Next Meeting June 25, 2014 at the

Bettendorf Veterans Memorial Park

6:00 P.M. - 1800 hours
THE SPIRIT OF 776
J U N E 2 0 1 4 N E WS L E T T E R
V I E T N A M V E T E R A N S OF A ME R I C A C H A P T E R 7 7 6
N E V E R A G A I N WI L L O N E G E N E R AT I O N O F V E T E R A N S A B A N D O N A N O T H E R .
Service Ofcers
&
Service Coordinators

Clarke Barnes
309 944-3674
Ed Gaudet
563 343-9456
David Woods
563 326-8723
Ernest Ledjte
563 785-6182
Tom Lemon
563 359-3201
Chuck Morel
563 569-5512

Honor Guard
Jett Bork
563 528-0636
John Lavelle
563 355-4213
Vol. 17 Issue 6
Ofcers and Board of Directors
President Greg Paulline 563 650-3055 Dir. David Woods 563 326-8723
Vice-President Lyle Peterson 563 386-1286 Dir. Ed Gaudet 563 349-9456
Treasurer Harold Hansen 563 505-9674 Dir. Bill Matthews 563 355-5618
Secretary John Lavelle 563 355-4213 Dir. Harold Hansen 563 391-7776
Web Master Roger Granbois roger@granbois.net Dir. Larry Witt 563 388-7179
WE CELEBRATE OUR SCHOLARS

Cameron O'Neil is the grandson
of Joe ONeil. Cameron just
finished his 1st year at the
College of Engineering at the
University of Iowa.



Darean Witt is the grandson of
Larry Witt and is enrolled at
the University of Iowa in the
Liberal Arts program with a
premed focus.





Laurie Bredar-McGee is the
daughter of Steve And JoAnn
Bredar and is currently studying
to be a pharmacists assistant.

We had eight applications this
year which is great news.
Minutes of May Membership Meeting
The meeting was called to order by President Paulline at 1900 hours with a pledge of allegiance and a moment
of silence observed for POW/MIA and those still serving in harms way for our nation., officers present were
Vice-president Peterson, Treasurer Hansen, and Secretary Lavelle. Larry Witt presented three $500
scholarships from the chapter to deserving students, Cameron ONeil, Davan Witt, and Laurie Bredar. We
wish them all success in their future studies. Don Valley spoke to the members concerning the Car Show on
July 19th. He said that they have already raised $3200 towards the car show. As a chapter we will be needing
14 to 15 volunteers to assist with the car show that will be held at North Park Mall in the parking area just
northeast of the Sears building. Volunteers will be needed to collect money at the entrance and also to assist
with the 50/50 raffle. We will be having a colors presentation and will also need four to five honor guard
members to assist. There will be numerous door prizes, music, food, and exciting muscle cars from back in the
day (our day to be exact). The rain date for the car show is July 26th. Jerry Dikes spoke to the members
concerning the BIX 7 and how Vietnam Veterans will be honored during the 50th Anniversary, we will have a
special spot at Brady St. and McClellan Blvd. on the course to display our chapter banner as well as our 50th
Anniversary flag. The BIX 7 is July 26th. Larry Witt stated that the chapter is now at 68 individual, 94 life
members, and 28 AVVA members. The honor guard has continued to attend military funerals to honor our
fellow veterans and their families. The honor guard continues to appreciate new members and reminds all
that we will assist with the purchase of any equipment you may need in order to join the honor guard, point of
contact is John Lavelle. We have ordered 100 more POW/MIA t-shirts, if you want one contact Greg Paulline.
We will be looking for venues where we might sell these also, if you have any lead contact Greg with that
information. May 3rd chapter members visited Brickford Nursing Home and visited four veterans, one of
which was a Vietnam veteran, those attending were Jim Owens, Lyle Peterson, John and Martha Lavelle.
September 6th will be the Vettes for Vets on the River, in LeClaire, which will be making a donation to the
chapter. We will be needing volunteers to assist with placing flags in the area and also an honor guard to
present the colors. The Mid-West Corvettes has also asked if we would march with them at the Bettendorf 4th
of July Parade. They will have an option for those who need to ride along as well as a place for our honor
guard to march in front of the vehicles in the parade. They want to use the parade to get the word out about
the Vettes for Vets on the River car show in September. The next Iowa City VA Hospital visit will be set for
July and the point of contact for this patient visit is Ed Hildebrand. We will be hosting the National Guard
Family Picnic on the Rock Island Arsenal again this year it is set for September 7th. Point of contact for this
event is Lyle Peterson. VSO reports for this month from Clarke Barnes and Ed Gaudet told us that currently
it is taking about 125 days to adjudicate a claim with the VA. Once they are ruled on, they are no longer
considered backlogged. One effect of Obamacare is that veterans who have not enrolled in the VA are doing
so now because it is the law that they must have health insurance, which further creates a backlog. Ernest
Ledjte informed us that ISP is currently on lockdown and therefore he did not attend meetings with prisoners
before the May meeting. Ernest routinely visits four prisons every month to assit incarcerated veterans. The
next honor flight return at the QCA Airport will be at 10:30 on May 29th and members are encouraged to
attend. A National Guard soldier is receiving a purple heart at the National Guard Armory and the chapter
donated $200 to help cover the expenses for a luncheon in his honor, members were also invited to attend this
ceremony. Meeting was adjourned, minutes submitted by John P. Lavelle, chapter secretary.
VVA CHAPTER 776 HONOR GUARD
GIVES A MILITARY PRESENCE TO HY
VEE HONOR FLIGHT ANNOUNCEMENT
On Friday June 13th, honor guard members Arlen Beck,
Greg Paulline, John Lavelle, and Denny Richlen gave a
military presence to the announcement by HyVee that they
will sponsor a 6th Honor Flight from the Quad City Honor
Flight Hub. Their donation of $50,000 will pay for a flight
of WWII and Korean War veterans to Washington D.C.
Please make a point of
supporting our sponsors.
When you do, tell them that
you saw the advertisement in
our newsletter.
This project works in conjunction
with the VALOR PROGRAM
CLOVER SALES
This is very simple,
we need your help.
We need you Friday
June 27th, Saturday
J u n e 2 8 t h a n d
Sunday June 29th.
CHAPTER PICNIC 6/25/14
WE WILL HAVE A PICNIC, WE WILL
BEGIN AT 6:00. WE WILL PROVIDE
BRATS/HOT DOGS AND DRINKS,
PLEASE BRING A DISH TO SHARE.
THE MEETING WILL FOLLOW THE
PICNIC. COME AND CELEBRATE.