Updated July 3, 2009
Welcome to the Plymouth-Canton Chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America. The Vietnam Veterans of America was founded in 1978 and is the only National Vietnam Veterans Organization congressionally chartered and exclusively dedicated to Vietnam-Era Veterans and their families. Our founding principle is "Never Again Will One Generation Of Veterans Abandon Another." VVA's goals are "To promote and support the full range of issues important to Vietnam Veterans, to create a new identity for this generation of veterans, and to change public perception of Vietnam Veterans." Unfortunately, there are still 1,761 MIA's for The Vietnam War. Visit the National VVA Website or Michigan's VVA State Council Website, when you have a chance. As of May of 2009, there are 47 VVA State Councils in the United States. Nationally, as of January 2009, there are 58,551 VVA members. The VVA membership should reach 60,000 members by the time of our National Convention in Louisville, Kentucky in late July. Michigan currently has the second largest VVA membership at 3,701 members.
Updated June 28, 2009
We meet on the second Monday of every month at 7:00 PM at the Plymouth VFW Hall on 1426 Mill St. in Plymouth, Michigan (five hundred feet North of Ann Arbor Road). Our next VVA General Membership meeting is Monday, July 13, 2009. Our VVA Board meets on the fourth Tuesday of every month at 7:00 PM. Tuesday, July 28, 2009 is our next scheduled VVA Board Meeting. The VVA phone number is 734-459-6700 (Press Number 4).
Many of our Members from VVA Chapter 528 are also Members of the Mayflower Lt. Gamble VFW Post 6695. The VFW General Membership meetings take place on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM. The next VFW General Membership Meeting is Tuesday, July 14, 2009. On the third Tuesday of each month the VFW Board meets at 7:00 PM. The next VFW Board Meeting is scheduled for July 21, 2009. The Men's Auxiliary meeting takes place at 6:30 PM on the 3rd Thursday of each month. Thursday, July 16, 2009 is the next scheduled Auxiliary Meeting. The VFW phone number is: 734-459-6700.
To help you find our V.F.W. Hall check out Yahoo's Online Map of our location.
Updated June 26, 2009
VVA Chapter 528's current membership, as of June 26, 2009 stands at 191 Individual Members and we have an additional 44 Associate Members. Membership is open to U.S. armed forces veterans who served on active duty (for other than training purposes) in the Republic of Vietnam between February 28, 1961 and May 7, 1975, or in any duty location between August 5, 1964 and May 7, 1975. Membership Application Form - VVA Plymouth/Canton. Include your DD-214 Form with your Application. Associate Membership is open to anybody who wants to participate. Enrollment Form for AVVA.
New June 22, 2009The Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America (AVVA) National Web Site. The AVVA (Associate Members) have 7,321 (2,177 lifers) members nationally.
There wasn't a Michigan State Council Meeting in May due to a Regional conference In Illinois. Our June State Council Meeting will be in Lansing on June 28th. I now have 10th anniversary patches and pins along with life member patches, regular associate patches, life member pins, and 5 year anniversary pins for Associates. We will be selling tickets at the National Convention and I have a few tickets left. First prize is a set of Bridgestone tires, 2nd place is a home-made afghan, and 3rd place is an AVVA jacket your choice of color and size. Tickets are 6 for $5.00 or $1.00 a piece. For more info please contact Norma Demerly AVVA Rep. Norma Demerly has Associate Member patches and Associate Life Member patches for $5.00 a piece. She also has life Member Associate pins and AVVA Five Year Anniversary pins for $4.00 each.
New July 1, 2009
All of our By-Laws, Documents, Forms, Department of Veteran Affairs Forms, and VVA Constitution (all) can be found here.
New July 2009 Homefront Online Newsletter.
Click HERE to download our July 2009 "Homefront" Newsletter. Our postal mailing of our July Homefront is already in the mail. If you want to see our last 12 Homefront Newsletters choose THIS PAGE.
Updated July 3, 2009
Chapter 528 is very proud to have the largest, up-to-date Collection, of VVA State Council Websites (28 States), VVA Chapter Websites (281), International VVA sites (22), Other Vietnam Groups (12), and Vietnam Veterans Motor Cycle Groups (63). We also have a large collection of Websites for Vietnam Veterans (134), U.S. Military Websites (96), U.S. Veteran Websites (216), U.S. Government Websites (104), Michigan Monuments and Memorials (10), and Personal Websites of Chapter Members (11). We have a grand total of 977 websites as of July 3, 2009.
Charity Motors Please, donate your vehicle to Charity Motors and mention VVA Chapter 528.
New July 2, 2009
Dale Luebke's Mother, Genevieve Luebke age 88, passed away on Monday June 28th at 7:45 a.m. Funeral arrangements will be through Glende-Nilson Funeral Home 301 E . Washington Ave. Fergus Falls, Minnesota. Tentative arrangements: Viewing 7/1 from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. Services - 7/2 at 2 p.m. with viewing one hour prior. In Lieu of Flowers please consider donation to American Cancer Society or the Alzheimers Foundation.
Sandy Troell, the late George Troll's widow passed yesterday at 12:00 P.M. following a lengthy battle with cancer. The following are the arrangements that have been made: Visitation - Tuesday, June 30th 1:00 to 9:00 P.M. Wednesday, July 1st 10:30 to 11:30 A.M. Santeiu & Son Funeral Home 1139 N. Inkster Rd. Garden City, 48135 (734) 427-3800. Memorial Service - 11:30 at Santeiu & Son Funeral Home. Luncheon - Amantea Restaurant 32777 West Warren Rd. Garden City, 48135 Approx. 1:00 P.M. Donations may be made in lieu of flowers to: Angela Hospice 14100 Newburg Rd. Livonia, MI 48154 Sympathy cards may be sent to - Troell family 29581 Maplewood St Garden City, MI 48135. Thanks, Joe Agius
Gary "Ouch" Boucher is going to have his new hip replaced with a temporary hip for about six weeks. Hopefully, he can get rid of the infection. When the infection clears he will then have his temporary hip replaced with a permanent hip. "Ouch" has been in terrible pain for a very long time. Hopefully, both surgeries go well and "Ouch" can finally get back on his feet and most importantly get rid of the pain.
Carl Pursell, Phil's father passed on Thursday, June 11th. Visitation will be Sunday from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Schraders on Main St. in Plymouth. Services will be on Monday at 1:00 PM at the Funeral home. Cremation took place today (Friday). Carl's wife of 58 years (Peggy) told me that instead of flowers, a donation to the veterans organizations or the Salvation Army. You may express condolences to Phil and Paula Pursell at 1191 S. Main St. Plymouth, MI 48170-2213ÊGary Kubick
Please pray for the health and well being of our members and their families!
Help our Soldiers stay connected. Check out the Flyer and the Fact Sheet
New June 26, 2009
Our 2009 Annual Essay Scholarship Contest information is now posted. Take a look at our Essay Scholarship Contest Web Page for contest rules, expectations, and the 2009 Essay Question.
The Dog Tags sell for $5.00 for a single and $9.00 for a set of two. Add $2.00 for postage on all mail orders. The set must contain the same information. These tags can be used for identification of your child's school bag, or you can replace your lost set of dog tags from your military service. The tags can also be used for I.D. tags for your pets. The Tag may have up to 5 lines of printing and 16 spaces per line. Each box counts as a character (i.e. space, comma, period, etc). Use your imagination and be creative. The Dog Tags are available in stainless steel (dull and bright) or brass. This fundraiser will be an ongoing effort to continue to raise funds for our Chapter. Contact Dale Luebke at 734-395-5144 or 734-397-3909. You can also email Dale at dale68us@yahoo.com. Dog Tag Form.
Point Man Ministries are headed up by Rich Whipple, Rick Rick Ciaramitaro, and Ron Wroblewski. Meetings take place at Denny's restaurant on Ann Arbor Road (East of I-275). Point Man meets on the 1st Monday and 3rd Mondays of every month. Meetings start at 7:00 P.M. to 8:30 P.M. and take place in the back room, where privacy is assured. Point Man gives us all a chance to sit down and get things off our chest that we can't do with our family or neighbors. Like Las Vegas, what happens here, stays here!
New 6/9/09
AMERICANS ACCOUNTED FOR: There are now 1,740 US personnel listed by the Defense POW/MIA Office (DPMO) as missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War. The remains of Major Harmon Polster, USAF, listed as MIA in Laos on July 15, 1969, were jointly recovered April 21, 2007 and identified March 30, 2009. The remains of Major Wilbur R. Brown, USAF, previously missing in South Vietnam, were recovered May 19, 2003 and part of a recent group identification. The number of US personnel accounted for since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975 is now 842. 90% of the 1,740 still missing were lost in Vietnam or areas of Laos and Cambodia under Vietnam's wartime control. No change with the Michigan MIAs which still stands at 53.
Al Kyberson, Chair
New June 12, 2009
Greetings: Summer is finally here. Warm weather and all. That means all the great things we like to do outside: Golfing, fishing, boating & BBQ's. You can't beat cooking on the grill. We had a great turnout at our last membership meeting. All seems to be going well with all our activities we are involved. The Color Guard has been very busy. The Car Shows are doing well. It takes a lot of people to make it a success. Many thanks to those who work so hard to do so. Bob Paul, Darell Bazman, and all rest of the crew do a great job. Before we know it,the Fourth of July will be here. The Color Guard again will be in the parade. Our great country will be 233 years old. May God continue to bless our great country. Give thanks for our freedom. The VVA National Convention will be here soon. We are hoping as a chapter we will win at least one of four awards we submitted. Those are Newsletter, E-newsletter, Website, and Chapter of the Year. Again, I wish to thank all who make this chapter what it is. Let us also look forward to the fall programs. The Fall Festival, Kokomo etc. Be proud that you are a Veteran and an American. God bless you all. See you at the next regular meeting on July 13th. Thanks again! Your Prez.
Mike Steffes
C Btry 2nd Bn. 182 FA.
New July 2, 2009
Bill Boudreau and Tom Brown are trying to get service photos of all of our members, including AVVA. Please email your photos to either Bill Boudreau Bill Boudreau or
Tom Brown. Include with your photo the following information: name, branch of service, and the year the photo was taken. If you are not able to email your photos then please send them to Tom Brown 17730 Snow Ave. Dearborn, MI 48124 or bring them to our General Membership Meetings. We currently have 61 members who have their photos in our "Display Cases" and our online Members' Service Photos web page.
New July 2, 2009
From The Bear's Den: We have VFW Post 6695 T- Shirts that are blue with "PROUD TO BE A VETERAN" on the front and VFW Post 6695 Plymouth MI on the left sleeve. We have sizes large, extra large, 2 extra large. Your choice for only $10.00. To raise money, there is a sign-in book at the bar, it costs 50 cents a day. A members name will be drawn each day everyone knows the rest. Lounge hours are now posted and are from 2:00 PM until at least 9:00 PM on Monday through Thursday. Friday we will be open until at least 10:00 PM. Saturday we open at Noon and we will be open at least until 10:00 PM. Sunday from Noon until at least 9:00 PM. We will have a Chicken BBQ on July 4th, starting at noon going until 150 dinners are sold at $7.50. Fridays are for coney dogs. You have not had a great pickled egg until you get one at the bar for a quarter. Stop by our lounge! Watch the notices that will be posted behind the bar for such delights as coney dogs, soups, and other specials. Anyone who has had a burger here says they are the best bar burgers in town. The beer and the wine are always cold, so come to your lounge. We have birthday parties for small groups. The best "Octoberfest" will be the middle of October. How about a STEAK FRY? I am willing to try new ideas. If you have an idea, we can discuss it and try it out if possible. Joint ventures work. I don't sing but we can have a night with entertainment. Got your fifty/fifty five dollar tickets yet? Give me a call at 734-459-7600 or email me at bear@vfw6695.org.
Gary "The Bear" Kubik, Lounge Manager.
Saturday mornings on WDEO (990-AM Ann Arbor/Detroit Michigan), WMAX (1440-AM, Saginaw Michigan), WDEO-FM (99.5 FM, Naples, FL), KAGY (1510-AM Port Sulphur/New Orleans, LA),
KIXW (980-AM, Apple Valley CA) and KMRC (1430-AM Morgan City, LA) . . . or listen live on the Internet at: Veterans Radio.
Updated July 2, 2009
Yearly VVA Chapter 528 Events and Activities Web Page This Web Page lists all of Chapter 528 Events for the year: American Flag Exchange, Battle Ship New Jersey, Blum's Landing, Brick Pavers for Canton Memorial, Burger School for Students with Autism, By-Laws Committee, Canton Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Cell Phones for Soldiers, Christmas Party, Chapter Picnic, Chapter 528 Product Sales, Chapter Travel Site, Children of Vietnam Veterans Blog, Color Guard, Cruz'n 528 Car Show, Chapter 528 Essay Scholarship Contest, Detroit Veteran's Center Winter Clothing Drive, Fishing Derby - Hines Park, Flag Retirement Ceremony, Golden Corral Restaurants free Buffet, Goody Boxes, Highland Games, History of Chapter 528, Holiday Mail for Heroes, Joy Road Adopt-a-Road Pickup, Kokomo, Main Street Auto Wash, Marine Corps League, Members of the Year, Memorial Day Parade, Michigan Moms, Moving Wall, No Canton Child Without a Christmas, Operation Never Forgotten, Pearl Harbor Remembrance, Plymouth Fall Festival, PGR Mission to Escort Marines, Point Man Ministries, Poppy Days, POW/MIA, Recipients of Dollars Raised, Remembrance Run, Run to the Northwall, Salute to Service, SOS Save Our Ship, Sportsman Raffle Drawing, State Reducing Veteran Benefits, Ultimate Sacrifice Memorial, U.S. Veterans Compensation Programs, U.S. Military Theme Songs, VA & Hypertension, VA Aid & Attendance Benefits, Veteran Aid.org, VVA Chapter 528 Overseas Veteran Support, Veterans Day Service, VFW Webcom Forum, Vietnam Veterans Clothing Donation Program, Wall Song, Yankee Air Museum, and The 716th Military Police Reunion.
New Photos 6/21/09
Immediatedly following the Liberty Fest Parade On Saturday, June 20th, Chapter members had our 4th Annual Memorial Run at Rural Hill Cemetery in Northville. They visited the grave of our departed brother, Larry Jarvis. After the Ceremony, Chapter members were invited to the Jarvis home for a get together and food. Take a look at the photos from this event. Ted Enright was kind enough to take and send the photos. Kathy Jarvis,
Ceremony 1,
Ceremony 2,
Color Guard 1,
Color Guard 2,
Color Guard 3,
Photo. When you have time, check out our Remembrance Run web page.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Support our troops at Frenchies located at 54 E. Cross Street, next to the Sidetrack Bar and Grill which is next to the railroad tracks. Chapter 310 organized this fundraiser at the Ypsilanti's Depot Town. People listened to former Miss Michigan, Stacey Heisler-Mason, singing and playing her violin, singer Kelly Trudell, and accordionist Tom Brown, playing for attendees at their tables. There were nice auction items which helped raise more than $3,000.00. In addition to the auction, 50 percent of the total food bill and tips went to Chapter 310. 100 percent of all the proceeds from the event will go to cover postage to send Care packages to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. See a photo of Stacey and Tom playing and singing. Chapter 528 members present were Norma Demerly and her friend Gordon Baxter, Dean and Melanie Bell and their daughter Stacey.
