Pat Little-Upah AVHOFS President Class of 2014

Dear Society Members,

I cannot believe that the 17th annual Patriotic Awards Luncheon is behind us and we are already looking forward to the 18th.   We did have some speed bumps along the way, but your amazing PAL committee overcame them all to pull off what many are saying “was the best PAL yet.”  Karen Craig will share more in her report.  As I reflect, three things  stand out for me that have made this one of the premier events in the Valley each year.   Number one of course, is the individuals selected to receive the awards.  When you hear what they have done for our military, veterans and communities it is humbling.   Second is the fact that year after year the Society steps forward to support our youth and veterans with scholarships.  The money they receive changes their lives allowing them to move forward with their education.  Your Society through your generosity is changing lives.   The third is that three years ago we decided to have a keynote speaker.  The speakers have been amazing.  In 2022 Col(R)U.S. Army Bruce Crandall, Medal of Honor Recipient for his actions during the Battle of La Drang in Vietnam in 1965.  In 2023 Col Thomas Kirk United States Air Force fighter pilot who spent five and a half years as a POW in Vietnam.  This year's speaker R.J. Mitchell Jr. United States Marine Corp who received the Navy Cross for his bravery during the battle for “hell house” in Fallujah, Iraq.  Each has left the audience in awe of their bravery and dedication and for all I believe a renewed sense of patriotism.

The ongoing dedication for most year after year of the Patriotic Awards Committee members in putting together the PAL each year.  I want to make sure that everyone knows who these amazing members are.  First Karen Craig, Co-chair, has been absolutely vital and quite frankly done the bulk of the ongoing organization for several years for this event.  Gerry Berger who does all of our table decorations and assists on the day of the event on stage.  Travis and Shari Burns who help coordinate the Unified Arizona awards and scholarships.  Nancy Fassbender who organizes the escorts.  Gene Ganssle our absolutely amazing videographer.  Gordon James who goes above and beyond to find sponsors to support the events.  Christine Mahon, the chair of our Scholarship Committee who helps organize, select and makes sure everything runs smoothly for our Scholarship presentations.  Roy McClymonds our quartermaster who makes sure we get all of the trophies and medallions.  In addition, he helps coordinate set up and take down the day of the event.  Mike Milliken who has the task of seating and registration no easy task.  James Monroe who gets the large checks, helps with set up and take down and many other tasks to numerous to mention.  Joan Monroe who coordinates setting up the appointments and getting all individuals who are in the videos where they need to be for Gene to do the videos.  She also helps with editing the scripts and programs.  Ron Perkins who always steps up to do what is needed when asked.  Tom Sheets who also helps with sponsorships.  Jerry Wojtas who as treasurer gets things paid and keeps us all straight financially and Pam Wojtas who helps to edit the scripts and programs.   These are only a few of the many tasks involved in putting together the PAL which takes about 7 months.  These are the members who make it happen and deserve our heartfelt thanks. 

Memorial Day our membership will be attending many ceremonies throughout Arizona to honor and remember those who have given the ultimate sacrifice.  I will be representing the Society along with other members at the National Memorial Cemetery in Phoenix where we will lay the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society wreath.  As this Memorial Day approaches, I would share with you that when I served as a nurse in Vietnam that almost to a person every wounded serviceman who came into the hospital would always ask that we treat their “buddies” first.  Men and women who have lost friends on the battlefield will often struggle for the rest of their lives with the question “why him/her and not me.”  It is right and good that on this Memorial Day and every day of the year, we honor and give thanks for those who made the ultimate sacrifice for this country and each of us.  If these fallen comrades could speak to us today, I know what they would say “forget me I am doing OK now my struggles and pain have ended but my buddies need you, they continue to struggle with physical and emotional pain.  By helping them you honor me.”   We as a Society and individuals must continue our work and outreach to do just that: let us never forget. 

I would like to thank Paul Schnur (Class of 2014) who stepped up to help coordinate the honors ceremony and present the Arizona flag to the wife of Ronald Green (Class of 2013) who passed away in April.

Patricia Little-Upah (Class of 2014)
President, AVHOFS

The 17th Annual Patriotic Awards Luncheon is a wrap!  The Society’s premier event had a new location this year and attendees enjoyed the ample parking, venue, and food served by the Doubletree by Hilton, Phoenix-Mesa staff.  Held on Friday, April 19, 2024, there were over 260 AVHOF members, award and scholarship recipients, sponsors, veterans, supporters, friends, and family in attendance.

This year, we were fortunate to have Christina Carilla, newscaster with Fox 10, as our Master of Ceremonies.  We were also very pleased by the outstanding rendition of the National Anthem which was sung by Ronnie Williams, a member of the AVHOF Class of 2022, and member of the Society’s Board of Directors. Another highlight of the day were the remarks provided by our keynote speaker, USMC Sergeant R.J. Mitchell, who received the Navy Cross for his heroic actions in Fallujah, Iraq on November 13, 2004, when he rescued five wounded Marines trapped inside what later came to be known as the “Hell House.”  His Navy Cross Citation can be viewed at this LINK. A video recording of his remarks at the luncheon will be made available in the near future.

Once again, the AVHOFS and UAV were honored to recognize the following award recipients.  All our honorees are outstanding pillars of the veteran community, having contributed their passion, advocacy, dedication, time, and resources to take care of Arizona military members, veterans, families, and survivors. 

UAV Awards:
Copper Star:  Abe McCann, City of Tempe Veteran Service Coordinator. 
Copper Shield:  Representative Stacey Travers, AZ District 12 Representative

AVHOFS Awards:
Copper Eagle (Business):  TriWest Healthcare Alliance
Copper Eagle (Organization):  Military Assistance Mission
Copper Sword:  Kelly Mills, Director of Military/Veteran Outreach for Senator Kyrsten Sinema

VA Outstanding Employees:
Phoenix VA Health Care System:  Maximo Flores, Environmental Service Technician
Northern AZ Health Care System: Amanda McCauley, Physical Therapist

The Society and UAV also presented $45,000 in scholarships to ten high school students, veterans, and family members of veterans during the event. The funds awarded this year brings the total dollars given since establishment of the scholarship program in 2008, to $232,500.  We are thankful for the generous legacy donation received from the LTC (Ret) Ed & Diane McDowell Estate, the continuing support of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Department of Arizona, the scholarship donation from Arizona Public Service, and all the Hall of Fame Society members who donated to the Century Club over the last year making these scholarships possible.

Culminating the event, President Pat Upah made a special presentation to the Friends of Fisher House.  David Lucier and Reggie Yates, AVHOF members and leaders on the Arizona Fisher House Foundation, accepted a donation from the Society for $50,000 which will kick off fundraising to build the Fisher House Phoenix near the campus of the Phoenix VA Medical Center. We are happy to contribute to this effort and look forward to the day this new Fisher House will be open to serve Arizona veterans!

We also want to take a moment to recognize the many Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame members and supporters who served on the 2024 Patriotic Awards Luncheon Committee – as President Upah mentions, they are truly the best committee to work with!  Additionally, there were many other Hall of Fame members who assisted during the event serving as Escorts, volunteering with the many tasks it takes to make our event a success, and we even had a member of the Class of 2023 providing background music during the reception – thanks Stephen Bradford and Instruments for Success!

As you know, you can’t put on an event like this without the support of loyal sponsors. The Society is very fortunate to have the continuing support of our Valor Sponsor – TriWest Healthcare Alliance, along with sponsorships received from Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Arizona, Salt River Project, USAA, Sonoran Technology, Snell & Wilmer LLC, MOAA AZ, Southwest Veterans Foundation, The Stonewall Group LLC, as well as Gordon C. James Public Relations, who led our fundraising efforts.

A select number of photos of the PAL can be found on the Society website.  Video highlights of each Copper Award honoree, expertly prepared by Gene Ganssle of G2Pro, will be shared on our AVHOFS Facebook page over the next couple of weeks, and the entire album of photos has been posted on the AVHOFS Facebook page. Please join us in congratulating all of this year's award and scholarship recipients – they are each truly deserving of the recognition received! 

Pat Little-Upah and Karen Craig
PAL Committee Co-Chairs

JEWISH WAR VETERANS COPPERSTATE POST 619 30TH ANNIVERSARY

On April 14th, members, associates, and friends gathered in beautiful Sun Lakes to celebrate the more than thirty-year history of Post 619 providing service and support to Valley Veterans and those around our state. The event featured the installation of new Chapter Officers and recognition of service to the unit including Post founders, Irvin Plafker and Richard Ashkinazi, and WWII VETERANS Robert Stone and  Bernard Domsky. Guests were treated to a sumptuous kosher style buffet which was appealing and delicious.

The ceremony honored: Steven D. Weintraub (Col (Ret) USMC) (AVHOF Class of 2022). Posthumously, Jesse Gersten (Class of 2004) and former UAV Treasurer; Art Sloane (Class of 2008) and “Veterans Voice” columnist, all of whom have a long history of accomplishments within the Chapter and the Veterans voice locally and nationally.

Mel Brody (AVHOF Class of 2005) and Past Chair, Unified Arizona Veterans and Gabe Forsberg, recipient of the AVHOFS 2017 “Feather“ award, assisted in presenting the keynote address entitled “Nominating  Veterans for the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Class of 2025“. This presentation was designed to update Chapter 619 on the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Nomination process and to inspire and encourage members to nominate eligible veterans for the 25th Anniversary Class (2025).

Submitted by: Reggie Yates (AVHOF Class of 2013)
Photographs courtesy of Gabe Forsberg and Howard Fischer

DICK JONAS ENTERTAINS

Dick Jonas (Class of 2016) entertains the Super Sabre Society, fighter pilots who flew the F-100 Super Sabre. The "Hun" was the first supersonic jet fighter aircraft in the USAF inventory.

Col Bud Day, with his Hun compadres pioneered the Fast Fac mission while assigned to the Super Sabre during the Vietnam war.

Dick Jonas is a military folk music producer from northern Arizona.
During his active duty in the Air Force and since his retirement he has written and published over 120 musical compositions, and performed them for thousands of air combat veterans. He has authored and published two lyric books of his music, plus a series of memoir books entitled "A Fighter Pilot Looks At The World Upside Down."

PRESCOTT VA VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION BRUNCHEON

Chapter members Tom Hessler (Class of 2007), Chapter president, Judy-Ann Carroll (Class of 2014), Jose Baeza (Class of 2017), Lori Wysong (Class of 2023), and John Black (Class of 2016)

PRESCOTT VALLEY EVENTS

Kathleen Shaw Laurier (Class of 2012), representing Scottish American Military Society post 1314, at "Cruise in for Vets" in Prescott Valley and Wreath's Across America for the Prescott National Cemetery.

Kathleen with Florence Carter, one of the last "Rosie the Riveters".

Nancy Fassbender AVHOFS Director Class of 2020

Many of you know that I am also with the USA Vietnam War Commemoration.  I have done over 150 ceremonies and have traveled not only around Arizona but in other states. 

I was asked to invite 3 Vietnam Veterans from the area who were involved in the community.  (Michael Overmeyer, Commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 2560, Frank White, former VFW 7968 Commander, and Phillip Todd.) 

We are honored to be invited and represent Arizona and to be in the ceremony at the Vietnam Memorial Wall.  We each were assigned a Junior Officer.  We were escorted down to the Vietnam Wall during the ceremony to honor each branch of service.

March 29th is the National Vietnam Veterans Day.  It is to honor all veterans who served during November 1, 1955 to May 15, 1975.  It does not matter if you served In Country, In State, In Another Country or Vietnam.  You are honored!

Those who would like to watch this broadcast, Please type in this website and it will be on their front page.  www.vietnamwar50th.com  

All of us were so honored to be doing this.  I am still flying off the ceiling.

I also have been interviewed by the Wreaths Across America radio station.  Yes, they have their own station!  Listen to the interview,

Nancy Fassbender AVHOFS Director Class of 2020

I have been busy planning the ceremony and each year is different than the last.  We also had about 600 sponsors (you) and had Bashas with the Donuts, Coffee by Starbucks and Texas Roadhouse fed us a delicious BBQ sandwich after the wreath laying. 

This year, I am pleased to say that Texas Roadhouse on Power Road in Gilbert will be doing this again.  So please when you do stop in, tell James or Kari thank you for doing this.

Many of you came to this honorable day last year and I hope you all enjoyed the ceremony and I thank all of you in sponsoring Wreaths as well as volunteering not only preparing the day before but helping teach our youth what this means and was there the following month to clean up the cemetery.

Many of you participated in the BOGO sponsorship in January.  This helped us quite a bit as there are 2300 interred Veterans in this cemetery this year.

If you know of any volunteers/sponsors who would like to help with not only sponsoring a wreath for $17 or would like to sign up to be a volunteer again this year, please email me at nfass@hotmail.com;  I am starting the 2024 volunteer list.  If you or anyone would like to sponsor a wreath, I have enclosed an order form as well as a flyer.  Please help us cover all the interred veterans again this year.

This year, we will be at the Memorial Day event at Mountain View Cemetery 7900 E Main, Mesa, AZ.  This will be on May 27, 2024, at 9:00am.  This is another special honorable event. Please come out and give honor to our fallen veterans.  Please stop by our table and say hi!

Thank you so much for your participation.  Without you, our Veterans would not be recognized, and our youth would not understand what freedom is!

2024 WREATH SPONSORSHIP ORDER FORM

Tom Hessler President AVHOFS Cochise County Chapter Class of 2007

This is an attempt to solicit articles from members of the Cochise County Chapter of the Society.  If you are involved in a veteran related activity or event as a participant in any way, especially as a Society member, please consider sending me pictures and words describing the activity or event.  If suitable, I’ll publish it under this COCHISE COUNTY CHAPTER HAPPENINGS heading.  Pictures should be of good quality and the writeup well written with correct spelling of proper names.  For example, I welcome articles of your participation in events like Veterans Day and Memorial Day.  Articles should be sent to me at tjhessler@cox.net.

COCHISE COUNTY CHAPTER TO PARTICIPATE IN MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY

Cochise County Chapter members of the Society are always well represented at this annual ceremony.

Jerry Wojtas AVHOFS Treasurer Class of 2011

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

StandDowns for our needy veterans continue on around the state.  You can help by volunteering.  Here is a listing of the StandDowns remaining for the current year.

Below 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! 

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! 

Below that are the names of those who have contributed to the Century Club by our March press time.  If your name is missing, please contact me and let’s see if we can straighten out the problem.  My phone number is 623-544-4477 and my email address is jp7wojtas@gmail.com.

Contributions to date this fiscal year.

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

When you order from the catalog PLEASE print clearly. I have had some orders that had errors.  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 email 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.

Ronald Green
(Class of 2013)
(extracted from www.AZVHOF.org)

Born in Aberdeen, South Dakota in 1936. Lieutenant Colonel, US Air Force, retired in 1980, including three tours in Vietnam as a fighter pilot. Former Operations Research Senior Technical Specialist, McDonnell Douglas Company. Resident of Cave Creek, Arizona. Ron is very active in programs at his Church and since 2011 is an active volunteer with the annual Arizona StandDown project. He led his chapter, the Arizona Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America to get involved in volunteering at the Arizona StandDowns. He organized a project in 2012 that is ongoing to provide water to homeless veterans. Ron has raised funds for JROTC Scholarships and also financially supports the Veterans Heritage Project, Cave Creek, Arizona. Ron is a volunteer for mentoring veterans at Arizona State University.

Duane Brofer
(Class of 2005)

Duane Richard Brofer, 94 passed away April 17, 2024, at The Life Care Center in Sierra Vista, Arizona. A longtime resident of Sierra Vista, Duane was born December 27, 1929, in Ft. Dodge, Iowa, one of eight children. He embarked on his military career in 1948 in radio repair. In 1955 he was selected to attend Officer Candidate School at Ft. Benning, Georgia. After graduation he went to ranger school.
He and his wife Joanne (deceased) began his distinguished career traveling to many posts in the United States, Europe and in Southeastern Asia while raising his son and daughters.

Serving as an enlisted service member first then a commissioned officer, he earned the utmost respect from his soldiers, peers, and superiors.
Duane served two tours in Vietnam as an infantry helicopter pilot demonstrating his remarkable skills, bravery, and resilience during many difficult missions. His dedication to duty and courage earned him numerous commendations and the adoration of all who served with him. His military decorations include the Silver Star, the Bronze Star 2 OLC, Legion of Merit 2 OLC and the distinguished Flying Cross. He retired in 1980 with 31 ½ years of service with the rank of Colonel.

After his military career, Duane was a real estate broker for many years. He served with Cochise County workforce development to allocate funds for employment training, selected by Cochise Superior Court as mediator/arbitrator, active in MOAA and had served as their chapter president, and he was instrumental in the initial formation of the Center for Academic Success (CAS), in Arizona.

Duane loved all the adventures, challenges, and successes he had in the military and after, but his real joy later in life was his family. He is survived by his youngest sister Alice Cibert, of Missouri, his son Russell from Mansfield, Texas, his daughters Diane, and Darleen from Arizona and 3 grandchildren: Sea Brennan, Jennifer and Jason Bofer, 4 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren.