Next Meeting May 28, 2014 at the Bettendorf Public Library!

7:00 P.M. - 1900 hours

THE SPIRIT OF ‘776 M A Y 2 0 1 4 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

“ 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 . ”

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!Chuck Morel!

563 569-5512!!Honor Guard!

Jett Bork!563 528-0636!John Lavelle!

563 355-4213

Vol. 17 Issue 5

Officers and Board of Directors!

President Greg Paulline! ! 563 650-3055! ! Dir. David Woods! ! 563 326-8723!Vice-President Lyle Peterson! 563 386-1286! ! 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. Harold Hansen!! 563 391-7776!Web Master Roger Granbois! roger@granbois.net! Dir. Larry Witt! ! 563 388-7179

Chapter 776 made a donation of $723 to Jason’s Box to assist with their purchase of a track wheel chair that will be used to provide Wounded Warriors with fishing and hunting experiences in the coming fishing and hunting season. Pictured above are John Lavelle, Col. Joe Tirone (ret.), Lyle Peterson, and the founder of Jason’s Box, Teri Johnson. Picture was taken at Patriot’s Place in East Moline, IL which will serve as a location to provide services to our newest vets.

Minutes of April Membership Meeting!The meeting was called to order by President Paulline at 1900 hours with a pledge of allegiance and a moment of silence observed for POW/MIA and those still serving in harms way for our nation., officers present were Vice-president Peterson, Treasurer Hansen, and Secretary Lavelle. The chapter made its quarterly donation of $600 to the Humility of Mary Homeless Shelter to provide for homeless veterans. Larry Witt informed us that we currently have 191 members in our chapter. The finance committee tabled a discussion of a donation to the Davenport Veterans Memorial at this time and voted to donate $500 to Jason’s Box for the purchase of a track wheel chair that will be used to provide hunting and fishing experiences for Wounded Warriors. The members passed a hat and added $223 to the donation. Well done 776! The members will visit veterans at the Bickford Nursing home on Saturday May 3rd. Lyle Peterson requested a donation of $100 for the USO located on the Rock Island Arsenal, the chapter voted to make that donation. Members stuffed envelopes for the River Valley Classic Car club and included flyers for the July 19th Car Show that will be held at North Park Mall. Larry Witt announced the winners of the chapter scholarships and also asked for volunteers to assist with the scholarship committee. The next Iowa City VA Hospital visit will be in June. Art Heyderman has asked that a member step forward and assume the leadership for this project. Art has done an outstanding job in leading this project for the chapter. Just more proof that Art is truly a great mensch. On September 13th the Navy Seabees Association will host a 50th Anniversary celebration at the American Legion Post 26, cost for veterans is $5 and $10 for non-veterans. There will be a dinner, a dance, door prizes, and raffles. It is open to public. Contac Bruce Cheek at 563 349-4129. Armed Forces Day is May 17th, the chapter will man the concessions again this year and the concession stand will be located in the parking area south of Brady Street Stadium. The event begins at 11:00 a.m. and will run until 3:00 p.m. Members are strongly encouraged to attend this event which honors the service of our present military men and women as well as all of those who have served in defense of this great country. The POW/MIA committee has sent a letter to the superintendent of schools in Davenport as well as the school board president requesting that the POW/MIA flag be flown over the three high schools in Davenport. This is an effort to make sure that they “are not forgotten.” The committee will be selling t-shirts at the concession stand during Armed Forces Day. The t-shirt will have the outline of the state of Iowa on the front with the POW/MIA logo and the names of the 24 Iowans still missing from the war in Vietnam. Cost of the shirts will be $15 and the proceeds for the sale will be used for future POW/MIA events in an effort to assure that “You Are Not Forgotten.” This past quarter the VSOs have assisted 361 veterans in navigating the VA system. The volunteers who are helping with the Iowa City clover sales will meet at 7:30 at Denny’s in the Flying J Truck Stop. On Saturday May 17th the Marine Corps League will host an SOS dinner at Post 26, doors open at 5:00 p.m. The meeting was adjourned. Minutes submitted by John P. Lavelle, secretary.

At the May meeting, Larry Witt will be presenting the

Chapter Scholarships, three of them!

There will be a sign-up sheet for Clover Sales, pick a time and date.

June 27 - 28- 29

BIRDIES FOR CHARITY Please bring in your pledge cards to the May meeting.

www.kellysirishpubandeatery.comDAVENPORT, IOWA

2222 E. 53rd Street!(563) 344-0000!11 AM to 2 AM!Everyday!

Please make a point of supporting our sponsors.

When you do, tell them that you saw the advertisement in

our newsletter.

This project works in conjunction with the VALOR PROGRAM