Gerry Berger AVHOFS President Class of 2016

During normal times, your Society would be looking forward to our annual Business meeting with attendance to meet and enjoy the company of our Society; however, these are not normal times.  Please see Vice President Jim Monroe’s article as planning is made for the meeting on the 4th of November.  As concerns around the coronavirus (COVID-19) continue, please remain diligent and stay safe and well.

If you haven’t already seen the video from the Veterans Heritage Project on the 2nd of August, please do so now.  You can view the video on their website.

I hope you find a few of our Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame members’ stories in one of the books you may purchase.  These are such a good read as each story is so personal.

As we recall the tragedy of September 11th once again, we should remind ourselves to never forget to honor the heroes and to remember all the lives lost during this attack.

As always, please continue to keep your Society updated if you have a change in mailing address, phone number or email.

Gerry Berger, President
Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society
Aspire to Inspire Before You Expire

Jim Monroe AVHOFS Vice President Class of 2016

Once again, I hope this finds you and yours safe and well. 

AVHOF SELECTION AND INDUCTION OF THE 2020 CLASS:
Candidates for induction in the AVHOF have been identified and they are currently going through background checks.  Once these checks are complete, the vetted candidates will be presented to the Governor for approval.  The UAV continues to plan for a number of small induction ceremonies that will comply with current social distancing and health restrictions while accomplishing the task of getting the induction of each new member accomplished in the most efficient way possible.  I will continue to update as this process moves forward.

AVHOFS ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP BUSINESS MEETING:
Each year we conduct a business meeting to review the activities of the past year, consider plans and objectives for the coming year and elect new officers and directors.  It is certainly our desire for each AVHOFS member to participate in this meeting as it is paramount to the success of the Society.

Unfortunately, we are prohibited from holding an actual face-to-face meeting this year.  The Society Board of Directors meetings have been virtual for the last six months and we are now compelled to conduct a virtual Business Meeting.  The Business Meeting was originally scheduled for November 4 and we plan to keep this date.  The meeting will be a ZOOM meeting.  ZOOM is a widely used virtual meeting service and it is extremely easy to use.  Participation from your computer or  mobile phone is possible.  I will be sending out additional information on the ZOOM meeting and giving you instructions on how to join the meeting.  Additionally, I plan to schedule several TEST ZOOM meetings prior to the Business Meeting; this will allow you to join and work out any problems.  I suggest you might find this process interesting if you have not experienced it previously.  Of course, many of you are old hands at ZOOM meetings now.

Please contact me directly if you have any concerns or suggestions monroe.avhofs@gmail.com, 480-363-0044).

AVHOFS 2021-2022 OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS NOMINATIONS:
Nominations are open for officers and directors for the coming 2021-2022 term.  We are specifically searching for two Directors and a Secretary.  Please contact me should you have an interest in a particular position or would like to nominate someone to serve on the Board of Directors.  Specifics for each position are available on the AVHOFS Website: www.avhof.org.

Jerry Wojtas AVHOFS Treasurer Class of 2011

This has been a strange year as most of you know.  I want to thank all of you who have continued to support our Century Club with your donations.  Late last year we set a goal of $7,500 which had never been reached before.  As this issue of the Patriot goes to press, we are ever so close, $7,415.40, to reaching that goal.  For those Patriots who haven’t contributed, PLEASE, do it now!  Help us go over the top!

Our ‘No Veteran Left Behind’ program ended on July 31st and was very rewarding.  Our thanks go out to all of you who helped make this fund raiser a success.  We collected $4750 and some of that was matched by a sponsor to make the overall number even bigger.

Each month I watch our incoming Century Club donations very closely.  As most of you should know, it is one of the main sources of income and the primary one to support our scholarship program.  Last month I decided to produce a document which shows those members of our Society who have contributed to the Century Club at least ONCE since it was introduced in 2013, 8 years ago.

As most of you know, we gain about 22 new members each year and unfortunately lose almost as many.  Currently we have 240 living members.  Some members contribute every year and for that we are most grateful and give those people a big THANK YOU!  The chart below will show how you and your class stands currently against the other classes.  I should also point out that many deceased members contributed before they passed, but I am listing only current living members on this chart.

CENTURY CLUB DONATIONS (2010 Goal is $7,500. Total to date is $7,415.40.)

Black - up to $100  GREEN - $101-$199   BLUE - $200-$299   RED - $300 and above

The Country Store closed as of April 30, 2020. The Country Store will reopen this coming fall, please look for the actual opening date in your AVHOFS newsletter.
Thank you.

Roy McClymonds
AVHOFS Quartermaster
Class of 2017

To my fellow members of the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society, I am asking you to reach into your heart and find $100 for our organization.  These funds go toward many veterans’ causes, but the one near and dear to my heart is the Veterans Treatment Courts (VTC) which we support.  If you have not had the opportunity to attend a VTC, may I suggest you take a day and visit your nearest veterans court.  It will reach you in ways you haven’t yet imagined.  If you want further information on attending a veterans court, please contact our President, Gerry Berger, for a nearby location, etc.

Homeless, at-risk and struggling veterans could use our help.  We all need help at one time or another.  As Arizona’s finest veterans, we all support our veterans, but these are tough times and a little more could really make the difference.

Shortly, (probably) you may be receiving another rebate check, so take $100 from this check and donate it to the AVHOFS.  Send your check to:  Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society, 4980 South Alma School Road, A2-619, Chandler, AZ 85248.  Indicate on the check that the donation is for the “Veterans Treatment Court” or “VTC”.

I challenge you to join me in this donation.  More wouldn’t hurt!

Sincerely,
Dorn “Pat” Farrell
AVHOF Class of 2015 and BOD member

Pat Upah AVHOFS Director Class of 2014

Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, we had to cancel our 2020 Patriotic Awards Ceremony.  Our 2021 Patriotic Awards Luncheon will recognize both our 2020 awardees as well as those selected for 2021.  We have extended our nomination deadline for our 2021 nominations until September 30th. 

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.  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 supported and serve Veterans.  The Copper Sword and Copper Eagle awards are designed to do just that.  Next year at our Patriotic Luncheon the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society will recognize an individual non-veteran whose personal actions contributed significantly to the benefit and well-being of our military, our veterans, their families and their survivors, their communities and their neighbors with the Copper Sword award.  They will 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 for the 2021 awards by going to the avhof.org website, click on Awards and Scholarships and fill out a nomination form for the Copper Sword or Copper Eagle.  

Do not let this opportunity pass to recognize those who have helped you and the Veterans organizations that you belong to.  While we are restricted right now from participating in many activities, it is the perfect time to work from home and nominate that special person or company  you have wanted to nominate in the past but just did not find the time.  If you need assistance you can contact Pat Upah at patupah@gmail.com  

Special Recognition award was presented to Dr. Maureen McCarthy, prior to her departure from the Phoenix VAMC, for her Dedication and Service Honoring America’s Combat Wounded and their Family Members.  Presentation made by the Department of Arizona Military Order of the Purple Heart U.S.A.

In photo are Chuck Byers (Class of 2018), Dr. Maureen McCarthy and Ron Capek (Class of 2012).

Dr. Maureen McCarthy became Chief of Staff, VAMC Phoenix on October 2, 2016.  During her service, Dr. McCarthy showed great leadership in clinical services and academic programs.  She was presented the Vietnam Veterans of America National Achievement Medal from Gene Crego (Class of 2017).  She was in the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN 22) covering Arizona, Southern California, and Southern Nevada.  Director Fisher arranged to have interviews by Arizona Veteran Service Organization leaders for a new VAMC Phoenix Director.  This was a first for veterans to have a voice in selecting a new VAMC Director.  She's being assigned to VISIN 7 as Chief Medical Officer which covers Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina.  We wish her all the very best in her new assignment.

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 Gerry Berger at bergergerry@hotmail.com.

Known members that have passed in 2020:
Earl Milford (Class of 2012) passed 19 May
Henry Ong, Jr. (Class of 2005) passed 2 July
Jose Aldecoa (Class of  2014) passed 19 July
Leo Pimple (Class of 2011) passed 20 July

UPCOMING EVENTS

EDITOR'S NOTE