INDUCTION OF CLASS OF 2018
On behalf of all the members of our Society, I offer our sincere congratulations to the soon-to-be-inducted into the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame, Class of 2018.
Inductees, their guests, Society members, and everyone else attending the induction should consider booking their rooms right away at the Talking Stick Resort.  The total group rate is $109/room-night (plus fees and taxes), and good for the 25th, 26th and 27th of October.  Reggie Yates (Class of 2013), the Immediate Past Chair of the UAV, has provided us with two pertinent articles for this issue of the Patriot.  Reggie’s article has more specifics on both the Induction, as well as making reservations at the Talking Stick Resort.  Here is the incoming Class of 2018:

COPPER SWORD and COPPER EAGLE
I remind you again to note the new submission deadline for nominations for the Copper Sword and Copper Eagle awards is 30 September.  Nomination forms are here: Copper Sword and Copper Eagle. These prestigious awards will be presented at our Patriotic Awards Dinner (formerly the Patriotic Gala) on 16 March.  The event will be held at the Hilton Scottsdale Resort & Villas.  More to come.

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Our next General Membership Meeting will be held at the Arizona Capital, which is a first.  VP Berger has all the latest details below.  Our VP requests your attendance at the meeting on the 10th of October.  Please RSVP to her with your selection for lunch. Details are below.  See you there!

COUNTRY STORE ORDERS DUE
You are reminded that the current order period ends in a couple days. Get your orders in now.

UPCOMING EVENTS
Following Lea Seago’s military history article, you can see a short listing of upcoming events.  Suggest you mark your calendars for those events you are interested in attending.

Tom Hessler
AVHOFS President
Class of 2007

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Our Annual Membership Meeting is in our full planning stage and with that we want you all to RSVP to me at bergergerry@hotmail.com with your attendance and selection of your lunch choice.
The Historic Supreme Court Room is reserved for our meeting beginning at 10AM.  A greeter will be at or near the front doors of the Capitol on that morning from 9AM.  The second greeter will be on the 2d floor near the elevator to direct you to our meeting room and to the coffee too!

Our agenda is full; however, time will be made to have a few photos taken of all the attendees so please attend and wear your Society name tag.

Menu choice for lunch will be Pot Roast or Grilled Chicken with mashed potatoes, green beans, green tossed salad, dinner roll/butter and dessert.  There is a cost of $18 payable on the day with your cash or credit card. No checks, please. Meal to be served at noon.

Water, iced tea and coffee will be available most of the morning and through your lunch.
Make some extra time to visit the Capitol Museum area and check out the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame kiosk there.  The photo here is of our Secretary, Dennis DeFrain when we visited earlier in the year.  After your visit, please encourage your friends and relatives to visit too.

Separately, we encourage you to reserve some extra time to walk in the Wesley Bolin Plaza to view many of our memorials and, of course, the anchor from the USS Arizona. This is a very rewarding experience.

I look forward to greeting each of you there.  Again, please RSVP me now with your choice of lunch.  RSVP's must be received no later than Oct 8th.
Thank you.

Historic Supreme Court Room

Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame kiosk.  The photo here is of our Secretary, Dennis DeFrain

Gerry Berger
AVHOFS Vice President
Class of 2016

8 AUGUST 2018 AVHOFS BOARD BRIEFS

1. All Society members are encouraged to donate to the Scholarship Fund using the form in the Patriot newsletter (coming soon).
2. The annual review of the Society bylaws has been completed and all changes will be presented to the membership at the October general membership meeting.
3. All Operating Instructions (OI’s) are currently undergoing final review and once approved by the Board of Directors will appear on the Society website.
4. The annual review of the Strategic Plan has been completed and updates will be presented at the October general membership meeting.
5. Sam Young is working with the Arizona Republic to get the Veterans Information Column restarted in the newspaper.
6. All Society members who desire to get reservations at the Talking Stick resort for the AVHOF induction ceremony on October 26 are encouraged to get their reservations in as soon as possible to get the discounted room rate.
7. All Society members are encouraged to register at the Kiosk in the State Capitol so that comments on pending legislative actions can be made at home.
8. Society members are asked to nominate deserving individuals for the Copper Sword and Copper Eagle as soon as possible.

Dennis DeFrain
AVHOFS Secretary
Class of 2013

2018 ARIZONA VETERANS HALL OF FAME (AVHOF) ACTIVITIES
In past history, the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, traditionally held on the last Friday in October, was preceded by a separate Inductee Reception on Thursday evening.  The purpose of the reception is to dedicate time and space for the new inductees and current members to get acquainted, learn about new members’ skills and interests, and to encourage exploration and participation in leadership and the various positions and committees that are the lifeblood of the sponsor organizations. 

In 2014, The Unified Arizona Veterans (UAV), and The Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society (AVHOFS) decided to conduct both events on the same day for a gain in efficiency and cost savings.  The Reception is the prime opportunity to visit with many nationally recognized men and women who, after AVHOF induction, continue to contribute and inspire others in the veteran community and beyond with their dedication and selflessness.  The Reception also underscores the thought that membership in the AVHOF is not a destination but more likely is a starting point for even greater contributions by truly exceptional veterans.  The Reception is a mandatory event for the new inductees and our leadership invites and strongly encourages participation by each available current member.  In order to move this process along in a timely manner, we request that you RSVP to email RY173ABN@COX.NET, by 1800 hours (6:00 pm) on Tuesday, October 17, 2018, if you plan to participate in the Reception.

On Friday October 26, 2018, at the Talking Stick Resort (TSR) Conference Center, the Reception for this year’s class will begin at 0800 hours.  A continental breakfast is available followed by presentation of the new member and support person pins.  The pins are normally presented by the Director, Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services and the sitting Secretary of State.  For our members and guests who wish to have overnight accommodations at TSR (a 4 Star rated hotel) on Thursday, October 25, through Saturday, October 27, a special rate of $109 plus tax and fees is available immediately.  Please call toll free 1-866-877-9897; use Unified Arizona Veterans (UAV) Booking ID #16748 to secure your reservation as soon as possible.  Additional information is available at the UAV website, www.azuav.org, or on the UAV Facebook page.  Thanks for your consideration and support.  We look forward to visiting with you on Friday, October 26th.

ARIZONA WORLD WAR I MONUMENT RESTORATION
A few years ago, in the course of his advocacy and pioneering work in addressing veteran homelessness, Terry Araman, Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame (AVHOF) Class of 2016, discovered a strong family connection to a World War I soldier.  This discovery eventually lead him to the Arizona World War I Memorial located at Wesley Bolin Plaza, a stone’s throw from the state capitol.  Appalled by the deteriorating condition of the monument (dedicated in 1969), Terry set out to raise the awareness of veterans and the community at large with the intent of restoring this important monument to a more presentable level.  It is important to recall that there is no established funding at any level, private or government, dedicated to the maintenance and upkeep of most Arizona memorials.  Fast forward to December of 2017.  

As a result of local media coverage, and interest from the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services, the Arizona Department of Administration, and the Unified Arizona Veterans, an ad hoc committee was formed with the goal of refurbishing the monument in time for the 100th Anniversary of the end of World War I on November 11th of this year.  After having raised more than $5,500 in donations, thanks primarily to the VSO community, our focus now is aesthetics and construction.  David Lucier (AVHOF ’08), Lea Seago (AVHOF’13), and Jeanne Blaes (AVHOF’16) are currently engaged in design and coordination activities with SUNDT Corporation Inc.  Blaes was instrumental in making contact with SUNDT, who has a long record of accomplishments and support for veteran’s interests and projects around our state. Lea Seago is currently working on securing a proclamation from the governor’s office to mark the occasion.  

We ask all Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society members to keep an eye on this space for updates on the project as well as details of the re-dedication ceremony tentatively scheduled for Sunday, November 11, 2018.  Our thanks to the John Ady (AVHOF’15) family for their recent contribution and to the membership and Board of Director’s for your continued support and encouragement.  
Submitted by:

A. R. Yates (AVHOF ‘13)
IPC Unified Arizona Veterans

Fall orders are being through September 8, 2018. Download the fillable form from our website and follow the instructions in the form. You can email or print and mail your order form. On the last page, where you fill out your information, ALL blocks MUST be filled out, especially the first line where you state your name as you want it embroidered on your items.

Please note that ALL orders need to be to the Quartermaster not later than SEPTEMBER 8, 2015 as NO ORDERS ACCEPTED AFTER THAT DATE.

With this Fall Order we will be accepting credit card payments either by swiping or inserting chip cards in our card reader or by telephone order at (480) 694-2425. When using credit cards, check the box next to credit card payment on the last page of the form. Then contact the Quartermaster at the number above to complete payment.

Roy McClymonds
AVHOFS Quartermaster
Class of 2017

Clowning Around for a Purpose

One of our own is just that Clown, Retired Army Sergeant, & Class of 2017 inductee, Darrell “PoPo” Mandrell.

Darrell continues to give back to the community in a number of ways, not just here in Arizona but around the United States.  Darrell just returned from Daytona Florida where he competed in an International Shriner Clown competition against other Shrine Clowns from around the world.  

These are friendly competitions where the best of the best is awarded, but above all else, these competitions are where these Clowns learn from each other how to improve their characters, to be the best they can for one reason only, to make a difference in the life of a child, to see wonder in the eyes of the aged, and to make the world a better place for all, one smile at a time. 

Darrell recently returned with a 1st place in the “1-man skit” category debuting his home-grown donut tree, and also 3rd place in “overall appearance of character”.

Darrell takes ahold of any opportunity to “Clown around” and has made appearances at the State Veterans Home in Phoenix.  One particular event he and several of his fellow Clowns were making balloon flowers for the female residents, when he noted several male veterans in wheel chairs gathering around who asked if they could get something?  With the approval of the staff, they made balloon swords, and within minutes, they were all engaged in wheel chair jousting.  For a brief moment, each of these Hero’s forgot their bodily infirmities, they had fun, they smiled, and they laughed. Mission accomplished!!!

Webster’s defines a smile as “to express amusement, pleasure, moderate joy or kindness, by features of the face, to laugh silently or aloud”.  Darrell and the thousands of other Shriner Clowns in the world total effort is to relieve, even momentarily, all the unpleasantness in the lives of others.

Po-Po’s Golden Rules are not just for the young, if we all live by them, the world would be a better place for all. 

*Always do the right thing, even when no one is looking!
*Never Cheat, winning from cheating is not worth the victory!
*Stay in school, get good grades and succeed!

By Lea Seago - Class of 2013

April 1914, President Wilson was awakened in the middle of the night and apprised that a German freighter was sighted unloading munitions in Vera Cruz, Mexico, which were possibly for anti U.S. use.  The command from the president was “take Vera Cruz as soon as possible.”  

The USS Chester, a scout cruiser named after the city of Chester, PA, commanded by William Adger Moffett, led the dangerous night time mission to enter Vera Cruz Harbor in order to land U.S. Marines.  For this action he was awarded the Medal of Honor.

8 August 1914, Europe was now in a war and the Great War was in the future for others.  On this day, Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton and his crew set sail on the ship Endeavor with the intention of being the first humans to cross the South Polar Continent.  He was accused by many of fleeing from war.  However, he had a pat answer---the voyage would be as difficult and maybe as tragic as war.  The voyage would last 522 days, and indeed would have many tragic moments, which included the sinking of the Endeavor.

Edith Wharton, author, poet, interior designer and American, was as usual preparing to vacation for the summer when WWI broke out.  Plans were changed, and she stayed in Paris.  For four years, she was tireless in her support for the French war effort.  When the Germans invaded Belgium in the fall of 1914, she helped set up American Hostels for refugees.  The shelters provided, rooms, meals, clothes and eventually an employment agency to help them find work.  Edith collected more than $100,000 on their behalf.  Early in 1915, Edith organized Children of Flanders Rescue Committee which gave shelter to nearly 900 Belgian refugees. Read the full article

30 Sep 18
NEW deadline for submission of Copper Eagle & Copper Sword award nominations.

10 Oct 18         
General Membership Meeting at the State Capitol.

26 Oct 18  
Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Induction at the Talking Stick Resort, Scottsdale.

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

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

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

16 Mar 19
Patriotic Awards Dinner (formerly the Patriotic Gala), Hilton Scottsdale Resort & Villas.