Jim Monroe AVHOFS President Class of 2014

Fellow Society members:  October was a busy month with the presentation and completion of a major project.

2021 AVHOF Induction Ceremony:
The UAV and AVHOFS Committee worked on this for quite some time.  As you may recall, we held individual inductions for the 2020 class due to health and safety issues.  It was refreshing to hold the induction of the 2021 class in person in much the same way we did prior to Covid.

Reception:  The day began with a reception for all 2020 and 2021 class members.  There was a continental breakfast followed by the presentation and pinning of the AVHOF Member Pin to all new members, the new member then presenting the Support Pin to his or her selected support person.  It was an excellent time to meet and greet new members and begin sharing with each the activities and objectives of the Society.  As this was in process, the 2020 class members were gathered and a class photo was taken.  Prior to this time, the 2020 class had not been together as a group and there was no opportunity to get a class photo.  Wanda Wright, Arizona Department of Veterans Affairs Director and Walter Blackman, AZ House of Representatives were on hand to address the room and participate in the pinning ceremonies.  Society Vice President Pat Little-Upah presided over the proceedings. 

Members of the 2020 class pictured above in alphabetical order are Steven Harold Cooper, Karen Martha Craig, Albert Benjamin Crawford, Nancy Lynn Fassbender, Eric James Fowler, Adam Ray Garrard, Shane Justin Groen, Roberta J “Bobbie” Kimelton, Thomas Henry “Tom” Kirk, Edward Charles “Ed” Logan, James Kimball “Kim” McCoy, Clyde David Meade, Elizabeth Ann Nehring, Harold “Hal” Pittman, Maureen “Mo” Pryor, Johnny D. “John” Ramirez, Randall Louis Schriver, John J. South, Darlene Diane Tryon and Debra K. Undhjem.  Class members deceased are Harold “Joe” Briggs, Frank Murdock Hoak, and William Christopher “Chris” Spicer.

Induction:  The Induction began with a social hour where we all had a chance to meet and greet.  We all then seated ourselves in the Grand Ballroom where Joe Dana, channel 12 News Anchor presided as Emcee over the proceedings. 

Active in the ceremony and pictured above are Martin Harvier, President, Salt River Pima – Maricopa Indian Community; Katie Hobbs, AZ Secretary of State; Wanda Wright, AZ Department of Veterans Affairs Director; Reggie Yates, Induction Committee Chairman; Lea Seago, Unified Arizona Veterans Chair; and Jim Monroe, AVHOFS President.

We were treated to a Tribute to Warriors, a very energetic presentation performed by the Yellow Bird Dancers.  It was quite a dance to see and was enjoyed by all.

The sixteen members of the 2021 class were then inducted along with three members of the 2020 class who had not yet been inducted individually.  Each inductee had their biography read.  Katie Hobbs presented each inductee with their plaque and Wanda wright presented each with their medallion. 

The photo above shows the sixteen 2021 class members.  Alphabetically they are Dennis Murray “Denny” Bash, Carl D. Commenator, James D. “Jim” Cullison, Richard G. Fimbres, Joe D. Frame, Anne E. Gartner, Kenneth D. King, Martha A. Kuhns, John James Macrone, William Ronald “Bill” Norwood, Herschel E. Patterson, Paul A. “Gator” Smiley, Patrick C. “Pat” Stolze, Christeen B. Verchot, Billy L. Ward, and Joseph Axle Wood.

The above photo shows the sixteen 2021 class members plus the three 2020 class members on the back row – right hand side, Harold “Hal” Pittman, Irene Spicer accepting for William Christopher “Chris” Spicer (deceased), and Darlene Diane Tryon.

A great deal was accomplished that day, and I am very pleased with the results.  If you were there and have some comments, good – bad – ugly, please forward them to me.  And if you were not there, please consider joining us for the 2022 Induction.   

Annual Membership Meeting
Please mark your calendars and plan to attend the Annual Membership Meeting scheduled for Thursday, January 13, 2022.  The meeting will be held at the Doubletree Resort in Scottsdale.  The meeting will be preceded with a social hour and continental breakfast beginning at 0900.  The Membership Meeting will be called to order at 1000 and be complete by 1200.  The new Strategic Plan for the Society will be presented, new officers will be elected and installed, and other important matters will be addressed.  More details and the agenda will be available as the meeting date approaches.

Be sure to check out information on the 2022 Patriotic Awards Luncheon and other Activities.  The Patriot is your ready source of information about your Society.  And if you have questions, you may always reach out to me or one of the directors.

Jerry Wojtas AVHOFS Treasurer Class of 2011

Each year your Society’s finance committee puts together a budget that best reflects our thinking of the money that we will receive and the money we will be expending.  Hopefully, we will gain a few dollars and at the very least, break even. The dollars we have to work with determines what programs we can support and to what degree.  We have several ways to get the revenue to support these various programs.

The one program where we only have ONE source of funds to support it is our scholarship program.  Our scholarship program is supported strictly by contributions to our Century Club from members like YOU.  We set a goal of $10,000 because each year your Hall of Fame Society gives out that amount in scholarships.

Last year we were short until, at the last minute, we received money from a generous giver.  This year we are on track to reach our goal.  On July 1st we began our fiscal year and after almost 5 months, we find ourselves with $5,276 in our fund.  We are asking all members to keep that Century Club in mind as you think about the good things your Society does.  Below you’ll see a listing of those members who have contributed since July 1st.

And of course, when mailing anything at all to our Society, PLEASE be sure to use our complete address as shown below.

Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame
4980 S. Alma School Road, Ste, A2-619
Chandler, AZ 85248-5545

CENTURY CLUB DONATIONS (FY Goal is $10,000. Total to date is $4,276)

BLACK- up to $100  GREEN - $101-$199   BLUE - $200-$299   RED - $300 and above GOLD - $400 and above

Listed below are those who have contributed so far in 2021.

Pat Little-Upah AVHOFS Vice President Class of 2014

The following is from The In Memory program at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.  This is a moving and lasting tribute to those who served in Vietnam only to die later from complications of agent orange.  Go to www.vvmf.org to learn more about the program and how to sign up your loved one.

What is In Memory?
Since the Vietnam War ended, thousands of Vietnam veterans have suffered due to Agent Orange exposure, PTSD and other illnesses as a result of their service.  The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) believes all those who served in Vietnam should be honored and remembered for their service.  The In Memory program enables the families and friends of those who came home, and later died, the opportunity to have them be forever memorialized. ​​​​​​​
The plaque on the grounds of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial site in Washington, D.C. that honors these veterans was dedicated in 2004 and reads:  In Memory of the men and women who served in the Vietnam War and later died as a result of their service. We honor and remember their sacrifice. 
In Memory was created in 1993 by the group – Friends of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. VVMF began managing the program and hosting the ceremony in 1999. More than 5,000 veterans have been added to the In Memory Honor Roll since the program began. To see all the honorees, please visit the In Memory Honor Roll.

What is Included?
Having a veteran honored includes:

• An invitation to In Memory Weekend in Washington, D.C., which includes a touching ceremony on the site of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial where each honoree’s name is read aloud. If you are present, you may read the name. Each applicant also receives a printed personal tribute certificate with their veteran’s photo(s).
• As part of the In Memory Honor Roll, an online personal remembrance page is created for each honoree with their photo and biographical information. Family members can share the page and leave remembrances about their loved one.
• VVMF’s mobile exhibit, The Wall That Heals, includes the digital photos of all In Memory honorees from the state where the exhibit is on display.
• An invitation to join our Facebook group:  In Memory – Families of Vietnam Veterans lost to Agent Orange and PTSD. The group gives family and friends an online community to connect and share their stories.

MOAA President and CEO Lt. Gen. Dana Atkins, USAF (Ret), and MOAA Board Chairman Gen. Walter “Skip” Sharp, USA (Ret), present Col. Lee Lange, USMC (Ret), with the Colonel Steve Strobridge Legislative Chair/Liaison Award during the MOAA Annual Meeting at the Sheraton Pentagon City Hotel in Arlington, Va. on Oct. 15.  (Mike Morones/MOAA)

On October 15, AVHOFS Class of 2018 member Colonel Lee Lange, USMC Ret, received a national award from the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA).  At a ceremony in Alexandria, VA, Lee received the Colonel Steve Strobridge Legislative Chair Award for 2021 in recognition of his legislative advocacy efforts at the state and federal levels.  Lee has been active in legislative issues in Arizona since moving to the state in 2013 after retiring from a second career on the staff at MOAA.  During 2021 Lee served as the Legislative Chair for the Arizona Chapter, MOAA, and the Arizona Council of Chapters, MOAA.  He is also the Legislative Chair for the Southwest Veterans Chamber of Commerce.  

Lee has worked on numerous legislative issues including limiting high interest loans in the state to seeking state tax exemption for military retired pay.  He has also supported MOAA efforts to improve benefits for active-duty members and veterans along with their families.  These efforts included linking with members of the Arizona congressional delegation to let them know their Arizona constituents supported improvement in federal benefits for military members and their families.

Earlier this year, military retirees in Arizona got a big legislative victory when the state exempted military retirement pay from state income tax.  Governor Ducey provided critical support along with key legislators Senator David Gowan and Representative Gail Griffin. AVHOFS and Unified Arizona Veterans (UAV) members, along with many other veterans, also played a vital role in this win.

Roy McClymonds AVHOFS Quartermaster Class of 2017

The Country Store is open.  It will remain open through November.  The Society challenge coins will be available now for $10 each, although they are not shown in the Country Store yet.  The Country store catalog can be found on the AVHOF Website.  If you have a problem finding what you want, please feel free to contact me at (480) 694-2425 or my email at ramnpt@cox.net.

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 Jim Monroe at j.c.monroe@cox.net.

Known members that have passed in 2021.

Gary Drumheller (Class of 2013)
(Bio available at www.avhof.org)

A Celebration of Life for Gary Drumheller (Class of 2013) will be held on Saturday, the 20th of November at the Sun City Elks Club, 10760 West Union Hills Drive, Sun City at 12 Noon.  Please spread this information to all his friends so Gary will be properly remembered. Light refreshments to be served.

Rollin Henry Kohrs (Class of 2008)

REMEMBERING

Rollin Henry Kohrs

October 16, 1934 – October 13, 2021
Visit the full obituary for Rollin Henry Kohrs to view service dates and times, leave a condolence message or share a memory.

OBITUARY