Gerry Berger AVHOFS President Class of 2016

Dear Patriots,

First, all the very Best Wishes to you and your family wherever you and they may be during this holiday season from your Society Board.  2019 has been an amazing year and I’m hoping your year has been fulfilling and productive.  I hope you make the time to visit other veterans during this time and to listen to their history as there are amazing stories around.
I am already looking forward to a most wonderful 2020.

Please place on your calendar our next meeting on Wednesday, the 8th of January 2020 for our annual membership meeting in Liberty Hall at the Veterans Home, Phoenix beginning at 10 am and probably closing the meeting around noon.  We will be swearing in new officers and directors for 2020 – 2022 as well as saying “thank you” to Gary Fredricks as he has been a superb addition to our Board.

Check out the updated Chart on Society Guidelines for Wearing of AVHOFS Apparel while you are checking the website: www.avhof.org

Many thanks to everyone for supporting the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society this year. If you have any questions or comments, please email me at bergergerry@hotmail.com

Thank you for all you do for veterans. 

Gerry Berger
Aspire to Inspire before you Expire

Jerry Wojtas AVHOFS Treasurer Class of 2011

It doesn’t happen that often, but often enough that it bears mentioning to all members.  When donating money to our Society, PLEASE indicate where you wish the money to go.  The Century Club is the most common destination, but members will also donate to our Society Foundation, and some will simply want funds to go into our General Fund or perhaps our Veterans Court program.  To ensure that your money gets to the right place, be certain to indicate where you wish your money to go when donating.

Our Century Club money goes into our Scholarship Fund.  Below is another write-up for one of the students who received a scholarship from the Hall of Fame Society this past year. 

Harrison Kessel is from Cactus Shadows High School.  During his VHP tenure, as both Chapter Vice President and a senior editor, he has partaken in the publication of four Since You Asked books.  He also interviewed six veterans.  One of them pioneered new paths for women, another hit the beaches of Iwo Jima, and another provided a chilling first-hand account of the frozen Chosin.  Harrison stated that he has received a crash course on the fundamentals of living, and that in the limited time one has, life is best spent helping others.  He has been accepted to the University of Minnesota and has an interest in political science. 

It happened this past month, so it is worth mentioning at this time.  You can donate more than once during the same year.  We welcome your contributions at any time and as often as you choose to make them.  To date our total stands at $6,760.

 GREEN - $101-$199   BLUE - $200-$299   RED - $300 and above

Lee Lange AVHOFS Director Class of 2018

It’s time to start looking ahead to the next session of the Arizona state legislature which will convene in January 2020.  The outcome of last year’s session for veterans was meager.  The biggest initiative to pass the legislature was $1.2M approved in general appropriations in 2020 for veteran suicide prevention.  There was no progress on adding more Veterans Benefits Counselors (VBC’s) which the state desperately needs to help veterans get their earned benefits.  And no progress on increasing the state tax exemption for military retired pay – it remains at $3,500, one of the lowest among the 50 states.

At a stakeholder meeting on October 11, the top priority was again more VBC’s.  Another priority was a state legislative effort to bring more focus to the problem of sexual; assault/trauma in the military.  Since most military regulations are set by the federal government, the state effort would be to get our federal delegation to take action in Congress to work this problem.  The tax exemption issue is also on the table, so more action is possible in 2020.

Fair Lending Ballot Initiative
The Arizona Fair Lending Act is a ballot initiative for 2020 that would limit interest rates to 36% on car title loans in Arizona.  This would match what is in federal lending law now for active military members.  Currently, title loans in Arizona can go as high as 204% and potentially affect thousands of veterans in Arizona not on active duty or in a drilling reserve status.  The ballot initiative would allow Arizonans to vote on the issue and if passed, would become law.  A committee called Arizonans for Fair Lending is leading this effort.  They are a coalition of veteran’s groups, local charities and faith-based organizations.  I am a member of the Steering Committee for this group.  The Committee is now working on collecting signatures on petitions to meet the requirement for 237K signatures by July 1, 2020 to get this initiative on the ballot next November.  Most signatures will be gathered by professional firms retained by the Committee.  One way Society members can help is in identifying veterans they may know who have used title loans and ended up with more problems than they started with.  The Committee is looking for stories of actual loan experiences that can help the ballot initiative. If any SWVCC members knows of someone who might be willing to speak on his/her experience, contact Lee Lange at (703) 232-3609 or lflange48@gmail.com.  I will work personally with the individual to ensure proper privacy and how best they can help the ballot effort with their story.  

The Country Store is currently closed.  It is normally open two times a year – in the spring (usually 15 March to the end of April) and in the fall (usually mid-September to mid-October).  Feel free to browse the store items anytime at www.avhof.org.

Roy McClymonds
AVHOFS Quartermaster
Class of 2017

As far as I know, the Mayor of the City of Sierra Vista is the only Arizona mayor to issue an annual proclamation honoring Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame inductees.  This was at least the third year Mayor Mueller has honored us.  The proclamation was presented to Tom Hessler (Class of 2007) who represented all the Cochise County inductees.  The proclamation was presented at a regular City Council Meeting on 14 November. 

Unfortunately, the three local inductees of the class of 2019 could not be present.  One moved to the east coast, one being under chemo did not feel good enough to attend, and the other fell a few hours before the meeting and went to the hospital.  Cochise County has about four percent of the State’s veteran population yet has about 11 percent of the inductees!  This was the 17th straight year that Cochise County has had at least one inductee.

All Arizona mayors are encouraged to consider making similar annual proclamations honoring their local inductees. 

(at left) Tom Hessler accepting the Mayor’s Proclamation on behalf of local inductees.  Mayor Mueller is on the left.  Previous inductees standing behind Tom are John Black (Class of 2016), Glenn Hohman (Class of 2018), Marian Fletcher (Class of 2014), Larry McKim (Class of 2011), Judy-Ann Carroll (Class of 2014), and Lynnise Moore (Class of 2013).

Tom Hessler
President
Cochise County Chapter, AVHOFS
Class of 2007

VETERANS DAY CEREMONY IN SIERRA VISTA

Sierra Vista celebrated Veterans Day with a parade followed with a ceremony in Veterans Memorial Park (the city’s largest).  MG Laura Potter (CG, USA Intelligence Center of Excellence and Fort Huachuca), Glenn Hohman (Grand Marshal, Veteran of the Year and AVHOF Class of 2018) and Mayor Rick Mueller cut the ceremonial cake (provided by the Coronado Chapter of MOAA) at the conclusion of the event.  The sword is provided every year by Leo Pimple (Class of 2011).

Tom Hessler
President
Cochise County Chapter, AVHOFS
Class of 2007

For the past five years, the Legacy Foundation of Southeast Arizona has annually honored twelve veterans in a ceremony which includes having their portraits posted on a wall in the Canyon View Medical Center. This year’s honorees included five Society members – Robert Conte (Class of 2019), Glenn Hohman (Class of 2018), Jack Isler (Class of 2010), George Kirmse (Class of 2006 ), and Gene Manring (Class of 2008).  A total of 21 Society members have been honored since the program started; meaning that we have 35% of the total.

The picture includes some of the Foundation leaders.

Tom Hessler
President
Cochise County Chapter, AVHOFS
Class of 2007

Jerry Wojtas (Class of 2011) and Phil Hanson (Class of 2004) stood in front of the speaker platform prior to the opening of the Sunland Memorial Park Veterans Day ceremonies.  Phil was there as Past Commander of the Northwest Valley Veterans Association (NWVVA).  The NWVVA consists of about 16 military organizations.  Jerry was representing MOWW as Past Commander.  In addition, Pam Wojtas (Jerry’s better ¾) was also there representing the Luke Chapter of MOAA as Past President.

Jerry Wojtas
AVHOFS Treasurer
Class of 2011

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.

Known members that have passed so far this year are:

Arden Rowley (Class of 2004) passed 14 June
James Seidl (Class of 2006) passed 16 June
Joseph Schneider (Class of 2009) passed 17 June
Aloysius F. Radlinski (Class of 2010) passed 5 September
Larry D. Mitchell (Class of 2010) passed 3 November

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.