Gerry Berger AVHOFS President Class of 2016

Dear Patriots,
Ah, June is here!  I hope every day in June will be the start of something Great!

Our Vice President, Gary Fredricks, is planning our annual meeting in October.  More information will be forthcoming.
If you are nominating someone for either the Copper Eagle or Copper Sword, please submit your nomination prior to 30 June 2019. We look forward to this recognition.

The UAV informed us the 2019 Induction Ceremony has moved to Friday, the 18th of October 2019 at Talking Stick Resort.  More information will follow as further confirmations and selections are made.

Please continue to provide articles and photos to be included in the Patriot when you participate in volunteer work for others.
June is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Month.  Let us all be sensitive to the needs of our veterans.

Thank you for all you do for veterans. 

Aspire to Inspire before you Expire

APRIL 2019 BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING BRIEFS

1.  Gary Fredricks, Vice President, is finalizing plans for our Annual Business Meeting in October.  More information will follow.
2. Roy McClymonds processing requests received for Country Store items.
3. Foundation Committee has updated information related to the on-going progress being made.

Lee Lange AVHOFS Director Class of 2018

After more than four months of work, the Arizona Legislature may soon complete its 2019 Legislative Session. The focus of effort in the House and Senate for the last few weeks has been on intense budget negotiations between Republicans and Democrats -and the Governor. The fate of several bills of interest to veterans is also tied to the final outcome. 

Here is an update; 

HB2093 Veterans Services Counselors (VBC’s).  Sponsored by Rep Richard Andrade, the bill calls for $1.2 million to add more paid state VBC positions. The bill passed the House and was sent to the Senate where it was passed by the Appropriations Committee. The bill was included in budget negotiations, but an early version of the Senate budget did not include this provision. The House version was expected to include the funding, setting up House - Senate final negotiations.

HB2488 – Annual Report, Veteran Suicides. Sponsored by Rep Jay Lawrence, the bill calls for an annual report by the Arizona Department of Health Services (DHS) on information related to veteran suicides in the state. The final version of the bill passed both Houses April 11. It was signed by the Governor April 17. 

HB2011 – Veterans Increased Income Tax Subtraction. Rep Gail Griffin’s bill originally called for increasing the state tax exemption for military retired pay to $10K and was amended to provide for a $5K exemption. It did not pass the House but discussions on the issue have continued in budget negotiations.   

SB1157 – Income Tax Subtraction, Veterans Pensions. Sponsored by Sen David Gowen, the bill called for full exemption of military retired pay starting in 2020. The bill passed the Senate but did not clear committee in the House before the start of budget negotiations. The bill’s cost of $43.5M in 2020 presented a significant challenge. But the idea of making progress on state tax exemption amounts was still in play late into budget negotiations.  

Pat Upah AVHOFS Director Class of 2014

Most of us in the Veteran Community know of a non-veteran or a company that consistently supports this country and the veterans who have served it.  Just as we recognize Veterans who are giving back through the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, we also need to recognize those non-veterans who have helped.   The Copper Sword and Copper Eagle awards are designed to do just that.   Each year at our Patriotic event, the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society recognizes an individual non-veteran whose personal actions contributed significantly to the benefit and wellbeing of our military, our veterans, their families and their survivors, their communities and their neighbors with the Copper Sword award.  They also recognize a deserving private or public institution, organization or corporation whose actions warrant high recognition for services rendered to the Arizona veteran or military community with the Copper Eagle award.   You can nominate someone using these forms:

Copper Sword Nomination form         Copper Eagle Nomination form

Do not let this opportunity pass to recognize those who have helped you and the Veterans organizations you belong to.  If you need assistance, contact Pat Upah at patupah@gmail.com  

We will let you know when the next ordering period
opens.  Meanwhile you can still look at the items on our website

Roy McClymonds
AVHOFS Quartermaster
Class of 2017

Dedication of the World War I Monument located in Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza on Saturday, 18th of May 2019

From Left to Right are:  David Lucier (Class of 2009), President, Arizona Veterans and Military Leadership Alliance; Neil Urban, the Arizona Department of Administration; Gary Ayres representing Sundt Construction and Sundt Foundation; Wanda Wright, Director of Arizona Department of Veteran Services; Jeanne Blaes (Class of 2016), Member of Monument Committee; Joe Abodeely, Arizona Military Museum and consulted on project; and Reggie Yates (Class of 2013), Past Chair Unified Arizona Veterans and member of Committee.

Please visit this memorial when you visit other Monuments in Phoenix.

The following extracted from a recent newsletter from
Debbie Lesko, US Congresswoman, 8th District of Arizona.

Arizona’s District 8 Congressional Recognition was presented to Gerry Berger, a retired Army and Air National Guard veteran and Sun City West resident.  Her passion for helping veterans and her community has continued long after her many years of service.  She was inducted into the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame in 2016. Thank you, Gerry, for your service to our country and our community!

Photo is of Gerry receiving the recognition from Chuck Byers (Class of 2018), who is Congresswoman Debbie Lesko’s Military & Veterans Liaison Officer.

Photo was taken in San Antonio where he received this award.  In the photo, James Moss, VFW VAVS National Representative is on his right and Michael Welsh, Associate Director of the Phoenix VA is on his left.  He is especially honored because in the letter received from Richard A. Stone, M.D. Executive in Charge of the Department of Veterans Affairs, he said the VA has nearly 64,000 volunteers.

DAV Chapter 14 hosted this year’s Memorial Day Ceremony at the Southern Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Sierra Vista.  Glenn Hohman (Class of 2018) shown here assisting Commander Gerald Gabel as they prepare to start the event.

John Black (Class of 2016) was the Society’s flag bearer.  Here he stands with over 20 other flagbearers posted along the front of the stage.  John is the Commander of the Cochise County Sheriff’s Assist Team.  Shown next to him here is a member of the Southwest Association of Buffalo Soldiers.

Fifteen members of the Cochise County Chapter of the Society were among the 300 plus attendees.  Among those awaiting the ceremony were Marion Fletcher (Class of 2014), Lynnise Moore (Class of 2013), Larry McKim (Class of 2011) Judy Carroll (Class of 2014) and Jose Baeza (Class of 2017).  

AVHOFS members, Fred Marable, Kathleen Laurier and Lea Seago presented a Society wreath at the Memorial Day event at the historic Pioneer and Military Cemetery in downtown Phoenix.  There were approximately 350 people in attendance, and included cannons and gun salute.

Request you let us know as soon as you know of an inductee’s passing.  If available, we would like to know the inductee’s name, date of passing, funeral and memorial service details, and a copy of the obituary.  Send notices to me at bergergerry@hotmail.com.

Gerry Berger
AVHOFS President
Class of 2016

30 Jun 19
Postmark deadline for submitting nominations for the Copper Sword and Copper Eagle. See our website for forms.

30 Sep 19
Postmark deadline for submitting nominations for the Copper Shield and Copper Star. See azuav.org

9 Oct 19
Annual Business Meeting at a location to be determined.

18 Oct 19
Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Induction at the Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale (same as last year).  Please note the date.  This is a week earlier than normal.

8 Jan 20
Annual General Membership Meeting at the Arizona State Veterans Home, Phoenix

8 May 20
Patriotic Awards Luncheon at the Hilton Doubletree Scottsdale, 5401 N. Scottsdale Rd. Reception at 1100, Luncheon at noon.  Note that the event has been changed from a dinner to a luncheon!  The date has changed as well.

Many of our Society members are very active in their communities.  You are invited to send me articles with 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.