Happy New Year!

 

Merry Christmas!

On behalf of the Military Veterans Chapter,  I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  Keep those that are deployed in your thoughts and prayers.  

Best regards,

Richard "Doc" Strait, USN Retired

FMCA-MVC Alternate National Director & Webmaster.

Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

 

 Happy Thanksgiving from your chapter officers!

 

Canada Remembrance Day and USA Veterans Day

I have been trying to write a Veterans Day message for several days. However like most of the world, all my attention has been consumed by our election process. An election process that we all defended and that, in my humble opinion, appears to be working. It is only because of OUR efforts that ALL American citizens can express their opinion through the ballot box. It is not a perfect system. It varies from state to state. It may need some updating in many states, but we and our fellow citizens still get our say. I find it encouraging that such a large percentage of the eligible voters turned out this year under many difficult circumstances to express their opinion.

After every election, some people feel that they lost and others that they won. Then after every election and it usually takes awhile, the country returns to normal. Let’s pray and work to bring our country together again to work for a better future, even if we don’t know what that looks like yet.

When we were in the military, we worried very little about the background and beliefs of the person that was next to us. We worried about his commitment to the mission. Our mission was then and should always be to serve our country and leave it better than we found it. Let’s continue to embody that mission and continue our work to accomplish it.

On this Remembrance Day, we also recognize our Canadian veterans and their commitment and service to country and acknowledge those times when we served together for the betterment of both our countries and the world.  Without the efforts of all of us, the world would be a different place. One that I am glad I don’t have to experience.

Thank you all for your service in the past and your continued commitment to our nations and its citizens.

Bob Weithofer
President
Military & Veterans Chapter (MVC), FMCA

Gold Star Families and Veterans granted Free Access to National Park System

In support of America’s military members and families, U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt announced at the Iowa Gold Star Museum on October 28, 2020 that Gold Star Families and U.S. military veterans will be granted free access to national parks, wildlife refuges and other Federal lands managed by the Department of the Interior starting on Veterans Day (Nov. 11) this year and every day onward.

2021 Events

 We have added a page here on the blog that list the MVC events for 2021.  It will be updated periodically.  There is a Tri-Chapter rally in the works that will be added once the details are finalized.

 Today is National Gold Star Mother's Day.  Please remember the mothers of our fallen sons and daughters.

POW/MIA Recognition Day

 Today is National POW/MIA Recognition Day. Please, do not forget those that were POWs and those that are still classified as MIA and/or a POW.

On this RED (Remembering Everyone Deployed) Friday, we also remember the events of 9/11.

"We will remember every rescuer who died in honor. We will remember every family that lives in grief. We will remember..."

--George W. Bush

Happy Independence Day/Fourth of July!

 

Happy Canada day!

July 1 commemorates the joining of Canada's original three provinces (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the Canada province, which is now Ontario and Quebec) as one nation in 1867.  While a day late, we do wish our Canadian members a Happy Canada Day!

Independence Day Reflections

^{Independence Day Reflections}

by Bob Weithofer, Military Veterans Chapter President

Independence Day (the Fourth of July) celebrates the founding of our country. It celebrates the Signing of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress which occurred on July 4, 1776. The Congress had actually voted for independence two days prior but it took those two days to draft the actual Declaration. Of course, the signing didn’t make us a separate nation. It took the drafting and signing of the Constitution and the eight-year War of Independence, which cost over 30,000 American lives, to accomplish that.

Various local celebrations occurred starting in 1777 but it took until 1870 for the U.S. Congress to approve Independence Day as a Federal Holiday. So this year we are celebrating the 150^th anniversary of the official recognition of the importance of this day.

This is a day to celebrate everyone who has contributed to the founding and the on-going growth of our country. Of course, we first think of ALL VETERANS and our current service men and women; they fought to establish this country and continue to fight to defend it.  But, that is only the beginning of those to be celebrated. We are celebrating everyone who has contributed and continues to contribute to making and sustaining the country we all enjoy. We, Chapter members, have all made a contribution by serving in the armed forces, but EVERY citizen has contributed in large or small ways. We should be celebrating all of them.

Once again, we are faced with a different celebration for this day than in the past. Most traditional celebrations of parades and firework displays have been canceled, but we still can and MUST celebrate the founding of this great country. Our celebrations may be smaller and involve only immediate friends and family, but the reason for the celebration is just as appropriate!

We are living through a challenging time, but our country is responding to the challenges and WILL come out the other side better. These times of change are some of the most important periods in our lives and will become history.  And if we read our history story, we will see the end results have always been that the citizens of this great country, and that WILL include us, have grown better.

Celebrate, Be Safe and Safe Travels wherever you are!

Resources for our US military, veterans, and their families.

Here are some resources for our US military, veterans, and their families.

Resources	Phone Number
National Call Center for Homeless Veterans Promotes recovery-oriented care for Veterans who are homeless or at risk for homelessness	1-877-424-3838 (Mon - Fri, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. ET)
Quit Vet Offers tobacco cessation counseling in English and Spanish	1-855-784-8838 (Mon - Fri, 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. ET)
Veterans Crisis Line Provides a free, confidential way for anyone in crisis to connect with caring, qualified responder	1-800-273-8255 and press 1 or Text 38255 or Chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat. (24/7)
War Vet Call Center Provides a place for combat Veterans and their families can call to talk about their military experience or any other issue they are facing in their readjustment to civilian life	1-877-927-8387 (24/7)
Women Veterans Call Center Provides women Veterans, their families, and caregivers information about VA services and resources	1-855-829-6636 (Mon - Fri, 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. ET) (Sat, 8 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. ET)
Real Warriors Promotes a culture of support for psychological health by encouraging the military community to reach out for help whether coping with the daily stresses of military life, or concerns like depression, anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder.	1-866-966-1020 (24/7)
Caregiver Support Offers training, educational resources, and multiple tools to help caregivers in their role of promoting the health of Veterans.	1-855-260-3274 (Mon - Fri, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. ET)
Coaching Into Care Provides education, support, and empowerment to family members and friends who are seeking care or services for a Veteran.	1-888-823-7458 (Mon - Fri, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. ET)

Happy Father's Day!

The MVC would like to wish all the dads a Happy Father's Day!

Women Veterans Appreciation Day and National Flag Day.

June 12th was Women Veterans Appreciation Day.  Thank you to all the ladies that served their country in uniform.

Today, June 14th, is National Flag Day here in the United States!

D-Day

June 6, 1944 was D-Day.  The Military Veterans Chapter of the FMCA extends our heartfelt Thank You to those veterans and their families.

We Remember

A HUGE thank you to all our military spouses.  Your support and sacrifices are appreciated and truly needed.

102nd International Convention and RV Expo in Lincoln Nebraska cancelled.

I am sorry to announce that on Friday, March 20, 2020, FMCA's Board of Directors voted to cancel the association's 102nd International Convention & RV Expo, scheduled for August 26-29, 2020, at the Lancaster Event Center in Lincoln, Nebraska With so much uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic in North America - in particular, how long it might last - FMCA's leadership made the complex and agonizing decision to cancel this event. For the health of our members and the financial health of the association, it was the most sensible and appropriate thing to do. You will receive a full refund of your registration fees, returned to your credit card or by check, depending on how you paid. There is no need to call or contact the national office. We will begin processing these refunds immediately. We hope this pandemic will be under control by next spring and we can gather for our next convention scheduled for March 10-13, 2021, at the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry. Until then, please follow the recommendations issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help stop the spread of COVID-19. And travel safely. Jon Walker FMCA National President.

Tucson Convention Cancelled

With escalating concern regarding the COVID-19 virus, and the Tucson mayor’s recommendation on March 12, 2020, that large gatherings be postponed, on Friday, March 13, 2020, at 4:30 p.m. Eastern, FMCA’s Board of Directors voted to cancel FMCA’s 101st International Convention and RV Expo set to take place March 26 through 29 in Tucson, Arizona.  We understand that you will have questions, but ask that you please remain patient as we make arrangements for this unprecedented situation.  Additional communications will follow next week.

Members of the chapter performing Color Guard duties at the 

2020 Western Area Rally in Indio California.