Pat Little-Upah AVHOFS President Class of 2014

Dear Society Members,

This has been an eventful month with a number of activities that members of our Society have been involved with.   On March 11th several of us attended the Veterans Heritage Project (VHP) fundraising gala Saluting Stories of Service.  The Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society has been closely aligned for a number of years with VHP providing scholarships to outstanding high school seniors who have been part of their program.  Founded in 2004, VHP connects Students with Veterans in order to honor veterans, preserve America’s heritage, and develop future leaders.  The first person accounts of history are preserved in the Library of Congress and through the student publication, “Since You Asked”.  Students honor their veterans at free community book receptions.  I was honored to have been given the opportunity to tell my story in 2012.  It was a wonderful experience.  MG Barbara G. Fast, US Army Retired, told about her career in intelligence.  The Storyteller Award was given to COL James H. P. Kelsey, US Army, Retired.  If you are a member of AVHOFS and have not told your story or know of someone who’s story should be told go to veteransheritage.org and download their brochure for veterans.  

Thank you to everyone who volunteered to help out Veterans Heritage Project at the festival in Carefree this past weekend.  We will be receiving a donation to the society for helping them at the entrance tables to the event. 

The Patriotic Awards Luncheon is coming up in April.  We worked very hard to keep pricing the same as last year so that every member of AVHOFS could afford to attend.  Please see Karen Craigs article on this year’s PAL and get your tickets NOW.  The Patriotic Awards Committee has worked very hard to put together another amazing event.  We still need a few more volunteers to help out the day of the luncheon.  Please contact Karen or me if you are interested in helping out. 

I would like to express a special thank you to Paul Smiley, Class of 2021, founder of Sonoran Technology for his generous donation of a three thousand dollar scholarship for a Veteran from Sonoran Technology. 

This is the last newsletter before the Patriotic Awards Luncheon so sign up and I will see all of you there.   Have a great month and let us know what you are doing to help our Veterans and the community so we can share that in the next newsletter. 

Karen Craig AVHOFS Director Class of 2020

The Patriotic Awards Luncheon is now just weeks away and we hope that you’ve purchased your tickets for one of the Society’s premier events.  Each year, we honor several private institutions and non-military individuals who have contributed significantly to the veteran community in Arizona. We look forward to seeing you at this year’s luncheon on Friday, April 28, 2023, when we will recognize the following Copper Award recipients:

2023 Honorees
Copper Star Award (UAV) – Wanda Wright, Former Director ADVS
Copper Shield Award (UAV) – Former Arizona Representative Walter Blackman
Copper Eagle Award (AVHOF) – Arizona Coalition for Military Families (Organization Awardee) and Mike Nye Instrument Repair Shop (Business Awardee)
Copper Sword Award (AVHOF) – Lee Huff, Veteran Advocate

We are also pleased to welcome USAF Colonel (Retired) Thomas H. Kirk, Jr. as our keynote speaker; we are fortunate to have him speak to our attendees and share his military service.  Colonel Kirk served worldwide as a fighter pilot and is a veteran of both the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. While leading the largest fighter bomber raid during the Vietnam War, his F-105 was hit and with his ship engulfed in flames, he was forced to parachute. Upon landing, he was immediately captured and spent five and one-half years as a Prisoner of War at the infamous “Hanoi Hilton” prison camp. He was released at the end of the war in March 1973 and retired in 1978 with 28 years of active duty. 

REMINDER:  Early Bird discount pricing ends on Monday, April 3rd, so if you don’t have your tickets yet, don’t delay – REGISTER TODAY!  Early Bird pricing is just $40 for AVHOFS members and one guest.  After April 3rd, the price for Society members goes up to $50.  We also ask that you share this invite with others in the Veteran community, family, and friends. Registration for the luncheon closes on April 19th.  Online registration and more details can be found on our Eventbrite site at this link: 2023 Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Patriotic Awards Luncheon Tickets, Fri, Apr 28, 2023 at 11:00 AM | Eventbrite

Sponsorship opportunities for the PAL are also still available!  This year, we added a new $250 PAL Sponsorship level so we encourage our members to make a donation or provide this information to a business or organization who might be interested in supporting our event.  The Sponsor Benefits flyer and payment portal can be found at: Donate – Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society (avhof.org)   Any sponsorships received on/before April 7th, will be recognized in the Patriotic Awards Luncheon Program.

The first quarter of 2023 has gone well for the MOVF Program supporting the Maternity Programs at Phoenix and Prescott VA Medical Centers.  We supplied items to fill 29 totes for Phoenix and 5 totes filled with supplies for Prescott.  Phoenix provides the totes and Prescott is not able to provide the totes.  We have had recent discussions with both program managers, and they are so very thankful for the support for the newborns and parents that we all provide.  The parents often tell the Program Mangers they would not have been able to buy all the supplies needed for the baby.  Everything the parents need for the baby up to six months is provided and some items they will use beyond the six months.  It’s not only the supplies for the babies and Moms that we can provide, it’s the additional wrap around services that we provide to them. 

Veterans First is very blessed to have the best MOVF Team anyone could ever have; they are dedicated and engaged in providing for the parents and baby’s needs.  Programs Managers; Phoenix: Jennifer Little, Prescott: Becky DuRocher and Kathy Laurier.

The MOVF Team thanks you for the partnership in providing for the supplies needed to fulfill the needs of this program.  Together we make a difference in the lives of Veteran Moms, Dads and Babies.

Sincerely,

Joan Sisco
Class of 2009

Jerry Wojtas AVHOFS Treasurer Class of 2011

Each year the various Military Order of the World Wars (MOWW) chapters in the US present a ceremony that dates back to WWI.  On Feb 21st, the West Valley MOWW Chapter presented theirs.  A number of our fellow Society members were present and part of an audience of approximately 350. 

The ceremony began with a 1/2 hour musical prelude of patriotic music performed by the always popular Desert Brass Band.  Afterwards, the ceremony began with various military organizations presenting their colors, one by one, as they entered the viewing area.  There were some 30 flag units in the procession.  The Peoria High School JROTC presented the colors and also performed the 'Missing Man Table' ceremony.

George Van de Langeryt, Gerry Berger, Pat Upah, Gene Crego, Jerry Wojtas, Phil Hanson, James Monroe

Guest speaker this day was Lt Col Scott Nelson, USAF (ret) who spoke of 'Patriotism and Serving in the Military'. 

The ceremony ended with the Desert Brass Band playing God Bless America and the audience singing.  This was followed by the playing of Echo Taps which is done every year.  The Desert Brass Band then played Stars and Stripes Forever as the flags departed the room.

Should you have a chance to attend a Massing of the Colors ceremony in your area, I strongly urge you to do so.

The units present at this event included the following:

MOWW Chapters
West Valley Chapter 131, Military Order of the World Wars
Apache Trail Chapter 207, Military Order of the World Wars
Phoenix Chapter 92, Military Order of the World Wars

Other Military Organizations
Northwest Valley Veterans’ Association Headquarters
American Legion, Mary Ellen Piotrowski Post 94, Sun City West
Military Officers Association of America, Luke Chapter
American Legion, John H. Harries Post 101, Sun City
Disabled American Veterans, Star Chapter 24, Sun City
Disabled American Veterans, Star Chapter 24, Auxiliary, Sun City
Festival Veterans Club – Festival Ranch
American Legion, Earl E. Mitchell Post 29, Glendale
Hassayampa Voiture Locale 1154

JROTC Units
Apollo High School, Navy JROTC
Cactus High School, Air Force JROTC
Glendale High School, Navy JROTC
Peoria High School, Air Force JROTC
Westview High School, Marine Corps JROTC
Sandra Day O’Connor High School, Air Force JROTC

Other Flag Units
      Daughters of the American Revolution, Agua Fria Chapter, Sun City
     Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Picacho Peak Camp #1
Blue Star Moms of the Southwest Valley
  Woman’s Army Corps Veterans Asso., (Army Women United)
Gold Star Wives of America, Phoenix Chapter
Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society
Korean War Veterans
Rosie the Riveters, Sun City, AZ Chapter
Sons of the American Revolution – 2 flags
Arizona Rangers, Peoria Company
Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 432
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Nicky D. Bacon Post 285

JROTC Color Guard
Peoria High School Air Force JROTC

Jerry Wojtas AVHOFS Treasurer Class of 2011

I’m pleased to report that many of our Society members support more than just our Century Club.  We see checks supporting our Veterans Court program and also our Maternity Outreach for Veterans Families.  Both are important programs that do a lot of good for the veteran community.

Now don’t get me wrong, we still need all the help we can get to reach our Century Club goal of $10,000.  We’d like to increase the dollar value of our scholarships to make them more attractive to prospective applicants.  We can’t do that without the help of all of you in our Society.  To date we have $8,247 in our Century Club account for the current fiscal year.  With April, May and June left let’s do all we can to reach our goal.  Below is a listing of all those who have contributed since we began on July 1, 2022.

And here is the COMPLETE mailing address that should be used whenever you mail anything to our Society.  And below that are the members who have contributed since 1 July.

ARIZONA VETERANS HALL OF FAME SOCIETY
4980 S. ALMA SCHOOL ROAD
STE. A2-619
CHANDLER, AZ 85248-5545

CENTURY CLUB DONATIONS (FY 2022-2023 Goal is $10,000.  Total to date is $8.247)

Listed below are those who have contributed so far fiscal year 2022-2023

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

Roy McClymonds AVHOFS Quartermaster Class of 2017

The Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society (AVHOFS) maintains a Country Store for members who want or need items that are AVHOFS specific.  This year the spring country store opened 1 February through 15 March.  The reason for this change is I will not be available 1 May through 15 July and I would like to take care of our member’s requirements.  The Country Store is NOW CLOSED.  We try to open the fall country store shortly before the Induction ceremony.  That way new members can order items that hopefully can be worn shortly after their induction.

The country store catalog can be found on The AVHOF website. If you have problems finding what you want, feel free to contact me at (480) 694-2425 or my e mail 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 Pat Little-Upah at patupah@gmail.com.

Known members that have passed in the past twelve months.

Michael J. MaLoon
Class of 2015
(Taken from www.avhof.org)

Born in Union City, Indiana in 1945. Entering the U. S. Navy in 1965, Michael J. MaLoon was a submariner, including an assignment on one of the last diesel submarines, separating in 1969, Petty Officer Second Class. Relocating in 2003 to Southern Arizona, his active involvement spans more than forty years of supporting and promoting Veterans causes. His multiple terms in leadership positions in The American Legion and other regional veterans organizations were vital to successfully addressing homelessness, education, health, and family services affecting all veterans. Michael has invested hundreds of hours in consultation, research, policy development, and fund raising. He is a member of the Southern Arizona Memorial Cemetery Foundation. Co-founder of the Boots for Our Troops Foundation, and other local organizations, Michael MaLoon continues as an advocate and a strong voice for Arizona veterans.