Dennis, Gary, John, Moe (standing) John, Darrell, Bill, & Ron (back row)
Tom, Bill, Darrell, & Ron (sitting) Tom, Gary, Norma, Moe, & Dennis (front row)
Jon Voight acclaimed Hollywood actor who won an Academy Award for his portral of a paraplegic Vietnam veteran
Lt. Colonel Michael Strobi, author of "Taking Chance" and his son
Jon Voight swearing in the new VVA Officers Darrell, Bill, and Ron with John Phelps, father of Chance Phelps
Jon Voight with Tom & Cheryl Brown John Phelps and Jon Voight
John Riling congratulating John Phelps as our newest 528 Member John Voight with Darrell, Ron, and Tom
Bill & Mary, Ron, Tom & Cheryl, & Gary Darrell, his wife Sandy, daughter Erica, and Ron
Mouse, Moe, and Bruce Blossom Pat Sajak (Wheel of Fortune) with Cheryl Brown
Bill, Mary, and Cheryl John, p-nut, and ??
July 28 - August 2, 2009The VVA National Convention met this year in Louisville, Kentucky. The attending Delegates of Chapter 528 were: Darrell Bazman, Bill Boudreau, Tom Brown, and Ron King. Chapter 528 members Gary Estermyer and John Riling attended as Representatives from the State VVA Council of Michigan. Norma Demerly also attended as our AVVA Delegate. Dennis Bielskis attended for VVA Chapter 267 (Dearborn) and Moe Swope helped John Riling with product sales. Dale Luebke was able to come and make Dog Tags for many Vietnam Veterans. Everyone had lots of fun but it was a very busy week. Unfortunately, Chapter 528 did not win any of the four awards we entered.
We met and talked to Pat Sajak, Jon Voight, Linda West, John Phelps (Vietnam Veteran - Navy - served in the Gulf of Tonkin - and father of Lance Corporal Chance Phelps). We also met and talked with Lt. Colonel (retired) Michael Strobi who volunteered to escort the remains of Chance Philips back to his hometown in Wyoming. HBO made a movie of Lt. Colonel Strobi's book/diary about bringing Lance back. It's called "Taking Chance" and it stars Kevin Bacon. The HBO movie has been nominated for 10 Emmy Awards. All delegates were able to watch the movie and after its conclusion we received a free DVD. Lt. Colonel Strobi brought his young son with him. Bill Boudreau and I noticed his son was wearing a Derek Jeter shirt so we gave the boy a Michigan Pin and told him that Derek Jeter went to The University of Michigan.
John Phelps, Chance's father, came up to Michigan Council Product Sales and Ron King and my wife Cheryl waited on him. After Ron figured out who John Phelps was, he informed all the workers (many of our own Delegates) that Chance's father wanted some merchandise. Naturally, we gave Mr. Phelphs the pins and patches he wanted - free of charge. John Riling, Bill Boudreau, Norma Demerly, Ken Diegel, Ron King, Darrell Bazman, and myself talked Mr. Phelphs into becoming an Honorary Member of Chapter 528. Our Chapter and some of the other Michigan Delegates paid his VVA dues for three years. John Phelps accepted to become a member of our Chapter - #192!
Each of our Chapter Delegates attended four separate meetings as well as attending our Region 5 Caucuses. The different Committee Hearings were: Agent Orange/Dioxin, POW/MIA, PTSD and Substance Abuse, Veterans Benefits, Veterans Incarcerated, ETBO, Membership Affairs, Public Affairs, Health Care, Women Veterans, Homeless Veterans, Minority Affairs, Government Affairs, and Constitution Committee. At the Region 5 meeting we were able to meet the 14 candidates who were running for the National Board of Directors. The National Officers for this year are: John Rowan, President; Jack Devine, Vice President; Barry Hagge, Secretary; and Larry Frazee, Treasurer. The new National Board of Directors are: Marsha Four, Bill Meeks, Patrick Welch, Dan Stenvoid, John Margowski, Thomas Burke, Jerry Yamamoto, Sandy Wilson, Pat Bessigano, and Richard Delong.
Delegates were entertained by recording artist Michelle DellaFave and Actress Lindsay Bloom (Dingalings) during the opening ceremony. Retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Russel L. Honore delivered the Keynote Speech at the Opening Ceremonies. Heather French Henry, a native of Maysville, Kentucky, who has been an active veterans' advocate since winning the Miss America crown in 2000, took part in the Saturday afternoon autographing and book-signing session. The daughter of a disabled Vietnam veteran, Heather French Henry followed her father into the halls of VA hospitals for treatments, experienced his night terrors, and stood by his side as he recovered from severe post-war emotional trauma. During the Saturday Banquet the VVA honored Pat Sajak, who received the Excellence in the Arts Award. In 1968, he joined the U.S. Army, and was sent to Vietnam. After a few months as a finance clerk, he was transferred into Armed Forces Radio and given the morning show on AFVN in Saigon where he yelled, "Good Morning, Vietnam!" for a year and a half. He finished his military career at the Pentagon in 1970. Acclaimed Hollywood actor Jon Voight also spoke during the Convention and at the Banquet. Mr. Voight won an Academy Award for his portrayal of a paraplegic Vietnam veteran in the 1978 film Coming Home and went on to appear in dozens of films and TV shows. His breakthrough film came in 1969 when he appeared in the critically and popularly acclaimed movie Midnight Cowboy. The film won the Best Picture of the Year Oscar and Voight and co-star Dustin Hoffman were nominated as Best Actor. On the Convention Floor he expressed his regrets at being caught up with the hysteria that swept our nation at the end of the 60's and into the 70's: "How sad I feel that our war heroes of Vietnam were not given a heroes welcome back then, and their suffering was unimaginable. So many American lives lost in vain, and no one hailed those that returned. Can we blame them for their bitterness? Our country turned against them." Mr. Voight was truly upset as he apologized for his mistakes. At the Banquet, I was able to go up to Mr. Voight and thank him for his honesty and told him that his sincere apology was one of the bravest things I've ever experienced. He thank me! Jon Voight was also honored by the VVA because of his work to get a National Day of Recognition for Vietnam Veterans. Mr. Voight helped convince the U.S. Congress to set aside March 28 to honor the Vietnam Vets. The House of Representatives and the Senate voted to designate March 30th (March 28 in 2010 - Sunday) to be Vietnam Veteran's Day. Here are the front and back sides of a pamphlet which was given to all Delegates at our VVA National Convention in Louisville. Front Side. Back Side. For more information see any of our Members who attended the National VVA Convention in July/August 2009.
At the Saturday Banquet we were entertained by the band called Wulfe which specialized in music of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. Everyone had a very enjoyable night. Take a look at photos from our VVA National Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. VVA National Convention Louisville, KY 2009
