Pat Little-Upah AVHOFS President Class of 2014

Dear Society Members,

I hope that all of you are staying cool and hydrated during this prolonged heat wave and enjoying your summer wherever you might be.  The Board decided to suspend our meetings in July and August, but we continue to work on projects and ongoing commitments for the Society.  Karen Craig and I have been busy visiting and evaluating places to hold the next Patriotic Awards Luncheon.  The Doubletree in Scottsdale where we have held it in the past would not let us book in advance.  Both Karen and I agreed that waiting until a few months out was not a good option.  We also felt it would be fun to have the event in a new environment.  To learn more about our adventures to find a suitable and affordable venue see Karen’s column on the PAL.  

Your past President, Jim Monroe, has been on top of our contract with the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services and it has been renewed for another year.  We are very grateful to ADVS as we work together to ensure that our Veterans needs are being met through the various programs that are supported. 

See the flyer from Christeen Verchot on the next event at the Phoenix State Veterans Home.  Please try to join us at the Home.  The residents love to interact with our members sharing stories past and present. 

Thank you to Karen Craig, Jill Shepherd and everyone who has contributed to the updating of our website this past month.  The nomination forms for the Copper Awards have been updated.  We need nominations.   I know that we have all worked with non-veterans and businesses who deserve these awards so don’t wait to get your nominations in. 

Karen Craig and I did presentations through our VA employee recognition program at the Northern Arizona and Phoenix VA Medical Centers.  We presented a perpetual plaque to the Director of each facility and recognized the employee in front of their peers and administration with a written citation and check for $500.00.

Board member Denny Bash had to resign this past month for personal reasons.  We are so grateful for the time Denny spent on the Board as the Assistant Treasurer.  His willingness to help where needed and his knowledge and expertise was of great value to the Society. 

If you have seen previous flyers on the upcoming Vietnam Dinner event on Oct 14th listing me as a speaker, I will not be speaking nor will I attend this event.

The Induction ceremony is scheduled for Oct 13, 2023, from 11:30 A.M. until 2:30 P.M. at Talking Stick Resort.  The Vice President of the Society is in charge of the morning VIP reception which starts at 8:00 A.M. A continental style breakfast is served.  At the reception we honor the inductee and their support person who has made a significant difference in their life and journey.  We encourage members of the Society to attend the early morning reception to meet and welcome our new members.  You can learn more and purchase tickets for the Induction Ceremony on the Unified Arizona Veterans website at azuav.org.  

This past month I was honored to be able to attend the In-Memory ceremony in Washington D.C. with 11 members of my family.  We were honoring my youngest brother David who served in Vietnam in 1969 and passed away from the effects of agent orange a year and a half ago.  The In-Memory program was started in 1992 and is held each year at the Vietnam Wall around Father’s Day.  The program is to honor and remember those who have died due to war related injuries and causes such as agent orange after they came home.  This was such a wonderful healing experience for myself, my brother’s daughters and grandchildren who attended along with 500 other families.  The committee did an outstanding job providing discounts on the hotel and a banquet.  We were bused back and forth to the Memorial on both Saturday and Sunday.  I would encourage any family who has lost a loved one to go to VVMF.org/InMemory-apply or their Facebook page.  You can also call them at (202)393-0090 or email at inmemory@vvmf.org 

I would like to acknowledge a very special couple and friends of the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society, Ed and Diane McDowell.  Ed was a Vietnam veteran who received his JD from ASU law school.  Ed served in the United States Army and Diane was a dedicated Army spouse.  They were involved in numerous charitable activities and veteran organizations including the Military Order of the World Wars where he served as the CDR for the Apache Trails Chapter.    They often attended the Patriotic Awards Luncheon and the Induction Ceremonies.  Sadly, Ed passed away in March of 2018 and Diane this past February.  Thanks to a gift left to the Society we will be able to create an annual Scholarship for a Veteran in their name.  We will have more details on this in future editions of the Patriot.

I would encourage each of you to get involved with your Society.  We are open to suggestions, especially for ideas to support our membership and veterans outside of Maricopa County.  We are a statewide organization.

When: Sunday, Aug.20th, 2023  @ 10-12 am

Where:Arizona State Veteran Home 4141 N S. Herrera Way,  Phoenix, AZ 85012

What: Bingo-Donuts 

Who: Come and Mingle with our fellow Veterans

**All members are invited to support our Veterans residing in the Home. Anyone interested in  attending, please contact me.
RSVP by: Fri. Aug 18, 2023                                                                                                        
Christeen Verchot- Email:
Cverchot@veteransfirstltd.org

Please help me to welcome our newest Board Member Paul Smiley.  Paul was inducted into the AVHOF class of 2021.  Paul served on our Scholarship Committee last year and did an outstanding job.  Paul has agreed to be the Assistant Treasurer for the Society working with Treasurer Jerry Wojtas.  The Society is blessed to have an active working board and we are honored to have Paul joining us.  Please see Paul’s Bio below.  

Mr. Paul A. “Gator” Smiley is the Founder and President of Sonoran Technology and Professional Services located in Goodyear, Arizona. His company is recognized as one of the most successful and fast-growing veteran-owned small businesses in the U.S. providing professional service support to the U.S. Air Force, Navy, Army, General Services Administration, and other federal agencies.

Karen Craig AVHOFS Director Class of 2020

On June 22, 2023, AVHOFS President Pat Upah and Vice-President Karen Craig, were pleased to recognize Ms. Shannon Harper, as the AVHOFS 2022 Outstanding Employee for the Northern Arizona VA Health Care System, located in Prescott, AZ.  Ms. Harper is a Logistics Management Specialist in Supply Chain Management and was previously selected by NAVAHCS as one of their 2022 Employees of the Month.  The AVHOFS selected Shannon for this honor based on her outstanding support and advocacy for Veterans.  She is known for her professionalism, reliability, hard work, and commitment.  When clinical areas need supply support to better serve veterans, Shannon does not rest until that product is approved, procured, and in the hands of clinicians, often going above and beyond her required duties.

We were also pleased to honor the 2022 Outstanding Employee for the Phoenix VA Health Care System on July 12, 2023.  This award was given to Darin George, who is a Nurse on the Inpatient Mental Health Unit.  He was selected by the hospital as Employee of the Month in February 2022 and our team selected him as the AVHOFS 2022 Outstanding Employee for PVAHCS for his outstanding communication and critical thinking skills while serving the veterans he cares for, many of whom have neuro-cognitive impairments.  He works closely with the hospital’s interdisciplinary team, as well as veterans’ families and caregivers to provide the best patient care possible.

During the individual ceremonies, perpetual plaques were presented to each of the Medical Center Directors, Mr. Steven Sample (NAVAHCS) and Mr. Bryan Matthews (PVAHCS) for display at their facility.  Ms. Harper and Mr. George each received an AVHOFS Certificate of Appreciation and monetary award in addition to attending and being recognized at the 16th Annual Patriotic Awards Luncheon in Phoenix on April 28, 2023.

The Southern Arizona VA Health Care System in Tucson requested to delay their participation in this new AVHOFS program this year, but we look forward to recognizing an employee from all three facilities in 2024.  Please join us in congratulating this year’s outstanding VA employees, Shannon and Darin!  

PATRIOTIC AWARDS LUNCHEON (PAL) UPDATE

Karen Craig AVHOFS Director Class of 2020

As our President mentioned above, she and I have “experienced the adventure” of looking for a new venue for the 2024 Patriotic Awards Luncheon.  We received several recommendations and looked into at least eight to ten new locations in the metro Phoenix area.  After doing a lot of internet research and many phone calls, we visited five locations over the last two months.  Ultimately, we narrowed it down to the top three sites where we considered many factors to include meal and A/V costs, parking, and date availability before making the final decision.

So, please mark your calendars and SAVE THE DATE for Friday April 19, 2024 at the Doubletree by Hilton Phoenix-Tempe!

The hotel is located at 2100 S. Priest Drive (at the corner of Priest & Broadway) and is easily accessed by taking the Broadway Street exit off the I-10.  The Fiesta Ballroom is located in their separate Conference/Banquet Center, which has well over 300 parking spaces, and the meal prices and selection are comparable to our last several years at the Doubletree on Scottsdale Road.  We believe this location will meet our needs and will provide an enjoyable and successful event for our members and guests.  We look forward to seeing you there!

If you are interested in volunteering your time to help the PAL Planning Committee, please contact Pat Little-Upah at 480-226-4454, or Karen Craig at 480-213-5769.  Planning and committee meetings will begin in September.

Karen Craig
AVHOFS Vice-President and PAL

AVHOFS MEMBERS CONTINUE TO GIVE BACK

Larry Cervarich was inducted into the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame in 2022.  Larry served in the  US Air Force from 1961-1967.  A recent article in the Daily Independent newspaper highlights how Larry is continuing to serve.

The article by Michale McDaniel talks about Larry’s service as the organization founder, for Meals of Joy, a Litchfield Park-based nonprofit that provides hot, fresh, nutritious meals to seniors across the West Valley.   Larry was quoted in the article “ We do a wellness check while they’re there, are they okay?  Do they need some help?  We’ve had some cases where they haven’t come to the door.  In the past, volunteers have called next of kin to check on their clients and saved lives.  We’ve had veterans that lost their limbs.  One veteran had laid in bed for three days without help.   No phone nearby, no water.  This tells you the value of what we do is more than a meal.  A lot of our seniors, can’t even stand long enough to prepare a meal, many are in wheelchairs and walkers.”

Meals of Joy delivers hundreds of weekly meals to seniors on the West Side.  Some seniors are eligible for no cost meals if qualified.  Meals of Joy has 60 volunteers who deliver meals to seniors. 

Larry stated, “ It’s been a great experience for me and what I like about it is having the knowledge of some of the competitive world-I think we’re doing a good thing for the seniors.”  Individuals interested in signing up for meals, volunteering or donating to Meals of Joy can visit their website at mealsofjoy.org or email them at info@mealsofjoy.org

We are proud to have Larry as a member of the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society and applaud the work he is doing to help our senior Veterans and the community.  

Patricia Little-Upah
President, AVHOFS

WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA

For the past two years, Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society has sponsored wreaths for Veterans who are interred at the Mountain View Cemetery in Mesa, Arizona.  This year, the board has decided to sponsor 36 wreaths and distribute 6 wreaths to each of the following Arizona Cemeteries.  They are:  National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, Prescott National Cemetery, Southern Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Sierra Vista, Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Bellemont, Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Marana and Mountain View Cemetery in Mesa.

Those who are wishing to sponsor a wreath to honor a Veteran or specific Veteran, please either go to WAA website www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/AZ0190P or call Nancy Fassbender at 520-280-4715.  She will gladly help you with sponsoring a wreath. For those who would like to volunteer on December 16, 2023 in honoring a Veteran by placing a wreath at their gravesite, please also contact her and she will gladly sign you up!

I have enclosed a flyer, please feel free to pass this along to your friends and family members.  Our goal is to honor every Veteran who is interred in Arizona!

Author of “My Fallen Hero”

Jerry Wojtas AVHOFS Treasurer Class of 2011

Our 2022- 2023 fiscal year is over and thanks to so many of you we exceeded our Century Club goal of $10,000.  We actually reached $11,900.  Congratulations to all our Society members who had a hand in our reaching our goal and surpassing it!

Your governing board was motivated to make our goal for our new fiscal year $12,000.  We hope to present as many or more scholarships for as much money as we did this past April.  It will be a tough act to follow since we presented $24,500 in April to deserving veterans and students.  As we go to press $800 has been contributed in July.

And as your treasurer, I was pleased to see that a number of you gave more than once during the year.  I combined your contributions so that you were shown in the highest possible category.

Here is the COMPLETE mailing address that should be used whenever you mail anything to our Society.  If you don’t use the STE. A2-619, which is our P.O. Box, we won’t get your mail!  Below are the names of those who have contributed in July.

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

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

This fall we are opening the Country Store A little early on August 15, 2023 through September 15, 2023.  I am doing this so our vendor can prepare clothing to be able to present the items right after they are inducted.

One last thing: when you complete the catalog PLEASE print clearly.  I have had some catalogs that I have made errors on and I don’t want to inconvenience any members.

For our members who are active on social media, please note that we’re now on Instagram in addition to the Society Facebook page that we’ve had for several years.  Please find us and keep up with all our activities @AVHOFS

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.

JAMES (JIM) CRONK
CLASS OF 2013

Born in Syracuse, New York in 1942. Active duty Major, U.S. Air Force, F-4 Phantom fighter pilot with 480 combat missions during the Vietnam War; retired in 1986 as Chief, Inspections/Evaluations, 832nd Air Division, Luke AFB. Resident of Glendale, Arizona.  Second career as educator teaching community college courses, and sixteen years teaching economics; establishing, developing, and coaching girls golf and soccer teams at Phoenix Union High School District. Jim coached and refereed baseball, softball, and soccer for ten years at the Glendale Parks and Recreation. An active member and former Commander, Disabled American Veterans Chapter 20, Glendale, he developed the DAV Arizona Education Scholarship Program which awards scholarships to student volunteers at the VA Medical Center in Phoenix. Jim obtained authorization to establish a Transition Service Office at Luke AFB’s Retirement Personnel Office.