Pat Little-Upah AVHOFS President Class of 2014

In 1954, at the urging of the veteran's service organizations, the 83rd U.S. Congress amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting the word "Veterans.” On June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars. 
In 1968, the Uniforms Holiday Bill was signed, ensuring three-day weekends for federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holiday on their original dates. With much confusion, the first Veterans Day under the new law was observed on October 25, 1971.

On September 20, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed a law which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of November 11th, beginning in 1978. Since then, the Veterans Day holiday has been observed on November 11th.
I would encourage each of you to reach out to another Veteran, go out for one of those free meals, be in a parade or just have a quiet day knowing that you served.   I hope that each of you have a blessed day. 

The PAL Committee is already busy making plans for the event and will share more info as it becomes available.  In the interim, we could use YOUR help!  Please share our PAL Sponsorship Flyer (below) with anyone who might be interested in supporting the event as a sponsor; please note that sponsorships are available for as little as $250!  If you have any questions about our Sponsorship program, please contact Gordon James at gjames@gcjpr.com.  Thanks for your support!

Download Sponsorship Flyer

CLASS OF 2023 VIP RECEPTION AND INDUCTION

The Society had the distinct honor to host the VIP Reception on the morning of October 13, 2023, where we welcomed the nineteen newest members of the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Class of 2023!  Conducted prior to the Induction Ceremony and attended by the AVHOFS Board of Directors and many Society members/guests, we were fortunate to have AZ Representative Stacy Travers and ADVS Cabinet Executive Officer Dana Allmond speak and participate in the pinning of the AVHOF Lapel Pins.  Each inductee also pinned the AVHOF Support Pin on the person who contributed the most to their continuing service to veterans, military, and their communities.  It was certainly heart-warming to hear just a little bit about each of their supporters and give them the recognition they are due, in addition to getting to know our new members.  Several photos of the VIP Reception are included here; you can review the entire album of Reception & Induction Ceremony photos on our website at www.avhof.org/galleries or on the AVHOFS Facebook page.

        11:00 AM on Friday, November 10th.  
                   
The theme selected for this year is:
“Honoring All Who Served  and Those Who Support Them”

More Information

September 6th U.S. Vets Prescott opened their Veteran Connection Hub in downtown Prescott where any veteran can come to enjoy connecting with other veterans, receive need services and relax.  They offer social activities, workshops and referrals, ensuring veterans and their families feel valued and welcomed.

Prescott Valley Healing Field – is an annual tribute to the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.  Each person who perished that day is represented by an American flag with a short bio attached to the flag.  The display is set up annually the Friday before 9/11 and removed the Friday after.

U.S. Vets Prescott conducted their annual Yavapai County Veterans Standdown on Sept 15/16.  Highlights from the event:  Served 186 veterans and families, 61 booths offering services and resources, VA representatives, job fair, veterans court, over 70 volunteers assisted in registration, serving meals, clothing distribution and everything in between.

John Mateczun Memorial Veterans Resource Fair in Cottonwood was held on 27 October.

Our Veterans Day parade to be held on the 11th, theme “Honoring our Desert Storm and Operation Enduring Freedom Veterans... A New Generation of Warriors”.

The Lake Havasu City Veterans Resource Team and Veterans Treatment Court held the annual StandDown on October 21st.  More than 40 organizations were available to assist veterans in the area.  Mayor Cal Sheehy, Municipal Court and Veterans Treatment Court Judge Mitch Kalauli, and Executive Deputy Director AZ Department of Veterans Services Dana Allmond were the featured speakers.

GEORGE VAN DE LANGERYT (CLASS OF 2018) HONORED

George Van de Langeryt (in red)

Surprise Community Legend Awards

Surprise Community Legend Awards Program is an opportunity to honor those in our City whose efforts are making a positive impact on the community.  The City of Surprise Veterans, Disability & Human Services (VDHS) Commission created this program to celebrate the actions of individuals and groups, showcasing how people are making a difference in Surprise.
Award recipients are formally recognized at the City’s Annual Interfaith & Golden Rule Community Breakfast.  Steffen Hanzel, Chairman of the Commission, made the awards on September 28.

2023 Community Legend Award Winners

• Individual Legend
  George Van de Langeryt is a local Veteran who has been active in Surprise, tirelessly supporting Veterans and their causes for more than 15 years.
• Volunteer of the Year
  Larry Castro dedicates his time to Surprise’s Day of Service program and Senior Center.
• Organization of the Year
  Benevilla has provided a tremendous positive impact to the lives of Surprise residents for more than 40 years.

A new school year is well underway and its time to widely advertise our Scholarship Program.  The deadline for this year’s applications is February 15, 2024. Thanks to the generosity of our Century Club and the McDowell Fund we are able to increase the number and amounts of our awards.  The Board has also unanimously approved expanding the program to trade and associate degree program students. Applications are available on our website and can be submitted electronically.  Please distribute the flyer widely and consider your contribution to the Century Club.

The "Honor Our Heroes" program received nearly 60 community submissions to vie for the title of Veterans Grand Marshal in this year's parade with the theme Never Forget, Forever Honor.
Now in its 27th year, the Phoenix Veterans Day Parade will include a special tribute to a group of veterans who support the Military Working Dogs.  The Phoenix Veterans Day Parade occurs at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 11. The parade heads south on Central and Montebello, crosses west on Camelback, and heads south on 7th Street, where it destages at Indian School Road.
Honoring America's Veterans, the nonprofit that presents the Phoenix Veterans Day Parade, is pleased to announce the Grand Marshals for 2023. They are:

• World War II, U.S. Marine Corps veteran Navajo Code Talker Thomas Begay, Window Rock, AZ. Begay served in the U.S. Marine Corps during WWII, attaining the rank of Corporal. He was selected as one of the 33 Navajo Code Talkers to be assigned to the renowned 5th Marine Division Signal Company and in the Radio Section of the H & S Company, 27th Marines. Corporal Begay is a Survivor of the Battle of Iwo Jima assigned to the 5th Marine Division. The Navajo Code Talkers developed and used a secret coded Navajo language for radio communication in the Marine Corps battle campaign. After his military service, Begay worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, retiring after 40 years of federal service. He now enjoys speaking about the Navajo Code Talkers.

• Korean War, U.S. Navy veteran Jerry Hecht, Sun Lakes, AZ. LT(jg) Gerald "Jerry" Hecht entered the United States Navy shortly after graduating from the University of Cincinnati Pharmacy College in May 1952. While in the Navy, he completed three deployments to the western Pacific, at times operating off the coast of the Korean Peninsula at the height of the Korean War. On one occasion, his ship took fire from the Communist forces of North Korea. Hecht returned to his hometown of Cincinnati, where he spent the next 50 years serving his community as a Pharmacist. Hecht and his wife Beverly have been married for 70 years. Two of their eight children are veterans, Robert Hecht, Lt. Col. United States Air Force (Retired), and CAPT Richard Hecht, United States Navy, active duty.

• Vietnam War, U.S. Marine Corps veteran Col. Herbert Pierpan, Scottsdale, AZ. Pierpan was activated to the  Republic of Vietnam twice, in 1963 as an Advisor to the Vietnamese Marines and then again in 1968 as a Company Commander in the First Battalion, Fourth Marines, Third Marine Division. After serving in Vietnam, he remained in the Corps, earning the rank of Colonel. His notable assignments include serving as Commanding Officer at several locations and culminating his career as the Special Assistant and Marine Corps Aide to the Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable James H Webb, Jr. After military service, he worked for a defense contractor in Fairfax, Virginia, retired and moved to Arizona where he enjoys working with the Boy Scouts.

• Cold War, U.S. Marine Corps veteran Hughes Byrne, Casa Grande, AZ. Byrne completed Air Crew training and was awarded Naval aviation flight wings with HMM 264. While stationed in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, he went on two WestPac cruises with the Quick Reaction Force (QRF) Team Pacific area. One of his humanitarian achievements was helping deliver aid to the leprosy colony on Molokai Island. After leaving active duty, he later joined the Army National Guard, where he was immediately deployed to Bosnia for 14 months with the 34th Infantry Division, supporting the 86th Medical Company. He was then deployed to Iraq in 2005 with the C/3-126th AA company and performed the duties as a UH-60 Crew Chief for a medivac company. After retirement, he became a stellar leader with the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and in June 2023, was awarded the Gil La Montoya award for efforts that go above and beyond the call of duty. He also coordinates the Casa Grande Veterans Day Parade.

• Desert Storm/Persian Gulf War, U.S. Army veteran Patricia Little Upah, Tempe, AZ. Upah is a retired U.S. Army Nurse. She served in the Persian Gulf War with the 403rd Combat U.S. Army Support Hospital (USAH) in Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm in 1991. She then served with the Army Reserves, becoming the Commander of the 6253rd USAH before retiring from the reserves in 2004 at the rank of Colonel. After military service, she worked as the CEO of Banner Behavioral Health Hospital for ten years. She currently serves as the President of the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society, is a Member of the Friends of Fisher House, the Veterans Family Advisory Committee of the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center, and the Board for Veterans First Ltd, an organization dedicated to providing services to Veterans. Upah was also a nurse during the Vietnam War, serving in 1968.

• Operation Iraqi Freedom, U.S. Air Force veteran Jeffrey DeVore, Goodyear, AZ. Jeff DeVore served 25 years in the United States Air Force from 1992 to 2017. He flew C-130 cargo aircraft to all corners of the world with more than 4,400 flight hours and 850 in combat. In April of 2003, during the invasion of Iraq, Jeff flew one of the first aircraft to land at Baghdad International Airport to secure the field for Coalition Forces. His combat missions include supporting the Battle of Fallujah, the Battle of Ramadi, and the Battle of Basra. DeVore flew combat missions in Afghanistan supporting the Battle of Shewan and the Northern counterinsurgency. He also flew multiple combat airdrops under enemy fire in Iraq and Afghanistan to insert Coalition Special Forces and equipment into austere areas to fight the Taliban and al-Qaeda. After retiring as Colonel, DeVore now works at Amazon, supporting the Amazon Warriors program for veterans.

• Operation Enduring Freedom, U.S. Army veteran Amanda Tallman, Peoria, AZ. Tallman joined the Army Military Police Corps in 2007, serving as an MK19 gunner, which was remarkable because women were banned from combat roles at that time. Beyond her military duties, she displayed exceptional compassion by coordinating with family members to provide resources to Afghan children during her deployment. After leaving the military, Tallman faced a new challenge by battling cancer, which she won. She joined the Army Reserves and became a Military Intelligence Officer in Arizona. Tallman retired medically in 2018, but her passion for education and service helped her create a nonprofit, First Page, which connects nonprofits and groups that work with veterans, first responders, and kids to horses to promote personal growth and resiliency to enhance existing programs. As the Arizona Strategic Director for Concerned Veterans for America, she advocates for veteran perspectives on policies that impact veterans and the nation.

• Celebrity Grand Marshal, Supermodel Kim Alexis, Scottsdale, AZ. Kim Alexis is part of an elite group of fashion models who rose to supermodel status in the 1980s. She was discovered at 17 at a Buffalo, NY, modeling agency. After moving to New York City, she had her first cover on Italian Bazaar in just four days. Although she walked the runway and shot fashion editorials, Alexis quickly became known for her beauty. She had over 500 worldwide magazine covers, including Vogue, Bazaar, and Cosmopolitan, and set the record for Glamour. In 1983, Kim Alexis became the face of Revlon's Ultima II, becoming one of the most recognizable faces in America. She rounded out her supermodel status by being in six Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issues. Then she transitioned into broadcasting as a fashion correspondent for Good Morning America and hosted numerous TV shows. As Celebrity Grand Marshal for the Phoenix Veterans Day Parade, she hopes to encourage veterans to be their best in all areas of life, understanding that true beauty and health come from within.

On December 16th, we will be having a ceremony at the Mountain View Cemetery 7900 E. Main Street, Mesa, AZ  85207.

This will be our 3rd year of honoring Veteran’s graves in the East Valley!

We have a special program which will start exactly at 9:30 am sharp! The AJHS JROTC will be presenting the colors.  A prayer will be offered by Rev Phil Erickson with the VFW Post 7968, Debbie Kent will be singing our National Anthem, Special music by the Mesa Fire and Medical Dept Pipes & Drums; and we have fantastic duel trumpeters, Ailish Murphy and Rodrigo Moreno students of the AJ High School Marching Band will perform. 

Our Keynote speaker will be Command Sergeant Major Rick Kreiberg (ret) and founder of the Veterans Affinity. Mrs. Hickman’s 6th graders from Patterson Elementary School will assist in honoring the service branches.

Then at 10:00 am we will start laying wreaths at each Veteran’s grave.  The reason as to why it is at 10 o’clock, is that Nationwide, people will start laying wreaths on the Veterans graves in 3800 participating cemeteries all at the same time.

A Special Thank you to all who for the third year in a row have stepped up to help sponsor a wreath. Our major sponsors are American First, Crescent Crown, Guild Mortgage, Pima/Maricopa Indian Community, Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 2560, VFW Post 9399 Auxiliary, Mountain View Cemetery and Texas RoadHouse.

If you would like to come out to help on Friday to remove the wreaths from the boxes or on Saturday to attend the ceremony as well as help decorate a veteran's grave, please call Nancy Fassbender at 520-280-4715. Please bring a lawn chair for the ceremony and gloves to handle the live Wreaths.

This is a rewarding experience that you and your family can share together.  “I believe that children need to understand what each of these Veterans did to serve and sacrificed in order to help make our Country free.”

We are still short about 250 wreaths. If anyone would like to help sponsor a wreath for $17 each, please go to www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/AZ0190P or contact Military Order of the Purple Heart #2560, VFW 7968 or 9399; Daughters of the American Revolution or Army Aviation Heritage Foundation.  Our mission is to cover all the Veterans who are interred at Mountain View Cemetery.

Since Veterans Day is November 11th, I am in hopes that we not only Honor our Veterans but Remember our Veterans who are no longer with us, as well as Teach our children that freedom comes with a cost.  This is also the Wreaths Across America Motto.

Any questions, please call Nancy at 520-280-4715.

Jerry Wojtas AVHOFS Treasurer Class of 2011

October was a lackluster month as far as membership involvement.  We only had one member contribute to our Century Club Fund.  We should be at $4,000 to reach our goal of $12,000 for the year.  Instead, we only have $2,550 to date.  All of you regulars can come out of the woodwork and show us your benevolent side.

Remember that your Society supports a variety of other programs that are paid for through funds other than yours.  The Century Club is the only program where we ask our members to accept the costs of the scholarships we award.  Come on members, my mailbox is waiting for your response.

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

Above 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 mailing!  And below that are the names of those who have contributed to the Century Club by our November press time.

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) Country Store is presently closed.  It will reopen prior to the Patriotic Awards Luncheon, which will be held on 19 April ’24.

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.