Don Dignan
Hope to see you at the January meeting. It's a great time to be a Veteran!
Several Chapter members: Rich Whipple, Gary Kubik, Rick Popa, Ron King, Bob Paul and me spoke at the Plymouth Library on October 28. We all presented a synopsis of our time in service before an eager audience of about a hundred people. A question and answer period followed each speaker and the questions were plentiful. Although totally unexpected, it was greatly appreciated when the Chapter was presented a check for $200. The event was so successful that it led to some students in the audience recommending us to their instructors; hence, a speaking engagement is scheduled for Plymouth High School sometime in February.
VETERANS DAY Veterans Day was a flurry of activity with ceremonies at both the Plymouth and Canton memorials....both well presented and solemn events with the Color Guard standing tall as usual. Chili and snacks followed at the VFW with many area restaurants treating Veterans to a complimentary dinner during regular business hours.
SALVATION ARMY BELL RING Saturday December 5 will add another page to our long standing tradition of tending the 'Red Kettle( and ringing the bell for the Salvation Army. Few people realize that paid bell ringers are utilized in many areas due to the busy time of year and lack of volunteers. The Chapter thereby contributes twice in this holiday tradition. You can help by contacting Chairman John Fleming for an open spot on our roster.
MICHIGAN VETERANS FOUNDATION There is a box in the lounge waiting to be filled with winter clothes. These donations, along with the clothes purchased during the VVA annual &2000 shopping spree at Kohl!s, will be delivered to the Michigan Veterans Foundation for homeless and transient Veterans. No better way during the Christmas season to show compassion for your fellow Veteran.
ANN ARBOR VAMC Alongside Chapter 310 on Tuesday December 15, many Chapter members will be visiting wit patients at the Ann Arbor VAMC at the annual patient Christmas party. There will be fiddlers as well as beauty queens and our own Tom Brown entertaining the troops. Come on down....you!ll like it.
CHRISTMAS PARTY On Saturday December 19, the VVA, AVVA, VFW and Men!s Auxiliary will come together for a Christmas celebration and break from the usual activities. Call Judy Thomason and make your reservation. If you!re a current member of one of the four groups, admission is free for dinner, drinks, dancing and prizes. Come on down and celebrate with friends.
LOUNGE The Post lounge is serving 'sliders( on Wednesdays, 'coneys ( on Fridays and periodic specials throughout the week. Just call the manager, our own Gary Kubik, and ask what!s on the menu. Don't forget the sign in raffle, eligible to all members....50 cents to sign"in may get you big bucks, e.g., a VVA member recently won &272....not bad for a 50 cent investment. Hope to see you at the December meeting. It!s a great time to be a Veteran ! Don Dignan
The October 21 Poker Shootout turned a profit of $475.49 with the winners donating an additional $270 in tips back to the VVA. Forrest Manley was one of the winning participants but other Chapter members included Dave Codd, Loren Roberts, Frank Gilbo, Bob Bryan, Gary Estermyer, John Riling, Jay Roberts and me. WeÕll do it again in February.
INCOMING
Numerous Chapter and Veteran related activities are forthcoming in November and December, e.g., Vietnam Perspective-a presentation at the Plymouth Library (across from Veterans Park) of numerous time related topics from the Vietnam Era, to include several Chapter members talking about their time in service on Wednesday October 28 beginning at 6:30 PM, refreshments served starting at 6:00 PM; Veterans Day ceremony at 11:00 AM in downtown Plymouth at Veterans Park with chili served afterward at the VFW; many area restaurants are offering a Military and Veteran recognition day with free meals - ApplebyÕs, Golden Corral, McCormick & SchmickÕs and others - check with each restaurant for the date because not all are on Veterans Day; bell ringing for the Salvation Army on Saturday December 5 at HillerÕs Market, Five Mile and Haggerty; a visit with patients at the Ann Arbor VAMC in conjunction with Chapter 310's patient Christmas party, probably the 3rd Tuesday in December. Try one of these events - you'll like it.
LOUNGE
The Post lounge is serving "sliders" on Wednesdays, "coneys" on Fridays and periodic specials throughout the week. Just call the manager, our own Gary Kubik, and ask what's on the menu. Don't forget the sign-in raffle, eligible to all members - 50 cents to sign-in may get you big bucks, e.g., a VVA member recently won $272 - not bad for a 50 cent investment.
SERVICE PHOTOS
Hey there! Dig out that lousy photo (as GI's, we were all bad photographers) taken of you while in service and give, snail mail or e-mail to Tom Brown. Tom will display your youthful mug on the website in all its glory. We can all have a chuckle and wonder where our teens and 20's went.
PROUD TO BE THERE On a recent Saturday, chairman Darrell Bazman and a hardy group of Chapter volunteers (Tim Curtis, Forrest Manley, Dale Luebke, Mike Dicker, Jay Roberts, Bob Dew, Mike Steffes, Ron King, Bob Lamoureux, Joe Agius and me) showed up at Al Kerbyson's home to paint it. Have you done anything for someone in need lately? Nothing has been more rewarding in my 19 years as a Chapter member than when weÕre helping out a brother. Al was all smiles and that was reward enough. Life is good!
Hope to see you at the November meeting. It's a great time to be a Veteran!
SCHOLARSHIP ESSAY CONTEST: We will be welcoming the 2009 Chapter scholarship essay contest winners to the October meeting. Besides presenting them with their checks, hopefully weÕll get a personal reading of their winning compositions.
FALL FESTIVAL: We had fantastic weather for the Annual Plymouth Fall Festival and most things came off without a hitch. All the corn was sold and we received many compliments on the same. A lot of camaraderie is enjoyed during the festival and it is more a labor of love than a fundraiser.
KOKOMO: Some came for a day while others came for a week. We also had incredibly good weather. If you were there, nothing else need be said. If you were not, your loss. It is hard to describe other than.. great time.
INCOMING:We have an Oktoberfest dinner in the lounge on October 3, Sweetest Day dance with entertainment on October 17 and a Poker Shootout on October 21. There are also numerous Chapter and Veteran related activities coming forth in November and December. Try one.. youÕll like it.
TOBY ROBERT GEIBIG: In the summer of 1995, while attending the VVA convention in Kansas City, I was chatting over a beer with a fellow veteran when we exchanged names. When I said Dignan, he asked if I was related to Mary Beth who is my sister. It turns out he was at her wedding because he was a High School classmate and good friend of my brother-in-law, Joe. Their friendship had long before drifted apart as they went their separate ways.... Bob (in High School but Toby now) went to Vietnam and Joe drew number 361 in the first draft lottery. To make a long story short, Toby founded the Michigan Veterans Foundation, which Chapter 528 has been supporting for the past 15 years, and became its executive director. They took in the homeless Veteran from the streets of Detroit, fed and clothed him, and attempted to transition him back into a normal productive citizen. They had successes and failures. Either way, nothing deterred Toby from his mission and goal. Recently, as I understand it, he had befriended a couple, intending to assist them in their need. For his trouble and concern, Toby ended up getting shot in the head. He passed away on Saturday September 19, 2009. The homeless Veteran has suffered an enormous loss of an irreplaceable advocate. In a very different way, Toby ended up yet another casualty of Vietnam. May he rest in peace but continue to watch over the homeless Veteran from above.
Hope to see you at the October meeting. ItÕs a great, but currently a sad time, to be a Veteran!
