Vietnam Reflections
 
 
 |
The Point May 2010
-The Point-
Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc.
Chapter 172
17 N. Liberty Street
Phone 1-777-7001 Cumberland, Maryland 21502-2316 FAX 1-301-777-7041
1-800-482-VETS Email vva172@atlanticbbn.net
The First Chapter in the State of Maryland – The Gold Standard
May 2010
Chapter Policy Change
At the April 21, 2010 Board of Directors meeting a basic policy change was taken by the Board. The long standing $1000 death benefit for members was discontinued. This change took effect immediately the “Death Benefit” is no more. This action was taken for strictly economic reasons. When the benefit was first installed we only had a fraction of the membership that we now have and we were making money like we owned the mint. But, times have changed, “Reflections” has just about run its course and the economy is down for everybody not just 172. If let go as it is it would cost the Chapter close to one million dollars to finance and that’s not counting any new members who may yet join. In the last newsletter I gave some of the mortality rates for Vietnam Veterans and as you can imagine a bunch of us are going to check out about the same time. This ought to make the Color Guard lose those beer bellies, start getting in shape boys.
What should have been done when this benefit was started $1000 should have been placed in a separate account for each eligible member and as new members became joined $1000 dollars should have been added to that account, but as I said we were making money so fast that almost nobody could imagine we would ever run short. So here we are at the crossroads where we had to choose a direction hopefully it was the right direction. This was not a unanimous decision and was argued in length before the decisive vote was taken. So there it is and if you want to be mad at somebody it was me who made the motion.
++++++++
Whamo
It looks like the Chinese economic bubble is starting to break. The toymaker “WHAMO” announced today that they will start making “Hula Hoops, Frisbees and Pool Noodles” in America. The door is open and here we go. The main problem I see is that I had one when I was a kid, now I could wear it as a belt---maybe.
++++++
Not Gay, or Even Happy
WASHINGTON – The Marine Corps Commandant said he will not force his troops to sleep in the same quarters with gays on base and would give them separate rooms if Congress votes to allow openly gay service.
Source Army Times
++++++
Chapter Home Usage
Pres. Bob Cook asked me to pass the word via newsletter. The Chapter home is available for use by Chapter members at no charge. The important message here is Chapter members. Not your uncles and aunts, or cousins or even your children, members only. If you as a member would like to have a wedding reception, wake, graduation party etc. you can do it at the Chapter. The member must be present the door must be attended to insure only invited guest are admitted, also there will be a Chapter officer present at all times. The Chapter does not supply food or beverages and you may use the kitchen. There is no charge for this benefit however we will gladly accept a donation for utilities and cleaning and gratitude.
++++++++
Have a Cookie
The Gift of Caring Program, Operation Cookie has taken place again this year by Girl Scout Troop 43, Cumberland and we are proud to participate in this by covering the postage expenses. The girls solicited local business owners and individuals of this area to buy Girl Scout Cookies so they may be donated to our military men and women serving our country. This year, 22 cases were brought to the chapter along with addresses. Just another thing we do for our men and women in harm’s way.
OFFICE NEWS
FROM BARB AND SUE
Well the summer months are upon us and that means new things for the chapter office. We have gotten in some new tee shirts. If you have not seen them yet stop by the chapter office to take a look at what we have, if we don’t have your size we will be taking orders. Heritage Days are coming Saturday, June 12th and Sunday, June 13th. We will have a booth set-up outside and the office will be open both days weather permitting. We always running sales at this time so stop by and check out what’s new in office, but you don’t have to wait till then. The office is open Monday thru Friday 8am till 5pm.
Fan Mail From the Goose
To my fellow members, please let me say a very heartfelt “thank-you”. The humongous (is that a word) fruit basket was appreciated and enjoyed. Partially due to some of the not so glamorous side effects of my pain medication. All of this, the result of my being attacked by a Piston Bully snow grooming machine at the wisp last December. Big time beaucoup thanks to brother Rodger Long for the initial and subsequent calls. I believe he will confirm that I wasn’t sure who he was much less who I was after 5 ½ hours of surgery and 5 days on a respirator. For 37 years, I carried a perfect safety record for myself and all my crews and job sites. Yet Mr. Murphy would not be denied. Watching your self and following all safety measures is not enough. I now believe you require your own personal “force field”. Between racket ball, gymnastics, and skydiving, I should be able to give standing then walking later next month a shot. I am truly blessed to have such real friends.
The main reason for this letter is in reference about the increasing crime rate in our area, especially face to face in home situations. F.Y.I., according to the narcotics task force, Salisbury PA, has a thriving heroin and now meth amphetamine problem and associated crime. I’m sure most chapter members own a sidearm. I retain my handy dandy 1911. Unfortunately, for my half blind-deaf handicapped arthritic old body to retrieve it from my electronically coded gun safe in the living room would be quite an effort.
During a recent conversation with my buddy Bill Gostomski, owner of Gostomski’s Gunsmiths Service in Mt. Savage, he told me about these small gun lockers with hand molded push button or finger print recognition. That they were available starting around $200.00. I asked if there was a possibility of securing a discount for a bunch of old fart veterans. He replied that he would be glad to assist such a distinguished group of “gun toting humanitarians. Since I have so much to do holding down this bed, I would put out the word and hopefully get enough response for a bargain not to mention helping out the best gunsmith around. Bill said as a rule, he does not do retail preferring to concentrate on his real job, but that he would have no problem making an exception for 172.
I’m stuck at home and am very easy to get in touch with. Please let me know what style and number of units you would be interested in purchasing, then Bill can crunch numbers. I can be reached at (301)-387-4030. If we can get enough of us together, it would be “way cool” to get the finger print recognition models for a sweet price. Besides that, thanks for all the concern. You all are a good bunch of fellers.
Sincerely, Kevan Monn (Goose)
+++++++++++++++
May 3, 2010
Fellow Vietnam Veteran Pat Sajak appeared on Celebrity Jeopardy and managed to win $105,000 for his favorite charity which just happened to be the Vietnam Veterans of America, so I guess I will be getting that pick-up truck, Thanks Pat
+++++++++
Chapter Family Picnic
Believe it or not the Chapter Family Picnic is sneaking up on us so start making plans to be there. Something a little different this year the food will be catered by Chef Marcelle. He did a Saturday night social a few months ago and if you attended then you know the food was fabulous. Make your plans to be at the Shrine Club Saturday June 19 starting at noon for fun friendship and great food.
+++++++++++
Shooting Off My Mouth
Editorial Opium
Well this was going to be my fluffy bunny month where I commented on the beauty of spring and the promise of renewal and that the death of winter was behind us. I thought that every body who read this editorial would just be walking around smiling and opening door for ladies and old crippled up veterans. But then reality sat in and that ain’t going to happen. First of all when I went to boot camp if you told the DI that you were from New York City you were immediately singled out for special treatment. It was automatic that you were a gangster or some kind of a tough guy. What the hell has happened to NYC? Are there no tough guys left up there? Look a bunch of New York based terrorist just threatened to kill the producers of South Park for a portrayal of Muhammad and muslins in a cartoon and nobody has done anything about it for hells fire sakes at least go over to their HQ and egg their cars. I mean what the hell is going on? After 911 I couldn’t imagine that anyone in NYC would have the audacity to even threaten terrorism. You let that one go by and now somebody of the same ilk has tried to blow up Times Square. Is there no frontier justice anymore?
Now I know that Americans like to party, hell I am an American and I like to party, I like to drink beer and sometimes I don’t even need an excuse to do so. Sometimes I do it just because I like it. I know that there are other people in Maryland that like just look at the brew ha ha (pun) that has been raised since some pinhead down east ruled ex cathedra (like the Pope) that beer has been banned from state parks and forests unless you do some butt kissing and get a permit form the DNR or SS. Speaking of this do you know why Maryland is called the Free State? Okay I’ll tell you.
“The nickname originated in an article written by Hamilton Owens, the editor of the Baltimore Sun. In 1923, a Georgia Congressman, William D. Upshaw, attacked Maryland as a traitor to the union because it never passed a State enforcement supporting Prohibition. Hamilton Owens article, “The Maryland Free State” was a mocking response to Mr. Upshaw, suggesting that Maryland should secede from the Union before acting to prohibit the sale of liquor. This article was never published but Mr. Owens referred to Maryland as “The Free State” in later editorials. Source The Maryland Kids Page. Yes I know that this is the long way around the mountain but here goes. Why the he double hockey sticks are we celebrating “Cinco da Mayo Day? Have we run out of party excuses? Tomorrow is Wednesday; hump day, not Mexican Independence Day. I mean what are they doing in Mexico? I guess there’s just not enough people left down there to get a party started. I betcha there raising hell in Arizona. How’d you like to be working the door and checking ID’s for that party? I bet there’d be some ass kicking in that parking lot.
So you are now probably thinking what’s this have to do with the Chapter? Has he had a stroke or is he off his med’s again? The answer to your question “NO” I know exactly where I am going I just wanted to bring you the scenic way to put some color into your otherwise olive drab lives. As I wrote a few months ago running this Chapter should be one of the easiest jobs around, but lately it has become somewhat stress producing. We are too old to change the world or turn the VA around. We have fought the good fight for 30 years. It is time for us Chapter 172 to take a breath and help the younger troops take over the fight. No, the battle is not over and we must be always vigilant, but we should also take a breath. As a Chapter we should now concentrate on the wellbeing of our members and families. We should and do still participate in community activities as well as the all important Color Guard functions. But, let’s not take anything away from our social functions. I personally look forward to TGIG and Saturday Socials. For the most part I am the first person you see when you get off the elevator and I always try to say “Hi” to everybody. It is a place where we veterans can come relax and not be hassled by the public. It is a place to be with people who like you stood for something that most Americans didn’t want to recognize. Recently I have heard some pissing and moaning about the Wednesday night poker game. A game that has been going on for about eight years now, more or less it’s the same dozen people every Wednesday night, but it doesn’t have to be every member is invited to come play or just socialize it is not a secret society inside the Chapter. If you don’t want to come that’s fine, maybe you want to stay home and watch “Project Runway” and design a handbag, don’t ask, don’t tell. My point is all members are entitled to the same benefits and privileges, but if you are not going to use them don’t gripe if I do. Now I know that there is at least one person out there who knows exactly who I am talking to. If you have a gripe about this come see me face to face and we’ll talk as friends and brothers and if you don’t want to do this like a man then I think you must be a.
Steve Parsons
May 2010
|