Pat Little-Upah AVHOFS President Class of 2014

Dear Society Members,

I hope everyone had a very Merry Holiday.  As we prepare for the New Year let us not forget our Society mission.  “The mission of the AVHOFS is to preserve and perpetuate the traditions of the American military and all who served in it, to undertake charitable and other projects at the state and local levels and to work with veteran’s organizations in the attainment of AVHOFS objectives, and to promote and to encourage responsible citizenship among all Americans.  Particular emphasis will be placed on supporting AVHOF members.”

I believe that we have fulfilled our mission this past year.  We have supported the State Home in Phoenix through our ongoing projects.  We have attended a Massing of the Colors as an organization.  We have increased our support for the Wreaths Across America project.  We have continued to support Veterans Courts and the Maternity Outreach to Military Families programs.  The  Patriotic Awards Luncheon continues to be well supported with much praise for the great speakers and the overall event.  Feedback is that one leaves with a renewed sense of Patriotism and Hope for the future.   We have increased our Scholarships with the ongoing support of our membership through the Century Club, legacy gifts and partnering with the Military Order of the Purple Heart.  We have continued to honor our membership that have passed presenting a citation and engraved flag to family.  Every time we do this you can see how much it means to the families and how grateful they are.  

Additionally, we will hold elections for two Director positions on the AVHOF Society Board of Directors; one position is currently vacant, and the other is currently being held by Pete Kloeber who will reach his term limit in January. As specified in the Society Bylaws, I am providing the slate of candidates who have been nominated to fill these two-year terms.  See information below regarding these two outstanding candidates.
Please mark your calendars and plan to join us at the Annual Membership Meeting!   We will provide another reminder, the Agenda and map/directions to you in mid-January.  Pertinent information follows:

AVHOFS Annual Business Meeting:
The Annual Business Meeting for members will be held on Saturday, January 27, 2024, in the Main Assembly Room at the City of Tempe’s Maintenance Training Facility, located at 55 S. Priest Road, Tempe, AZ 

The meeting will be preceded by a brief Social and Continental Breakfast beginning at 0930.
The continental breakfast is free for AVHOFS members and one spouse/guest.
We are accepting donations of toiletries such as you pick up in hotel rooms to donate to Veterans First to give out to the homeless.  

The Business meeting will be held 1000 – 1200.   
While we encourage in-person attendance by our members, we understand that not everyone will be able to do so and are working towards being able to offer virtual attendance.  Provided we are able to do so, the Zoom conferencing information will be provided with the Agenda in January.

Please RSVP by January 20, 2024, if you are planning to attend the event in-person. RSVP to Pat Upah by calling (480)226-4454 orby email to patupah@gmail.com

Again, I encourage your attendance at the Annual Business Meeting which affords members an excellent opportunity to reacquaint themselves with other members and hear what we are doing. We look forward to your camaraderie and participation and welcome your thoughts during the meeting. Hope to see you there!
I also encourage you to review the information provided regarding the Century Club – this is an excellent time of the year to make a tax-deductible donation to the Society! 

The coming year our hope is to expand our outreach and support to our membership, community and
nation even further.  We will be discussing this at our annual meeting.  I wish all of you a Happy and Prosperous New Year. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Ronnie (Ron) Williams, Class of 2022
Born in Memphis, Tennessee in 1960, Ron Williams served in the US Air Force contracting community from 1978 to 1992, a critical time which included the Gulf War Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Ron’s civilian career includes managing three Arizona-wide business development agencies, and business owner of Contacts to Contracts, assisting companies in winning over $100 billion dollars in contracts. Ron’s volunteer civic accomplishments include eight years as Board Member and Chairman, Child Crisis Arizona, assisting homeless/foster children and adoptive families; Chair, City of Mesa Human Relations Advisory Board; and Community Advisory Board Member, Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA). Ron Williams’ veteran advocacy accomplishments include: Board President, HEROZONA Foundation which helps veterans and their families with jobs, education, and business opportunities; and Streets of Joy, supporting homeless veterans with food, clothing, shelter, and jobs.

Clyde Meade, Class of 2020
Born in Urbana, Illinois in 1953, Clyde Meade served as a sailor, Chief Warrant Officer, and Limited Duty Officer, retiring in 2004 as a Lieutenant Commander with over 30 years of active Naval service. With Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters, Clyde served as a volunteer mentor for young children. As a Life Member and Past President of the Northern Arizona Chapter of Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), he organizes veterans town halls and the annual StandDown which provide valuable information and resources to veterans. Yet Clyde Meade still has time to organize fun activities for men and women veterans at the VA Domiciliary in Prescott, sports tournaments, and clothing drives, and raise funds to support U.S. Vets homeless veterans initiatives and scholarships for two ROTC units and three JROTC units.

Patricia Little-Upah
patupah@gmail.com
(480)226-4454

Planning is well underway for the 17th Annual Patriotic Awards Luncheon which is one of the Society’s premier events. This year’s event will be held on Friday, April 19, 2024, at the Doubletree by Hilton Phoenix-Tempe, located at 2100 S. Priest Drive, in Tempe.

The Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society and Unified Arizona Veterans are pleased to announce the 2024 Copper Award honorees who will be recognized during the luncheon as shown on the flyer below. We will also recognize an Outstanding VA Employee from each Arizona VA Medical Center, and present scholarships to selected Veterans Heritage Project and Veterans scholars who will be announced later.  Please join us in congratulating the 2024 Copper Award recipients!

We also look forward to hearing remarks by our Keynote Speaker, US. Marine Corps Sergeant Robert “R.J.” Mitchell, Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran and recipient of the Navy Cross.  “R.J.” received this prestigious award for his actions during a ferocious firefight with insurgents during the Battle of Fallujah on November 13, 2004.  While fighting inside a heavily fortified house, which later came to be known as the “Hell House”, he courageously attacked the enemy strongpoint to rescue five wounded Marines trapped inside the house.

Registration and ticket sales will open on January 15, 2024.  We hope to see many of our Society members at this year’s event and once again, are offering an Early Bird price of just $40 per person for Society members and one guest.  Please check our website at www.avhof.org on/after January 15th to get more information about the Patriotic Awards Luncheon, lodging at the Doubletree Hilton Tempe, and the link to purchase your tickets on Eventbrite.  A fillable Registration Form will also be posted on our website for those who prefer to download, print and mail in the completed form with your payment.  You can also follow us on the AVHOFS Facebook and Instagram pages where more details will be posted as they become available!

Sponsorship opportunities for the PAL are also available and we encourage all Society members to share our Sponsor Benefits Flyer with businesses or organizations who might be interested.  In addition to higher tier sponsorships, we are also offering a $250 PAL Sponsorship which we hope will provide an opportunity for smaller businesses and individuals to support us.  A copy of the Sponsorship flyer can be found at: on our website.  Questions regarding PAL Sponsorship should be referred to Gordon James at gjames@gcjpr.com or by phone at 602-274-1988.

Please feel free to share all this information with others who would be interested in attending the Patriotic Awards Luncheon and/or supporting us.  We look forward to seeing you at this annual event where we will recognize these outstanding patriots and scholars!
Thank you!

PAL Co-Chairs:
Pat Little-Upah, patupah@gmail.com
Karen Craig, Kcraig1955@cox.net

SOCIETY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

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.

Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society

LUNCHEON EVENT

The State Home Outreach Initiative will sponsor its next Event:

When: Wednesday, January 17th, 2024

Time: Noon-2pm

Where: The Outback on 4715 E Cactus Rd. Paradise Valley

What: Come and mingle with State Home residents and enjoy a sense of community and comradery. We ask that members pay for their own lunch.  The Society will be paying for the State Home residents and staff that accompany them.  

RSVP by: Wednesday, January 10th, 2024
Christeen Verchot (315) 272-9221

Paul Smiley AVHOFS Director Class of 2021

Friday March 22nd - Set-Up
Time TBD

Saturday, March 23rd            
0900 - 1100
1100 - 1300
1300 – 1500
1500 – 1700

Sunday, March 24th
0900 - 1100 
1100 - 1300 
1300 - 1500 
1500 - 1700 

Paul will coordinate water and snacks.  Paul has to travel on Sunday and cannot attend. 

Linda Piazza Simpson and other family members along with the Sun City Anthem at Merrill Ranch Honor Guard presented to the Museum, (Dale Schoenberger (Class of 2022) and his wife Bonnie Schoenberger) – museum directors her father, Joseph Piazza‘s Naval Items.  Joseph Piazza served in the US Navy in World War II on USS Isabel, USS Enterprise and USS ATTU-CVE 102.  He joined soon after hearing of the attack on Pearl Harbor.  Piazza served honorably  in the Pacific war zone.  An honor program was conducted by the Sun City Anthem Honor guard recognizing Piazza’s honorable wartime service and also the tragic event of 7 December 1941.
In attendance were four members of the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame taking part in the service – Dale Schoenberger (Class of 2022), James Sylvester (Class of 2015), Ronnie Smith (Class of 2013), and Palmer Miller (Class of 2018).

ANTHONY SAPUTO (CLASS OF 2007) MEMORIAL

Pictured left is Jerry Wojtas (Class of 2011) and Ron Capek (Class of 2012) doing the Honors presentation of the Arizona Flag and Citation at the Anthony Saputo (Class of 2007) memorial on 5 December 2023.

Pictured below are members of the Society honoring Anthony Saputo at his Memorial. Left to right are Jerry Wojtas, Phil Hanson (Class of 2004), Ken Yamanouchi (Class of 2011), Victor (Vic) Peterson (Class of 2019), Ron Capek and Dennis DeFrain (Class of 2013).

Dick Jonas (Class of 2016)  entertained at the Christmas luncheon for MPAG (Military Pilots and Aircrew Group) on Wednesday, 13 Dec in Prescott Valley.  He distributed Christmas sing-along song booklets that included promo info for MOAA.

On Tuesday, Feb. 20th, the Palm Ridge Rec Center will again be filled with attendees from surrounding communities, witnessing a once-a-year program that recognizes the sacrifices made by members of our military in years past.

Each year at this time, the West Valley Chapter 131, performs a Massing of the Colors & Service of Remembrance.  It begins at 11:15 with a 30-minute musical tribute played by the ever-popular Desert Brass Band.

The Massing of the Colors is a Patriotic Ceremony in memory of our POWs, MIAs, and our Deceased Military Men and Women Who Have Served Our Country.  The ceremony will be held at the Palm Ridge Recreation Center located at 13800 Deer Valley Drive in Sun City West.  The ceremony is open to the public and always draws a big crowd.  The musical prelude begins at 11:15 AM.  Our speaker this year will be Wanona ‘Winnie’ Fritz, former CPT in the Army Nurse Corp and her talk will be “Life in the US & Jordan Military – Memories, Lessons & Gifts”.
Peoria High School AFJROTC Ceremonial Honor Guard will be performing the Missing Man Table Ceremony.
You can learn more about the West Valley Chapter at www.moww131.org.  Go to - What We Do and select Massing of the Colors and Service of Remembrance.

Jerry Wojtas AVHOFS Treasurer Class of 2011

The year is coming to a close and that means one-half of our fiscal year is over. There was a flurry of activity as various board members tried to get last minute expenses into 2023. While we did have a couple members contribute to our Century Club, we are still behind our goal for the year.

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

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 December press time.  If your name is missing, please contact me and let’s see if we can straighten out the problem.

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.

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
Roy McClymonds

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.

NICHOLAS GERVASE
(Class of 2005)

Born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1932. Served in U.S. Marine Corps in Korea, medically retired in 1953. Returned to insurance work and joined the Lincroft Volunteer Fire and First Aid Squad where he rescued a severely burned child; saved an unconscious 12 year-old in the ocean; and delivered an ill-timed baby. Coached softball and baseball, and was chief umpire for North Scottsdale Little League. Retired in 1979 and became the home repair man for many; traveled to Oregon to repair group homes for mentally challenged people. Participated in Marine Corps League “Toys for Tots” program. Member of 1st Marine and 2nd Marine Divisions. Active in Korean War Veterans Association, organized several reunions. State Chaplain for Military Order of the Purple Heart and has taken on ordering and installing engraved bricks at the MOPH Memorial at Wesley Bolin Plaza.

Note: AVHOFS members Pat Little-Upah, Ron Capek, Billy Weldon and Victor Peterson were in attendance at his memorial service.  Honors were given and the Arizona flag presented to Nick’s wife.