Perimeter Report Vietnam and All Veterans of Brevard, Inc. www.vietnamandallveteransofbrevard.com Then – Together Again

Presidents Message Together

Volume 2013 Issue 1 SPRING 2013

PRESIDENTIAL VIEWPOINT I want to start by thanking the membership for having faith in me to lead the Vietnam and All Veterans of Brevard by electing me President for 2013. Also, welcome to the new board members and thank you to last years board members for all the work that was done during the year. It has been a busy three months, the Wall was in refurb every Sunday in the months of February and March. The awards ceremony was held at the Veterans Center in February, The mobile museum was taken to Rockledge High where four history classes spent the whole day asking questions and looking

at memorabilia at the beginning of March. Later in the month several members helped with Stand Down, at the Cocoa Armory while others went to the Tico Air Show and helped Flea with his Huey.

The 26th Annual Reunion begins April 25th thru 28th of April, with the escort of the Wall on Sunday, April 21st.

this is your organization and we need you. Meetings are the second Thursday of the month at the Veterans Center in Merritt Island. Greg Welsh President Vietnam and All Veterans of Brevard

The websites are currently being updated for content and layout. If you have any suggestions or comments, email Mrs. Doc from the website!

As you can see the Vietnam and All Veterans of Brevard has been busy. I would like to see our membership grow with new members and the current members getting involved, remember 1

Volume 2013 Issue 1 SPRING 2013

PO Box 237225 Cocoa, FL 32922-7225 Phone: 321-690-0805 Fax: 321-690-0106 Email: [email protected] Veterans Helping Veterans

Vietnam and All Veterans of Brevard Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall 2012 was a long year for the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall with 18 events spread out in Wisconsin, Texas, Mississippi, Ohio, Illinois, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina and Florida. We had a number of “firsts” starting with setting up the Wall inside the convention center at the Marine Corp Annual Convention in Mobile, Al, then setting it up on the Cherokee reservation in Cherokee, NC. Then, looking for a little cooler weather as we entered North Central Wisconsin, just south of Lake Superior, we were greeted with 100 degree temperatures, the highest in 100 years. This year we have 13 events, and taking the Wall to Missouri and South Carolina for the first time. Everywhere we go, people thank the Vietnam and All Veterans of Brevard for bringing the Wall to their community. See you on the road! Greg

TUITION ASSISTANCE COMBACK Ryan Weemer, IAVA.org The Pentagon recently announced the reinstatement of Tuition Assistance across the services. If you have been keeping up, the Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Marines suspended TA as part of cuts in accordance with sequestration. Tuition Assistance is a vital resource for service members, however. It enhances the education and readiness of the force and helps thousands get the education that they need to progress and advance in their military careers. The uproar began within the ranks and landed on the Senate floor when Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Sen. Kay Hagen (D-NC.), sponsored an amendment blocking the attack on TA and forcing the Pentagon to find funds elsewhere in the budget to support the education

VETS NEWS

assistance. President Barack Obama signed the bill into law, but the language only applies to the Pentagon, meaning the Coast Guard doesn’t have to comply as part of the Department of Homeland Security. TA cuts were going to be passed along to the VA with the suggestion that service members use the Post-9/11 GI Bill to advance their skills and gain promotion. However, this benefit is designed as a reintegration tool to assist in a veteran’s transition after service. Cutting into this benefit while in service only makes for a more difficult

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transition home when times are already tough. Military officials are unsure at this time when enrollments in the TA program will resume, as decisions on where additional cuts will come from and what the budget bill requires are in the works. Representatives form the various branches insist however, that final decisions on the benefit will be made within the next few days and enrollments can continue. So if you thought about scrapping that education until transition, or considered using your GI Bill benefits instead, hold tight and keep checking in—Tuition Assistance is back thanks to some necessary push back. Stay linked in for more updates at NewGIBill.org or visit our calculator to learn more about how the various benefits work. Ryan Weemer is a USMC veteran and is an Education Case Manager at IAVA 2

USA RIVER RAT OFFICERS 2013 President Al “Big Al” Diaz st 1 . Vice Rose “Rosebud” Fantaccione 2nd. Vice Ken “Radioman” Wakefield Treasurer Norm “Hound Dog” Pamplin Secretary Michelle “Screamer” Wakefield Chaplain Francesca “Lilo” Aberns SrSgt@Arms Skip “Grease Monkey” Aberns AsstSgt@Arms Bobbie Jo “BAD” Dino Advisor Robert “Dustoff” Neitzel Advisor Wayne “Wayneo” Smith Quarter Master Janis “Bubbette” Worrell Service Officer Ron “Ronbo” Saxby

321-863-0575 321-403-5875 321-693-4762 321-228-6576 321-323-4382 321-501-2847 321-431-3352 321-302-4781 386-424-1989 321-698-6989 321-698-0659 321-914-9046

Al’s Corner First I want to say Thank You for attending the E-Board and Regular Meetings. Greg has a good agenda set up. We are getting to the point and enjoying ourselves. Keep up the good work. Life is a great gift to you! Live it well and enjoy it today! Do something fun and be happy! Remember every day is your day! For God and Country Big Al

VVB Transitional Facility

“A Helping Hand” Peter Leary In the tradition of providing residents a helping hand, the Veterans Transitional Facility has renewed its partnership with Brevard Workforce. Audra Leary the facility director said “All residents who are not employed fulltime and capable of working are required to register for employment assistance with Brevard Workforce.” She feels that Brevard Workforce is an immense asset to assist residents in achieving selfsufficiency. Additionally Brevard Workforce’s mobile unit has made two visits to the facility in the past thirty days. The Mobile unit it is an R.V. equipped with state of the art satellite internet access and thirteen computers. It is staffed by a professional team of veterans, led by Gibson Boyer the Express Manager. The team is familiar with the unique challenges and opportunities unemployed veterans face. They offer a number of services to include; intake assessment, case management, employment counseling, resume assistance, job referral, educational assistance opportunities and veteran support services. This partnership has already resulted in three success stories, one resident was gainfully employed through assistance with Brevard Workforce and two residents have returned to college. The Mobile unit will be returning to the facility in April, anyone wishing to check it out feel free to contact Audra at 321 4098167 for details.

VVB Color Guard and Rifle Team There have been many requests for our Color Guard and Rifle Team to participate in events. If you wish to be a part of the Color Guard and/or Rifle team, please contact Bob Bodine at 321.242.1904, or Jack Jackson at 321.610.4981.

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Florida’s 26th Annual Veterans Reunion Sunday, April 21st The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall, The Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom Tribute Panels Walls will be escorted from Brevard Community College Cocoa Campus, Clearlake Road at 10 am. Be there an hour earlier for line up. We are going to need help at the Wall Escort selling T -Shirts, flags, and help with the parking lot control. If you would like to help, please contact Greg at 321-501-6896 or e-mail at [email protected]. BCC has always been a big supporter of the Reunion and they said we could use their parking lot forever if we clean it up when we are done, so please help police it up before you pull out. There will be coffee & donuts available that morning for a donation courtesy of the USA River Rats. More than 1500 motorcycles and vehicles took part in the escort last year and several joined in along the way. The escort route will be the same as it was last year: from the BCC parking lot, we will head North on Clearlake (left), East on Michgian to US 1 and South to Parkway Drive in Melbourne. We should arrive about 11am at Wickham Park. At the back pavilions the VVB will host a covered dish picnic, grilling hamburgers & hot dogs to feed the many volunteers there to help set up the memorial displays. Please bring a covered dish or snack foods to share. Anyone with large drink containers are asked to please bring them filled with iced tea, lemonade, Kool-Aid or even water to share with the many hot & thirsty workers. We will have plenty of cups, plates and napkins. There is so much to do, but with everyone pitching in it is easily accomplished. The sign-up book will be at the Wall Set-up, please remember to volunteer some of your time throughout the week. Opening Ceremony is Monday evening April 22nd starting with the Wreath presentations at 6 PM with the guest speakers starting at 7:00pm and will feature the presentation of colors, several speakers who support the Vietnam and All Veterans Reunion, a rifle salute and taps. The memorials will be open to the public 24 hours a day through April 28th. It will be a busy week and we will need lots of help this year to set up the tents, generators and light trees. “VETERANS: HOMETOWN HEROS”

USA RIVER RATS Michelle “Screamer” Wakefield, Secretary WOW I can’t believe it is 2013 already. Where has the time gone? We have our usual events that include Easter Dinner at Vista Manor Nursing Home, an Easter Egg Hunt for the children in the community, March Standdown at the Cocoa Armory and lots more. Please check out our website for any and all updates at “usariverrats.com”. More will be added as the year progresses. We will be hosting the VVOF meeting on April 6th at the VFW Post 4228 in Titusville. This past year we had our 2nd Annual “Ken Baker Wall Run” and are already looking forward to our 3rd Annual on November 2nd. All proceeds were donated to the VVB for the Traveling Wall. We are looking forward to the reunion. We will be having our usual Rib Dinner at our campsite on Wednesday April 24th. Tickets are available for $10.00 if you are interested please contact one of our officers listed below to reserve your dinner. We will be having entertainment by Bones. We will be planning some events to raise funds for The Medal of Honor Park. Check our website for updates. If you have questions or comments you can contact any of our officers. Their contact information can be found on the previous page of this newsletter. Getting ready for Escort and Reunion looking forward to seeing lots of you there for your usual good time and camaraderie. We are looking forward to another great year helping our veterans.

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2013 Tentative Reunion Agenda Sunday- Apr 21 1:00pm Two of Diamonds 10:00am Wall Escort from Brevard Community College 2:30pm Doc Holiday—stage/ Suncoast Vietnam Vets “The Last Patrol” - wall Cocoa To Wickham Park 12:00pm Doc Holiday, Covered Dish Picnic and Wall Set-Up 3:00pm John Steer 3:30pm Patience Mason at the Wall PavilionMonday- Apr 22 Recovering From The War-PTSD 6:00pm Presentation of Wreaths 4:00pm Doc Holiday 7:00pm Opening Ceremonies at The Wall 4:30pm Different Worlds Band Thursday- Apr 25 6:00pm Suncoast Vietnam Vets “The Last Patrol” - stage 6:00pm Doc Holiday 6:30pm Doc Holiday 7:00pm The Big Daddy Band 7:00pm Viva Rock Band 8:30pm Doc Holiday 8:30pm Doc Holiday 9:00pm Absolute Blue 9:00pm Pocketchange Friday- Apr 26 Sunday- Apr 28 1:00pm Doc Holiday 10:00am Church Services By Rev. John Steer 2:00pm Two of Diamonds 11:00am Patience Mason at the Wall Pavilion3:30pm Doc Holiday Recovering From The War-PTSD 4:00pm Elgin Hooper 11:00am Doc Holiday 5:30pm Doc Holiday 1:00pm The Country Legends Band 6:00pm Greg and Brian 3:00pm Doc Holiday 7:00pm Doc Holiday 4:00pm GatorBlues 7:30pm Pocketchange 6:00pm Melbourne Municipal Band at The Wall 9:00pm Doc Holiday 7:00pm Closing Ceremony at The Wall 9:30pm Viva Rock Band Monday- Apr 29 Saturday- Apr 27 9:00am Cleanup Wickham Park and Wall Take Down 11:00am Opening Ceremonies/Massing of the Colors/ Brought to you by the LZ Helicopter Landing Vietnam and All Veterans of Brevard, Inc. PLEASE - NO COOLERS, GLASS OR PETS IN REUNION OR MEMORIAL AREA Schedule is tentative and subject to change

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HELP A SOLDIER! Guardian Angels for Pets— If you’re a pet owner, you know how hard it can be to find a dog or cat sitter when you go on vacation. Imagine being in the military and having to go overseas and leave your pet behind? Foster a soldier’s pet! Go to guardianangelsforsoldierspet.org. Treatsfortroops.com—offers a great program called "Foster a Soldier”. Through their website, you can get the name of a soldier and their interests and you can shop for a care package to send them. Pre-designed packages start at $10, or you can fill your own. Once bought, the site will take care of shipping the package to your foster soldier. The site also includes a thank you card which the soldiers - if it's possible for them to - write out and send back to Treats for Troops, who will then forward it to the care package purchaser. AdoptAUSSoldier.org— a non-profit organization that connects supportive civilians with deployed troops and offers a channel by which to communicate encouragement and express gratitude to those brave men and women serving in the United States Armed Forces. Adopt A US Soldier is active in over 100 Countries with thousands of active volunteers supporting our troops by adopting a soldier. It is very easy to do and more rewarding than you imagine, and you will show a soldier that you support them and cherish your freedom. Your support makes a difference.

2013 MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION/RENEWAL/CHANGE OF ADDRESS FORM Vietnam and All Veterans of Brevard, Inc. P. O. Box 237225 Cocoa, FL 32923-7225 Membership in the VVB is open to veterans, family and supporters at annual dues of $15.00 on the calendar year. New member dues after July is $10.00. Veterans should include a copy of your DD-214. Non-refundable Life Memberships are: Age 54 and under, $175.00; 55-64, $125.00; 65 and up, $75.00. --------------------------------------------------------------New Member:___ Renewal:___ Change Address:___ Enclosed: Life:___ $______ Annual:___ $15.00/$10.00 Name:_________________________________________________________ Spouse:____________________ Address:____________________________________________________St.:____________ Zip:____________ Primary Phone # (H, W, C):_________________________e-mail:____________________________________ Service Branch:___________________ Rank:______________ Dates:________________________________ Units/Duty stations:_________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ Birthdate:_____________ Spouse:______________ Kids:_________/_________/_________/_________/ _________ Anniversary:________________ Sponsoredby:_____________________________ (ID#):__________________ ___ I’d like some literature on the VVB sent to the above address before I make a decision to join___________ 7

2013 VVB Officers

President: Greg Welsh 321-501-6896 Vice Pres.: Al Diaz 321-863-0575 Treasurer: Karen Templeton 321-501-0412 Secretary: Donna Rogers 321-305-4612 Sgt.@ Arms: Ken Wakefield 321 -693-4762 Quartermaster: Linda Marhon 321-453-9824 Membership Chair: Billy Valashinas 321 -323-6475 Membership Reps.: Rod Smith 321 -632-6702 and Jim Tuck 321-458-4479 Perimeter Report Editor and WebMistress: Suzanne Russo mommadukesny@icloud. com

Contacts and Locations VVB Bunker: (Veterans Assistance Program)- Ph. 321 690 0805 - Fax 321 690 0106 VVB Transitional Housing Facility: 700 Fee Ave. , Melbourne 32901 321 409 81 67 Veterans Memorial Center : 400 S. Sykes Creek Pkwy. , Merritt Island 32953; 321 453 1 776 Legal Services: Shelly Campbell: 386 255 6573 X 2441 ; shellyc@clsmf. org Melbourne Vet Center: 2098 Sarno Rd. , Melbourne 32935; 321 254 341 0 VVB Annual Reunion: Wickham Park, Melbourne; Ralph Earrusso 321 453 7498; Daydrmr333@aol. com Brevard County Veteran Services Team: 321 633 2012 Veterans Administration, Viera: Benefits Info: 321 637 3693; Patient Advocate: 321 637 3788 X 3534 Rifle Team/Color guard : Bob Bodine; 321 242 1 904 kbob4wic@juno. com School Speaker Program: Rod Smith 321 632 6702 rsmith2580@bellsouth. net;

Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall - Web Page: www.travelingwall.us Web Page: www.floridaveteransreunion.com Wall Escort 10 AM Apr 21, 2013 - beginning at BCC Cocoa, FL Campus Memorial Walls April 21—28, 2013 at Beautiful Wickham Park, Melbourne, FL

Florida’s 26th Annual Vietnam & All Veterans Reunion April 25-26-27-28, 2013 Vietnam and All Veterans of Brevard, Inc. P. O. Box 237225 Cocoa, FL 32923-7225 8

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Cocoa, FL 32922 Permit # 170