Post on 01-Jun-2018
Next Meeting January 28, 2015 at theBettendorf 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 1
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
VeteranService Officers
&Service
Coordinators
Clarke Barnes309 944-3674
Ed Gaudet563 343-9456David Woods563 326-8723Ernest Ledjte563 785-6182Tom Lemon
563 359-3201
Honor GuardJett Bork
563 528-0636John Lavelle563 355-4213
AGENT ORANGE TOWN HALL MEETING
March 7, 2015
St. Ambrose University
Rogalski Center9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Invite all of your Vietnam Veteran
Brothers and Sisters and their
families to this FREE event.
THE SPIRIT OF ‘776 J A N 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
CHAPTER SCHOLARSHIPS
We will soon be getting the ScholarshipCommittee organized to begin thereview process for this year’s awards.
Please talk to your grandchildren orchildren and get them to go the
chapter web site and start to completethe application for one of our $500
scholarships. All of the guidlines arethere and it is not a difficult task to
complete the forms and mail them into the committee. Contact: Larry Wittif you require any help with this.
Vietnam War 50th AnniversaryApril 18th 2015
American Legion Post 26
Luncheon with local ARVN troops
from the Quad Cities
Contact Lyle Peterson to learn more.
Minutes of November 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. A correction from the November
minutes indicationg that the donation for St. Ambrose was $2,000 and it was approved by the BOD and
Membership. The Christmas baskets were distributed by Lyle Wiggens and Lynn Kindred. The Region 6
meeting in Clinton, Iowa was very successful and took lots of cooperation from many members. The dance was
very entertaining and “Elvis” was a real hit with the group. VVA President John Rowan was an attendee and
made himself available to the group. We received $73 from Legends in Clinton and another $52 is one the way.
Leisure Time Bowling will also be sending us a check soon. James Stout has requested assistance with holiday
party for the IANG and the membership voted to donate $250 for this purpose. Lyle Peterson volunteers at the
USO on the Rock Island Arsenal and requested a donation of $100 for that group, the chapter voted for that
donation. The chapter voted to purchase wreaths for the Wreaths Across America project at the Rock Island
Arsenal National Cemetery to be placed at the grave sites of some of our past members and family members,
the chapter purchased 10 wreaths at $15 a piece. Lyle informed the members of plans for the events that will
take place for the 50th Anniversary. The Moving Wall will be at the Arsenal on July 29th until August 2nd.
Our chapter will host a luncheon at American Legion Post 26 in Davenport on April 18th and we will invite
local ARVN veterans to attend, apporximately 40 to 50 Vietnamese service veterans live in the Quad City Area.
The motion to proceed with this event passed. Edwin Hildebrand is researching the possibility of a 50th
Anniversary Military Parade in 2016, which will include elements of the First Army Unit at the Arsenal, the
date could be on Military Appreciation Day. Edwin is meeting with both Davenport and Rock Island to
determine the feasability of a bi-state parade. The members voted to continue this research procedure. The
chapter will host an Agent Orange Town Hall Meeting on March 7th on the campus of St. Ambrose University.
The committee is making plans for speakers and other logistic concerns for this event. The town hall meeting
will begin at 9:00 a.m. and run until 3:00 p.m. to optimize opportunities for veterans and their families to
attend and learn more about the effects of Agent Orange. The chapter voted to continue efforts towards the
fulffillment of this initiative. Clinton clover sales netted $644 and Muscatine clover sales netted $1100. Thank
you to all who took part in this fund raiser. Trivia Night netted the chapter $1962, Larry Witt did an
outstanding job as the leader and the master of ceremonies. The Davenport Veteran’s Park committee is now
in Phase II and has learned that there is no money in the city budget and they will need to raise approximately
$2 million to complete the project. The veteran’s containers committee placed nine cans in the area and as yet
have not had any returns on that project. The dates for members to assist with Toys For Tots was set for the
chapter members and plans to eat together at Wise Guys Pizza afterward were organized.
Minutes submitted by John P. Lavelle, chapter secretary
2667 5th St.
Leisure Time Billiards
& Sportsbar845 Avenue of the Cities
East Moline , IL
Full Kitchen
2 Sportsbars_
8 Dart Boards & 13 pool Tables
Terry L. Berg
1946 ~ 2015
We have lost a good
friend. Terry was an
active member of
Chapter 776 and a
member of the Honor
Guard. Rest in Peace
dear brother.
Eastern Iowa / Western Illinois
VETERANS CONFERENCEWEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY 25, 2015
1100 - 1730 ROGALSKI CENTER
ST. AMBROSE UNIVERSITY
www.sau.edu/veteranservices
Lunch 1100 Contact:Speaker 1200 Andrew GatesFilm 1400 SAU Veterans ServicesPanel 1530 563 333-5721Social 1630 GatesAndrewA@sau.edu
Keynote speaker: Bryan Anderson Registration is FREE
http://www.andersonactive.com