President’s Message
Thank you for electing me to serve as your president for the next year
or two. I will endeavor to maintain the high standards which were
established by the Hampton Roads Chapter in the past.
MOAA is an organization composed of active duty, retired military officers
and spouses of military officers. Our purpose is to stimulate the
love of our country and our flag, to aid our active and retired personnel
when the need arises and to remind our legislators of their duty to maintain
an adequate level of military personnel to defend our great nation.
We are, as an organization, “One Powerful Voice” and must continue to be
heard. I am requesting that each of you think about the closeness
we had and do have in our active forces that makes us a great team.
And that we attend social gatherings to continue this comradeship. If you
have suggestions for subjects, programs or speakers, please let me know.
God Bless America.
Jim Dellaripa
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HRCMOAA Directory
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Officers
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Directors
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Committees
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President: 640-0947
LtCol James M. Dellaripa Sr,
USAF-Ret.
hrmoaa@cox.net
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1st Vice President: 363-1094
MAJ Norman Crews,
USA-Ret.
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2nd Vice President: 427-2402
CDR John A. Rooney,
USN-Ret.
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Recording Secretary: 362-0030
Mrs. Patricia H. Doss,
Aux.
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Treasurer: 716-2497
LtCol Mary L. Baeumel,
USAFNC-Ret.
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CAPT Ray Hart,
USN- Ret.
430-8771
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CAPT Paul Hollandsworth,
USN Ret.
496-9248
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Col Jack W. Hilgers,
USMC -Ret.
490-8383
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Mrs Mickie Jones,
Aux.
716-2644
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CAPT Jim Jones,
USN Ret.
481-1919
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LCOL Loren Peele,
USA- Ret.
286-8942
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CAPT Bill Lehr,
USCG- Ret.
426-5392
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Program: 363-1094
MAJ Norm Crews,
USA Ret.
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VCOC Representative:
382-9843
CDR John E. Vermillion,
USN-Ret.
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Legislative Affairs:
490-8383
Col Jack W. Hilgers,
USMC-Ret.
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Personal Affairs:
486-7639
MAJ Norm Crews,
USA-Ret.
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Membership: 640-0947
“Volunteer Needed”
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Publicity: 382-9843
CDR John E. Vermillion,
USN Ret.
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Community Affairs:
836-1646
CAPT Bill Lehr,
USCG-Ret.
CAPT Pat McFadden,
USN-Ret.
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Information Systems:
481-0694
Col Richard A. Vogel,
USAF-Ret.
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Webmaster: 490-5792
Maj Clifton G. Furedy,
USAF-Ret.
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Editor: 382-9843
CDR John E. Vermillion,
USN-Ret.
Vermillj@cox.net
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From the Editor
November Newsletter: I apologies for the late delivery of the
November newsletter. The Post Office is not sure what happened.
The VCOC, located in the Richmond, and the Fort Lee area, received their
copy on 31 October. Any mail going to that area goes through Washington
DC first. Our copies may have gone to Washington also! I will
work hard to get the January 2007 Newsletter out on time.
Legislative Alerts: Several members have indicated that
their e-mails, sent in response to MOAA alert messages, were not getting
through to their Legislators. MOAA assures us that they do get through.
MOAA has reported that they have generated around 370,000 emails to Congress
in 2006 on such issues as SBP, and lowering the Guard and Reserve retirement
age. Capitol Hill, like all of us, uses software technologies to
block “Spam” and ensure that incoming messages are from Constituents.
MOAA uses an e-mail contractor, Capitol Advantage, to ensure that messages
generated through MOAA’s Web Site are recognized as legitimate and are
properly routed to the Legislators offices. They have a 97.3 % delivery
rate.
TRICARE For Life
This is an update on the TFL briefings, to be held at the Naval Medical
Center Portsmouth., as discussed in the November Newsletter.
They will be held in the Internal Medicine Conference Room Building 2,
2nd Floor. During the 2007 year the briefings will be held on the
2nd Tuesday of each month from 9:00 am to 11:00 am, commencing on January
9th. No registration needed, just show up!
TFL Information Resources
TRICARE Service Center
1-877-874-2273 or
www.healthnetfederalservices.com
DEERS
1-800-538-9552 or
Www.tricare.mil/DEERS
Medicare and Social Security
1-800-772-1213 or
www.ssa.gov
TRICARE For Life
1-866-773-0404 or
www.tricare4u.com
NMCP BCAC Office
1-757-953-2610 in
Building 3, 3rd floor
Membership Expiration: Just like any Magazine, the address
label serves as a reminder that your subscription, or membership is due
to expire. Look closely at this Newsletter address label and just
to the right of your name is a year. As in my case it reads 2006,
which shows that my membership expires at the end of December 2006.
This means that it is time to renew my chapter membership and I can use
the enclosed form to do this. You may also use the form at our website,
www.hrcmoaa.org.
John
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| MOAA Legislative Update |
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| Tricare For Life Changes |
| MOAA recently became aware that effective
Oct. 1, 2006, TRICARE will no longer pay a TRICARE For Life (TFL) claim
from a beneficiary who has seen a provider that has opted-out of Medicare.
An opt-out Medicare provider is one who notifies Medicare that they are
no longer seeking Medicare payment for their patients and cannot submit
claims. Don't pay any more than you must - choose a provider that accepts
Medicare. |
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| SBP |
| The November 16, 2006 Veterans' Disability
Benefits Commission (VDBC) hearing considered one of MOAA's top priorities
- repeal of the law that reduces military SBP annuities by the amount of
survivor benefits payable from the VA.
Under current law, the surviving spouse
of a retired member who dies of a service-connected cause is entitled to
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) from the VA. In the case of
a military retiree enrolled in SBP, the surviving spouse's monthly SBP
annuity is reduced by the amount of DIC - a little more than $1,000 a month.
This offset also affects many survivors
of members killed on active duty - including all active duty deaths since
Sept. 11, 2001. Most active duty deaths occur among relatively junior servicemembers,
whose survivors are eligible for only modest SBP payments. That means most
survivors of members killed on active duty lose most or all of their SBP
benefit.
Commission members didn't come to a consensus
on the issue, so VDBC Chairman Terry Scott (LTG, USA (Ret) tabled it, asking
the commission staff to provide additional information. MOAA will provide
the commissioners copies of our latest brochure on this topic (Undue Sacrifice).
Commissioners then tackled several staff-developed
topics to include VA claim-processing time limits, lump-sum payments, and
resolution of pending claims that end with veteran's death, but came to
a final decision on only one issue. They unanimously agreed to eliminate
from their final report any recommendation for a buy-out or lump-sum payments.
Finally, the commission reported that three
previously discussed issues are now undergoing legal and technical review:
1) line of duty; 2) character of discharge; and 3) concurrent receipt.
The Commission stated these issue papers are expected to be released in
December and stakeholders, including MOAA and other military associations,
will be allowed to provide comments in January. |
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| DOD/VA Casualty Assistance Update |
| On November 17, DOD and VA hosted military
and association representatives (including MOAA's Auxiliary Advisory Committee
representative Jennifer McCollum and Deputy Director for Government Relations
CDR René Campos, USN (Ret) for an update on casualty assistance
and survivor outreach efforts.
The VA highlighted its issuance of a new
pamphlet, "Benefits and Services for Survivors of Servicemembers Who Die
on Active Duty".
On the military side, DOD has been working
to upgrade procedures for transporting servicemember remains, including
providing an Honor Guard detail upon arrival at the destination.
Additionally, DOD has been working to standardize
all service casualty assistance programs, developing checklists and a survivor
survey that will eventually provide performance standards and evaluations.
Current service programs vary in support and service levels provided to
surviving family members. For instance, only the Air Force provides a full-time
person to assist with benefits. The Marines give each family a print-out
of government survivor benefits as a planning tool for making financial
decisions, while Army spouses must specifically request the print-out.
DOD is finalizing a survivor notebook to
help survivors organize the large amount of information they receive over
time. The notebook (which will be updated semi-annually) will be in use
by all services beginning January 1.
DOD and the VA also will provide long term-support
services and counseling for surviving family members via Military One Source
and Vet Center programs. |
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Veterans Day Parade, November 11, 2006
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| The HRCMOAA joined over 70 units to participate in this years Veterans
Day Parade. Shown above, left to right, are CAPT Ray Hart,
USN (Ret), LtCol Jesse Sandlin, USAF (Ret), and CDR John Vermillion,
USN (Ret). Waiting for the parade to start on Atlantic Blvd.
The parade is sponsored each year by the Hampton Roads Council of Veterans
Organizations. Following the parade, the opening ceremony honored
and saluted Vietnam War Veterans who did not return from the war, all POW-MIA
casualties and all Gold Star Mothers. The high light of the ceremony
was a Military Battlefield Funeral Ceremony. If you have never
seen this ceremony, it is very moving.
Shown below left to right is Lance Corporal Pat Callahan, USMC
and SGT Charlie Montgomery, USA, both Vietnam Veterans. |
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| Terrie Suit was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates on
November 2, 1999. She represents the 81st district, which includes, the
Southeast portion of Virginia Beach and the portion of Chesapeake South
of Great Bridge. Over the past seven years she has used her experience
in business, housing and community service to become an influential member
of the Virginia House of Delegates.
Shown below is the HRCMOAA President, CAPT Ray Hart presenting
a plaque to Delegate Terrie Suit for outstanding performance representing
both active and retired military personnel of the Commonwealth during 2006,
especially sponsorship of instate tuition for military dependents. |
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| During her talk, Delegate Suit provided the members with a short legislative
update. The Annual Toys for Tots social function this year was held
at the Atlantic Shores Retirement Community. Each attending member
was askd to bring an unwrapped toy for donation to the United States Marines
Toys for Tots program. This year we had 62 members in attendance. |
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| Shown at left is President Elect, LtCol James Dellaripa with
the United States Marine Corp Toys for Tots representatives.
From left to right is Staff Sergeant Maik and Sergeant
Shayler, both attached to MAG 42 Detachment B at Naval Station Norfolk.
They have deployed to Iraq twice with their unit. Their helicopters
carried both personnel and cargo while in Iraq. The Marines accepted
the many unwrapped toys that all of the HRCMOAA members brought with them
to the luncheon. Rita Statzer, wife of Col Merlin Statzer,
USMC Ret. won the 50/50, which she donated to the Marine Toys for Tots.
Our thanks to Rita for this generous donation. |
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| The HRCMOAA has introduced a Military ID Card Notification Program
to help chapter members remember to renew their ID cards and their dependent's
ID cards in a timely fashion. Once you and your dependents are enrolled,
you will be notified of your impending ID card expiration date in sufficient
time for renewal prior to the expiration date. Note: Over
age 75 members, who are eligible uniform family members and survivors of
deceased personnel are now eligible for Permanent Identification Cards.
Apply within 90 days of expiration of current ID card. |
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| To enroll in this voluntary program, fill in the form at the link below
for each dependent and Send by Email or Print and Mail to: Military ID
Card Notification Program, HRCMOAA, P.O. Box 4612, Virginia Beach, VA 23454-0612. |
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CHAPTER SCHEDULE
For the most current and up-to-date schedule of chapter events, click
on Calendar of Events
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| The next scheduled chapter function will be installation of Officers
and Directors for the 2007/8 years. This social will be held on Friday
19 January 2007. The programs for the remainder of 2007 will be developed
by new Program Director, MAJ Norm Crews, USA Ret. |
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HRCMOAA January Officer
Installation
| WHEN: |
Friday, January 19, 2007 |
| WHERE: |
Atlantic Shores Retirement Community
Dam Neck Rd, Virginia Beach, Virginia |
| TIME: |
Social: 1100 Hours
Lunch: 1200 Hours |
| MENU: |
Spinach Salad, Poppy Seed Vinaigrette, Quiche Lorraine
or
Chicken Marsala, Roasted Potatoes, Asparagus, and Carrots.
Warm Apple Dumpling & ice cream. |
| PRICE: |
$17.00 |
| PROGRAM: |
Installation of Officers, Speaker TBD |
| RESERVATIONS: |
Reservations by 1900 hours January 14, 2007.
Call Norm Crews, 363-1094, Give Name, Phone, Menu &
Number attending.
Back up, call John Rooney, 427-2402. |
Checks may be mailed to
HRCMOAA, PO Box 4612, Virginia Beach, VA 23454
to arrive NLT 11, January
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| A RESERVATION MADE IS A RESERVATION PAID |
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Please print, fill-in
and mail the pre-paid Reservation Form.
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The Virginia Council of Chapters
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| The Virginia Council of Chapters was presented a $3,000 check for the
total number of new MOAA members recruited by Virginia Chapters, to date,
in the Give Me Ten program. Receiving the check are: |
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| Left to right are; LtCol James Dellaripa, USAF Ret., (Hampton
Roads Chapter 1st VP), COL Donald Kaiserman, USA Ret., (Richmond
Area Chapter President), LTC Paul Mehler, USA Ret., (Mount Vernon
Chapter), Col Jerry Nay, USAF Ret., (George C. Marshall Chapter
Representative), and COL Victoria Revilla, USA Ret. (Southside Virginia
Chapter President). |
| Chapter members pictured are representatives of the Chapters who have
recruited at least 10 new members for MOAA. Included, in the
check, is a bonus for the Chapters who have recruited 10 or more.
100 % of Virginia Chapters are participating in the MOAA Give Me Ten program.
The VCOC meeting, October 13, 2006, was held at the Virginia War Memorial
located in the very historic area of the city of Richmond. |
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Armed Services YMCA Five Star Military Family
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| The HRCMOAA was again a table sponsor at the annual Five Star Military
Family Recognition Awards. A family from each service is selected
to receive the award based on their contribution to the overall military
family. The mission of the AFYMCA is to improve Quality of Life for
junior enlisted military personnel and their families, through values oriented
social, recreational, personal development, crisis prevention, deployment
separation and child development programs. The Hampton Roads Chapter
was proud to contribute $400 to this event. |
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| Shown above left to right is John Vermillion, CDR USN (Ret),
PFC Sam Caito, USA, Jim Dellaripa, LtCol USAF (Ret), Norm
Crews, MAJ USA (Ret), PV2 Douglas Blount, USA, Ray Hart,
CAPT USN (Ret) and SGT Thomas Skellham, USA |
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Southside Virginia Chapter GMT Award (Well Done)
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| I'm writing to thank you for the great effort your chapter is making
on this year's Give Me 10! Campaign. As you probably know, we are highlighting
your chapter on MOAA's web page as one of the leaders in the country -
setting the pace for the other 259 chapters in the competition. With your
help we have recruited over 1,500 new members for MOAA and our chapters
so far in the campaign with one month to go - well ahead of last year.
Thank you for your hard work and dedication. Give Me 10! is an important
part of MOAA's effort to keep membership strong so that we can be "One
Powerful Voice" here in Washington and our chapters can remain a vital
part of their communities. I'm looking forward to the final results and
to "signing the check" on the cash incentives you have earned. Thanks for
all you do.
Norb Ryan
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VCOC Scheduled Functions
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| The next VCOC meeting will be held on January 5, 2007.
Storming the Hill in Richmond is scheduled for 22 January 2007. Those Chapter
Members wishing to attend please contact our VCOC Representative, John
Vermillion at 382-9843 or email vermillj@cox.net. |
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HRCMOAA Membership
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| Regular |
620
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| Auxiliary |
119
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| Honorary |
3
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| Total |
742
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The hike has been temporarily held
up due to weather and a slight health setback. Will keep you
informed.
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HRCMOAA November Business Social
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| Annual Business Meeting and Election of Officers and Board Members
took place at the 2 November business luncheon held at the Atlantic Shores
Retirement Community in Virginia Beach. The Chapter 5 Star Award
was also presented in addition to several MOAA Communications Awards.
The photo below shows the President of the VCOC COL Bill Flanagan,
USA Ret. presenting the MOAA 5 Star Level of Excellence Award to the President
of the HRCMOAA CAPT Ray Hart, USN Ret. Bill also updated the
chapter members on the VCOC legislative efforts at both State and National
levels. |
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| Representative of all services are shown after attaching the 5 Star
Award banner to the HRCMOAA flag. Left to right; President and CAPT
Ray Hart, USN (Ret), LtCol James Dellaripa, USAF (Ret), COL
James Smith, USA (Ret), CAPT Bill Lehr, USCG (Ret), CAPT
Jim Jones, USN (Ret), and LtCol Robert Giovanelli, USMCR (Ret). |
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| CDR John Vermillion, USN Ret. and Newsletter Editor is shown
above receiving the MOAA 2005 Communications Awards from CAPT Ray Hart,
USN Ret., Chapter President. The awards were for, Category I size
Chapter, 1st Runner Up Print Newsletter, Winner for the Electronic Newsletter,
and Winner for the Outstanding Web Site. John accepted the Website
award for Maj Clifton Furedy, USAF Ret. and Chapter Webmaster.
All who attended, enjoyed the afternoon. |
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MOAA Scholarship Fund
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| Memorial contributions may be made to the MOAA Scholarship Fund, for
deceased members of our Chapter, at Dept 889, Alexandria, VA 22334-0889.
Contributions may also be made at www.moaa.org.
Or you may call 800-234-6622. |
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WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
To protect member privacy,
New Members and Directory Changes
are only available through the Members Access page.
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Directory Changes and Email Corrections should be sent to
HRCMOAA
P.O. Box 4612
Virginia Beach, VA 23454-0612
Attention Dick Vogel
You may call Dick at 481-0694 or email vogelra1@msn.com
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Invalid Email Address
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Michael R. Barclift mbarclift@verizon.net
Lynn K. Bauer lynnk.bauer@hotmail.com
David A. Buzard dbuzard@ruttermills.com
Hugh A. Eubank ddeubank@worldnet.att.nat
Albert R. Estes rayestes@aol.com
Thomas J. Frey thomasfrey@earthlink.net
Robert A. Hackett x8seashell@aol.com
Richard E. Helm dick.helm21966@usna.com
Richard C. Inghram gabby99@cox.net
Martin J. Mulderrig Jr. shirlhm@exis.net
Cletis M. Nester cletis.nester@verizon.net
James E. Nimmo jimnimmo1@aol.com
Ramonda M. Petrich rlpetrich@aol.com
Marguerite K. Quamme kenneyquamme@aol.com
Manuel A. Ramos Jr. mramos395@cs.com
Anthony R. Reade readear@cox.net
Raymond A. Remillard remi@exis.net
James R. Riess, jriess@exis.net
William G. Rudolph wgrudolph@nehc.navy.mil
Gerald S. Scholl schollgs@cnal.navy.mil
Arline V. Schulze arlinevs@erols.com
Don M. Shafer mshafer@worldnet.att.net
Floyd J. Singer tidewtr2@exis.net
James Watt jwatt@cox.net
Larry R. Wickham lwickham@sybersom.net
David M. Wolchko wolchko@earthlink.net
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IN MEMORIUM
This month we will again honor the military men and women who have made
the ultimate sacrifice to keep our great country free. Let
us also remember the families who are left behind. |
| Each year since 1992, Merrill Worcester, the owner of Worcester Wreath
Company of Harrington Maine has donated 5000 wreaths for the Arlington
National Cemetery grave sites. He also covers the cost of transportation
and ask for volunteers to lay the wreaths. The sites are selected
each year by the cemetery director. The 2006 wreath laying ceremony
took place on December 14th. For more details please visit the Snopes
website, www.snopes.com/photos/military/wreaths.asp
While at the site please play the video/sound clip provided, it provides
a very moving statement.
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