, and science can provide the answers so desperately needed by our veterans and their families.Contact you legislators and get them to support this legislation, it is the legacy of our generation and it is aimed at protecting our future generations.