Next Meeting February 25, 2015 at the Bettendorf Public Library!

7:00 P.M. - 1900 hours“ N E V E R A G A I N W I L L O N E G E N E R A T I O N O F V E T E R A N S A B A N D O N A N O T H E R . ”

Vol. 18 Issue 2

Officers and Board of Directors!President Greg Paulline! ! 563 650-3055! ! Dir. David Woods! ! 563 326-8723!Vice-President Lyle Peterson! 563 386-1286! ! Dir. Ed Gaudet! ! 563 349-9456!Treasurer Harold Hansen ! 563 505-9674! ! Dir. Bill Matthews! ! 563 355-5618!Secretary John Lavelle! ! 563 355-4213! ! Dir. Steve Satre! ! 563 289-1776!Web Master Roger Granbois! roger@granbois.net! Dir. Larry Witt! ! 563 388-7179

Veteran Service Officers

& Service

Coordinators !Clarke Barnes 309 944-3674

Ed Gaudet 563 343-9456 David Woods 563 326-8723 Ernest Ledjte 563 785-6182 Tom Lemon

563 359-3201 !Honor Guard

Jett Bork 563 528-0636 John Lavelle 563 355-4213

THE SPIRIT OF ‘776 F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 5 N E W S L E T T E R

V I E T N A M V E T E R A N S O F A M E R I C A C H A P T E R 7 7 6

AGENT ORANGE

TOWN HALL MEETING MARCH 7, 2015!

St Ambrose University!Rogalski Center!

Sessions begin 9:00 A.M.!Sessions run until 3:00 P.M.!

Support your Chapter!!Attend this important event.!

Minutes of January Membership Meeting!!The meeting was called to order by President Paulline at 1900 hours. Officers present, Vice-president Lyle Peterson, Secretary, John Lavelle, Treasurer Harold Hansen. The members recited the pledge of allegiance and observed a moment of silence for POW/MIA and also for those still serving in harms way. A sheet was passed for members to sign and each member stated their attendance. The minutes from the November meeting were accepted as posted in the newsletter. Larry Witt informed the group that our current membership is now at 196. Harold Hansen informed the chapter on our current financial solvency. Denny Grey shared a coin story with members. Ed Gaudet made the following motions. A motion to increase the chapter scholarship fund to three $500 scholarships for members and their families and adding a $500 specific to the application of any new Iraq or Afghanistan veteran in the area, the motion passed. A donation of $500 to the grandchild of one of our members who is starting college at this time and is in need of the money to get her education started immediately, the motion passed. Funding for the Agent Orange Town Hall Meeting of $500, the motion passed. A motion to advance three members a sum of $1,000 each for attendance as voting members at the National Convention in Springfield, Illinois, this motion was tabled until the February meeting in order to research costs for participants. The next Iowa City VA Hospital visit will be March 23rd, members will meet at the McDonald’s on Northwest Blvd. at 7:45 and leave for Iowa City by 8:15, stated Ed Hildebrand. The retirement home the Fountains is being researched for a visit by the Community Service Group. Hy-Vee will be catering the 50th Anniversary luncheon at Post 26. We will be creating a display at the Putnam Museum for the 50th Anniversary Commemoration. The Moving Wall will be at the Rock Island Arsenal from July 29th until August 2nd. Discussion on a parade for the 50th Anniversary was discussed. A committee for the parade was created with Ed Hildebrand and Arthur Heyderman as co-chairs to research and collect information on the parade. No funds are allocated for this event at this time. The information that is created will be shared with the 50th Anniversary Committee and with the members, this motion made by Arthur Heyderman was passed by the membership. Greg Paulline will submit a parade proposal to the city council. A motion by Lyle Peterson requesting that the chapter form a partnership with WQPT for the purpose of working further towards a project for the 50th Anniversary also was passed. Tony LaMantia made a motion to donate $100 to the LST Memorial Fund, motion passed. Minutes submitted by John P. Lavelle, chapter secretary.

It’s that time of year again!!! Time for our VVA Chapter 776 to begin receiving scholarship applications. This year, again, we have three scholarships to award and possibly four if an Iraq or Afghanistan vet applies. The Scholarship program is the thing that has been enacted that I am most proud of and to see the applications roll in last year was awesome. So if you have a family member whole planning on furthering his/her education this fall, suggest that they take advantage of our scholarships. How do they apply? Go to the web site VVA776.org and pull down the membership tab and go to scholarships. There is an application and all the instructions. The deadline is March 31st.

Vietnam War 50th Anniversary April 18th 2015

American Legion Post 26 Luncheon with local ARVN troops

from the Quad Cities !

Contact Lyle Peterson to learn more.

ELECTIONS FOR OFFICERS, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND NATIONAL DELEGATES WILL BE HELD IN APRIL. AN ELECTION COMMITTEE WILL BE FORMED AT THE

FEBRUARY MEETING. THE CHAIRPERSON FOR THIS COMMITTEE WILL NOT BE A CANDIDATE FOR ANY ELECTED OFFICE AND MUST BE A MEMBER IN GOOD

STANDING. ANYONE WISHING TO HOLD AN OFFICE SHOULD HAVE THEIR DD - 214.

2667 5th St. Rock island, IL

Leisure Time Billiards & Sports Bar

845 Avenue of the Cities!East Moline , IL !

!Full Kitchen!!

2 Sports Bars!!8 Dart Boards & 13 pool Tables

Eastern Iowa / Western Illinois

VETERANS CONFERENCE WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY 25, 2015 1100 - 1730 ROGALSKI CENTER

ST. AMBROSE UNIVERSITY www.sau.edu/veteranservices!

!Lunch 1100 Contact: Speaker 1200 Andrew Gates Film 1400 SAU Veterans Services Panel 1530 563 333-5721 Social 1630 GatesAndrewA@sau.edu Keynote speaker: Bryan Anderson Registration is FREE http://www.andersonactive.com

TRIP TO ARLINGTON

David Woods attended a burial at Arlington National Cemetery on Ja nu a r y 2 8 t h . T h e f u n e r a l w a s f o r a comrade from the War. They were told that the average number of committals a day is between 25 to 27. The funeral procession consisted of a flag, a drummer, riflemen, the horses and the caisson. On Thursday, Woody contacted our very own Rep. Loebsack’s office and was given a tour of the Capital building along with five friends.