If your schedule permits, consider coming to march with us in the Spirit of ‘76 Santa Barbara Fourth of July Parade down State Street. Enjoy the welcome home that you never got. Or if you did get it, enjoy it again. The crowds in the recent past have been very receptive and appreciative of our presence in the parade. And cadence caller Dennis Hartman leads us in some memorable and rousing chants. As of this writing, I have not been notified of where we will be forming up, but it will be one block east or west of State Street on Micheltorena or Arrellaga. Look for the helicopter. We’ll be forming up starting around Noon, parade kicks off at 1:00 P. M. Uniform of the day is your uniform or a Chapter T or Polo shirt. We’ll have extra shirts available for sale on parade day if you need one. Some of us usually gather at one of the local establishments at the end of the parade route for a brief post parade socialization. There is a high probability that Lois Capps will be accompanying us in the parade this year. Check the Chapter website message board for last minute information.

Mario Pintor’s father Cristino Ramos Pintor, Sr., a World War II Army veteran, , passed away this week. He was drafted 5 days after Pearl Harbor - after only being in the U. S. since 1939 and being barely able to speak English. He was a Medical Technician and was stationed in the Aluetian Islands. Some of you may recall that Mario’s father fell ill while the Wall was here. The family was good enough to list our Chapter as an organization to which contributions could be made in remembrance of the senior Mr. Pintor.

At our June meeting we were glad to have long time regular meeting attendee Charlie Franco back in attendance and looking good. We had two visitors from the California State Council, Gary Colletti, Southern District Director, and Mike Oraetz, Southern District Supervisor. A ceremony was held installing the new Officers and Board of Directors for the 2005 - 2006 year. Mr Colletti invited anyone interested to attend the West Coast Vietnam Veterans Memorial, a POW/MIA Monument, to be unveiled and dedicated during ceremonies September 16 and 17 at Riverside National Cemetery.

The annual VVA convention will be held in Reno, NV this year, August 9 -14. We are entitled to 3 delegate seats. Through various sources, we should be able to fund at least some of the travel expenses. If you have any interest in attending on behalf of our Chapter, let me know. I have not determined whether on not I will be able to attend.

And from Don Matter:

Fiesta is only a little less than seven weeks away. It will be August 3 through August 6 this year. As usual, the VVA will have the booth at De la Guerra Plaza. The hours of operation are 11AM to 11PM. Extraneous stuff includes loading our equipment from Hillside House into the truck on Friday July 29 time TBA. We will do the booth set up at 7AM on Saturday July 30 and for those of you so inclined we will be doing finishing touches on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday as well. The booth will be taken down and stored on Sunday August 7 at 6:30AM. I am writing this plethora of information because I will call EVERYONE on the current membership roster let's say the week of July 18. Again, those of you who DO NOT or CANNOT work at the booth or set up/take down, please telephone or email Keith or myself thus saving yourself and myself valuable time.
Note: you can also sign up for shifts at the July 12 chapter meeting.

Mike Nash Scholarship Fund

Because of a request for a letter of recommendation (which I have provided), I have been made aware of a VVA National annual award - the Mike Nash Scholarship Program. Financial aid is offered to VVA member (and MIA, KIA, or deceased Vietnam Veteran) children, stepchildren and grandchildren registered to attend a minimum of half time at an accredited educational/technical college or university or post-secondary institution.

For your information. Wall, two more names to be added to the list of Chapter Contributors are John Selfreidge and Rolf Brinckmann. If there is a star next to your address label on the newsletter, your annual dues are - well - due. Hope to see as many of you as possible on July 4th and at our next meeting on the 12th at which I will be floating an idea for a new Chapter program.

Proudly representing and serving noble warriors with noble intentions,

Keith

Addendum:

Chapter 54 of the Veterans For Peace meets weekly on Mondays at 5pm in the Harbor Room of the Veterans Memorial Building at 112 W. Cabrillo on Santa Barbara’s waterfront. Chapter 54 includes members from Santa Barbara, Goleta, Carpinteria and Oxnard. The monthly membership and business meeting is normally the first Monday of the month. On all other Mondays, visitors are encouraged to join the chapter in Monday film showings. The films are shown at 6pm following refreshments and social hour from 5-6pm. For more information contact Lane Anderson at 564-2698

 

 

The Santa Barbara Chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America is a tax exempt, non-profit organization. Our members are Vietnam era (you need not have served "in country") Veterans and Associates (individuals from all walks of life who may or may not have served in the military). Our Chapter is successful because of the efforts of Vietnam Veterans, Vietnam Era Veterans, and Associates, all of whom are equally welcomed and prized. The Chapter’s Vance Committee distributes funds to qualified disabled American veterans.

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July, 2005

 

SERVING VETERANS AND THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1983

 

For all those soldiers, sailors, airmen, coast guardsmen and marines, past, present and future, who have taken, are taking, or will take their turn on duty, recall a couple of lines from

A Few Good Men (1992):

"Why do you like them so much?" {Lt. Sam Weinberg (Kevin Pollak)}

" 'Cause they stand on a wall and they say: "Nothing's going to hurt you tonight, not on my watch."" {Lt. Cdr. JoAnne Galloway (Demi Moore)}

"Proud To Be
A Vietnam Veteran"

 

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