WELCOME CLASS OF 2018
I welcome the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Class of 2018 as our newest Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society members.  I encourage new members to periodically look at our Society website at www.avhof.org; as well as our monthly newsletter, the Patriot, that is emailed to all members.

ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING
The following were duly elected at our Annual Business Meeting on 10 October.  They will be sworn in at our General Membership Meeting on 9 January.

President            Gerry Berger (Class of 2016)
Vice President    Gary Fredricks (Class of 2010)
Secretary            Dennis DeFrain (Class of 2013)
Treasurer           Jerry Wojtas (Class of 2011)
Director              Lee Lange (Class of 2018)
Director              Pat Thomson Little-Upah (Class of 2014)
Director              Christine Mahon (Class of 2017)

MEMORIAL SERVICES
The Society makes a presentation to the family of our deceased members that consists of an encased Arizona flag along with a citation.  This is usually done following the presentation of the American flag by the military.  Photo is of Vincente Sanchez (Class of 2016) reading the citation just before the encased flag is presented to the family of deceased member Pete Rosales (Class of 2015).

Tom Hessler
AVHOFS President
Class of 2007

I am so grateful to all who were able to attend our annual business meeting.  First, thank you for your attendance and interest in our Society.  The agenda was full and those details are included in our Secretary’s Notes in this issue.  If you think of anything our Society Board members need to know or you have questions, please contact us.  Remember, it is our Society and we are here to insure it grows and benefits our veterans.
Also, please have a look at updated materials on our website occasionally.  We will post the updated Operating Instructions and Strategic Plan soon, as well as other items of interest.  www.avhof.org. 
I encourage everyone to please read the Patriot each month as we continue to add information you should find valuable. If you attend an event with other veterans, please take some photos and write a short article and submit to our President, Tom Hessler (tjhessler@cox.net).  We want to highlight those experiences and events.

Gerry Berger
AVHOFS Vice President
Class of 2016

10 OCTOBER 2018 AVHOFS BOARD BRIEFS

Annual Business Meeting

1. Century Club donations and the ADVS Grant are the only way the Society receives operational funds.  Century Club donations are used primarily to award Scholarships to deserving veterans.  Harvey Bershader challenged each member of the Class of 2017 to donate at least $100.


2. The Strategic Plan update was presented by John Ady and proposed Bylaw changes were briefed by Ron Perkins.  Bylaws changes were approved unanimously.
   
   
3. John Scott from the ADVS office gave a very thorough briefing on their initiatives.  For a detailed listing of initiatives, see the meeting minutes when posted to the website.


4. Eldora Engebretson updated planning to date for the Patriotic Awards Dinner (formerly Gala) which will be held on 16 March 2019 at the Hilton Scottsdale, 6333 N. Scottsdale Road.


5. Dylan Dalzotto, President of the Unified Arizona Veterans, briefed current initiatives which included refurbishing the WWI statuary in Bolin Plaza and support for the Buffalo Soldier fund raiser.  He also stated 28 individuals were selected for the Class of 2018 Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame.


6. Sam Young, liaison to the Veterans Court, stated about 5,000 veterans have received assistance since it started in 2012.  Approximately 2,000 have completed the program with only a 5% recidivism rate.  Veteran assistance is provided for various misdemeanor charges: approximately 30% for DUI, 30% assault, 15% theft and shoplifting, the remainder were miscellaneous charges such as indecent exposure, riding the light rail without a pass, non-support, criminal damage, etc.


7. Chuck Schluter, Chair of the Board of Directors selection committee said Lee Lange (2018); Pat Little-Upah (2014), and Christine Mahon (2017) have been selected as new board members.  Ron Perkins will serve as Past President.  An Assistant Treasurer is needed – PLEASE APPLY!  All new and remaining officers were duly elected.


8. Arden Rowley, Korean War veteran and POW gave a moving talk about his experiences and told about a Documentary Film showing him and his Great Grandson returning to Korea.


9. Ron Capek reported 10 members have passed away so far this year.  All Society members are urged to attend member funerals and to please wear Society hat and medallion.

Dennis DeFrain
AVHOFS Secretary
Class of 2013

DONATIONS

Listed below are those Society members that have contributed so far this year.

Our annual goal is $5,000.  Here is how well we have done over the past few years.
2013 - $3,300          2016 - $4,480
2014 - $3,350          2017 - $4,300
2015 - $4,700          2018 - $3,595.12 to date

Jerry Wojtas
AVHOFS Treasurer
Class of 2011

During the past few months under the direction of board member John Ady, a new program has been initiated to better serve and engage the membership of the AVHOFS called the Class Leaders Program.

Designated Class Leaders will serve as a link between the individual members and the board of directors. Using their data bases for their individual classes, the Class Leaders will periodically send out important information and also field comments, concerns, and questions that may arise from members in order that information can be passed on to the board or proper party. The program should better engage all Society members.

Currently, the following Class Leaders are on board:

Class of 2015 - Jim Sylvester - jsylvester2002@msn.com

Class of 2016 - Vincent Sanchez - csmsanchezarmy@centurylink.net

Class of 2017 - Harvey Bershader - sedredrox@centurylink.net

Anyone from any other classes who would have an interest in serving as a Class Leader can contact John Ady (john.ady80@gmail.com) for further details.

John Ady
Director
Class of 2015

Most of our Society members are very active in their communities.  Veterans Day will be upon us shortly.  You are invited to send in pictures of our “Members in Action”.  Be sure to identify the members in the pictures.  We will select a few of the best for publication.  Please send to me (Tom Hessler) at tjhessler@cox.net. 

FUN AT THE PETTING ZOO

Members Kathleen Laurier (Class of 2012) and Dylan Dalzotto (Class of 2015) worked as volunteers at the Arizona State Fair.  Their volunteering included working at the King Tut exhibit and the Petting Zoo.  Volunteer hours went toward rental of the Veterans Coliseum, which is the location of the Maricopa StandDown to be held on 24 and 25 January.

SIERRA VISTA MAYOR ISSUES PROCLAMATION

Sierra Vista Mayor Rick Mueller issued a proclamation naming 26 October as ARIZONA VETERANS HALL OF FAME DAY, in and for the City of Sierra Vista.  This was the third consecutive year he has done so.  It is believed that this is the only city or town that has done so.  Pictured are hall of fame members as well as a couple that are in the Class or 2018.  Tom Hessler, President of the Cochise County Chapter, is holding the proclamation.  Mayor Rick is in the back (gentleman with the beard). 

Below is the text of the proclamation.  It is tailored after the Governor’s proclamation issued for the whole state.  All cities and towns, especially those with resident inductees, should consider doing the same.

“WHEREAS, Arizona veterans have served and sacrificed on behalf of our State and Nation and deserve our eternal respect and admiration; and

WHEREAS, the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame was created by the Unified Arizona Veterans and the Governor of Arizona to honor and celebrate the lives of our brave men and women in uniform who have sacrificed in the past and continue to live selfless lives in service to their communities; and

WHEREAS, the 2018 Class of Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame will be duly recognized in a special ceremony on October 26, 2018 in Scottsdale, Arizona; and

WHEREAS, the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame honors and embodies the living legacy of outstanding Arizona veterans who have continued to serve their communities, state, and our nation with distinction; and

WHEREAS, on this day, we are especially grateful for all members of the American Armed Forces, and notable, the inductees of the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT I, Frederick W. Mueller, Mayor of the City of Sierra Vista, Arizona, do hereby proclaim October 26, 2018 to be

 ARIZONA VETERANS HALL OF FAME DAY

in and for the City of Sierra Vista.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the great seal of the City of Sierra Vista to be affixed this eleventh day of October, the Year of Our Lord two thousand and eighteen and the Independence of the United States of America, the two hundred and forty­second.

Fredrick W. Mueller
Mayor”

OUR SOCIETY’S SERGEANT-AT-ARMS IN ACTION

Roy McClymonds, far left, (Class of 2017), Commander of the Scottish American Military Society, Post 48, along with chapter members, participated in the Homecoming Parade for Barry Goldwater High School, on October 19th. It was an honor for them to be invited as the only military group included in the parade.

Request you let me know as soon as you know of a member’s passing.  If available, I would like to know the member’s name, date of passing, funeral and memorial service details, and a copy of the obituary.  Here are Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society members that have passed so far this year.  They are:

Kyle Brayer (will be inducted into Class of 2018) passed 4 February
Robert S. Delsi (Class of 2015) passed 1 March
Elmer Urda (Class of 2007) passed 15 May
Claudia Johnson (Class of 2007) passed 4 July
Ralph T. “Tom” Browning (Class of 2008) passed 7 July
Jesse Gersten (Class of 2004) passed 31 July
Arthur G. Sloane (Class of 2008) passed 6 August
John S. McCain III (Class of 2010) passed 25 August
Pete Rosales Sr. (Class of 2015) passed 29 September
Edwin Gene Spruce (Class of 2008) passed 6 October

By Lea Seago - Class of 2013

6 April 1917 – President Woodrow Wilson declares war on Germany.
18 May 1917 – President Wilson issued a formal proclamation to announce universal conscription, affecting 10 million men between the ages of 21 and 30.
15 June 1917 – Congress passed the Espionage Act, making obstruction to the Nation’s war effort a federal crime.
4 July 2017 – The French people were thrilled to see American soldiers march through the streets of Paris.  When they arrived at Lafayette’s tomb, Colonel Charles Stanton declared “Lafayette we are here”!
20 July 1917 – Lottery Day. The 1st draft number drawn was #258, the number of the first man to be called up in each draft office.

Little has been written about Harry Truman and his service in WWI.  He did not lead numbered armies; he did not chum around with rising stars but served our nation, first in the Missouri National Guard, with two three-year enlistments.  His time in the guard was spent with Battery B of the Missouri Field Artillery’s 1st Battalion.  Truman was thrilled to be able to serve anywhere in the military because of his poor eyesight.

Truman’s dream was to attend the US Military Academy.  He knew because of his eyesight he could never make it past the physical exam.  After his 2 enlistments in the Guard, Truman tried many diverse business ventures and met with failure each time.  When President Wilson declared war on Germany, Truman at age 33, signed up for service in the war.  He served 2 years on active duty with the Army and served 3 months of combat as a reserve officer.  He believed that military service was the prerequisite for a successful career, especially a government one.

During WWI, officers were selected by the men being commanded.  At the time, a Captain was needed in Artillery Battery D; to the surprise of Truman’s superiors, he was selected for Captain/command.  He was an excellent artillery man as he could zero in on the enemy, even with poor eyesight but wearing glasses.  Battery D fired more than 10,000 shells during the war.

Truman was admired by his men for his horsemanship.  He could ride and was comfortable on a horse.  He was resolute in his care and feeding of the horses which were vital for his artillery battery.

Horses played a large role in WWI and sadly 8,000 died or were killed in action.  Other animals involved in the war were: dogs, cats, birds, donkeys, pigs, monkeys and camels for sure.  Glow worms were used in jars as lanterns for map reading and writing letters.

PIGEONS---we all have personal feelings regarding this sometimes annoying bird.  However, during WWI the US Army Signal Corps had 600 of the birds, used in France as couriers.  One black check cock carrier pigeon, Cher Ami, a hero of the war, saved over 190 American artillerymen during the Meuse-Argonne offensive in October 1918.

Her heroic deed was to follow two other carrier pigeons that were shot down by the Germans.  She was carrying a vital message for her troops that were surrounded by the Germans with no food, injured soldiers and receiving friendly fire.  Cher Ami was trying to return to her loft at division HQ which was 25 miles to the rear.  She made it in 25 minutes even though she was severely wounded.  She had been shot through the breast, blinded in one eye and had a leg hanging on by a tendon . . . Mission Accomplished!

Cher Ami was awarded the Croix de Guerre medal with a palm oak leaf cluster for her heroic deeds.  She was inducted into the Racing Pigeon Hall of Fame in 1931.  She also received a gold medal from the Organized Bodies of American Racing Pigeon Fanciers in recognition of service in WWI, 1914-1918.

When Cher Ami had recuperated from her wounds enough to travel, she was put on a ship in France, headed for the US, 77th Infantry Division.  General John J. Pershing was present to personally send Cher Ami off.

We have come a long way---however?  Facts to Ponder:

In 1931 Charles E. Stanton of Illinois was enrolled in the American Legion as its one millionth member.

Truman was a founder of the Reserve Officers Association.  He retired in the rank of Colonel after 37 years of service.  He was an avid reader and a classical piano student from the age of 11 through his high school years.

Over 16 million animals served in WWI. They were used for transport, communications, mascots and companionship.

Even though the meaning of Cher Ami in French is a masculine salutation for “dear friend” the female carrier pigeon served her division for 4 years.

11 November 1918, Battery D, 129th field artillery fired their final shots in the old battlefields of Verdon.  Just 15 minutes before the Armistice took effect.

11 a.m. 11-11-1918 Armistice was declared!

11 Nov 18 (Tentative)
Re-dedication of the Arizona WWI Monument at the Capitol.

9 Jan 19            
Annual General Membership Meeting at the Arizona State Veteran Home, Phoenix.

9 Mar 19
“Saluting Stories of Service” celebration dinner, Hilton Scottsdale Resort & Villas.