As I write this edition of the Newsletter, we have about 48 hours to go until we begin tearing down the Moving Wall. My heartfelt thanks to the Chapter for it’s generous support of this worthy event. Many many people have been helped, educated, and rewarded by virtue of our efforts.

Thanks to Chairman Bill Stewart for his shift coordination and for his hours and hours of time spent at the Wall answering questions and telling visitors interesting pieces of information about the Wall. Thanks to Domingo Nuñez and Maria Perkins for their recruiting and coordinating efforts to keep the Wall volunteers nourished. Thanks to George Ogle who spent hours and hours coordinating, arranging and soliciting contributions and support of one sort or another. Thanks to the night crew, especially all-night guards like Leon Reginatto, Hap DeSimone and his sons Peter and Daniel, Dennis Hartman, and Reid Tompkins (up from Ventura). John Kerr stood several long nighttime shifts, and Fred Golin came in from the Valley too. Thanks to regular 4 AM arrivals Robin Anderson and Mario Pintor. Mario’s efforts were - as always - tireless, setting up, tearing down, delivering, and returning equipment, well above and beyond the call. Hurrrah!

Bill Frieburg put in long hours every day. Other daytime contributors included Tom Elliott and Peter Bie (who also was a major behind the scenes contributor, organizer and publicist). Thanks to Stefanie Salata for her editorial and organizational contributions. Thanks to Bob Blackstone (who also printed signs for us) and Hugh Thompson who both came down from Lompoc to serve. And thanks to Jim Britton who came up from Ventura and put in many hours on the computer. Thanks to Mike Mazor for his construction input and to Gerry Roberson who - among other things - kept us in power (and lights) day and night. Thanks to Homer Sheffield who put in a tour, Patricia Rumpza, Robert LaPrad, Don Matter (and his son Andrew), John Parsons, Ben Roberts, Chris Shemet, Jack and Cheryl Silveria, Woody Wilde, Charlie and Cathy Franco, Pat Murdy, Matt Thomas, Ed Foster, Henry Delgado, Dan Oriz.

In addition to physical support, many members also made generous financial contributions. And of course we had wonderful support from the community including Giffin Rental, Fess Parker’s Doubletree, Best Western Beachside Inn, Motel 6 Carpinteria North, Holiday Inn Express Carpinteria, Hotel Santa Barbara, Moby Dick’s, Fish House, X-TEC Systems, and many others who will receive our thanks. My apologies if I forgot you or if I didn’t adequately relate your contribution. This was truly a major effort on the Chapter’s behalf and we should all be very pleased with the results. We made a material contribution to the lives of many and I thank you.

At our last meeting we welcomed Chris Shemet and were glad to see Mario Pintor in attendance. We missed Elizabeth Truesdail, John Kerr, John Parsons, and Charlie and Kathy Franco (all of whom we were glad to see at the Wall at one point or another). We voted to approve the $1,900 payment for the painting of the helicopter. We as a Chapter will not be coordinating any Memorial Day activities this year. We have instead contributed to the luncheon that will be held at the Veterans Memorial Building on Cabrillo Boulevard. Last month’s Newsletter omitted some names from the Vance Committee and reversed the positions of 1st and 2nd Vice-President. Both oversights have been corrected herein. Treasurer duties were transferred to Don Matter with operating and Vance account balances of $7,889.10 and $67,618.47 respectively.

We will have a final debriefing meeting of the Wall Committee (and anyone else who wishes to attend) on Monday, May 9th at the Veterans Memorial Building in the Harbor Room.

Our intent will be mostly to pat ourselves on the back for a job well done, and to record positive input on ways we can improve upon our methodology should we decide to have the Wall back again. After that brief meeting we will go out to have a meal in recognition of a successful event.

The Vance Committee will meet at 5:45 PM on Tuesday, May 10th at the Veterans Memorial Building before the regular monthly meeting which will commence at 6:15 PM. The Vance Committee will be filling the office of Chairman and outlining Its course for the coming year.

 

Proudly representing and serving noble warriors with noble intentions,

Keith

Meet the members:

Charter Member Dennis Hartman (E-5 Staff Sergeant) is the owner of American Pie Records (614 N. Milpas - 965-2161) - “the last real record store in the tri-counties.” No CD’s, DVD’s or tapes. Past president Dennis served in the Air Force from July of 1968 to September of 1977, first as crew chief of fixed wing aircraft and then in the same role on helicopters. His in-country tour was from December of 1969 to February of 1971 at Ben Hoa and DaNang. He finished his Air Force tour as a highly honored fixed wing master instructor. Dennis credits his association with the Chapter as having saved his life.

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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May, 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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