-330000 Korean War Veterans Slrong Statevideshy

DOF KWVA 2500 Leahy Ave DFAS Bldg ROOm 125

Orlando FL 32893 -1 670 (407) 646-4825 646-4213 (FAX)

KOIIEAN WAR VETERANS ASSOCIATION

Official Publication othe Department ofFlorida inc Volume 11 Edition 1 June 25 2001 (51 Anl1iversaryojrhe Outbreak Ofhe Korean War 25 Jun e 1950)

We Remember Col Alice M Gritsavage (1902 - 411612001) Tadeuz Ted Cedro (1933middot 4119120()1) Joseph N Schirano (1g31 - 410612001) Walt Sutherland (1933 - 410412001)

OCALA - Alice M Gritsavage who was Chief nurse 01 the Far East command during the KOIean War and Gen Douglas MacArthurs nursing consultant died in her sleep Monday 16 Apr at the Emory l Bennett Veterans Nursing home Daytona Beach She was 99 b Apr 7 1902

Raised in the small coal mining town of Glen Lyon PA Col e was a wen-organized and dedicated student who

received her nurses training at Kings County Hospital in BrOOklyn NY eamed a pharmacists degree from Temple Univ PA and eventually was admitted to the degree of Master of Science in NurSing Administration Incarnate Word in San Antonio TX

In IVWI she was drafted into the US Army and served in Africa France and Italy She received the Italian Cross of Merit the Bronze Star tvvo (2) Legion of Merit the Korean Service Medal WoN II Victory medal

Retiring as a colonel in 1962 after 20 years of service in 1995 at the dedication of the Korean Memorial in Wash she ignored the heat and walked tl1e mile long parade route with her fellow veterans

The first FL KWVA chapter organized in 1988 was named for Col Gritsavage She was active in veterans affairs until 1998 A memolial service was held at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church Full military honors by US Anny were accorded at graveside (SEE- WE REMEMBER P 3)

Dept FL KWVA 6 Annual Reunion Gathers at Ocala

Gaffuey Returned to Presidency Price Sterchele Madeline Firriolo

Complete Coalition Ticket

SWEARING-IN Fro I I() r Pres Tom Goiftl9 I vPCharlry D Price r VP Jae Madtlitl~ J yP Joe Flmolo M uy-TreO$ Chuck S fchek IIIsaUm8 Ofjker KWVA I rl) Ed Magill can be JeurottI over Sltrcheuro~ f left showduo NOlgt(HI(J FYu Horlt CltXJn 11 blockRd by Korea fI(Js Chaplain Bud Rogerl FI Kno) cop con I setm Olll Maddm e J left lho liidu Bill McCrvnf U ualed n Itltmiddotu ngill CQnll Carol Btclru bock 10 comem III luif I~ corner

The advance pariy of the 6 Annual Reunion Depl of FL KWVAjumped olfon Wednesday 9 May as Dept QM Tom Sunseri and Deputy Murdoch Font offloaded their wares and set up shop in the Holiday Inn Ocala con fecence room area recesses They were Oanked by th e host chapter Col Alice Gritsavage 0 16s early bird registration corps Judge Advocate Jake Feaster arrived with the Dept FL banner identifYin g the Force thai had invaded these precincts al tbe Intersection of 1-75 amp Silver Springs Blvd

Registrations numbered 65 Ot is Jones Pres Chapter I Cape May Co NJ amp wi fe traveled the farthest

(SEE GATIIERING P 3)

lIresibents regbseroationl

Nobodv asked me but New York famed sportswriter Jimmy Cannon would start off a column thusly when his efforts seemed randomly headed Seemed appropriate to use the vehicle for certain thoughts and matters still around from the last term and the Ocala Reunion

Were indebted to Austin Miller of the Ocala Star Banner for the comprehensive coverage of our event 9 May - 13 May Only exception taken was usage of ~ Theyre (Korean War Veterans) the final quarter of the Greatest Generation - that we reserve as our exclusive coinage Virginia McNeely of the Reunion Committee came out against a flood of car dealership giveaway door prizes at the Reunion banquet She felt that option would cheapen the overall effect of the event The Dept leadership concurred in favor of the three(3) substantial raffle gifts - a classy professional approach Achievements of our associalion are triumphs of [he Spirit of volunleerism~ Our late 30 VP Ted Cedro often said Were all voIunleers~ Dept Officer Clarence DadsweU points to the Marion Co Veterans Park as striking proof of such esprit Benefits derived from chapter auxiliaries and the importance of the Historian position at Chapter amp Department levels cannot be over-stressed Seminars held by our ladies at the Reunion hopefully re-enforced these truisms

bull All KIINA State chapters should be enrolled in the 5(j Anniversary Commemshyorative UPartners DoD program Dept FL will render assistance where needed

bull Chain-of--command communications working within a comprehensive bylaws structure work well Departures from established practices invite anarchy These principles in the main have proved out in the US military several times in shythe century past As a career organization amp systems analyst we affirm flat out that the private sector also does well by their application Chaplers were opened in hitherto uncharted counties during the 2000-2001 administration It is our intent to continue on that path using mass mailings working closely with Veterans Councils and our senior fellow veterans organizations in furthering mutual recruiting aims We salute the Department of Florida Veterans of Foreign Wars the Department of Florida American Legion Jewish War Veterans AMVETS and the Military Order of the Purple Heart Southeast Region We work effectively weach other throughout the State in Veterans Councils public patriotic events and notably during the KACF tour in JanmiddotFeb this year Finallv we appreCiate the ad sponsor initiatives taken by them in the publication of our 6 Annual Reunion Journal

What is there left to be said about the patriotic legacy of our exemplar Col Alice Gritsavage WICal AlicltIs nltlphcy Iob Cludy aOcala Ctmelery 26

Apn2001 John istln Afloc ale member oleh 06

CONT D FR PAGE I WE REMEMBER

TadellIz M Ted Cedro 3 Vice-President DOF KYNA died ThurSday April 19 2001 at the home of his daughter Julie dEgidio in Florham ParIlt NJ Ted a ten year resident of Davie FL had retumed to NJ in mid-March to be with his daughter and sons in the final days

Bom in Poland May 25 1933 he had emigrated with his family to the US in 1940 The family senled in Jackson Heights NY In 1951 Telt1 enlisted in the US Army serving withe 23 nf Reg 200

Infantry Division He was a recipient of the CIS Purple Heart etc He graduated 1956 from Lehigh Univ Bethlehem PA wan industrial engineering degree

He retired from Sperry-Univac DiviSion in Parsippany NJ Prior to that he was employed by IBM for 15 yrs amp ownedoperated the Wilton Group Roovayton eN

Ted NaS a member and past president of Eddy Lyon Ch 015 Hollywood Fl He was preshydeceased by his wife Beverly He attended 5t Davids in Davie amp Holy Family Florham Parle He was laid to rest al Gate of Heaven East Hanover NJ

Joe Schirano was felled by a heart aHack on Sat April 6 2001 at home in DeBary Plantation Fairway Hills FL He was retumed to Rochester NY by his six children for burial

Joe was a lifetime member of the rWNA and a charter member of Central FL Ch 153 in which he served as Secretary-Treasurer 1997-99 Retiring withe rank of Major upon serving 20 years wIthe US Army he served 1950-51 in Korea with the 304111 Signal

Service Bn He was a member of the Retired Officers Club of VoluSia County and Chairman of the Beautification Board City of Deltona He was a member of Our Lady of the Lakes Church and is survived by his six children and a 96 year old mother

CONTD FR PAGE 1 GATHERlNG

Sergeant Major AJ Camoeses from Miami-Dade Chapter 1 10 had traveled the farthest within the State 93 meals were served with the limit of Departmem largesse expressed in freebies for Jr ROTC honor guard from Forest High and its commander and honored guests Hank Whittier Dennis Badey and Austin Miller of the Ocala Star Banner and his door priJe-selecting son

18 of the 22 chapters were represented at the Executive Cou ncil and the Reunion Business

meetings The Dept charter was draped in tribute to those who are no longer wus Dept Color Guard Officer R McCaffrey amp Sunshi ne

Stale President Jack Edwards arranged the

unit charters and standards oflhc several chapshylers in the meeting rooms and the banquet hall During the Executive Council and General Membership meetings the Dcpartment charter was draped in memory of our departed comrades

Aopointments made Pete McKay C hapter 153 to the pos ition of Sergeant-atshyArms Ted Sullivan Chapter ) 53 as Chairman of the Norninati onslElections Committee and SUI TrinchiteUa Chapter J24 - C hainnan of Ihe Bylaws conunittee

The report af the Treasurer Joan Arcand was read accepted and complimented far clarity of statement amp simplicity of fonnat

Minutes of the 3 Executive Council meeting were read and approved by the Executive Council on Fri May lIdgt Next day a procedurshyal point arose at the general membership meeting regarding the reading afthe minutes of the last general meeting the recorded proceedings ohhe last administration That date was 12 Mar 2000 Unfortunately those records are nOI available

for whatever reasons The mood of the membership however

was to turn that page for good and continue to press forward Thjs doesn t det ract from the legitimate objection made from the Ooor It is resolved that such will not happen in the future

Tom Suoseri Department QM presented information relating the $ value of inventory OIH and checkbook opera ting funds $600 in checking aCcounl $ 1200 in a l cost In ventory The Dept QM (j) began in Aug 2000 under the current administration and has performed outstandingly in that short period thanks principa lly to the efforts of Su nseri and Depul) Murdocb Foro doubling in brass his as In VP Baldomero Lopez eh 11 175 Tampa

We stated at both meetings that we certa in]y do communicate via the email network coordinated by the ubiquitous JA Jake Feaster the upgrading o f the Depanmenl WebSite and the Department publication Veterans Voice

Feaster talked the Executive Council amp the fo llowing day the general membersnip body through the a lterations to the Department Bylaws This complete overhaul had been almost five years in the making Again thanks are due principally to lead architect J ake Feaster

Col Cbarley Price Director of Legislative Affa irs Lia ison presented a series o f RESOLUTIONS reconunending positions that the DO F KWVA should take in concert with it s brmher veterans organizations on issues of vita l interest to the veterans of this State Those RESOLUTIONS COVER Support of Nationa l Veterans Cemeteries Adoption o flnstant Oingo and Boosting Ad Va lorem Homestead Exemption to $5 000

Sa luta ry items included the designation o f Florida 4J 7 the Greenway as Korean War Veterans ftfemoria HighwC1)I a 35-mile streich from Sanford to Disney World should become law with the signing of a Transportation Package Bill Veterans PrefCTence in Employment la w has been expanded to citycounty managers management positions and policymaking positions and budgeting on a nonrecurring basis of$200OOO for JVet the Veterans Homeless program in Duva l County (Jacksonville)

The short lis t ofcandidates (4) to replace ou tgoing Robio Higgins as State Director for Veterans Affairs would produce a decision by ISMay Pri ce oplned that we would be addressshying Madam DireclOr He was righl on The readership is referred to the Jennifer Carroll article elsewhere in this issue

Direetor Prices presentation including all RESOLUTIONS directed to FL Legis lature amp the dues-sha ring item directed to K WVA Nan Executive Board was passed una nimously by the Executive Council and General Membership on successive meeti ngs II May amp 12 May 200

Dept POWIMIA Ed Fenton gave an excellent presentation at the Genera l Membership meeting concluding with a 20 minute award winning videotape re Johnson s List and the Tiger Survivors Ed cautioned us of the very rea l national problem identi fy ing wannabes who pose as POWs in veterans commuruties

If r fA ~~ ~ Saturday evening the MA Table serting

ceremony was enacted by Director Fenton a nd K WVA National Pres ident Harley Coon to the narration of Sunshine State Chapter President and past National Director Jack Edwards

At the banquet President Bob Beasley C h 188 Soulh Lake County eloquently eulogized the [ate George Jltjoney founderl1 il

president of the Chapter President Coon spoke briefly Opening

rema rks complimented the Dept FL for a dedicated leuden middotJip He recounted impresmiddot s ions from his POW experience Adj ourning that evening President Coon made an immediate point of stating Greal show Dept ofFlorida

-30shy

I 0 r BQb amp Det Hawes Bev Pele McKoy Ray amp Helen FJingu)n Mildred Whil e standing

WHICH CO-EMCEE HANDLES n-os PART OF THE PROGRAM

MAGilL WON T TOUCH IT

SOT Y1AJ OR A J CAMQESES and Barney OBrien Secy Brevard County Chaplif ]10

BANQUET HIGHLIGHTS Co-Emcees

Dick Merrill Col Gritsavage Chapler 110 6 Tom Gaffney Dept of FL KWVA Pres ident

Program Speakers

Hank Vhittier - Veterans helping Veterans Ocala area Dennis Baxley Stale Representative Ocala district Harley Coon - KWYA National PresideJll

Award Recipients

Bob MacLean outgoing J yp Joan Arcand outgoing Treas r Jim Pack Korean Liaison D ir Tom Sunseri Department QM Jake Feaster Judge Advoca te Clarence DadsweU outgoing

2nd VP incoming YAVS Stale Coordinator

Door amp Raffle Prize Winners

Ed Pfeiffer - bronzed victory eagle bookeods donated by Tom CatfueylDAR Sugar Mill Chapler New Smyrna

M F Jack Gleason - signed numbered biogra phy of MOH recipient LTC Matt Urban donated by Tom GaffoeyfTom amp Marian Roberts

Vic Haas - gold amp jeweled necklace donated by Jimmy Williams

g bull bull (

j

Coon amp Dfpl FL Korean Liaison Affairs Direclor illmc$ Paek

THE LAmES THAT GOT IT OONE I 10 r pound Merrill V McNeely Annelle Feaster A Pfeiffer lu Chnson - the Auxiliary ofGrilsavage Chapter 016

TED amp NANCY SULLI~AN - J If Cenral Florida Ch IIjJ~ new Dept Chairmon Nominaljom amp Cectionr Commllfle

DOF KWV A GfVES A FINAL SALUTE TO COLONEL ALICE

A memorial service at the Blessed Trinity Ca tholic Church in Ocala was held on Thursday 19 April The fo llowing Thursday 26 April interment services were held a t the Good Shepherd Memorial

Gardens 5050 SW 201h SI US Army troops from Hunter Army Air

Stati on in GA convoyed south to perfonn the nag foldingpresentation and ceremonial firing ritua ls at graveside

The Department of Florida K WVA was formidably represented Members from Chaplers Col Grirsavage 016 Ofceola Chapter 11124 Central Florida Chapler 153 Lake County Chapter 169 SOlltlt Lake County Cwpter 188 and Citrus Chapler 192 attended Fellow veterans from several MOPHfLAMOPH American Legion and VFW

KJIVA Col Alice Grifsavage Chapler 1016 Ocala Col Gntsavage was SUrviVed by her Sister

Jconie Clardy and severa l nieces and nephews Moving to Ocala in 1979 she had lived wsister Jennie and nephew Jobn Clar-dy Clardy is an associate member of K WVA Chapter 0 16

At Good Shepherd eulogies were delivered by nephew John Clardy founder amp past president of Chapter 016 C harley CantfaoO past president Jake Feaster and Chapler president Dick Merrill Dept president Tow Gaffney added a few remarks

Funera l arrangements were handled by Roberts Funeral Home and Jennings Archway Chapel

Througnout her professiona l and milia ry career Col Alice was known as a lireless worker for servjcemen a nd women especially those who served in Ihe Korean War

Steadfast in her convictions she came under fi re from Privileged 10 know her at leaSI brieflymiddotmiddotmiddot

the entrenched bureaucracy in Ihe military but wa s upheld by each oflhe theater commanders to whom she reported

When Col Alice left FECOM in 1953 Theater Commander-in-CruefMark C lar-k sa id hcr untiring efforts o lllstanding leadership and delOlion to duty have sel CJ brillianl example and h(1Ve been directly responsible for the excellent services pefonned by Ollr gallant Army nurses

(FOTO TO THE LEFT - From left 10 right Howad HuCtfnCJ Tom Gatmey Amy Caratlno Ray Wilkinson unidcnlified LAMOPH Die Merrill Charky

CllJIIfaIQ amp Jake Feaster -posl services)

~~~

EULOGY hy Chorley CarojanQoulIder amp paSI presidenl of ChaptersIPosts were also present

OFFICIAL DEDICATION OF MARlON COUNTY VETERANS PARK OFFICE BLDG -In Volume I Edition 4 we introduced the readership to the fine memorial expanse or87 acres in

Ocala that the people of Marion County had dedicated to the memory of their sons and da ughters who had gone in harms way extending back to Revolutionary times OUf own Col Gritsavage Chapter U16 Pres ident Dick Merrill had been named Park Director in addition to hjs accepting the position of Chairman of the DOF KWVA Reunion 2001 Commit1ee

On Sa turday March 172001 the Park Office Bu ilding constructed and donated by Ihe Marion Counry Builders Assn was formally dedicated Park Direc torChapter 016 President Merrill officiated as co-emcee in collaboration with Ed Smith Ass County Adminis trator The program began at 930 am and concluded well into the afternoon hours

Several members ofChaplef 016 who had contributed hundreds of volunteer hours in the park

PRESENTATION OF COLORS byJr ROTC codflbull o[development effort attended in addition (0 members FOrUI High School In Ocala This unil also posledl~lriev~d Ih

from Citrus Chapler 192 and Cen frol Florida (ololS for au DOF KIlVA Reoon 2()()I aso in Ocala Chapfer 153 The local SAR chapter dedicated a

Liberty Tree Concert music was provided by a local volunteer musician band known as The Kingdom of the Sun Band Keys were handed over award certificates and plaques were presented

Keynote speaker was Malcolm Randall Director Emeritus of V AM C Gainesville quoting liberally from the poetry

of John Donne A chicken barbecue dinner was served a barbershop quartet entertained and at 1430 hrs dedicashy

tion of USN Seabees Is land X-J4

Ch~ laachtr DICk Memll bricks rook ParA DrreclOICh ~Ot6 Pres Hoad flueltnu Chaplain CIIS Ch 19 TOil place Gaffil~y Jau- Feoster Oep JA amp rfOf CII 106 and Ptl~ McKay ell j~ 153

Throughout the day blood pressure readings were taken lours of the park were conducted Marion County Human Resources Dept had a booth to recruit veterans for jobs open in Marion Co government The Mari on County Commissioners have a veterans preference hiring system in place

(Friday am 11 May Tom Gaffney arranged a guided lour of Ihe fuciliry for Notional Presidenl Coon Nat ional j-ltI VP Magill alld Dept 2M VP Oadswell conducted by none other than Park Director Merrill himself Pres Gaffney also provided the transport )

G rtsonJge 11016 chapter

Gat hering for Honor Yolusia County Counc il members and representati ves of the Southwest Yolusia Veterans Council

break ground for the Pfe Emory L Bennett Veterans M emorial Park May J 0200 1 Volusia County s newest westside park will be on the corner ofYeterans Memorial Parkway and Rhode Is land Avenue in Orange City In the early 1990s the Volusia Cou nty Counc i asked residents throughout the area 10 nominate veterans who had performed a serv ice 10 their communities PFC Emory L Bennett Memorial was chosen for the park s name Benne is the only Volusia County native to be awarded the Congressshyional Medal of Honor Pres ident Harry S Truman bestowed the award posthumously in 1952

(In pholo above Depl FL KWVA Pres Tom Gaffney(far ItJl) and KIWA Ch 189 member Reggie Beverly (3rdfrom left) man shovels as KWVA members 0 Ch 153 S R Ellington Pres Ed Brandl Secry amp Pete McKay arm lip in 2d LR Olhers ~ieldillg I hovefs arerom I to r Mal Dale Tennanl TROA Patricia Narlhey County council Dwight Lewis Chairman VollsiG County Council Ann McFalJ Vice-Chairman othe Council and Joyce Cusack Distriet State Represenlative))

The lead paragraphs of this story Omtona Beach News-Journal by Autumn C Giusti read as fo llows

ORANGE Cm - Ten golden sho vels ntIMed by volusia Counryofficials arnI war etcrans broke ground Thumlay (10 May) morning at The site of the oountys newest regiooal park

CountyoffieiaJs aIlticipllle ooos truction ofPhasc I ofPFC Emory L BellIleti Memorial P31k will begi n next week On

Veterans Memorial ParkwDY The park will serve the Southwest Volusia area After all the park meetings and waiting for (Veterans Memorinl) 0 gel built we re excited at Ihis JXlint in time

thats for sure said Vol usia Count)middot Leisure Services director Bi ll Apgar The park s namesake who was born in New Sm)1ll3 Beach in 1929 is the only Volus ia County native to receive the

Congressional Medal of Honor President Harry Truman awarded him the medal posthwnously in 1952 for sacrificing his life for his OOUIItry during the Korean Wtu

When 8eAAetl and about 400 soldiers were holdinampa slrateBie post dur ing the W iU they came under anack by 1400 NClMh Korwns 8 ennet1 ran though the line o f fore and began shoot ing at the enemy halting their advancee He volUfltce~d

to suy behind and protect his troops as they wilh~w Indoingso he was wOUlldcd th ree l imes and losl his tife Henfltt1 Park will become the third local facility arned in the velenul s honor a Da)1oa Beach nursing

home and a park in Ncw Sm)fTIl also bear his name

SOUTH LAKE COUNTY PAYS TRlBUTE TO CHAPTER FOUNDER amp SPOUSE

South Lake County Chapter 188 tumed their town s Firs Friday into a salutary moment in the history of Clermont and its K WVA veterans Monthly the city blocks off the main street sets up food tasting booths and caps the evening with a show of some type in the City auditorium 6 April witnessed a concert by a 70 piece vo lunteer band recruited from the Orlando area and a presentation 10

Patty )(jnney widow of the lale George Kinney founder and first president ofehapler 188 who lost his banle with cancer on 13 Mar 200 I

Carl Duke co-founder orlne Chapter took the Freedom Medallion of Appreciation that George had received posthumously during the recent KACF tour and had it mounted on a presentation plaque Halfwaythrough the caneen the plaque and a bouquet were presented to Palty Kinney by Duke Bob Beasley 188 Chapter Pres~dent and Carol Becker Gold Star Widow amp Historian ofChaplcrs 188 and 1 69 Dept President Tom Gaffney amp wife Mary and PeterlBevcrly McKay of

1Central FL Chapler 153 attended The banner that is seen in the fotos is the

l~Z~t handiwork of Carol Becker who created 11 an identical one for Chapter 169

Carol Becker wrote us 00 Monday 28 May about at1 ending Memorial ceremonies at Woodlawn Cemetery in O range County She was SOOOOOOO impressed wilh Ihe ceremony 17le lemperQture was aver 90 Boy Scouts circulated wilh

pafXr cups awater Color guard and honor guard Big Liberty Bell A VFW bandplaying The bariTone SOOiSI was magnijice1f The

I speakers Jrept your alfenlion fleuro most oUlslond ing speaker 0 the day was Ollr own Bob

Beasey He was Ihe one A LIGHT MOillNT IN UERMONT Ihat mal1)l came up 10 I

afterwards wanting more inannation on mednlfions and Chapler membership and more Ocourse all these men are Orlando residents and Bob will pass this along 10 (Vic) Haas (Chapler President Mid-Florida 173) He g(IVe such a touching y et sllong presentation Ihal malry near me were agreeing with him saying yes yes And some in lears 1 hea rd mal1)l come up 10 Bob saying thallhey enjoyed his

dynamic speech He had indeed done a terrijicjob

WARMINC UP - BQb Beasley al Clermonl before his Memorial Day oddress a Woodlawn

SHOWING THE FLAG IN THE TREASURE COAST CHAPTER PRECINCTS

As reported by Joe Cranksbaw of the Stuart News and Kathleen Chapman of the Palm Beach Post the US Amly recruiting center at Regency Square in Stuart was the target of a group from the Tre1SUTC Coast chapler 106 protesting thc controversia 1 M ilitary beret issue on Friday morn ing 6 April

USARIA1 Bob McCaffrey founder of the Treasure Coast Chapter pictured in the

photo to the left was one of the more B Amer

uy-calll visible (double fO the camera 5 eye) of ~I protesters For any of our readers who

may have been under a roc( for the past several monlhs the decisio n by newlymiddot minted Army Chief of Sta ff Eric Shinseki

to purchasc 26 million black berets 10 outfit all US Army personnel has been mel with shall we sa) great spirited negative reaction by former retired us Rangers and most veterans in general The black beret has been worn exclusively by Ihe Rangers in a tradition datlog back 10 pre-Revolutionary times Shinseki announced that June 14111

the US Armys birthday the conversion to the black beret would go into effect

Then the decision to shop Oul approximately 25 Oflha order to the Peoples Republ ic of China brought in the Korea n War Veterans protest dimension - ergo the sign thaI McCaffrey carries Buy American

WaUy M9rqllis long lime member and past I Vice-President of the Chapter engaged in the Friday morning protest and is pictured in the foto to the right

McCaffrey and Marquis took part on 22 Mar 200 J in a District tribute ror YFW National Commandershyin-Chief John F Gwizdak The Habe Sound festivities

included a Post honor Guard receiving line amp four course dinnerluncheon featuring in the words of the CIC chicken with its clothes on f

Commander Gwizdak spoke to- the assembled YFW guests on the high priority veterans iss ues of VA Funding new facility cOJlslruction the Montgomery OI Bill and the Defense Budget

Jtb 81511 00_

1Ihtrlne llarri State of Florida Sccrewy rStare

Hobcrt A 8 utkrworthDEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Auonuy Gcnrll Rob MWlCIlnOffice of the Eltecutive Di rector

S(IIC ComplllIeshy2540 Executive Center Circle Wesl Sui te 100 Tn (JJarhtr

Slarc TrQ aTallahassee florida 3230 1 T~r RIwd Actin

(850) 487-1533 I Fax (850) 488-5698 Cnmjoo~ orAgricultun t-rllc Crirtwww_floridavetsorg Robin L I-hggins CltltllJliOoICr or EduCllUon

Exlt-culivc Diredol

April 2 200 I

Mr Thomas Gaffney President Korean War Veterans 624 Vespers Way Orange C ity FL 32763

Dcar~~ I want you 10 know Ihal l have informed the Govem or and the Cabinelthat I wi ll be leavi ng al the end of lhis legis la tive session in May I believe) am leaving lhe best job in Florida I would never dream of giving up this position if it werenl ror the greal opportuni ty that I have been gIven by the President or lhe United States to continue to serve veterans in yet another speci al way should the US Senale eon finn my nomrnatioll as Under Secretary ror Memorial Affairs in the US Department of Veterans Affairs

All that we have done has been a lnle partnersnip with the Govemor and the Cabinet wiUl our State legis lators on both s ides ofthc political aisle and certainly with the Vcerans Service Organialioos and - COlmty Veterans Serv ice Officers Thanks (0 this partnership we have been able to improve Lhe lives and status or veterans in this state There is s till mueh to do but) hope I will be leaving my employces the department and our 17 million veterans bettcr than when Jcame

Together we have opened and staffed two new veterans nursing homes and have beglm funding and planning ror two additional homes we have expanded one of the nations busiest National Cemeteries in Bushnell Florida and rought for rederal funding for a new National Cemetery in south Florida bave imprOVed the economic status o f thousands of veterans and their families by he lping lhem to aecess millions of do llars in rcderal bcocCits and completed memorials to our Meda l of Honor recipienlS our Korean War velerans and soon our World War 11 veterans

Attached is a list or our two-year accomplishments Thank you

I cannot begin to te ll you how honored have been to lead this department for thc last two years Thank you ror your confidence and your kindness I hope in Washington to be able to bring the same professionalism passion and pride that we all share when we try to make Florida a beller place ror veterans to live to the Importanl consliluency I Will serve

Sincerely

~~~ ~Robin L Higgins

AUachmcnt

lIresibents regbseroationl

Nobodv asked me but New York famed sportswriter Jimmy Cannon would start off a column thusly when his efforts seemed randomly headed Seemed appropriate to use the vehicle for certain thoughts and matters still around from the last term and the Ocala Reunion

Were indebted to Austin Miller of the Ocala Star Banner for the comprehensive coverage of our event 9 May - 13 May Only exception taken was usage of ~ Theyre (Korean War Veterans) the final quarter of the Greatest Generation - that we reserve as our exclusive coinage Virginia McNeely of the Reunion Committee came out against a flood of car dealership giveaway door prizes at the Reunion banquet She felt that option would cheapen the overall effect of the event The Dept leadership concurred in favor of the three(3) substantial raffle gifts - a classy professional approach Achievements of our associalion are triumphs of [he Spirit of volunleerism~ Our late 30 VP Ted Cedro often said Were all voIunleers~ Dept Officer Clarence DadsweU points to the Marion Co Veterans Park as striking proof of such esprit Benefits derived from chapter auxiliaries and the importance of the Historian position at Chapter amp Department levels cannot be over-stressed Seminars held by our ladies at the Reunion hopefully re-enforced these truisms

bull All KIINA State chapters should be enrolled in the 5(j Anniversary Commemshyorative UPartners DoD program Dept FL will render assistance where needed

bull Chain-of--command communications working within a comprehensive bylaws structure work well Departures from established practices invite anarchy These principles in the main have proved out in the US military several times in shythe century past As a career organization amp systems analyst we affirm flat out that the private sector also does well by their application Chaplers were opened in hitherto uncharted counties during the 2000-2001 administration It is our intent to continue on that path using mass mailings working closely with Veterans Councils and our senior fellow veterans organizations in furthering mutual recruiting aims We salute the Department of Florida Veterans of Foreign Wars the Department of Florida American Legion Jewish War Veterans AMVETS and the Military Order of the Purple Heart Southeast Region We work effectively weach other throughout the State in Veterans Councils public patriotic events and notably during the KACF tour in JanmiddotFeb this year Finallv we appreCiate the ad sponsor initiatives taken by them in the publication of our 6 Annual Reunion Journal

What is there left to be said about the patriotic legacy of our exemplar Col Alice Gritsavage WICal AlicltIs nltlphcy Iob Cludy aOcala Ctmelery 26

Apn2001 John istln Afloc ale member oleh 06

CONT D FR PAGE I WE REMEMBER

TadellIz M Ted Cedro 3 Vice-President DOF KYNA died ThurSday April 19 2001 at the home of his daughter Julie dEgidio in Florham ParIlt NJ Ted a ten year resident of Davie FL had retumed to NJ in mid-March to be with his daughter and sons in the final days

Bom in Poland May 25 1933 he had emigrated with his family to the US in 1940 The family senled in Jackson Heights NY In 1951 Telt1 enlisted in the US Army serving withe 23 nf Reg 200

Infantry Division He was a recipient of the CIS Purple Heart etc He graduated 1956 from Lehigh Univ Bethlehem PA wan industrial engineering degree

He retired from Sperry-Univac DiviSion in Parsippany NJ Prior to that he was employed by IBM for 15 yrs amp ownedoperated the Wilton Group Roovayton eN

Ted NaS a member and past president of Eddy Lyon Ch 015 Hollywood Fl He was preshydeceased by his wife Beverly He attended 5t Davids in Davie amp Holy Family Florham Parle He was laid to rest al Gate of Heaven East Hanover NJ

Joe Schirano was felled by a heart aHack on Sat April 6 2001 at home in DeBary Plantation Fairway Hills FL He was retumed to Rochester NY by his six children for burial

Joe was a lifetime member of the rWNA and a charter member of Central FL Ch 153 in which he served as Secretary-Treasurer 1997-99 Retiring withe rank of Major upon serving 20 years wIthe US Army he served 1950-51 in Korea with the 304111 Signal

Service Bn He was a member of the Retired Officers Club of VoluSia County and Chairman of the Beautification Board City of Deltona He was a member of Our Lady of the Lakes Church and is survived by his six children and a 96 year old mother

CONTD FR PAGE 1 GATHERlNG

Sergeant Major AJ Camoeses from Miami-Dade Chapter 1 10 had traveled the farthest within the State 93 meals were served with the limit of Departmem largesse expressed in freebies for Jr ROTC honor guard from Forest High and its commander and honored guests Hank Whittier Dennis Badey and Austin Miller of the Ocala Star Banner and his door priJe-selecting son

18 of the 22 chapters were represented at the Executive Cou ncil and the Reunion Business

meetings The Dept charter was draped in tribute to those who are no longer wus Dept Color Guard Officer R McCaffrey amp Sunshi ne

Stale President Jack Edwards arranged the

unit charters and standards oflhc several chapshylers in the meeting rooms and the banquet hall During the Executive Council and General Membership meetings the Dcpartment charter was draped in memory of our departed comrades

Aopointments made Pete McKay C hapter 153 to the pos ition of Sergeant-atshyArms Ted Sullivan Chapter ) 53 as Chairman of the Norninati onslElections Committee and SUI TrinchiteUa Chapter J24 - C hainnan of Ihe Bylaws conunittee

The report af the Treasurer Joan Arcand was read accepted and complimented far clarity of statement amp simplicity of fonnat

Minutes of the 3 Executive Council meeting were read and approved by the Executive Council on Fri May lIdgt Next day a procedurshyal point arose at the general membership meeting regarding the reading afthe minutes of the last general meeting the recorded proceedings ohhe last administration That date was 12 Mar 2000 Unfortunately those records are nOI available

for whatever reasons The mood of the membership however

was to turn that page for good and continue to press forward Thjs doesn t det ract from the legitimate objection made from the Ooor It is resolved that such will not happen in the future

Tom Suoseri Department QM presented information relating the $ value of inventory OIH and checkbook opera ting funds $600 in checking aCcounl $ 1200 in a l cost In ventory The Dept QM (j) began in Aug 2000 under the current administration and has performed outstandingly in that short period thanks principa lly to the efforts of Su nseri and Depul) Murdocb Foro doubling in brass his as In VP Baldomero Lopez eh 11 175 Tampa

We stated at both meetings that we certa in]y do communicate via the email network coordinated by the ubiquitous JA Jake Feaster the upgrading o f the Depanmenl WebSite and the Department publication Veterans Voice

Feaster talked the Executive Council amp the fo llowing day the general membersnip body through the a lterations to the Department Bylaws This complete overhaul had been almost five years in the making Again thanks are due principally to lead architect J ake Feaster

Col Cbarley Price Director of Legislative Affa irs Lia ison presented a series o f RESOLUTIONS reconunending positions that the DO F KWVA should take in concert with it s brmher veterans organizations on issues of vita l interest to the veterans of this State Those RESOLUTIONS COVER Support of Nationa l Veterans Cemeteries Adoption o flnstant Oingo and Boosting Ad Va lorem Homestead Exemption to $5 000

Sa luta ry items included the designation o f Florida 4J 7 the Greenway as Korean War Veterans ftfemoria HighwC1)I a 35-mile streich from Sanford to Disney World should become law with the signing of a Transportation Package Bill Veterans PrefCTence in Employment la w has been expanded to citycounty managers management positions and policymaking positions and budgeting on a nonrecurring basis of$200OOO for JVet the Veterans Homeless program in Duva l County (Jacksonville)

The short lis t ofcandidates (4) to replace ou tgoing Robio Higgins as State Director for Veterans Affairs would produce a decision by ISMay Pri ce oplned that we would be addressshying Madam DireclOr He was righl on The readership is referred to the Jennifer Carroll article elsewhere in this issue

Direetor Prices presentation including all RESOLUTIONS directed to FL Legis lature amp the dues-sha ring item directed to K WVA Nan Executive Board was passed una nimously by the Executive Council and General Membership on successive meeti ngs II May amp 12 May 200

Dept POWIMIA Ed Fenton gave an excellent presentation at the Genera l Membership meeting concluding with a 20 minute award winning videotape re Johnson s List and the Tiger Survivors Ed cautioned us of the very rea l national problem identi fy ing wannabes who pose as POWs in veterans commuruties

If r fA ~~ ~ Saturday evening the MA Table serting

ceremony was enacted by Director Fenton a nd K WVA National Pres ident Harley Coon to the narration of Sunshine State Chapter President and past National Director Jack Edwards

At the banquet President Bob Beasley C h 188 Soulh Lake County eloquently eulogized the [ate George Jltjoney founderl1 il

president of the Chapter President Coon spoke briefly Opening

rema rks complimented the Dept FL for a dedicated leuden middotJip He recounted impresmiddot s ions from his POW experience Adj ourning that evening President Coon made an immediate point of stating Greal show Dept ofFlorida

-30shy

I 0 r BQb amp Det Hawes Bev Pele McKoy Ray amp Helen FJingu)n Mildred Whil e standing

WHICH CO-EMCEE HANDLES n-os PART OF THE PROGRAM

MAGilL WON T TOUCH IT

SOT Y1AJ OR A J CAMQESES and Barney OBrien Secy Brevard County Chaplif ]10

BANQUET HIGHLIGHTS Co-Emcees

Dick Merrill Col Gritsavage Chapler 110 6 Tom Gaffney Dept of FL KWVA Pres ident

Program Speakers

Hank Vhittier - Veterans helping Veterans Ocala area Dennis Baxley Stale Representative Ocala district Harley Coon - KWYA National PresideJll

Award Recipients

Bob MacLean outgoing J yp Joan Arcand outgoing Treas r Jim Pack Korean Liaison D ir Tom Sunseri Department QM Jake Feaster Judge Advoca te Clarence DadsweU outgoing

2nd VP incoming YAVS Stale Coordinator

Door amp Raffle Prize Winners

Ed Pfeiffer - bronzed victory eagle bookeods donated by Tom CatfueylDAR Sugar Mill Chapler New Smyrna

M F Jack Gleason - signed numbered biogra phy of MOH recipient LTC Matt Urban donated by Tom GaffoeyfTom amp Marian Roberts

Vic Haas - gold amp jeweled necklace donated by Jimmy Williams

g bull bull (

j

Coon amp Dfpl FL Korean Liaison Affairs Direclor illmc$ Paek

THE LAmES THAT GOT IT OONE I 10 r pound Merrill V McNeely Annelle Feaster A Pfeiffer lu Chnson - the Auxiliary ofGrilsavage Chapter 016

TED amp NANCY SULLI~AN - J If Cenral Florida Ch IIjJ~ new Dept Chairmon Nominaljom amp Cectionr Commllfle

DOF KWV A GfVES A FINAL SALUTE TO COLONEL ALICE

A memorial service at the Blessed Trinity Ca tholic Church in Ocala was held on Thursday 19 April The fo llowing Thursday 26 April interment services were held a t the Good Shepherd Memorial

Gardens 5050 SW 201h SI US Army troops from Hunter Army Air

Stati on in GA convoyed south to perfonn the nag foldingpresentation and ceremonial firing ritua ls at graveside

The Department of Florida K WVA was formidably represented Members from Chaplers Col Grirsavage 016 Ofceola Chapter 11124 Central Florida Chapler 153 Lake County Chapter 169 SOlltlt Lake County Cwpter 188 and Citrus Chapler 192 attended Fellow veterans from several MOPHfLAMOPH American Legion and VFW

KJIVA Col Alice Grifsavage Chapler 1016 Ocala Col Gntsavage was SUrviVed by her Sister

Jconie Clardy and severa l nieces and nephews Moving to Ocala in 1979 she had lived wsister Jennie and nephew Jobn Clar-dy Clardy is an associate member of K WVA Chapter 0 16

At Good Shepherd eulogies were delivered by nephew John Clardy founder amp past president of Chapter 016 C harley CantfaoO past president Jake Feaster and Chapler president Dick Merrill Dept president Tow Gaffney added a few remarks

Funera l arrangements were handled by Roberts Funeral Home and Jennings Archway Chapel

Througnout her professiona l and milia ry career Col Alice was known as a lireless worker for servjcemen a nd women especially those who served in Ihe Korean War

Steadfast in her convictions she came under fi re from Privileged 10 know her at leaSI brieflymiddotmiddotmiddot

the entrenched bureaucracy in Ihe military but wa s upheld by each oflhe theater commanders to whom she reported

When Col Alice left FECOM in 1953 Theater Commander-in-CruefMark C lar-k sa id hcr untiring efforts o lllstanding leadership and delOlion to duty have sel CJ brillianl example and h(1Ve been directly responsible for the excellent services pefonned by Ollr gallant Army nurses

(FOTO TO THE LEFT - From left 10 right Howad HuCtfnCJ Tom Gatmey Amy Caratlno Ray Wilkinson unidcnlified LAMOPH Die Merrill Charky

CllJIIfaIQ amp Jake Feaster -posl services)

~~~

EULOGY hy Chorley CarojanQoulIder amp paSI presidenl of ChaptersIPosts were also present

OFFICIAL DEDICATION OF MARlON COUNTY VETERANS PARK OFFICE BLDG -In Volume I Edition 4 we introduced the readership to the fine memorial expanse or87 acres in

Ocala that the people of Marion County had dedicated to the memory of their sons and da ughters who had gone in harms way extending back to Revolutionary times OUf own Col Gritsavage Chapter U16 Pres ident Dick Merrill had been named Park Director in addition to hjs accepting the position of Chairman of the DOF KWVA Reunion 2001 Commit1ee

On Sa turday March 172001 the Park Office Bu ilding constructed and donated by Ihe Marion Counry Builders Assn was formally dedicated Park Direc torChapter 016 President Merrill officiated as co-emcee in collaboration with Ed Smith Ass County Adminis trator The program began at 930 am and concluded well into the afternoon hours

Several members ofChaplef 016 who had contributed hundreds of volunteer hours in the park

PRESENTATION OF COLORS byJr ROTC codflbull o[development effort attended in addition (0 members FOrUI High School In Ocala This unil also posledl~lriev~d Ih

from Citrus Chapler 192 and Cen frol Florida (ololS for au DOF KIlVA Reoon 2()()I aso in Ocala Chapfer 153 The local SAR chapter dedicated a

Liberty Tree Concert music was provided by a local volunteer musician band known as The Kingdom of the Sun Band Keys were handed over award certificates and plaques were presented

Keynote speaker was Malcolm Randall Director Emeritus of V AM C Gainesville quoting liberally from the poetry

of John Donne A chicken barbecue dinner was served a barbershop quartet entertained and at 1430 hrs dedicashy

tion of USN Seabees Is land X-J4

Ch~ laachtr DICk Memll bricks rook ParA DrreclOICh ~Ot6 Pres Hoad flueltnu Chaplain CIIS Ch 19 TOil place Gaffil~y Jau- Feoster Oep JA amp rfOf CII 106 and Ptl~ McKay ell j~ 153

Throughout the day blood pressure readings were taken lours of the park were conducted Marion County Human Resources Dept had a booth to recruit veterans for jobs open in Marion Co government The Mari on County Commissioners have a veterans preference hiring system in place

(Friday am 11 May Tom Gaffney arranged a guided lour of Ihe fuciliry for Notional Presidenl Coon Nat ional j-ltI VP Magill alld Dept 2M VP Oadswell conducted by none other than Park Director Merrill himself Pres Gaffney also provided the transport )

G rtsonJge 11016 chapter

Gat hering for Honor Yolusia County Counc il members and representati ves of the Southwest Yolusia Veterans Council

break ground for the Pfe Emory L Bennett Veterans M emorial Park May J 0200 1 Volusia County s newest westside park will be on the corner ofYeterans Memorial Parkway and Rhode Is land Avenue in Orange City In the early 1990s the Volusia Cou nty Counc i asked residents throughout the area 10 nominate veterans who had performed a serv ice 10 their communities PFC Emory L Bennett Memorial was chosen for the park s name Benne is the only Volusia County native to be awarded the Congressshyional Medal of Honor Pres ident Harry S Truman bestowed the award posthumously in 1952

(In pholo above Depl FL KWVA Pres Tom Gaffney(far ItJl) and KIWA Ch 189 member Reggie Beverly (3rdfrom left) man shovels as KWVA members 0 Ch 153 S R Ellington Pres Ed Brandl Secry amp Pete McKay arm lip in 2d LR Olhers ~ieldillg I hovefs arerom I to r Mal Dale Tennanl TROA Patricia Narlhey County council Dwight Lewis Chairman VollsiG County Council Ann McFalJ Vice-Chairman othe Council and Joyce Cusack Distriet State Represenlative))

The lead paragraphs of this story Omtona Beach News-Journal by Autumn C Giusti read as fo llows

ORANGE Cm - Ten golden sho vels ntIMed by volusia Counryofficials arnI war etcrans broke ground Thumlay (10 May) morning at The site of the oountys newest regiooal park

CountyoffieiaJs aIlticipllle ooos truction ofPhasc I ofPFC Emory L BellIleti Memorial P31k will begi n next week On

Veterans Memorial ParkwDY The park will serve the Southwest Volusia area After all the park meetings and waiting for (Veterans Memorinl) 0 gel built we re excited at Ihis JXlint in time

thats for sure said Vol usia Count)middot Leisure Services director Bi ll Apgar The park s namesake who was born in New Sm)1ll3 Beach in 1929 is the only Volus ia County native to receive the

Congressional Medal of Honor President Harry Truman awarded him the medal posthwnously in 1952 for sacrificing his life for his OOUIItry during the Korean Wtu

When 8eAAetl and about 400 soldiers were holdinampa slrateBie post dur ing the W iU they came under anack by 1400 NClMh Korwns 8 ennet1 ran though the line o f fore and began shoot ing at the enemy halting their advancee He volUfltce~d

to suy behind and protect his troops as they wilh~w Indoingso he was wOUlldcd th ree l imes and losl his tife Henfltt1 Park will become the third local facility arned in the velenul s honor a Da)1oa Beach nursing

home and a park in Ncw Sm)fTIl also bear his name

SOUTH LAKE COUNTY PAYS TRlBUTE TO CHAPTER FOUNDER amp SPOUSE

South Lake County Chapter 188 tumed their town s Firs Friday into a salutary moment in the history of Clermont and its K WVA veterans Monthly the city blocks off the main street sets up food tasting booths and caps the evening with a show of some type in the City auditorium 6 April witnessed a concert by a 70 piece vo lunteer band recruited from the Orlando area and a presentation 10

Patty )(jnney widow of the lale George Kinney founder and first president ofehapler 188 who lost his banle with cancer on 13 Mar 200 I

Carl Duke co-founder orlne Chapter took the Freedom Medallion of Appreciation that George had received posthumously during the recent KACF tour and had it mounted on a presentation plaque Halfwaythrough the caneen the plaque and a bouquet were presented to Palty Kinney by Duke Bob Beasley 188 Chapter Pres~dent and Carol Becker Gold Star Widow amp Historian ofChaplcrs 188 and 1 69 Dept President Tom Gaffney amp wife Mary and PeterlBevcrly McKay of

1Central FL Chapler 153 attended The banner that is seen in the fotos is the

l~Z~t handiwork of Carol Becker who created 11 an identical one for Chapter 169

Carol Becker wrote us 00 Monday 28 May about at1 ending Memorial ceremonies at Woodlawn Cemetery in O range County She was SOOOOOOO impressed wilh Ihe ceremony 17le lemperQture was aver 90 Boy Scouts circulated wilh

pafXr cups awater Color guard and honor guard Big Liberty Bell A VFW bandplaying The bariTone SOOiSI was magnijice1f The

I speakers Jrept your alfenlion fleuro most oUlslond ing speaker 0 the day was Ollr own Bob

Beasey He was Ihe one A LIGHT MOillNT IN UERMONT Ihat mal1)l came up 10 I

afterwards wanting more inannation on mednlfions and Chapler membership and more Ocourse all these men are Orlando residents and Bob will pass this along 10 (Vic) Haas (Chapler President Mid-Florida 173) He g(IVe such a touching y et sllong presentation Ihal malry near me were agreeing with him saying yes yes And some in lears 1 hea rd mal1)l come up 10 Bob saying thallhey enjoyed his

dynamic speech He had indeed done a terrijicjob

WARMINC UP - BQb Beasley al Clermonl before his Memorial Day oddress a Woodlawn

SHOWING THE FLAG IN THE TREASURE COAST CHAPTER PRECINCTS

As reported by Joe Cranksbaw of the Stuart News and Kathleen Chapman of the Palm Beach Post the US Amly recruiting center at Regency Square in Stuart was the target of a group from the Tre1SUTC Coast chapler 106 protesting thc controversia 1 M ilitary beret issue on Friday morn ing 6 April

USARIA1 Bob McCaffrey founder of the Treasure Coast Chapter pictured in the

photo to the left was one of the more B Amer

uy-calll visible (double fO the camera 5 eye) of ~I protesters For any of our readers who

may have been under a roc( for the past several monlhs the decisio n by newlymiddot minted Army Chief of Sta ff Eric Shinseki

to purchasc 26 million black berets 10 outfit all US Army personnel has been mel with shall we sa) great spirited negative reaction by former retired us Rangers and most veterans in general The black beret has been worn exclusively by Ihe Rangers in a tradition datlog back 10 pre-Revolutionary times Shinseki announced that June 14111

the US Armys birthday the conversion to the black beret would go into effect

Then the decision to shop Oul approximately 25 Oflha order to the Peoples Republ ic of China brought in the Korea n War Veterans protest dimension - ergo the sign thaI McCaffrey carries Buy American

WaUy M9rqllis long lime member and past I Vice-President of the Chapter engaged in the Friday morning protest and is pictured in the foto to the right

McCaffrey and Marquis took part on 22 Mar 200 J in a District tribute ror YFW National Commandershyin-Chief John F Gwizdak The Habe Sound festivities

included a Post honor Guard receiving line amp four course dinnerluncheon featuring in the words of the CIC chicken with its clothes on f

Commander Gwizdak spoke to- the assembled YFW guests on the high priority veterans iss ues of VA Funding new facility cOJlslruction the Montgomery OI Bill and the Defense Budget

Jtb 81511 00_

1Ihtrlne llarri State of Florida Sccrewy rStare

Hobcrt A 8 utkrworthDEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Auonuy Gcnrll Rob MWlCIlnOffice of the Eltecutive Di rector

S(IIC ComplllIeshy2540 Executive Center Circle Wesl Sui te 100 Tn (JJarhtr

Slarc TrQ aTallahassee florida 3230 1 T~r RIwd Actin

(850) 487-1533 I Fax (850) 488-5698 Cnmjoo~ orAgricultun t-rllc Crirtwww_floridavetsorg Robin L I-hggins CltltllJliOoICr or EduCllUon

Exlt-culivc Diredol

April 2 200 I

Mr Thomas Gaffney President Korean War Veterans 624 Vespers Way Orange C ity FL 32763

Dcar~~ I want you 10 know Ihal l have informed the Govem or and the Cabinelthat I wi ll be leavi ng al the end of lhis legis la tive session in May I believe) am leaving lhe best job in Florida I would never dream of giving up this position if it werenl ror the greal opportuni ty that I have been gIven by the President or lhe United States to continue to serve veterans in yet another speci al way should the US Senale eon finn my nomrnatioll as Under Secretary ror Memorial Affairs in the US Department of Veterans Affairs

All that we have done has been a lnle partnersnip with the Govemor and the Cabinet wiUl our State legis lators on both s ides ofthc political aisle and certainly with the Vcerans Service Organialioos and - COlmty Veterans Serv ice Officers Thanks (0 this partnership we have been able to improve Lhe lives and status or veterans in this state There is s till mueh to do but) hope I will be leaving my employces the department and our 17 million veterans bettcr than when Jcame

Together we have opened and staffed two new veterans nursing homes and have beglm funding and planning ror two additional homes we have expanded one of the nations busiest National Cemeteries in Bushnell Florida and rought for rederal funding for a new National Cemetery in south Florida bave imprOVed the economic status o f thousands of veterans and their families by he lping lhem to aecess millions of do llars in rcderal bcocCits and completed memorials to our Meda l of Honor recipienlS our Korean War velerans and soon our World War 11 veterans

Attached is a list or our two-year accomplishments Thank you

I cannot begin to te ll you how honored have been to lead this department for thc last two years Thank you ror your confidence and your kindness I hope in Washington to be able to bring the same professionalism passion and pride that we all share when we try to make Florida a beller place ror veterans to live to the Importanl consliluency I Will serve

Sincerely

~~~ ~Robin L Higgins

AUachmcnt

CONT D FR PAGE I WE REMEMBER

TadellIz M Ted Cedro 3 Vice-President DOF KYNA died ThurSday April 19 2001 at the home of his daughter Julie dEgidio in Florham ParIlt NJ Ted a ten year resident of Davie FL had retumed to NJ in mid-March to be with his daughter and sons in the final days

Bom in Poland May 25 1933 he had emigrated with his family to the US in 1940 The family senled in Jackson Heights NY In 1951 Telt1 enlisted in the US Army serving withe 23 nf Reg 200

Infantry Division He was a recipient of the CIS Purple Heart etc He graduated 1956 from Lehigh Univ Bethlehem PA wan industrial engineering degree

He retired from Sperry-Univac DiviSion in Parsippany NJ Prior to that he was employed by IBM for 15 yrs amp ownedoperated the Wilton Group Roovayton eN

Ted NaS a member and past president of Eddy Lyon Ch 015 Hollywood Fl He was preshydeceased by his wife Beverly He attended 5t Davids in Davie amp Holy Family Florham Parle He was laid to rest al Gate of Heaven East Hanover NJ

Joe Schirano was felled by a heart aHack on Sat April 6 2001 at home in DeBary Plantation Fairway Hills FL He was retumed to Rochester NY by his six children for burial

Joe was a lifetime member of the rWNA and a charter member of Central FL Ch 153 in which he served as Secretary-Treasurer 1997-99 Retiring withe rank of Major upon serving 20 years wIthe US Army he served 1950-51 in Korea with the 304111 Signal

Service Bn He was a member of the Retired Officers Club of VoluSia County and Chairman of the Beautification Board City of Deltona He was a member of Our Lady of the Lakes Church and is survived by his six children and a 96 year old mother

CONTD FR PAGE 1 GATHERlNG

Sergeant Major AJ Camoeses from Miami-Dade Chapter 1 10 had traveled the farthest within the State 93 meals were served with the limit of Departmem largesse expressed in freebies for Jr ROTC honor guard from Forest High and its commander and honored guests Hank Whittier Dennis Badey and Austin Miller of the Ocala Star Banner and his door priJe-selecting son

18 of the 22 chapters were represented at the Executive Cou ncil and the Reunion Business

meetings The Dept charter was draped in tribute to those who are no longer wus Dept Color Guard Officer R McCaffrey amp Sunshi ne

Stale President Jack Edwards arranged the

unit charters and standards oflhc several chapshylers in the meeting rooms and the banquet hall During the Executive Council and General Membership meetings the Dcpartment charter was draped in memory of our departed comrades

Aopointments made Pete McKay C hapter 153 to the pos ition of Sergeant-atshyArms Ted Sullivan Chapter ) 53 as Chairman of the Norninati onslElections Committee and SUI TrinchiteUa Chapter J24 - C hainnan of Ihe Bylaws conunittee

The report af the Treasurer Joan Arcand was read accepted and complimented far clarity of statement amp simplicity of fonnat

Minutes of the 3 Executive Council meeting were read and approved by the Executive Council on Fri May lIdgt Next day a procedurshyal point arose at the general membership meeting regarding the reading afthe minutes of the last general meeting the recorded proceedings ohhe last administration That date was 12 Mar 2000 Unfortunately those records are nOI available

for whatever reasons The mood of the membership however

was to turn that page for good and continue to press forward Thjs doesn t det ract from the legitimate objection made from the Ooor It is resolved that such will not happen in the future

Tom Suoseri Department QM presented information relating the $ value of inventory OIH and checkbook opera ting funds $600 in checking aCcounl $ 1200 in a l cost In ventory The Dept QM (j) began in Aug 2000 under the current administration and has performed outstandingly in that short period thanks principa lly to the efforts of Su nseri and Depul) Murdocb Foro doubling in brass his as In VP Baldomero Lopez eh 11 175 Tampa

We stated at both meetings that we certa in]y do communicate via the email network coordinated by the ubiquitous JA Jake Feaster the upgrading o f the Depanmenl WebSite and the Department publication Veterans Voice

Feaster talked the Executive Council amp the fo llowing day the general membersnip body through the a lterations to the Department Bylaws This complete overhaul had been almost five years in the making Again thanks are due principally to lead architect J ake Feaster

Col Cbarley Price Director of Legislative Affa irs Lia ison presented a series o f RESOLUTIONS reconunending positions that the DO F KWVA should take in concert with it s brmher veterans organizations on issues of vita l interest to the veterans of this State Those RESOLUTIONS COVER Support of Nationa l Veterans Cemeteries Adoption o flnstant Oingo and Boosting Ad Va lorem Homestead Exemption to $5 000

Sa luta ry items included the designation o f Florida 4J 7 the Greenway as Korean War Veterans ftfemoria HighwC1)I a 35-mile streich from Sanford to Disney World should become law with the signing of a Transportation Package Bill Veterans PrefCTence in Employment la w has been expanded to citycounty managers management positions and policymaking positions and budgeting on a nonrecurring basis of$200OOO for JVet the Veterans Homeless program in Duva l County (Jacksonville)

The short lis t ofcandidates (4) to replace ou tgoing Robio Higgins as State Director for Veterans Affairs would produce a decision by ISMay Pri ce oplned that we would be addressshying Madam DireclOr He was righl on The readership is referred to the Jennifer Carroll article elsewhere in this issue

Direetor Prices presentation including all RESOLUTIONS directed to FL Legis lature amp the dues-sha ring item directed to K WVA Nan Executive Board was passed una nimously by the Executive Council and General Membership on successive meeti ngs II May amp 12 May 200

Dept POWIMIA Ed Fenton gave an excellent presentation at the Genera l Membership meeting concluding with a 20 minute award winning videotape re Johnson s List and the Tiger Survivors Ed cautioned us of the very rea l national problem identi fy ing wannabes who pose as POWs in veterans commuruties

If r fA ~~ ~ Saturday evening the MA Table serting

ceremony was enacted by Director Fenton a nd K WVA National Pres ident Harley Coon to the narration of Sunshine State Chapter President and past National Director Jack Edwards

At the banquet President Bob Beasley C h 188 Soulh Lake County eloquently eulogized the [ate George Jltjoney founderl1 il

president of the Chapter President Coon spoke briefly Opening

rema rks complimented the Dept FL for a dedicated leuden middotJip He recounted impresmiddot s ions from his POW experience Adj ourning that evening President Coon made an immediate point of stating Greal show Dept ofFlorida

-30shy

I 0 r BQb amp Det Hawes Bev Pele McKoy Ray amp Helen FJingu)n Mildred Whil e standing

WHICH CO-EMCEE HANDLES n-os PART OF THE PROGRAM

MAGilL WON T TOUCH IT

SOT Y1AJ OR A J CAMQESES and Barney OBrien Secy Brevard County Chaplif ]10

BANQUET HIGHLIGHTS Co-Emcees

Dick Merrill Col Gritsavage Chapler 110 6 Tom Gaffney Dept of FL KWVA Pres ident

Program Speakers

Hank Vhittier - Veterans helping Veterans Ocala area Dennis Baxley Stale Representative Ocala district Harley Coon - KWYA National PresideJll

Award Recipients

Bob MacLean outgoing J yp Joan Arcand outgoing Treas r Jim Pack Korean Liaison D ir Tom Sunseri Department QM Jake Feaster Judge Advoca te Clarence DadsweU outgoing

2nd VP incoming YAVS Stale Coordinator

Door amp Raffle Prize Winners

Ed Pfeiffer - bronzed victory eagle bookeods donated by Tom CatfueylDAR Sugar Mill Chapler New Smyrna

M F Jack Gleason - signed numbered biogra phy of MOH recipient LTC Matt Urban donated by Tom GaffoeyfTom amp Marian Roberts

Vic Haas - gold amp jeweled necklace donated by Jimmy Williams

g bull bull (

j

Coon amp Dfpl FL Korean Liaison Affairs Direclor illmc$ Paek

THE LAmES THAT GOT IT OONE I 10 r pound Merrill V McNeely Annelle Feaster A Pfeiffer lu Chnson - the Auxiliary ofGrilsavage Chapter 016

TED amp NANCY SULLI~AN - J If Cenral Florida Ch IIjJ~ new Dept Chairmon Nominaljom amp Cectionr Commllfle

DOF KWV A GfVES A FINAL SALUTE TO COLONEL ALICE

A memorial service at the Blessed Trinity Ca tholic Church in Ocala was held on Thursday 19 April The fo llowing Thursday 26 April interment services were held a t the Good Shepherd Memorial

Gardens 5050 SW 201h SI US Army troops from Hunter Army Air

Stati on in GA convoyed south to perfonn the nag foldingpresentation and ceremonial firing ritua ls at graveside

The Department of Florida K WVA was formidably represented Members from Chaplers Col Grirsavage 016 Ofceola Chapter 11124 Central Florida Chapler 153 Lake County Chapter 169 SOlltlt Lake County Cwpter 188 and Citrus Chapler 192 attended Fellow veterans from several MOPHfLAMOPH American Legion and VFW

KJIVA Col Alice Grifsavage Chapler 1016 Ocala Col Gntsavage was SUrviVed by her Sister

Jconie Clardy and severa l nieces and nephews Moving to Ocala in 1979 she had lived wsister Jennie and nephew Jobn Clar-dy Clardy is an associate member of K WVA Chapter 0 16

At Good Shepherd eulogies were delivered by nephew John Clardy founder amp past president of Chapter 016 C harley CantfaoO past president Jake Feaster and Chapler president Dick Merrill Dept president Tow Gaffney added a few remarks

Funera l arrangements were handled by Roberts Funeral Home and Jennings Archway Chapel

Througnout her professiona l and milia ry career Col Alice was known as a lireless worker for servjcemen a nd women especially those who served in Ihe Korean War

Steadfast in her convictions she came under fi re from Privileged 10 know her at leaSI brieflymiddotmiddotmiddot

the entrenched bureaucracy in Ihe military but wa s upheld by each oflhe theater commanders to whom she reported

When Col Alice left FECOM in 1953 Theater Commander-in-CruefMark C lar-k sa id hcr untiring efforts o lllstanding leadership and delOlion to duty have sel CJ brillianl example and h(1Ve been directly responsible for the excellent services pefonned by Ollr gallant Army nurses

(FOTO TO THE LEFT - From left 10 right Howad HuCtfnCJ Tom Gatmey Amy Caratlno Ray Wilkinson unidcnlified LAMOPH Die Merrill Charky

CllJIIfaIQ amp Jake Feaster -posl services)

~~~

EULOGY hy Chorley CarojanQoulIder amp paSI presidenl of ChaptersIPosts were also present

OFFICIAL DEDICATION OF MARlON COUNTY VETERANS PARK OFFICE BLDG -In Volume I Edition 4 we introduced the readership to the fine memorial expanse or87 acres in

Ocala that the people of Marion County had dedicated to the memory of their sons and da ughters who had gone in harms way extending back to Revolutionary times OUf own Col Gritsavage Chapter U16 Pres ident Dick Merrill had been named Park Director in addition to hjs accepting the position of Chairman of the DOF KWVA Reunion 2001 Commit1ee

On Sa turday March 172001 the Park Office Bu ilding constructed and donated by Ihe Marion Counry Builders Assn was formally dedicated Park Direc torChapter 016 President Merrill officiated as co-emcee in collaboration with Ed Smith Ass County Adminis trator The program began at 930 am and concluded well into the afternoon hours

Several members ofChaplef 016 who had contributed hundreds of volunteer hours in the park

PRESENTATION OF COLORS byJr ROTC codflbull o[development effort attended in addition (0 members FOrUI High School In Ocala This unil also posledl~lriev~d Ih

from Citrus Chapler 192 and Cen frol Florida (ololS for au DOF KIlVA Reoon 2()()I aso in Ocala Chapfer 153 The local SAR chapter dedicated a

Liberty Tree Concert music was provided by a local volunteer musician band known as The Kingdom of the Sun Band Keys were handed over award certificates and plaques were presented

Keynote speaker was Malcolm Randall Director Emeritus of V AM C Gainesville quoting liberally from the poetry

of John Donne A chicken barbecue dinner was served a barbershop quartet entertained and at 1430 hrs dedicashy

tion of USN Seabees Is land X-J4

Ch~ laachtr DICk Memll bricks rook ParA DrreclOICh ~Ot6 Pres Hoad flueltnu Chaplain CIIS Ch 19 TOil place Gaffil~y Jau- Feoster Oep JA amp rfOf CII 106 and Ptl~ McKay ell j~ 153

Throughout the day blood pressure readings were taken lours of the park were conducted Marion County Human Resources Dept had a booth to recruit veterans for jobs open in Marion Co government The Mari on County Commissioners have a veterans preference hiring system in place

(Friday am 11 May Tom Gaffney arranged a guided lour of Ihe fuciliry for Notional Presidenl Coon Nat ional j-ltI VP Magill alld Dept 2M VP Oadswell conducted by none other than Park Director Merrill himself Pres Gaffney also provided the transport )

G rtsonJge 11016 chapter

Gat hering for Honor Yolusia County Counc il members and representati ves of the Southwest Yolusia Veterans Council

break ground for the Pfe Emory L Bennett Veterans M emorial Park May J 0200 1 Volusia County s newest westside park will be on the corner ofYeterans Memorial Parkway and Rhode Is land Avenue in Orange City In the early 1990s the Volusia Cou nty Counc i asked residents throughout the area 10 nominate veterans who had performed a serv ice 10 their communities PFC Emory L Bennett Memorial was chosen for the park s name Benne is the only Volusia County native to be awarded the Congressshyional Medal of Honor Pres ident Harry S Truman bestowed the award posthumously in 1952

(In pholo above Depl FL KWVA Pres Tom Gaffney(far ItJl) and KIWA Ch 189 member Reggie Beverly (3rdfrom left) man shovels as KWVA members 0 Ch 153 S R Ellington Pres Ed Brandl Secry amp Pete McKay arm lip in 2d LR Olhers ~ieldillg I hovefs arerom I to r Mal Dale Tennanl TROA Patricia Narlhey County council Dwight Lewis Chairman VollsiG County Council Ann McFalJ Vice-Chairman othe Council and Joyce Cusack Distriet State Represenlative))

The lead paragraphs of this story Omtona Beach News-Journal by Autumn C Giusti read as fo llows

ORANGE Cm - Ten golden sho vels ntIMed by volusia Counryofficials arnI war etcrans broke ground Thumlay (10 May) morning at The site of the oountys newest regiooal park

CountyoffieiaJs aIlticipllle ooos truction ofPhasc I ofPFC Emory L BellIleti Memorial P31k will begi n next week On

Veterans Memorial ParkwDY The park will serve the Southwest Volusia area After all the park meetings and waiting for (Veterans Memorinl) 0 gel built we re excited at Ihis JXlint in time

thats for sure said Vol usia Count)middot Leisure Services director Bi ll Apgar The park s namesake who was born in New Sm)1ll3 Beach in 1929 is the only Volus ia County native to receive the

Congressional Medal of Honor President Harry Truman awarded him the medal posthwnously in 1952 for sacrificing his life for his OOUIItry during the Korean Wtu

When 8eAAetl and about 400 soldiers were holdinampa slrateBie post dur ing the W iU they came under anack by 1400 NClMh Korwns 8 ennet1 ran though the line o f fore and began shoot ing at the enemy halting their advancee He volUfltce~d

to suy behind and protect his troops as they wilh~w Indoingso he was wOUlldcd th ree l imes and losl his tife Henfltt1 Park will become the third local facility arned in the velenul s honor a Da)1oa Beach nursing

home and a park in Ncw Sm)fTIl also bear his name

SOUTH LAKE COUNTY PAYS TRlBUTE TO CHAPTER FOUNDER amp SPOUSE

South Lake County Chapter 188 tumed their town s Firs Friday into a salutary moment in the history of Clermont and its K WVA veterans Monthly the city blocks off the main street sets up food tasting booths and caps the evening with a show of some type in the City auditorium 6 April witnessed a concert by a 70 piece vo lunteer band recruited from the Orlando area and a presentation 10

Patty )(jnney widow of the lale George Kinney founder and first president ofehapler 188 who lost his banle with cancer on 13 Mar 200 I

Carl Duke co-founder orlne Chapter took the Freedom Medallion of Appreciation that George had received posthumously during the recent KACF tour and had it mounted on a presentation plaque Halfwaythrough the caneen the plaque and a bouquet were presented to Palty Kinney by Duke Bob Beasley 188 Chapter Pres~dent and Carol Becker Gold Star Widow amp Historian ofChaplcrs 188 and 1 69 Dept President Tom Gaffney amp wife Mary and PeterlBevcrly McKay of

1Central FL Chapler 153 attended The banner that is seen in the fotos is the

l~Z~t handiwork of Carol Becker who created 11 an identical one for Chapter 169

Carol Becker wrote us 00 Monday 28 May about at1 ending Memorial ceremonies at Woodlawn Cemetery in O range County She was SOOOOOOO impressed wilh Ihe ceremony 17le lemperQture was aver 90 Boy Scouts circulated wilh

pafXr cups awater Color guard and honor guard Big Liberty Bell A VFW bandplaying The bariTone SOOiSI was magnijice1f The

I speakers Jrept your alfenlion fleuro most oUlslond ing speaker 0 the day was Ollr own Bob

Beasey He was Ihe one A LIGHT MOillNT IN UERMONT Ihat mal1)l came up 10 I

afterwards wanting more inannation on mednlfions and Chapler membership and more Ocourse all these men are Orlando residents and Bob will pass this along 10 (Vic) Haas (Chapler President Mid-Florida 173) He g(IVe such a touching y et sllong presentation Ihal malry near me were agreeing with him saying yes yes And some in lears 1 hea rd mal1)l come up 10 Bob saying thallhey enjoyed his

dynamic speech He had indeed done a terrijicjob

WARMINC UP - BQb Beasley al Clermonl before his Memorial Day oddress a Woodlawn

SHOWING THE FLAG IN THE TREASURE COAST CHAPTER PRECINCTS

As reported by Joe Cranksbaw of the Stuart News and Kathleen Chapman of the Palm Beach Post the US Amly recruiting center at Regency Square in Stuart was the target of a group from the Tre1SUTC Coast chapler 106 protesting thc controversia 1 M ilitary beret issue on Friday morn ing 6 April

USARIA1 Bob McCaffrey founder of the Treasure Coast Chapter pictured in the

photo to the left was one of the more B Amer

uy-calll visible (double fO the camera 5 eye) of ~I protesters For any of our readers who

may have been under a roc( for the past several monlhs the decisio n by newlymiddot minted Army Chief of Sta ff Eric Shinseki

to purchasc 26 million black berets 10 outfit all US Army personnel has been mel with shall we sa) great spirited negative reaction by former retired us Rangers and most veterans in general The black beret has been worn exclusively by Ihe Rangers in a tradition datlog back 10 pre-Revolutionary times Shinseki announced that June 14111

the US Armys birthday the conversion to the black beret would go into effect

Then the decision to shop Oul approximately 25 Oflha order to the Peoples Republ ic of China brought in the Korea n War Veterans protest dimension - ergo the sign thaI McCaffrey carries Buy American

WaUy M9rqllis long lime member and past I Vice-President of the Chapter engaged in the Friday morning protest and is pictured in the foto to the right

McCaffrey and Marquis took part on 22 Mar 200 J in a District tribute ror YFW National Commandershyin-Chief John F Gwizdak The Habe Sound festivities

included a Post honor Guard receiving line amp four course dinnerluncheon featuring in the words of the CIC chicken with its clothes on f

Commander Gwizdak spoke to- the assembled YFW guests on the high priority veterans iss ues of VA Funding new facility cOJlslruction the Montgomery OI Bill and the Defense Budget

Jtb 81511 00_

1Ihtrlne llarri State of Florida Sccrewy rStare

Hobcrt A 8 utkrworthDEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Auonuy Gcnrll Rob MWlCIlnOffice of the Eltecutive Di rector

S(IIC ComplllIeshy2540 Executive Center Circle Wesl Sui te 100 Tn (JJarhtr

Slarc TrQ aTallahassee florida 3230 1 T~r RIwd Actin

(850) 487-1533 I Fax (850) 488-5698 Cnmjoo~ orAgricultun t-rllc Crirtwww_floridavetsorg Robin L I-hggins CltltllJliOoICr or EduCllUon

Exlt-culivc Diredol

April 2 200 I

Mr Thomas Gaffney President Korean War Veterans 624 Vespers Way Orange C ity FL 32763

Dcar~~ I want you 10 know Ihal l have informed the Govem or and the Cabinelthat I wi ll be leavi ng al the end of lhis legis la tive session in May I believe) am leaving lhe best job in Florida I would never dream of giving up this position if it werenl ror the greal opportuni ty that I have been gIven by the President or lhe United States to continue to serve veterans in yet another speci al way should the US Senale eon finn my nomrnatioll as Under Secretary ror Memorial Affairs in the US Department of Veterans Affairs

All that we have done has been a lnle partnersnip with the Govemor and the Cabinet wiUl our State legis lators on both s ides ofthc political aisle and certainly with the Vcerans Service Organialioos and - COlmty Veterans Serv ice Officers Thanks (0 this partnership we have been able to improve Lhe lives and status or veterans in this state There is s till mueh to do but) hope I will be leaving my employces the department and our 17 million veterans bettcr than when Jcame

Together we have opened and staffed two new veterans nursing homes and have beglm funding and planning ror two additional homes we have expanded one of the nations busiest National Cemeteries in Bushnell Florida and rought for rederal funding for a new National Cemetery in south Florida bave imprOVed the economic status o f thousands of veterans and their families by he lping lhem to aecess millions of do llars in rcderal bcocCits and completed memorials to our Meda l of Honor recipienlS our Korean War velerans and soon our World War 11 veterans

Attached is a list or our two-year accomplishments Thank you

I cannot begin to te ll you how honored have been to lead this department for thc last two years Thank you ror your confidence and your kindness I hope in Washington to be able to bring the same professionalism passion and pride that we all share when we try to make Florida a beller place ror veterans to live to the Importanl consliluency I Will serve

Sincerely

~~~ ~Robin L Higgins

AUachmcnt

for whatever reasons The mood of the membership however

was to turn that page for good and continue to press forward Thjs doesn t det ract from the legitimate objection made from the Ooor It is resolved that such will not happen in the future

Tom Suoseri Department QM presented information relating the $ value of inventory OIH and checkbook opera ting funds $600 in checking aCcounl $ 1200 in a l cost In ventory The Dept QM (j) began in Aug 2000 under the current administration and has performed outstandingly in that short period thanks principa lly to the efforts of Su nseri and Depul) Murdocb Foro doubling in brass his as In VP Baldomero Lopez eh 11 175 Tampa

We stated at both meetings that we certa in]y do communicate via the email network coordinated by the ubiquitous JA Jake Feaster the upgrading o f the Depanmenl WebSite and the Department publication Veterans Voice

Feaster talked the Executive Council amp the fo llowing day the general membersnip body through the a lterations to the Department Bylaws This complete overhaul had been almost five years in the making Again thanks are due principally to lead architect J ake Feaster

Col Cbarley Price Director of Legislative Affa irs Lia ison presented a series o f RESOLUTIONS reconunending positions that the DO F KWVA should take in concert with it s brmher veterans organizations on issues of vita l interest to the veterans of this State Those RESOLUTIONS COVER Support of Nationa l Veterans Cemeteries Adoption o flnstant Oingo and Boosting Ad Va lorem Homestead Exemption to $5 000

Sa luta ry items included the designation o f Florida 4J 7 the Greenway as Korean War Veterans ftfemoria HighwC1)I a 35-mile streich from Sanford to Disney World should become law with the signing of a Transportation Package Bill Veterans PrefCTence in Employment la w has been expanded to citycounty managers management positions and policymaking positions and budgeting on a nonrecurring basis of$200OOO for JVet the Veterans Homeless program in Duva l County (Jacksonville)

The short lis t ofcandidates (4) to replace ou tgoing Robio Higgins as State Director for Veterans Affairs would produce a decision by ISMay Pri ce oplned that we would be addressshying Madam DireclOr He was righl on The readership is referred to the Jennifer Carroll article elsewhere in this issue

Direetor Prices presentation including all RESOLUTIONS directed to FL Legis lature amp the dues-sha ring item directed to K WVA Nan Executive Board was passed una nimously by the Executive Council and General Membership on successive meeti ngs II May amp 12 May 200

Dept POWIMIA Ed Fenton gave an excellent presentation at the Genera l Membership meeting concluding with a 20 minute award winning videotape re Johnson s List and the Tiger Survivors Ed cautioned us of the very rea l national problem identi fy ing wannabes who pose as POWs in veterans commuruties

If r fA ~~ ~ Saturday evening the MA Table serting

ceremony was enacted by Director Fenton a nd K WVA National Pres ident Harley Coon to the narration of Sunshine State Chapter President and past National Director Jack Edwards

At the banquet President Bob Beasley C h 188 Soulh Lake County eloquently eulogized the [ate George Jltjoney founderl1 il

president of the Chapter President Coon spoke briefly Opening

rema rks complimented the Dept FL for a dedicated leuden middotJip He recounted impresmiddot s ions from his POW experience Adj ourning that evening President Coon made an immediate point of stating Greal show Dept ofFlorida

-30shy

I 0 r BQb amp Det Hawes Bev Pele McKoy Ray amp Helen FJingu)n Mildred Whil e standing

WHICH CO-EMCEE HANDLES n-os PART OF THE PROGRAM

MAGilL WON T TOUCH IT

SOT Y1AJ OR A J CAMQESES and Barney OBrien Secy Brevard County Chaplif ]10

BANQUET HIGHLIGHTS Co-Emcees

Dick Merrill Col Gritsavage Chapler 110 6 Tom Gaffney Dept of FL KWVA Pres ident

Program Speakers

Hank Vhittier - Veterans helping Veterans Ocala area Dennis Baxley Stale Representative Ocala district Harley Coon - KWYA National PresideJll

Award Recipients

Bob MacLean outgoing J yp Joan Arcand outgoing Treas r Jim Pack Korean Liaison D ir Tom Sunseri Department QM Jake Feaster Judge Advoca te Clarence DadsweU outgoing

2nd VP incoming YAVS Stale Coordinator

Door amp Raffle Prize Winners

Ed Pfeiffer - bronzed victory eagle bookeods donated by Tom CatfueylDAR Sugar Mill Chapler New Smyrna

M F Jack Gleason - signed numbered biogra phy of MOH recipient LTC Matt Urban donated by Tom GaffoeyfTom amp Marian Roberts

Vic Haas - gold amp jeweled necklace donated by Jimmy Williams

g bull bull (

j

Coon amp Dfpl FL Korean Liaison Affairs Direclor illmc$ Paek

THE LAmES THAT GOT IT OONE I 10 r pound Merrill V McNeely Annelle Feaster A Pfeiffer lu Chnson - the Auxiliary ofGrilsavage Chapter 016

TED amp NANCY SULLI~AN - J If Cenral Florida Ch IIjJ~ new Dept Chairmon Nominaljom amp Cectionr Commllfle

DOF KWV A GfVES A FINAL SALUTE TO COLONEL ALICE

A memorial service at the Blessed Trinity Ca tholic Church in Ocala was held on Thursday 19 April The fo llowing Thursday 26 April interment services were held a t the Good Shepherd Memorial

Gardens 5050 SW 201h SI US Army troops from Hunter Army Air

Stati on in GA convoyed south to perfonn the nag foldingpresentation and ceremonial firing ritua ls at graveside

The Department of Florida K WVA was formidably represented Members from Chaplers Col Grirsavage 016 Ofceola Chapter 11124 Central Florida Chapler 153 Lake County Chapter 169 SOlltlt Lake County Cwpter 188 and Citrus Chapler 192 attended Fellow veterans from several MOPHfLAMOPH American Legion and VFW

KJIVA Col Alice Grifsavage Chapler 1016 Ocala Col Gntsavage was SUrviVed by her Sister

Jconie Clardy and severa l nieces and nephews Moving to Ocala in 1979 she had lived wsister Jennie and nephew Jobn Clar-dy Clardy is an associate member of K WVA Chapter 0 16

At Good Shepherd eulogies were delivered by nephew John Clardy founder amp past president of Chapter 016 C harley CantfaoO past president Jake Feaster and Chapler president Dick Merrill Dept president Tow Gaffney added a few remarks

Funera l arrangements were handled by Roberts Funeral Home and Jennings Archway Chapel

Througnout her professiona l and milia ry career Col Alice was known as a lireless worker for servjcemen a nd women especially those who served in Ihe Korean War

Steadfast in her convictions she came under fi re from Privileged 10 know her at leaSI brieflymiddotmiddotmiddot

the entrenched bureaucracy in Ihe military but wa s upheld by each oflhe theater commanders to whom she reported

When Col Alice left FECOM in 1953 Theater Commander-in-CruefMark C lar-k sa id hcr untiring efforts o lllstanding leadership and delOlion to duty have sel CJ brillianl example and h(1Ve been directly responsible for the excellent services pefonned by Ollr gallant Army nurses

(FOTO TO THE LEFT - From left 10 right Howad HuCtfnCJ Tom Gatmey Amy Caratlno Ray Wilkinson unidcnlified LAMOPH Die Merrill Charky

CllJIIfaIQ amp Jake Feaster -posl services)

~~~

EULOGY hy Chorley CarojanQoulIder amp paSI presidenl of ChaptersIPosts were also present

OFFICIAL DEDICATION OF MARlON COUNTY VETERANS PARK OFFICE BLDG -In Volume I Edition 4 we introduced the readership to the fine memorial expanse or87 acres in

Ocala that the people of Marion County had dedicated to the memory of their sons and da ughters who had gone in harms way extending back to Revolutionary times OUf own Col Gritsavage Chapter U16 Pres ident Dick Merrill had been named Park Director in addition to hjs accepting the position of Chairman of the DOF KWVA Reunion 2001 Commit1ee

On Sa turday March 172001 the Park Office Bu ilding constructed and donated by Ihe Marion Counry Builders Assn was formally dedicated Park Direc torChapter 016 President Merrill officiated as co-emcee in collaboration with Ed Smith Ass County Adminis trator The program began at 930 am and concluded well into the afternoon hours

Several members ofChaplef 016 who had contributed hundreds of volunteer hours in the park

PRESENTATION OF COLORS byJr ROTC codflbull o[development effort attended in addition (0 members FOrUI High School In Ocala This unil also posledl~lriev~d Ih

from Citrus Chapler 192 and Cen frol Florida (ololS for au DOF KIlVA Reoon 2()()I aso in Ocala Chapfer 153 The local SAR chapter dedicated a

Liberty Tree Concert music was provided by a local volunteer musician band known as The Kingdom of the Sun Band Keys were handed over award certificates and plaques were presented

Keynote speaker was Malcolm Randall Director Emeritus of V AM C Gainesville quoting liberally from the poetry

of John Donne A chicken barbecue dinner was served a barbershop quartet entertained and at 1430 hrs dedicashy

tion of USN Seabees Is land X-J4

Ch~ laachtr DICk Memll bricks rook ParA DrreclOICh ~Ot6 Pres Hoad flueltnu Chaplain CIIS Ch 19 TOil place Gaffil~y Jau- Feoster Oep JA amp rfOf CII 106 and Ptl~ McKay ell j~ 153

Throughout the day blood pressure readings were taken lours of the park were conducted Marion County Human Resources Dept had a booth to recruit veterans for jobs open in Marion Co government The Mari on County Commissioners have a veterans preference hiring system in place

(Friday am 11 May Tom Gaffney arranged a guided lour of Ihe fuciliry for Notional Presidenl Coon Nat ional j-ltI VP Magill alld Dept 2M VP Oadswell conducted by none other than Park Director Merrill himself Pres Gaffney also provided the transport )

G rtsonJge 11016 chapter

Gat hering for Honor Yolusia County Counc il members and representati ves of the Southwest Yolusia Veterans Council

break ground for the Pfe Emory L Bennett Veterans M emorial Park May J 0200 1 Volusia County s newest westside park will be on the corner ofYeterans Memorial Parkway and Rhode Is land Avenue in Orange City In the early 1990s the Volusia Cou nty Counc i asked residents throughout the area 10 nominate veterans who had performed a serv ice 10 their communities PFC Emory L Bennett Memorial was chosen for the park s name Benne is the only Volusia County native to be awarded the Congressshyional Medal of Honor Pres ident Harry S Truman bestowed the award posthumously in 1952

(In pholo above Depl FL KWVA Pres Tom Gaffney(far ItJl) and KIWA Ch 189 member Reggie Beverly (3rdfrom left) man shovels as KWVA members 0 Ch 153 S R Ellington Pres Ed Brandl Secry amp Pete McKay arm lip in 2d LR Olhers ~ieldillg I hovefs arerom I to r Mal Dale Tennanl TROA Patricia Narlhey County council Dwight Lewis Chairman VollsiG County Council Ann McFalJ Vice-Chairman othe Council and Joyce Cusack Distriet State Represenlative))

The lead paragraphs of this story Omtona Beach News-Journal by Autumn C Giusti read as fo llows

ORANGE Cm - Ten golden sho vels ntIMed by volusia Counryofficials arnI war etcrans broke ground Thumlay (10 May) morning at The site of the oountys newest regiooal park

CountyoffieiaJs aIlticipllle ooos truction ofPhasc I ofPFC Emory L BellIleti Memorial P31k will begi n next week On

Veterans Memorial ParkwDY The park will serve the Southwest Volusia area After all the park meetings and waiting for (Veterans Memorinl) 0 gel built we re excited at Ihis JXlint in time

thats for sure said Vol usia Count)middot Leisure Services director Bi ll Apgar The park s namesake who was born in New Sm)1ll3 Beach in 1929 is the only Volus ia County native to receive the

Congressional Medal of Honor President Harry Truman awarded him the medal posthwnously in 1952 for sacrificing his life for his OOUIItry during the Korean Wtu

When 8eAAetl and about 400 soldiers were holdinampa slrateBie post dur ing the W iU they came under anack by 1400 NClMh Korwns 8 ennet1 ran though the line o f fore and began shoot ing at the enemy halting their advancee He volUfltce~d

to suy behind and protect his troops as they wilh~w Indoingso he was wOUlldcd th ree l imes and losl his tife Henfltt1 Park will become the third local facility arned in the velenul s honor a Da)1oa Beach nursing

home and a park in Ncw Sm)fTIl also bear his name

SOUTH LAKE COUNTY PAYS TRlBUTE TO CHAPTER FOUNDER amp SPOUSE

South Lake County Chapter 188 tumed their town s Firs Friday into a salutary moment in the history of Clermont and its K WVA veterans Monthly the city blocks off the main street sets up food tasting booths and caps the evening with a show of some type in the City auditorium 6 April witnessed a concert by a 70 piece vo lunteer band recruited from the Orlando area and a presentation 10

Patty )(jnney widow of the lale George Kinney founder and first president ofehapler 188 who lost his banle with cancer on 13 Mar 200 I

Carl Duke co-founder orlne Chapter took the Freedom Medallion of Appreciation that George had received posthumously during the recent KACF tour and had it mounted on a presentation plaque Halfwaythrough the caneen the plaque and a bouquet were presented to Palty Kinney by Duke Bob Beasley 188 Chapter Pres~dent and Carol Becker Gold Star Widow amp Historian ofChaplcrs 188 and 1 69 Dept President Tom Gaffney amp wife Mary and PeterlBevcrly McKay of

1Central FL Chapler 153 attended The banner that is seen in the fotos is the

l~Z~t handiwork of Carol Becker who created 11 an identical one for Chapter 169

Carol Becker wrote us 00 Monday 28 May about at1 ending Memorial ceremonies at Woodlawn Cemetery in O range County She was SOOOOOOO impressed wilh Ihe ceremony 17le lemperQture was aver 90 Boy Scouts circulated wilh

pafXr cups awater Color guard and honor guard Big Liberty Bell A VFW bandplaying The bariTone SOOiSI was magnijice1f The

I speakers Jrept your alfenlion fleuro most oUlslond ing speaker 0 the day was Ollr own Bob

Beasey He was Ihe one A LIGHT MOillNT IN UERMONT Ihat mal1)l came up 10 I

afterwards wanting more inannation on mednlfions and Chapler membership and more Ocourse all these men are Orlando residents and Bob will pass this along 10 (Vic) Haas (Chapler President Mid-Florida 173) He g(IVe such a touching y et sllong presentation Ihal malry near me were agreeing with him saying yes yes And some in lears 1 hea rd mal1)l come up 10 Bob saying thallhey enjoyed his

dynamic speech He had indeed done a terrijicjob

WARMINC UP - BQb Beasley al Clermonl before his Memorial Day oddress a Woodlawn

SHOWING THE FLAG IN THE TREASURE COAST CHAPTER PRECINCTS

As reported by Joe Cranksbaw of the Stuart News and Kathleen Chapman of the Palm Beach Post the US Amly recruiting center at Regency Square in Stuart was the target of a group from the Tre1SUTC Coast chapler 106 protesting thc controversia 1 M ilitary beret issue on Friday morn ing 6 April

USARIA1 Bob McCaffrey founder of the Treasure Coast Chapter pictured in the

photo to the left was one of the more B Amer

uy-calll visible (double fO the camera 5 eye) of ~I protesters For any of our readers who

may have been under a roc( for the past several monlhs the decisio n by newlymiddot minted Army Chief of Sta ff Eric Shinseki

to purchasc 26 million black berets 10 outfit all US Army personnel has been mel with shall we sa) great spirited negative reaction by former retired us Rangers and most veterans in general The black beret has been worn exclusively by Ihe Rangers in a tradition datlog back 10 pre-Revolutionary times Shinseki announced that June 14111

the US Armys birthday the conversion to the black beret would go into effect

Then the decision to shop Oul approximately 25 Oflha order to the Peoples Republ ic of China brought in the Korea n War Veterans protest dimension - ergo the sign thaI McCaffrey carries Buy American

WaUy M9rqllis long lime member and past I Vice-President of the Chapter engaged in the Friday morning protest and is pictured in the foto to the right

McCaffrey and Marquis took part on 22 Mar 200 J in a District tribute ror YFW National Commandershyin-Chief John F Gwizdak The Habe Sound festivities

included a Post honor Guard receiving line amp four course dinnerluncheon featuring in the words of the CIC chicken with its clothes on f

Commander Gwizdak spoke to- the assembled YFW guests on the high priority veterans iss ues of VA Funding new facility cOJlslruction the Montgomery OI Bill and the Defense Budget

Jtb 81511 00_

1Ihtrlne llarri State of Florida Sccrewy rStare

Hobcrt A 8 utkrworthDEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Auonuy Gcnrll Rob MWlCIlnOffice of the Eltecutive Di rector

S(IIC ComplllIeshy2540 Executive Center Circle Wesl Sui te 100 Tn (JJarhtr

Slarc TrQ aTallahassee florida 3230 1 T~r RIwd Actin

(850) 487-1533 I Fax (850) 488-5698 Cnmjoo~ orAgricultun t-rllc Crirtwww_floridavetsorg Robin L I-hggins CltltllJliOoICr or EduCllUon

Exlt-culivc Diredol

April 2 200 I

Mr Thomas Gaffney President Korean War Veterans 624 Vespers Way Orange C ity FL 32763

Dcar~~ I want you 10 know Ihal l have informed the Govem or and the Cabinelthat I wi ll be leavi ng al the end of lhis legis la tive session in May I believe) am leaving lhe best job in Florida I would never dream of giving up this position if it werenl ror the greal opportuni ty that I have been gIven by the President or lhe United States to continue to serve veterans in yet another speci al way should the US Senale eon finn my nomrnatioll as Under Secretary ror Memorial Affairs in the US Department of Veterans Affairs

All that we have done has been a lnle partnersnip with the Govemor and the Cabinet wiUl our State legis lators on both s ides ofthc political aisle and certainly with the Vcerans Service Organialioos and - COlmty Veterans Serv ice Officers Thanks (0 this partnership we have been able to improve Lhe lives and status or veterans in this state There is s till mueh to do but) hope I will be leaving my employces the department and our 17 million veterans bettcr than when Jcame

Together we have opened and staffed two new veterans nursing homes and have beglm funding and planning ror two additional homes we have expanded one of the nations busiest National Cemeteries in Bushnell Florida and rought for rederal funding for a new National Cemetery in south Florida bave imprOVed the economic status o f thousands of veterans and their families by he lping lhem to aecess millions of do llars in rcderal bcocCits and completed memorials to our Meda l of Honor recipienlS our Korean War velerans and soon our World War 11 veterans

Attached is a list or our two-year accomplishments Thank you

I cannot begin to te ll you how honored have been to lead this department for thc last two years Thank you ror your confidence and your kindness I hope in Washington to be able to bring the same professionalism passion and pride that we all share when we try to make Florida a beller place ror veterans to live to the Importanl consliluency I Will serve

Sincerely

~~~ ~Robin L Higgins

AUachmcnt

I 0 r BQb amp Det Hawes Bev Pele McKoy Ray amp Helen FJingu)n Mildred Whil e standing

WHICH CO-EMCEE HANDLES n-os PART OF THE PROGRAM

MAGilL WON T TOUCH IT

SOT Y1AJ OR A J CAMQESES and Barney OBrien Secy Brevard County Chaplif ]10

BANQUET HIGHLIGHTS Co-Emcees

Dick Merrill Col Gritsavage Chapler 110 6 Tom Gaffney Dept of FL KWVA Pres ident

Program Speakers

Hank Vhittier - Veterans helping Veterans Ocala area Dennis Baxley Stale Representative Ocala district Harley Coon - KWYA National PresideJll

Award Recipients

Bob MacLean outgoing J yp Joan Arcand outgoing Treas r Jim Pack Korean Liaison D ir Tom Sunseri Department QM Jake Feaster Judge Advoca te Clarence DadsweU outgoing

2nd VP incoming YAVS Stale Coordinator

Door amp Raffle Prize Winners

Ed Pfeiffer - bronzed victory eagle bookeods donated by Tom CatfueylDAR Sugar Mill Chapler New Smyrna

M F Jack Gleason - signed numbered biogra phy of MOH recipient LTC Matt Urban donated by Tom GaffoeyfTom amp Marian Roberts

Vic Haas - gold amp jeweled necklace donated by Jimmy Williams

g bull bull (

j

Coon amp Dfpl FL Korean Liaison Affairs Direclor illmc$ Paek

THE LAmES THAT GOT IT OONE I 10 r pound Merrill V McNeely Annelle Feaster A Pfeiffer lu Chnson - the Auxiliary ofGrilsavage Chapter 016

TED amp NANCY SULLI~AN - J If Cenral Florida Ch IIjJ~ new Dept Chairmon Nominaljom amp Cectionr Commllfle

DOF KWV A GfVES A FINAL SALUTE TO COLONEL ALICE

A memorial service at the Blessed Trinity Ca tholic Church in Ocala was held on Thursday 19 April The fo llowing Thursday 26 April interment services were held a t the Good Shepherd Memorial

Gardens 5050 SW 201h SI US Army troops from Hunter Army Air

Stati on in GA convoyed south to perfonn the nag foldingpresentation and ceremonial firing ritua ls at graveside

The Department of Florida K WVA was formidably represented Members from Chaplers Col Grirsavage 016 Ofceola Chapter 11124 Central Florida Chapler 153 Lake County Chapter 169 SOlltlt Lake County Cwpter 188 and Citrus Chapler 192 attended Fellow veterans from several MOPHfLAMOPH American Legion and VFW

KJIVA Col Alice Grifsavage Chapler 1016 Ocala Col Gntsavage was SUrviVed by her Sister

Jconie Clardy and severa l nieces and nephews Moving to Ocala in 1979 she had lived wsister Jennie and nephew Jobn Clar-dy Clardy is an associate member of K WVA Chapter 0 16

At Good Shepherd eulogies were delivered by nephew John Clardy founder amp past president of Chapter 016 C harley CantfaoO past president Jake Feaster and Chapler president Dick Merrill Dept president Tow Gaffney added a few remarks

Funera l arrangements were handled by Roberts Funeral Home and Jennings Archway Chapel

Througnout her professiona l and milia ry career Col Alice was known as a lireless worker for servjcemen a nd women especially those who served in Ihe Korean War

Steadfast in her convictions she came under fi re from Privileged 10 know her at leaSI brieflymiddotmiddotmiddot

the entrenched bureaucracy in Ihe military but wa s upheld by each oflhe theater commanders to whom she reported

When Col Alice left FECOM in 1953 Theater Commander-in-CruefMark C lar-k sa id hcr untiring efforts o lllstanding leadership and delOlion to duty have sel CJ brillianl example and h(1Ve been directly responsible for the excellent services pefonned by Ollr gallant Army nurses

(FOTO TO THE LEFT - From left 10 right Howad HuCtfnCJ Tom Gatmey Amy Caratlno Ray Wilkinson unidcnlified LAMOPH Die Merrill Charky

CllJIIfaIQ amp Jake Feaster -posl services)

~~~

EULOGY hy Chorley CarojanQoulIder amp paSI presidenl of ChaptersIPosts were also present

OFFICIAL DEDICATION OF MARlON COUNTY VETERANS PARK OFFICE BLDG -In Volume I Edition 4 we introduced the readership to the fine memorial expanse or87 acres in

Ocala that the people of Marion County had dedicated to the memory of their sons and da ughters who had gone in harms way extending back to Revolutionary times OUf own Col Gritsavage Chapter U16 Pres ident Dick Merrill had been named Park Director in addition to hjs accepting the position of Chairman of the DOF KWVA Reunion 2001 Commit1ee

On Sa turday March 172001 the Park Office Bu ilding constructed and donated by Ihe Marion Counry Builders Assn was formally dedicated Park Direc torChapter 016 President Merrill officiated as co-emcee in collaboration with Ed Smith Ass County Adminis trator The program began at 930 am and concluded well into the afternoon hours

Several members ofChaplef 016 who had contributed hundreds of volunteer hours in the park

PRESENTATION OF COLORS byJr ROTC codflbull o[development effort attended in addition (0 members FOrUI High School In Ocala This unil also posledl~lriev~d Ih

from Citrus Chapler 192 and Cen frol Florida (ololS for au DOF KIlVA Reoon 2()()I aso in Ocala Chapfer 153 The local SAR chapter dedicated a

Liberty Tree Concert music was provided by a local volunteer musician band known as The Kingdom of the Sun Band Keys were handed over award certificates and plaques were presented

Keynote speaker was Malcolm Randall Director Emeritus of V AM C Gainesville quoting liberally from the poetry

of John Donne A chicken barbecue dinner was served a barbershop quartet entertained and at 1430 hrs dedicashy

tion of USN Seabees Is land X-J4

Ch~ laachtr DICk Memll bricks rook ParA DrreclOICh ~Ot6 Pres Hoad flueltnu Chaplain CIIS Ch 19 TOil place Gaffil~y Jau- Feoster Oep JA amp rfOf CII 106 and Ptl~ McKay ell j~ 153

Throughout the day blood pressure readings were taken lours of the park were conducted Marion County Human Resources Dept had a booth to recruit veterans for jobs open in Marion Co government The Mari on County Commissioners have a veterans preference hiring system in place

(Friday am 11 May Tom Gaffney arranged a guided lour of Ihe fuciliry for Notional Presidenl Coon Nat ional j-ltI VP Magill alld Dept 2M VP Oadswell conducted by none other than Park Director Merrill himself Pres Gaffney also provided the transport )

G rtsonJge 11016 chapter

Gat hering for Honor Yolusia County Counc il members and representati ves of the Southwest Yolusia Veterans Council

break ground for the Pfe Emory L Bennett Veterans M emorial Park May J 0200 1 Volusia County s newest westside park will be on the corner ofYeterans Memorial Parkway and Rhode Is land Avenue in Orange City In the early 1990s the Volusia Cou nty Counc i asked residents throughout the area 10 nominate veterans who had performed a serv ice 10 their communities PFC Emory L Bennett Memorial was chosen for the park s name Benne is the only Volusia County native to be awarded the Congressshyional Medal of Honor Pres ident Harry S Truman bestowed the award posthumously in 1952

(In pholo above Depl FL KWVA Pres Tom Gaffney(far ItJl) and KIWA Ch 189 member Reggie Beverly (3rdfrom left) man shovels as KWVA members 0 Ch 153 S R Ellington Pres Ed Brandl Secry amp Pete McKay arm lip in 2d LR Olhers ~ieldillg I hovefs arerom I to r Mal Dale Tennanl TROA Patricia Narlhey County council Dwight Lewis Chairman VollsiG County Council Ann McFalJ Vice-Chairman othe Council and Joyce Cusack Distriet State Represenlative))

The lead paragraphs of this story Omtona Beach News-Journal by Autumn C Giusti read as fo llows

ORANGE Cm - Ten golden sho vels ntIMed by volusia Counryofficials arnI war etcrans broke ground Thumlay (10 May) morning at The site of the oountys newest regiooal park

CountyoffieiaJs aIlticipllle ooos truction ofPhasc I ofPFC Emory L BellIleti Memorial P31k will begi n next week On

Veterans Memorial ParkwDY The park will serve the Southwest Volusia area After all the park meetings and waiting for (Veterans Memorinl) 0 gel built we re excited at Ihis JXlint in time

thats for sure said Vol usia Count)middot Leisure Services director Bi ll Apgar The park s namesake who was born in New Sm)1ll3 Beach in 1929 is the only Volus ia County native to receive the

Congressional Medal of Honor President Harry Truman awarded him the medal posthwnously in 1952 for sacrificing his life for his OOUIItry during the Korean Wtu

When 8eAAetl and about 400 soldiers were holdinampa slrateBie post dur ing the W iU they came under anack by 1400 NClMh Korwns 8 ennet1 ran though the line o f fore and began shoot ing at the enemy halting their advancee He volUfltce~d

to suy behind and protect his troops as they wilh~w Indoingso he was wOUlldcd th ree l imes and losl his tife Henfltt1 Park will become the third local facility arned in the velenul s honor a Da)1oa Beach nursing

home and a park in Ncw Sm)fTIl also bear his name

SOUTH LAKE COUNTY PAYS TRlBUTE TO CHAPTER FOUNDER amp SPOUSE

South Lake County Chapter 188 tumed their town s Firs Friday into a salutary moment in the history of Clermont and its K WVA veterans Monthly the city blocks off the main street sets up food tasting booths and caps the evening with a show of some type in the City auditorium 6 April witnessed a concert by a 70 piece vo lunteer band recruited from the Orlando area and a presentation 10

Patty )(jnney widow of the lale George Kinney founder and first president ofehapler 188 who lost his banle with cancer on 13 Mar 200 I

Carl Duke co-founder orlne Chapter took the Freedom Medallion of Appreciation that George had received posthumously during the recent KACF tour and had it mounted on a presentation plaque Halfwaythrough the caneen the plaque and a bouquet were presented to Palty Kinney by Duke Bob Beasley 188 Chapter Pres~dent and Carol Becker Gold Star Widow amp Historian ofChaplcrs 188 and 1 69 Dept President Tom Gaffney amp wife Mary and PeterlBevcrly McKay of

1Central FL Chapler 153 attended The banner that is seen in the fotos is the

l~Z~t handiwork of Carol Becker who created 11 an identical one for Chapter 169

Carol Becker wrote us 00 Monday 28 May about at1 ending Memorial ceremonies at Woodlawn Cemetery in O range County She was SOOOOOOO impressed wilh Ihe ceremony 17le lemperQture was aver 90 Boy Scouts circulated wilh

pafXr cups awater Color guard and honor guard Big Liberty Bell A VFW bandplaying The bariTone SOOiSI was magnijice1f The

I speakers Jrept your alfenlion fleuro most oUlslond ing speaker 0 the day was Ollr own Bob

Beasey He was Ihe one A LIGHT MOillNT IN UERMONT Ihat mal1)l came up 10 I

afterwards wanting more inannation on mednlfions and Chapler membership and more Ocourse all these men are Orlando residents and Bob will pass this along 10 (Vic) Haas (Chapler President Mid-Florida 173) He g(IVe such a touching y et sllong presentation Ihal malry near me were agreeing with him saying yes yes And some in lears 1 hea rd mal1)l come up 10 Bob saying thallhey enjoyed his

dynamic speech He had indeed done a terrijicjob

WARMINC UP - BQb Beasley al Clermonl before his Memorial Day oddress a Woodlawn

SHOWING THE FLAG IN THE TREASURE COAST CHAPTER PRECINCTS

As reported by Joe Cranksbaw of the Stuart News and Kathleen Chapman of the Palm Beach Post the US Amly recruiting center at Regency Square in Stuart was the target of a group from the Tre1SUTC Coast chapler 106 protesting thc controversia 1 M ilitary beret issue on Friday morn ing 6 April

USARIA1 Bob McCaffrey founder of the Treasure Coast Chapter pictured in the

photo to the left was one of the more B Amer

uy-calll visible (double fO the camera 5 eye) of ~I protesters For any of our readers who

may have been under a roc( for the past several monlhs the decisio n by newlymiddot minted Army Chief of Sta ff Eric Shinseki

to purchasc 26 million black berets 10 outfit all US Army personnel has been mel with shall we sa) great spirited negative reaction by former retired us Rangers and most veterans in general The black beret has been worn exclusively by Ihe Rangers in a tradition datlog back 10 pre-Revolutionary times Shinseki announced that June 14111

the US Armys birthday the conversion to the black beret would go into effect

Then the decision to shop Oul approximately 25 Oflha order to the Peoples Republ ic of China brought in the Korea n War Veterans protest dimension - ergo the sign thaI McCaffrey carries Buy American

WaUy M9rqllis long lime member and past I Vice-President of the Chapter engaged in the Friday morning protest and is pictured in the foto to the right

McCaffrey and Marquis took part on 22 Mar 200 J in a District tribute ror YFW National Commandershyin-Chief John F Gwizdak The Habe Sound festivities

included a Post honor Guard receiving line amp four course dinnerluncheon featuring in the words of the CIC chicken with its clothes on f

Commander Gwizdak spoke to- the assembled YFW guests on the high priority veterans iss ues of VA Funding new facility cOJlslruction the Montgomery OI Bill and the Defense Budget

Jtb 81511 00_

1Ihtrlne llarri State of Florida Sccrewy rStare

Hobcrt A 8 utkrworthDEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Auonuy Gcnrll Rob MWlCIlnOffice of the Eltecutive Di rector

S(IIC ComplllIeshy2540 Executive Center Circle Wesl Sui te 100 Tn (JJarhtr

Slarc TrQ aTallahassee florida 3230 1 T~r RIwd Actin

(850) 487-1533 I Fax (850) 488-5698 Cnmjoo~ orAgricultun t-rllc Crirtwww_floridavetsorg Robin L I-hggins CltltllJliOoICr or EduCllUon

Exlt-culivc Diredol

April 2 200 I

Mr Thomas Gaffney President Korean War Veterans 624 Vespers Way Orange C ity FL 32763

Dcar~~ I want you 10 know Ihal l have informed the Govem or and the Cabinelthat I wi ll be leavi ng al the end of lhis legis la tive session in May I believe) am leaving lhe best job in Florida I would never dream of giving up this position if it werenl ror the greal opportuni ty that I have been gIven by the President or lhe United States to continue to serve veterans in yet another speci al way should the US Senale eon finn my nomrnatioll as Under Secretary ror Memorial Affairs in the US Department of Veterans Affairs

All that we have done has been a lnle partnersnip with the Govemor and the Cabinet wiUl our State legis lators on both s ides ofthc political aisle and certainly with the Vcerans Service Organialioos and - COlmty Veterans Serv ice Officers Thanks (0 this partnership we have been able to improve Lhe lives and status or veterans in this state There is s till mueh to do but) hope I will be leaving my employces the department and our 17 million veterans bettcr than when Jcame

Together we have opened and staffed two new veterans nursing homes and have beglm funding and planning ror two additional homes we have expanded one of the nations busiest National Cemeteries in Bushnell Florida and rought for rederal funding for a new National Cemetery in south Florida bave imprOVed the economic status o f thousands of veterans and their families by he lping lhem to aecess millions of do llars in rcderal bcocCits and completed memorials to our Meda l of Honor recipienlS our Korean War velerans and soon our World War 11 veterans

Attached is a list or our two-year accomplishments Thank you

I cannot begin to te ll you how honored have been to lead this department for thc last two years Thank you ror your confidence and your kindness I hope in Washington to be able to bring the same professionalism passion and pride that we all share when we try to make Florida a beller place ror veterans to live to the Importanl consliluency I Will serve

Sincerely

~~~ ~Robin L Higgins

AUachmcnt

DOF KWV A GfVES A FINAL SALUTE TO COLONEL ALICE

A memorial service at the Blessed Trinity Ca tholic Church in Ocala was held on Thursday 19 April The fo llowing Thursday 26 April interment services were held a t the Good Shepherd Memorial

Gardens 5050 SW 201h SI US Army troops from Hunter Army Air

Stati on in GA convoyed south to perfonn the nag foldingpresentation and ceremonial firing ritua ls at graveside

The Department of Florida K WVA was formidably represented Members from Chaplers Col Grirsavage 016 Ofceola Chapter 11124 Central Florida Chapler 153 Lake County Chapter 169 SOlltlt Lake County Cwpter 188 and Citrus Chapler 192 attended Fellow veterans from several MOPHfLAMOPH American Legion and VFW

KJIVA Col Alice Grifsavage Chapler 1016 Ocala Col Gntsavage was SUrviVed by her Sister

Jconie Clardy and severa l nieces and nephews Moving to Ocala in 1979 she had lived wsister Jennie and nephew Jobn Clar-dy Clardy is an associate member of K WVA Chapter 0 16

At Good Shepherd eulogies were delivered by nephew John Clardy founder amp past president of Chapter 016 C harley CantfaoO past president Jake Feaster and Chapler president Dick Merrill Dept president Tow Gaffney added a few remarks

Funera l arrangements were handled by Roberts Funeral Home and Jennings Archway Chapel

Througnout her professiona l and milia ry career Col Alice was known as a lireless worker for servjcemen a nd women especially those who served in Ihe Korean War

Steadfast in her convictions she came under fi re from Privileged 10 know her at leaSI brieflymiddotmiddotmiddot

the entrenched bureaucracy in Ihe military but wa s upheld by each oflhe theater commanders to whom she reported

When Col Alice left FECOM in 1953 Theater Commander-in-CruefMark C lar-k sa id hcr untiring efforts o lllstanding leadership and delOlion to duty have sel CJ brillianl example and h(1Ve been directly responsible for the excellent services pefonned by Ollr gallant Army nurses

(FOTO TO THE LEFT - From left 10 right Howad HuCtfnCJ Tom Gatmey Amy Caratlno Ray Wilkinson unidcnlified LAMOPH Die Merrill Charky

CllJIIfaIQ amp Jake Feaster -posl services)

~~~

EULOGY hy Chorley CarojanQoulIder amp paSI presidenl of ChaptersIPosts were also present

OFFICIAL DEDICATION OF MARlON COUNTY VETERANS PARK OFFICE BLDG -In Volume I Edition 4 we introduced the readership to the fine memorial expanse or87 acres in

Ocala that the people of Marion County had dedicated to the memory of their sons and da ughters who had gone in harms way extending back to Revolutionary times OUf own Col Gritsavage Chapter U16 Pres ident Dick Merrill had been named Park Director in addition to hjs accepting the position of Chairman of the DOF KWVA Reunion 2001 Commit1ee

On Sa turday March 172001 the Park Office Bu ilding constructed and donated by Ihe Marion Counry Builders Assn was formally dedicated Park Direc torChapter 016 President Merrill officiated as co-emcee in collaboration with Ed Smith Ass County Adminis trator The program began at 930 am and concluded well into the afternoon hours

Several members ofChaplef 016 who had contributed hundreds of volunteer hours in the park

PRESENTATION OF COLORS byJr ROTC codflbull o[development effort attended in addition (0 members FOrUI High School In Ocala This unil also posledl~lriev~d Ih

from Citrus Chapler 192 and Cen frol Florida (ololS for au DOF KIlVA Reoon 2()()I aso in Ocala Chapfer 153 The local SAR chapter dedicated a

Liberty Tree Concert music was provided by a local volunteer musician band known as The Kingdom of the Sun Band Keys were handed over award certificates and plaques were presented

Keynote speaker was Malcolm Randall Director Emeritus of V AM C Gainesville quoting liberally from the poetry

of John Donne A chicken barbecue dinner was served a barbershop quartet entertained and at 1430 hrs dedicashy

tion of USN Seabees Is land X-J4

Ch~ laachtr DICk Memll bricks rook ParA DrreclOICh ~Ot6 Pres Hoad flueltnu Chaplain CIIS Ch 19 TOil place Gaffil~y Jau- Feoster Oep JA amp rfOf CII 106 and Ptl~ McKay ell j~ 153

Throughout the day blood pressure readings were taken lours of the park were conducted Marion County Human Resources Dept had a booth to recruit veterans for jobs open in Marion Co government The Mari on County Commissioners have a veterans preference hiring system in place

(Friday am 11 May Tom Gaffney arranged a guided lour of Ihe fuciliry for Notional Presidenl Coon Nat ional j-ltI VP Magill alld Dept 2M VP Oadswell conducted by none other than Park Director Merrill himself Pres Gaffney also provided the transport )

G rtsonJge 11016 chapter

Gat hering for Honor Yolusia County Counc il members and representati ves of the Southwest Yolusia Veterans Council

break ground for the Pfe Emory L Bennett Veterans M emorial Park May J 0200 1 Volusia County s newest westside park will be on the corner ofYeterans Memorial Parkway and Rhode Is land Avenue in Orange City In the early 1990s the Volusia Cou nty Counc i asked residents throughout the area 10 nominate veterans who had performed a serv ice 10 their communities PFC Emory L Bennett Memorial was chosen for the park s name Benne is the only Volusia County native to be awarded the Congressshyional Medal of Honor Pres ident Harry S Truman bestowed the award posthumously in 1952

(In pholo above Depl FL KWVA Pres Tom Gaffney(far ItJl) and KIWA Ch 189 member Reggie Beverly (3rdfrom left) man shovels as KWVA members 0 Ch 153 S R Ellington Pres Ed Brandl Secry amp Pete McKay arm lip in 2d LR Olhers ~ieldillg I hovefs arerom I to r Mal Dale Tennanl TROA Patricia Narlhey County council Dwight Lewis Chairman VollsiG County Council Ann McFalJ Vice-Chairman othe Council and Joyce Cusack Distriet State Represenlative))

The lead paragraphs of this story Omtona Beach News-Journal by Autumn C Giusti read as fo llows

ORANGE Cm - Ten golden sho vels ntIMed by volusia Counryofficials arnI war etcrans broke ground Thumlay (10 May) morning at The site of the oountys newest regiooal park

CountyoffieiaJs aIlticipllle ooos truction ofPhasc I ofPFC Emory L BellIleti Memorial P31k will begi n next week On

Veterans Memorial ParkwDY The park will serve the Southwest Volusia area After all the park meetings and waiting for (Veterans Memorinl) 0 gel built we re excited at Ihis JXlint in time

thats for sure said Vol usia Count)middot Leisure Services director Bi ll Apgar The park s namesake who was born in New Sm)1ll3 Beach in 1929 is the only Volus ia County native to receive the

Congressional Medal of Honor President Harry Truman awarded him the medal posthwnously in 1952 for sacrificing his life for his OOUIItry during the Korean Wtu

When 8eAAetl and about 400 soldiers were holdinampa slrateBie post dur ing the W iU they came under anack by 1400 NClMh Korwns 8 ennet1 ran though the line o f fore and began shoot ing at the enemy halting their advancee He volUfltce~d

to suy behind and protect his troops as they wilh~w Indoingso he was wOUlldcd th ree l imes and losl his tife Henfltt1 Park will become the third local facility arned in the velenul s honor a Da)1oa Beach nursing

home and a park in Ncw Sm)fTIl also bear his name

SOUTH LAKE COUNTY PAYS TRlBUTE TO CHAPTER FOUNDER amp SPOUSE

South Lake County Chapter 188 tumed their town s Firs Friday into a salutary moment in the history of Clermont and its K WVA veterans Monthly the city blocks off the main street sets up food tasting booths and caps the evening with a show of some type in the City auditorium 6 April witnessed a concert by a 70 piece vo lunteer band recruited from the Orlando area and a presentation 10

Patty )(jnney widow of the lale George Kinney founder and first president ofehapler 188 who lost his banle with cancer on 13 Mar 200 I

Carl Duke co-founder orlne Chapter took the Freedom Medallion of Appreciation that George had received posthumously during the recent KACF tour and had it mounted on a presentation plaque Halfwaythrough the caneen the plaque and a bouquet were presented to Palty Kinney by Duke Bob Beasley 188 Chapter Pres~dent and Carol Becker Gold Star Widow amp Historian ofChaplcrs 188 and 1 69 Dept President Tom Gaffney amp wife Mary and PeterlBevcrly McKay of

1Central FL Chapler 153 attended The banner that is seen in the fotos is the

l~Z~t handiwork of Carol Becker who created 11 an identical one for Chapter 169

Carol Becker wrote us 00 Monday 28 May about at1 ending Memorial ceremonies at Woodlawn Cemetery in O range County She was SOOOOOOO impressed wilh Ihe ceremony 17le lemperQture was aver 90 Boy Scouts circulated wilh

pafXr cups awater Color guard and honor guard Big Liberty Bell A VFW bandplaying The bariTone SOOiSI was magnijice1f The

I speakers Jrept your alfenlion fleuro most oUlslond ing speaker 0 the day was Ollr own Bob

Beasey He was Ihe one A LIGHT MOillNT IN UERMONT Ihat mal1)l came up 10 I

afterwards wanting more inannation on mednlfions and Chapler membership and more Ocourse all these men are Orlando residents and Bob will pass this along 10 (Vic) Haas (Chapler President Mid-Florida 173) He g(IVe such a touching y et sllong presentation Ihal malry near me were agreeing with him saying yes yes And some in lears 1 hea rd mal1)l come up 10 Bob saying thallhey enjoyed his

dynamic speech He had indeed done a terrijicjob

WARMINC UP - BQb Beasley al Clermonl before his Memorial Day oddress a Woodlawn

SHOWING THE FLAG IN THE TREASURE COAST CHAPTER PRECINCTS

As reported by Joe Cranksbaw of the Stuart News and Kathleen Chapman of the Palm Beach Post the US Amly recruiting center at Regency Square in Stuart was the target of a group from the Tre1SUTC Coast chapler 106 protesting thc controversia 1 M ilitary beret issue on Friday morn ing 6 April

USARIA1 Bob McCaffrey founder of the Treasure Coast Chapter pictured in the

photo to the left was one of the more B Amer

uy-calll visible (double fO the camera 5 eye) of ~I protesters For any of our readers who

may have been under a roc( for the past several monlhs the decisio n by newlymiddot minted Army Chief of Sta ff Eric Shinseki

to purchasc 26 million black berets 10 outfit all US Army personnel has been mel with shall we sa) great spirited negative reaction by former retired us Rangers and most veterans in general The black beret has been worn exclusively by Ihe Rangers in a tradition datlog back 10 pre-Revolutionary times Shinseki announced that June 14111

the US Armys birthday the conversion to the black beret would go into effect

Then the decision to shop Oul approximately 25 Oflha order to the Peoples Republ ic of China brought in the Korea n War Veterans protest dimension - ergo the sign thaI McCaffrey carries Buy American

WaUy M9rqllis long lime member and past I Vice-President of the Chapter engaged in the Friday morning protest and is pictured in the foto to the right

McCaffrey and Marquis took part on 22 Mar 200 J in a District tribute ror YFW National Commandershyin-Chief John F Gwizdak The Habe Sound festivities

included a Post honor Guard receiving line amp four course dinnerluncheon featuring in the words of the CIC chicken with its clothes on f

Commander Gwizdak spoke to- the assembled YFW guests on the high priority veterans iss ues of VA Funding new facility cOJlslruction the Montgomery OI Bill and the Defense Budget

Jtb 81511 00_

1Ihtrlne llarri State of Florida Sccrewy rStare

Hobcrt A 8 utkrworthDEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Auonuy Gcnrll Rob MWlCIlnOffice of the Eltecutive Di rector

S(IIC ComplllIeshy2540 Executive Center Circle Wesl Sui te 100 Tn (JJarhtr

Slarc TrQ aTallahassee florida 3230 1 T~r RIwd Actin

(850) 487-1533 I Fax (850) 488-5698 Cnmjoo~ orAgricultun t-rllc Crirtwww_floridavetsorg Robin L I-hggins CltltllJliOoICr or EduCllUon

Exlt-culivc Diredol

April 2 200 I

Mr Thomas Gaffney President Korean War Veterans 624 Vespers Way Orange C ity FL 32763

Dcar~~ I want you 10 know Ihal l have informed the Govem or and the Cabinelthat I wi ll be leavi ng al the end of lhis legis la tive session in May I believe) am leaving lhe best job in Florida I would never dream of giving up this position if it werenl ror the greal opportuni ty that I have been gIven by the President or lhe United States to continue to serve veterans in yet another speci al way should the US Senale eon finn my nomrnatioll as Under Secretary ror Memorial Affairs in the US Department of Veterans Affairs

All that we have done has been a lnle partnersnip with the Govemor and the Cabinet wiUl our State legis lators on both s ides ofthc political aisle and certainly with the Vcerans Service Organialioos and - COlmty Veterans Serv ice Officers Thanks (0 this partnership we have been able to improve Lhe lives and status or veterans in this state There is s till mueh to do but) hope I will be leaving my employces the department and our 17 million veterans bettcr than when Jcame

Together we have opened and staffed two new veterans nursing homes and have beglm funding and planning ror two additional homes we have expanded one of the nations busiest National Cemeteries in Bushnell Florida and rought for rederal funding for a new National Cemetery in south Florida bave imprOVed the economic status o f thousands of veterans and their families by he lping lhem to aecess millions of do llars in rcderal bcocCits and completed memorials to our Meda l of Honor recipienlS our Korean War velerans and soon our World War 11 veterans

Attached is a list or our two-year accomplishments Thank you

I cannot begin to te ll you how honored have been to lead this department for thc last two years Thank you ror your confidence and your kindness I hope in Washington to be able to bring the same professionalism passion and pride that we all share when we try to make Florida a beller place ror veterans to live to the Importanl consliluency I Will serve

Sincerely

~~~ ~Robin L Higgins

AUachmcnt

OFFICIAL DEDICATION OF MARlON COUNTY VETERANS PARK OFFICE BLDG -In Volume I Edition 4 we introduced the readership to the fine memorial expanse or87 acres in

Ocala that the people of Marion County had dedicated to the memory of their sons and da ughters who had gone in harms way extending back to Revolutionary times OUf own Col Gritsavage Chapter U16 Pres ident Dick Merrill had been named Park Director in addition to hjs accepting the position of Chairman of the DOF KWVA Reunion 2001 Commit1ee

On Sa turday March 172001 the Park Office Bu ilding constructed and donated by Ihe Marion Counry Builders Assn was formally dedicated Park Direc torChapter 016 President Merrill officiated as co-emcee in collaboration with Ed Smith Ass County Adminis trator The program began at 930 am and concluded well into the afternoon hours

Several members ofChaplef 016 who had contributed hundreds of volunteer hours in the park

PRESENTATION OF COLORS byJr ROTC codflbull o[development effort attended in addition (0 members FOrUI High School In Ocala This unil also posledl~lriev~d Ih

from Citrus Chapler 192 and Cen frol Florida (ololS for au DOF KIlVA Reoon 2()()I aso in Ocala Chapfer 153 The local SAR chapter dedicated a

Liberty Tree Concert music was provided by a local volunteer musician band known as The Kingdom of the Sun Band Keys were handed over award certificates and plaques were presented

Keynote speaker was Malcolm Randall Director Emeritus of V AM C Gainesville quoting liberally from the poetry

of John Donne A chicken barbecue dinner was served a barbershop quartet entertained and at 1430 hrs dedicashy

tion of USN Seabees Is land X-J4

Ch~ laachtr DICk Memll bricks rook ParA DrreclOICh ~Ot6 Pres Hoad flueltnu Chaplain CIIS Ch 19 TOil place Gaffil~y Jau- Feoster Oep JA amp rfOf CII 106 and Ptl~ McKay ell j~ 153

Throughout the day blood pressure readings were taken lours of the park were conducted Marion County Human Resources Dept had a booth to recruit veterans for jobs open in Marion Co government The Mari on County Commissioners have a veterans preference hiring system in place

(Friday am 11 May Tom Gaffney arranged a guided lour of Ihe fuciliry for Notional Presidenl Coon Nat ional j-ltI VP Magill alld Dept 2M VP Oadswell conducted by none other than Park Director Merrill himself Pres Gaffney also provided the transport )

G rtsonJge 11016 chapter

Gat hering for Honor Yolusia County Counc il members and representati ves of the Southwest Yolusia Veterans Council

break ground for the Pfe Emory L Bennett Veterans M emorial Park May J 0200 1 Volusia County s newest westside park will be on the corner ofYeterans Memorial Parkway and Rhode Is land Avenue in Orange City In the early 1990s the Volusia Cou nty Counc i asked residents throughout the area 10 nominate veterans who had performed a serv ice 10 their communities PFC Emory L Bennett Memorial was chosen for the park s name Benne is the only Volusia County native to be awarded the Congressshyional Medal of Honor Pres ident Harry S Truman bestowed the award posthumously in 1952

(In pholo above Depl FL KWVA Pres Tom Gaffney(far ItJl) and KIWA Ch 189 member Reggie Beverly (3rdfrom left) man shovels as KWVA members 0 Ch 153 S R Ellington Pres Ed Brandl Secry amp Pete McKay arm lip in 2d LR Olhers ~ieldillg I hovefs arerom I to r Mal Dale Tennanl TROA Patricia Narlhey County council Dwight Lewis Chairman VollsiG County Council Ann McFalJ Vice-Chairman othe Council and Joyce Cusack Distriet State Represenlative))

The lead paragraphs of this story Omtona Beach News-Journal by Autumn C Giusti read as fo llows

ORANGE Cm - Ten golden sho vels ntIMed by volusia Counryofficials arnI war etcrans broke ground Thumlay (10 May) morning at The site of the oountys newest regiooal park

CountyoffieiaJs aIlticipllle ooos truction ofPhasc I ofPFC Emory L BellIleti Memorial P31k will begi n next week On

Veterans Memorial ParkwDY The park will serve the Southwest Volusia area After all the park meetings and waiting for (Veterans Memorinl) 0 gel built we re excited at Ihis JXlint in time

thats for sure said Vol usia Count)middot Leisure Services director Bi ll Apgar The park s namesake who was born in New Sm)1ll3 Beach in 1929 is the only Volus ia County native to receive the

Congressional Medal of Honor President Harry Truman awarded him the medal posthwnously in 1952 for sacrificing his life for his OOUIItry during the Korean Wtu

When 8eAAetl and about 400 soldiers were holdinampa slrateBie post dur ing the W iU they came under anack by 1400 NClMh Korwns 8 ennet1 ran though the line o f fore and began shoot ing at the enemy halting their advancee He volUfltce~d

to suy behind and protect his troops as they wilh~w Indoingso he was wOUlldcd th ree l imes and losl his tife Henfltt1 Park will become the third local facility arned in the velenul s honor a Da)1oa Beach nursing

home and a park in Ncw Sm)fTIl also bear his name

SOUTH LAKE COUNTY PAYS TRlBUTE TO CHAPTER FOUNDER amp SPOUSE

South Lake County Chapter 188 tumed their town s Firs Friday into a salutary moment in the history of Clermont and its K WVA veterans Monthly the city blocks off the main street sets up food tasting booths and caps the evening with a show of some type in the City auditorium 6 April witnessed a concert by a 70 piece vo lunteer band recruited from the Orlando area and a presentation 10

Patty )(jnney widow of the lale George Kinney founder and first president ofehapler 188 who lost his banle with cancer on 13 Mar 200 I

Carl Duke co-founder orlne Chapter took the Freedom Medallion of Appreciation that George had received posthumously during the recent KACF tour and had it mounted on a presentation plaque Halfwaythrough the caneen the plaque and a bouquet were presented to Palty Kinney by Duke Bob Beasley 188 Chapter Pres~dent and Carol Becker Gold Star Widow amp Historian ofChaplcrs 188 and 1 69 Dept President Tom Gaffney amp wife Mary and PeterlBevcrly McKay of

1Central FL Chapler 153 attended The banner that is seen in the fotos is the

l~Z~t handiwork of Carol Becker who created 11 an identical one for Chapter 169

Carol Becker wrote us 00 Monday 28 May about at1 ending Memorial ceremonies at Woodlawn Cemetery in O range County She was SOOOOOOO impressed wilh Ihe ceremony 17le lemperQture was aver 90 Boy Scouts circulated wilh

pafXr cups awater Color guard and honor guard Big Liberty Bell A VFW bandplaying The bariTone SOOiSI was magnijice1f The

I speakers Jrept your alfenlion fleuro most oUlslond ing speaker 0 the day was Ollr own Bob

Beasey He was Ihe one A LIGHT MOillNT IN UERMONT Ihat mal1)l came up 10 I

afterwards wanting more inannation on mednlfions and Chapler membership and more Ocourse all these men are Orlando residents and Bob will pass this along 10 (Vic) Haas (Chapler President Mid-Florida 173) He g(IVe such a touching y et sllong presentation Ihal malry near me were agreeing with him saying yes yes And some in lears 1 hea rd mal1)l come up 10 Bob saying thallhey enjoyed his

dynamic speech He had indeed done a terrijicjob

WARMINC UP - BQb Beasley al Clermonl before his Memorial Day oddress a Woodlawn

SHOWING THE FLAG IN THE TREASURE COAST CHAPTER PRECINCTS

As reported by Joe Cranksbaw of the Stuart News and Kathleen Chapman of the Palm Beach Post the US Amly recruiting center at Regency Square in Stuart was the target of a group from the Tre1SUTC Coast chapler 106 protesting thc controversia 1 M ilitary beret issue on Friday morn ing 6 April

USARIA1 Bob McCaffrey founder of the Treasure Coast Chapter pictured in the

photo to the left was one of the more B Amer

uy-calll visible (double fO the camera 5 eye) of ~I protesters For any of our readers who

may have been under a roc( for the past several monlhs the decisio n by newlymiddot minted Army Chief of Sta ff Eric Shinseki

to purchasc 26 million black berets 10 outfit all US Army personnel has been mel with shall we sa) great spirited negative reaction by former retired us Rangers and most veterans in general The black beret has been worn exclusively by Ihe Rangers in a tradition datlog back 10 pre-Revolutionary times Shinseki announced that June 14111

the US Armys birthday the conversion to the black beret would go into effect

Then the decision to shop Oul approximately 25 Oflha order to the Peoples Republ ic of China brought in the Korea n War Veterans protest dimension - ergo the sign thaI McCaffrey carries Buy American

WaUy M9rqllis long lime member and past I Vice-President of the Chapter engaged in the Friday morning protest and is pictured in the foto to the right

McCaffrey and Marquis took part on 22 Mar 200 J in a District tribute ror YFW National Commandershyin-Chief John F Gwizdak The Habe Sound festivities

included a Post honor Guard receiving line amp four course dinnerluncheon featuring in the words of the CIC chicken with its clothes on f

Commander Gwizdak spoke to- the assembled YFW guests on the high priority veterans iss ues of VA Funding new facility cOJlslruction the Montgomery OI Bill and the Defense Budget

Jtb 81511 00_

1Ihtrlne llarri State of Florida Sccrewy rStare

Hobcrt A 8 utkrworthDEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Auonuy Gcnrll Rob MWlCIlnOffice of the Eltecutive Di rector

S(IIC ComplllIeshy2540 Executive Center Circle Wesl Sui te 100 Tn (JJarhtr

Slarc TrQ aTallahassee florida 3230 1 T~r RIwd Actin

(850) 487-1533 I Fax (850) 488-5698 Cnmjoo~ orAgricultun t-rllc Crirtwww_floridavetsorg Robin L I-hggins CltltllJliOoICr or EduCllUon

Exlt-culivc Diredol

April 2 200 I

Mr Thomas Gaffney President Korean War Veterans 624 Vespers Way Orange C ity FL 32763

Dcar~~ I want you 10 know Ihal l have informed the Govem or and the Cabinelthat I wi ll be leavi ng al the end of lhis legis la tive session in May I believe) am leaving lhe best job in Florida I would never dream of giving up this position if it werenl ror the greal opportuni ty that I have been gIven by the President or lhe United States to continue to serve veterans in yet another speci al way should the US Senale eon finn my nomrnatioll as Under Secretary ror Memorial Affairs in the US Department of Veterans Affairs

All that we have done has been a lnle partnersnip with the Govemor and the Cabinet wiUl our State legis lators on both s ides ofthc political aisle and certainly with the Vcerans Service Organialioos and - COlmty Veterans Serv ice Officers Thanks (0 this partnership we have been able to improve Lhe lives and status or veterans in this state There is s till mueh to do but) hope I will be leaving my employces the department and our 17 million veterans bettcr than when Jcame

Together we have opened and staffed two new veterans nursing homes and have beglm funding and planning ror two additional homes we have expanded one of the nations busiest National Cemeteries in Bushnell Florida and rought for rederal funding for a new National Cemetery in south Florida bave imprOVed the economic status o f thousands of veterans and their families by he lping lhem to aecess millions of do llars in rcderal bcocCits and completed memorials to our Meda l of Honor recipienlS our Korean War velerans and soon our World War 11 veterans

Attached is a list or our two-year accomplishments Thank you

I cannot begin to te ll you how honored have been to lead this department for thc last two years Thank you ror your confidence and your kindness I hope in Washington to be able to bring the same professionalism passion and pride that we all share when we try to make Florida a beller place ror veterans to live to the Importanl consliluency I Will serve

Sincerely

~~~ ~Robin L Higgins

AUachmcnt

Gat hering for Honor Yolusia County Counc il members and representati ves of the Southwest Yolusia Veterans Council

break ground for the Pfe Emory L Bennett Veterans M emorial Park May J 0200 1 Volusia County s newest westside park will be on the corner ofYeterans Memorial Parkway and Rhode Is land Avenue in Orange City In the early 1990s the Volusia Cou nty Counc i asked residents throughout the area 10 nominate veterans who had performed a serv ice 10 their communities PFC Emory L Bennett Memorial was chosen for the park s name Benne is the only Volusia County native to be awarded the Congressshyional Medal of Honor Pres ident Harry S Truman bestowed the award posthumously in 1952

(In pholo above Depl FL KWVA Pres Tom Gaffney(far ItJl) and KIWA Ch 189 member Reggie Beverly (3rdfrom left) man shovels as KWVA members 0 Ch 153 S R Ellington Pres Ed Brandl Secry amp Pete McKay arm lip in 2d LR Olhers ~ieldillg I hovefs arerom I to r Mal Dale Tennanl TROA Patricia Narlhey County council Dwight Lewis Chairman VollsiG County Council Ann McFalJ Vice-Chairman othe Council and Joyce Cusack Distriet State Represenlative))

The lead paragraphs of this story Omtona Beach News-Journal by Autumn C Giusti read as fo llows

ORANGE Cm - Ten golden sho vels ntIMed by volusia Counryofficials arnI war etcrans broke ground Thumlay (10 May) morning at The site of the oountys newest regiooal park

CountyoffieiaJs aIlticipllle ooos truction ofPhasc I ofPFC Emory L BellIleti Memorial P31k will begi n next week On

Veterans Memorial ParkwDY The park will serve the Southwest Volusia area After all the park meetings and waiting for (Veterans Memorinl) 0 gel built we re excited at Ihis JXlint in time

thats for sure said Vol usia Count)middot Leisure Services director Bi ll Apgar The park s namesake who was born in New Sm)1ll3 Beach in 1929 is the only Volus ia County native to receive the

Congressional Medal of Honor President Harry Truman awarded him the medal posthwnously in 1952 for sacrificing his life for his OOUIItry during the Korean Wtu

When 8eAAetl and about 400 soldiers were holdinampa slrateBie post dur ing the W iU they came under anack by 1400 NClMh Korwns 8 ennet1 ran though the line o f fore and began shoot ing at the enemy halting their advancee He volUfltce~d

to suy behind and protect his troops as they wilh~w Indoingso he was wOUlldcd th ree l imes and losl his tife Henfltt1 Park will become the third local facility arned in the velenul s honor a Da)1oa Beach nursing

home and a park in Ncw Sm)fTIl also bear his name

SOUTH LAKE COUNTY PAYS TRlBUTE TO CHAPTER FOUNDER amp SPOUSE

South Lake County Chapter 188 tumed their town s Firs Friday into a salutary moment in the history of Clermont and its K WVA veterans Monthly the city blocks off the main street sets up food tasting booths and caps the evening with a show of some type in the City auditorium 6 April witnessed a concert by a 70 piece vo lunteer band recruited from the Orlando area and a presentation 10

Patty )(jnney widow of the lale George Kinney founder and first president ofehapler 188 who lost his banle with cancer on 13 Mar 200 I

Carl Duke co-founder orlne Chapter took the Freedom Medallion of Appreciation that George had received posthumously during the recent KACF tour and had it mounted on a presentation plaque Halfwaythrough the caneen the plaque and a bouquet were presented to Palty Kinney by Duke Bob Beasley 188 Chapter Pres~dent and Carol Becker Gold Star Widow amp Historian ofChaplcrs 188 and 1 69 Dept President Tom Gaffney amp wife Mary and PeterlBevcrly McKay of

1Central FL Chapler 153 attended The banner that is seen in the fotos is the

l~Z~t handiwork of Carol Becker who created 11 an identical one for Chapter 169

Carol Becker wrote us 00 Monday 28 May about at1 ending Memorial ceremonies at Woodlawn Cemetery in O range County She was SOOOOOOO impressed wilh Ihe ceremony 17le lemperQture was aver 90 Boy Scouts circulated wilh

pafXr cups awater Color guard and honor guard Big Liberty Bell A VFW bandplaying The bariTone SOOiSI was magnijice1f The

I speakers Jrept your alfenlion fleuro most oUlslond ing speaker 0 the day was Ollr own Bob

Beasey He was Ihe one A LIGHT MOillNT IN UERMONT Ihat mal1)l came up 10 I

afterwards wanting more inannation on mednlfions and Chapler membership and more Ocourse all these men are Orlando residents and Bob will pass this along 10 (Vic) Haas (Chapler President Mid-Florida 173) He g(IVe such a touching y et sllong presentation Ihal malry near me were agreeing with him saying yes yes And some in lears 1 hea rd mal1)l come up 10 Bob saying thallhey enjoyed his

dynamic speech He had indeed done a terrijicjob

WARMINC UP - BQb Beasley al Clermonl before his Memorial Day oddress a Woodlawn

SHOWING THE FLAG IN THE TREASURE COAST CHAPTER PRECINCTS

As reported by Joe Cranksbaw of the Stuart News and Kathleen Chapman of the Palm Beach Post the US Amly recruiting center at Regency Square in Stuart was the target of a group from the Tre1SUTC Coast chapler 106 protesting thc controversia 1 M ilitary beret issue on Friday morn ing 6 April

USARIA1 Bob McCaffrey founder of the Treasure Coast Chapter pictured in the

photo to the left was one of the more B Amer

uy-calll visible (double fO the camera 5 eye) of ~I protesters For any of our readers who

may have been under a roc( for the past several monlhs the decisio n by newlymiddot minted Army Chief of Sta ff Eric Shinseki

to purchasc 26 million black berets 10 outfit all US Army personnel has been mel with shall we sa) great spirited negative reaction by former retired us Rangers and most veterans in general The black beret has been worn exclusively by Ihe Rangers in a tradition datlog back 10 pre-Revolutionary times Shinseki announced that June 14111

the US Armys birthday the conversion to the black beret would go into effect

Then the decision to shop Oul approximately 25 Oflha order to the Peoples Republ ic of China brought in the Korea n War Veterans protest dimension - ergo the sign thaI McCaffrey carries Buy American

WaUy M9rqllis long lime member and past I Vice-President of the Chapter engaged in the Friday morning protest and is pictured in the foto to the right

McCaffrey and Marquis took part on 22 Mar 200 J in a District tribute ror YFW National Commandershyin-Chief John F Gwizdak The Habe Sound festivities

included a Post honor Guard receiving line amp four course dinnerluncheon featuring in the words of the CIC chicken with its clothes on f

Commander Gwizdak spoke to- the assembled YFW guests on the high priority veterans iss ues of VA Funding new facility cOJlslruction the Montgomery OI Bill and the Defense Budget

Jtb 81511 00_

1Ihtrlne llarri State of Florida Sccrewy rStare

Hobcrt A 8 utkrworthDEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Auonuy Gcnrll Rob MWlCIlnOffice of the Eltecutive Di rector

S(IIC ComplllIeshy2540 Executive Center Circle Wesl Sui te 100 Tn (JJarhtr

Slarc TrQ aTallahassee florida 3230 1 T~r RIwd Actin

(850) 487-1533 I Fax (850) 488-5698 Cnmjoo~ orAgricultun t-rllc Crirtwww_floridavetsorg Robin L I-hggins CltltllJliOoICr or EduCllUon

Exlt-culivc Diredol

April 2 200 I

Mr Thomas Gaffney President Korean War Veterans 624 Vespers Way Orange C ity FL 32763

Dcar~~ I want you 10 know Ihal l have informed the Govem or and the Cabinelthat I wi ll be leavi ng al the end of lhis legis la tive session in May I believe) am leaving lhe best job in Florida I would never dream of giving up this position if it werenl ror the greal opportuni ty that I have been gIven by the President or lhe United States to continue to serve veterans in yet another speci al way should the US Senale eon finn my nomrnatioll as Under Secretary ror Memorial Affairs in the US Department of Veterans Affairs

All that we have done has been a lnle partnersnip with the Govemor and the Cabinet wiUl our State legis lators on both s ides ofthc political aisle and certainly with the Vcerans Service Organialioos and - COlmty Veterans Serv ice Officers Thanks (0 this partnership we have been able to improve Lhe lives and status or veterans in this state There is s till mueh to do but) hope I will be leaving my employces the department and our 17 million veterans bettcr than when Jcame

Together we have opened and staffed two new veterans nursing homes and have beglm funding and planning ror two additional homes we have expanded one of the nations busiest National Cemeteries in Bushnell Florida and rought for rederal funding for a new National Cemetery in south Florida bave imprOVed the economic status o f thousands of veterans and their families by he lping lhem to aecess millions of do llars in rcderal bcocCits and completed memorials to our Meda l of Honor recipienlS our Korean War velerans and soon our World War 11 veterans

Attached is a list or our two-year accomplishments Thank you

I cannot begin to te ll you how honored have been to lead this department for thc last two years Thank you ror your confidence and your kindness I hope in Washington to be able to bring the same professionalism passion and pride that we all share when we try to make Florida a beller place ror veterans to live to the Importanl consliluency I Will serve

Sincerely

~~~ ~Robin L Higgins

AUachmcnt

SOUTH LAKE COUNTY PAYS TRlBUTE TO CHAPTER FOUNDER amp SPOUSE

South Lake County Chapter 188 tumed their town s Firs Friday into a salutary moment in the history of Clermont and its K WVA veterans Monthly the city blocks off the main street sets up food tasting booths and caps the evening with a show of some type in the City auditorium 6 April witnessed a concert by a 70 piece vo lunteer band recruited from the Orlando area and a presentation 10

Patty )(jnney widow of the lale George Kinney founder and first president ofehapler 188 who lost his banle with cancer on 13 Mar 200 I

Carl Duke co-founder orlne Chapter took the Freedom Medallion of Appreciation that George had received posthumously during the recent KACF tour and had it mounted on a presentation plaque Halfwaythrough the caneen the plaque and a bouquet were presented to Palty Kinney by Duke Bob Beasley 188 Chapter Pres~dent and Carol Becker Gold Star Widow amp Historian ofChaplcrs 188 and 1 69 Dept President Tom Gaffney amp wife Mary and PeterlBevcrly McKay of

1Central FL Chapler 153 attended The banner that is seen in the fotos is the

l~Z~t handiwork of Carol Becker who created 11 an identical one for Chapter 169

Carol Becker wrote us 00 Monday 28 May about at1 ending Memorial ceremonies at Woodlawn Cemetery in O range County She was SOOOOOOO impressed wilh Ihe ceremony 17le lemperQture was aver 90 Boy Scouts circulated wilh

pafXr cups awater Color guard and honor guard Big Liberty Bell A VFW bandplaying The bariTone SOOiSI was magnijice1f The

I speakers Jrept your alfenlion fleuro most oUlslond ing speaker 0 the day was Ollr own Bob

Beasey He was Ihe one A LIGHT MOillNT IN UERMONT Ihat mal1)l came up 10 I

afterwards wanting more inannation on mednlfions and Chapler membership and more Ocourse all these men are Orlando residents and Bob will pass this along 10 (Vic) Haas (Chapler President Mid-Florida 173) He g(IVe such a touching y et sllong presentation Ihal malry near me were agreeing with him saying yes yes And some in lears 1 hea rd mal1)l come up 10 Bob saying thallhey enjoyed his

dynamic speech He had indeed done a terrijicjob

WARMINC UP - BQb Beasley al Clermonl before his Memorial Day oddress a Woodlawn

SHOWING THE FLAG IN THE TREASURE COAST CHAPTER PRECINCTS

As reported by Joe Cranksbaw of the Stuart News and Kathleen Chapman of the Palm Beach Post the US Amly recruiting center at Regency Square in Stuart was the target of a group from the Tre1SUTC Coast chapler 106 protesting thc controversia 1 M ilitary beret issue on Friday morn ing 6 April

USARIA1 Bob McCaffrey founder of the Treasure Coast Chapter pictured in the

photo to the left was one of the more B Amer

uy-calll visible (double fO the camera 5 eye) of ~I protesters For any of our readers who

may have been under a roc( for the past several monlhs the decisio n by newlymiddot minted Army Chief of Sta ff Eric Shinseki

to purchasc 26 million black berets 10 outfit all US Army personnel has been mel with shall we sa) great spirited negative reaction by former retired us Rangers and most veterans in general The black beret has been worn exclusively by Ihe Rangers in a tradition datlog back 10 pre-Revolutionary times Shinseki announced that June 14111

the US Armys birthday the conversion to the black beret would go into effect

Then the decision to shop Oul approximately 25 Oflha order to the Peoples Republ ic of China brought in the Korea n War Veterans protest dimension - ergo the sign thaI McCaffrey carries Buy American

WaUy M9rqllis long lime member and past I Vice-President of the Chapter engaged in the Friday morning protest and is pictured in the foto to the right

McCaffrey and Marquis took part on 22 Mar 200 J in a District tribute ror YFW National Commandershyin-Chief John F Gwizdak The Habe Sound festivities

included a Post honor Guard receiving line amp four course dinnerluncheon featuring in the words of the CIC chicken with its clothes on f

Commander Gwizdak spoke to- the assembled YFW guests on the high priority veterans iss ues of VA Funding new facility cOJlslruction the Montgomery OI Bill and the Defense Budget

Jtb 81511 00_

1Ihtrlne llarri State of Florida Sccrewy rStare

Hobcrt A 8 utkrworthDEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Auonuy Gcnrll Rob MWlCIlnOffice of the Eltecutive Di rector

S(IIC ComplllIeshy2540 Executive Center Circle Wesl Sui te 100 Tn (JJarhtr

Slarc TrQ aTallahassee florida 3230 1 T~r RIwd Actin

(850) 487-1533 I Fax (850) 488-5698 Cnmjoo~ orAgricultun t-rllc Crirtwww_floridavetsorg Robin L I-hggins CltltllJliOoICr or EduCllUon

Exlt-culivc Diredol

April 2 200 I

Mr Thomas Gaffney President Korean War Veterans 624 Vespers Way Orange C ity FL 32763

Dcar~~ I want you 10 know Ihal l have informed the Govem or and the Cabinelthat I wi ll be leavi ng al the end of lhis legis la tive session in May I believe) am leaving lhe best job in Florida I would never dream of giving up this position if it werenl ror the greal opportuni ty that I have been gIven by the President or lhe United States to continue to serve veterans in yet another speci al way should the US Senale eon finn my nomrnatioll as Under Secretary ror Memorial Affairs in the US Department of Veterans Affairs

All that we have done has been a lnle partnersnip with the Govemor and the Cabinet wiUl our State legis lators on both s ides ofthc political aisle and certainly with the Vcerans Service Organialioos and - COlmty Veterans Serv ice Officers Thanks (0 this partnership we have been able to improve Lhe lives and status or veterans in this state There is s till mueh to do but) hope I will be leaving my employces the department and our 17 million veterans bettcr than when Jcame

Together we have opened and staffed two new veterans nursing homes and have beglm funding and planning ror two additional homes we have expanded one of the nations busiest National Cemeteries in Bushnell Florida and rought for rederal funding for a new National Cemetery in south Florida bave imprOVed the economic status o f thousands of veterans and their families by he lping lhem to aecess millions of do llars in rcderal bcocCits and completed memorials to our Meda l of Honor recipienlS our Korean War velerans and soon our World War 11 veterans

Attached is a list or our two-year accomplishments Thank you

I cannot begin to te ll you how honored have been to lead this department for thc last two years Thank you ror your confidence and your kindness I hope in Washington to be able to bring the same professionalism passion and pride that we all share when we try to make Florida a beller place ror veterans to live to the Importanl consliluency I Will serve

Sincerely

~~~ ~Robin L Higgins

AUachmcnt

SHOWING THE FLAG IN THE TREASURE COAST CHAPTER PRECINCTS

As reported by Joe Cranksbaw of the Stuart News and Kathleen Chapman of the Palm Beach Post the US Amly recruiting center at Regency Square in Stuart was the target of a group from the Tre1SUTC Coast chapler 106 protesting thc controversia 1 M ilitary beret issue on Friday morn ing 6 April

USARIA1 Bob McCaffrey founder of the Treasure Coast Chapter pictured in the

photo to the left was one of the more B Amer

uy-calll visible (double fO the camera 5 eye) of ~I protesters For any of our readers who

may have been under a roc( for the past several monlhs the decisio n by newlymiddot minted Army Chief of Sta ff Eric Shinseki

to purchasc 26 million black berets 10 outfit all US Army personnel has been mel with shall we sa) great spirited negative reaction by former retired us Rangers and most veterans in general The black beret has been worn exclusively by Ihe Rangers in a tradition datlog back 10 pre-Revolutionary times Shinseki announced that June 14111

the US Armys birthday the conversion to the black beret would go into effect

Then the decision to shop Oul approximately 25 Oflha order to the Peoples Republ ic of China brought in the Korea n War Veterans protest dimension - ergo the sign thaI McCaffrey carries Buy American

WaUy M9rqllis long lime member and past I Vice-President of the Chapter engaged in the Friday morning protest and is pictured in the foto to the right

McCaffrey and Marquis took part on 22 Mar 200 J in a District tribute ror YFW National Commandershyin-Chief John F Gwizdak The Habe Sound festivities

included a Post honor Guard receiving line amp four course dinnerluncheon featuring in the words of the CIC chicken with its clothes on f

Commander Gwizdak spoke to- the assembled YFW guests on the high priority veterans iss ues of VA Funding new facility cOJlslruction the Montgomery OI Bill and the Defense Budget

Jtb 81511 00_

1Ihtrlne llarri State of Florida Sccrewy rStare

Hobcrt A 8 utkrworthDEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Auonuy Gcnrll Rob MWlCIlnOffice of the Eltecutive Di rector

S(IIC ComplllIeshy2540 Executive Center Circle Wesl Sui te 100 Tn (JJarhtr

Slarc TrQ aTallahassee florida 3230 1 T~r RIwd Actin

(850) 487-1533 I Fax (850) 488-5698 Cnmjoo~ orAgricultun t-rllc Crirtwww_floridavetsorg Robin L I-hggins CltltllJliOoICr or EduCllUon

Exlt-culivc Diredol

April 2 200 I

Mr Thomas Gaffney President Korean War Veterans 624 Vespers Way Orange C ity FL 32763

Dcar~~ I want you 10 know Ihal l have informed the Govem or and the Cabinelthat I wi ll be leavi ng al the end of lhis legis la tive session in May I believe) am leaving lhe best job in Florida I would never dream of giving up this position if it werenl ror the greal opportuni ty that I have been gIven by the President or lhe United States to continue to serve veterans in yet another speci al way should the US Senale eon finn my nomrnatioll as Under Secretary ror Memorial Affairs in the US Department of Veterans Affairs

All that we have done has been a lnle partnersnip with the Govemor and the Cabinet wiUl our State legis lators on both s ides ofthc political aisle and certainly with the Vcerans Service Organialioos and - COlmty Veterans Serv ice Officers Thanks (0 this partnership we have been able to improve Lhe lives and status or veterans in this state There is s till mueh to do but) hope I will be leaving my employces the department and our 17 million veterans bettcr than when Jcame

Together we have opened and staffed two new veterans nursing homes and have beglm funding and planning ror two additional homes we have expanded one of the nations busiest National Cemeteries in Bushnell Florida and rought for rederal funding for a new National Cemetery in south Florida bave imprOVed the economic status o f thousands of veterans and their families by he lping lhem to aecess millions of do llars in rcderal bcocCits and completed memorials to our Meda l of Honor recipienlS our Korean War velerans and soon our World War 11 veterans

Attached is a list or our two-year accomplishments Thank you

I cannot begin to te ll you how honored have been to lead this department for thc last two years Thank you ror your confidence and your kindness I hope in Washington to be able to bring the same professionalism passion and pride that we all share when we try to make Florida a beller place ror veterans to live to the Importanl consliluency I Will serve

Sincerely

~~~ ~Robin L Higgins

AUachmcnt

Jtb 81511 00_

1Ihtrlne llarri State of Florida Sccrewy rStare

Hobcrt A 8 utkrworthDEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Auonuy Gcnrll Rob MWlCIlnOffice of the Eltecutive Di rector

S(IIC ComplllIeshy2540 Executive Center Circle Wesl Sui te 100 Tn (JJarhtr

Slarc TrQ aTallahassee florida 3230 1 T~r RIwd Actin

(850) 487-1533 I Fax (850) 488-5698 Cnmjoo~ orAgricultun t-rllc Crirtwww_floridavetsorg Robin L I-hggins CltltllJliOoICr or EduCllUon

Exlt-culivc Diredol

April 2 200 I

Mr Thomas Gaffney President Korean War Veterans 624 Vespers Way Orange C ity FL 32763

Dcar~~ I want you 10 know Ihal l have informed the Govem or and the Cabinelthat I wi ll be leavi ng al the end of lhis legis la tive session in May I believe) am leaving lhe best job in Florida I would never dream of giving up this position if it werenl ror the greal opportuni ty that I have been gIven by the President or lhe United States to continue to serve veterans in yet another speci al way should the US Senale eon finn my nomrnatioll as Under Secretary ror Memorial Affairs in the US Department of Veterans Affairs

All that we have done has been a lnle partnersnip with the Govemor and the Cabinet wiUl our State legis lators on both s ides ofthc political aisle and certainly with the Vcerans Service Organialioos and - COlmty Veterans Serv ice Officers Thanks (0 this partnership we have been able to improve Lhe lives and status or veterans in this state There is s till mueh to do but) hope I will be leaving my employces the department and our 17 million veterans bettcr than when Jcame

Together we have opened and staffed two new veterans nursing homes and have beglm funding and planning ror two additional homes we have expanded one of the nations busiest National Cemeteries in Bushnell Florida and rought for rederal funding for a new National Cemetery in south Florida bave imprOVed the economic status o f thousands of veterans and their families by he lping lhem to aecess millions of do llars in rcderal bcocCits and completed memorials to our Meda l of Honor recipienlS our Korean War velerans and soon our World War 11 veterans

Attached is a list or our two-year accomplishments Thank you

I cannot begin to te ll you how honored have been to lead this department for thc last two years Thank you ror your confidence and your kindness I hope in Washington to be able to bring the same professionalism passion and pride that we all share when we try to make Florida a beller place ror veterans to live to the Importanl consliluency I Will serve

Sincerely

~~~ ~Robin L Higgins

AUachmcnt

-01 VitetiJ Oil ~ 1(1 ~ Two-Year Accomplishments of

1 the Florida Department of Veterans AffairsgmiddotmiddotM~OiL ~ January 1999 - December 2000

gt ~ q~ o f Folt

State Veterans Nursmg Homes

Opening of 120-bed Pasco County Home

Construction fumishing and staffing of soon-la-be open 120-bed Broward County Home

Site Selection legislative and cabinet approval and startup construction funds for two additional 120-bed State Veterans Nursing Homes

Veterans Benefits and ASSistance Division

Claims for Federal Benefits filed for veterans = 44646

Value of Benefits amp Health Care Assistance = $ 4289 million

Retroactive Compensation = $ 5671 million

College and Vocational Education programs reviewed and approved 16920

Value of Education Benefits to veterans = $ 1984 million

Memorials and Tnbu tes

Completion and dedication of Florida Korean War Memorial

Permanent Medal of Honor Tribute Wall in the State Capitol building

Flying of PQWMIA flag over all 72 rest stops in Florida year-round

Design planning initial work and fundraising to create a Florida WWII Memorial

Other Advocacy

State tax exemption to Veterans Service Organizations

Standard State high school diplomas to WWI1 veterans who did not complete high school due to their service in the war

Redesign of Florida Salutes Veterans license plate

Legislation requiring schools to teach the sacrifices of veterans

First-ever statewide conference on homeless veterans

NatIonal AdVOcacy

Secured $15 million from Congress for federal purchase of land for a new VA National Cemetery in south Florida

Secured 180 acres of State land to expand existing Florida National Cemetery

Amount of Federal dollars to Floridas veterans (compensation pension education insurance construction medical retired pay) increased by $ 26462 million (from $ 577 billion in FY 97-98 to $603 billion in FY 99-2000)

TALLAHASSEE May 15 200 I - Governor Jeb Bus h

VlTERAta AFFAIRt and Ca binet unan imously vOled to appoint Jennifer S CarroU as the Executive Di rector of the Florida Department of Veterans Affai rs Carroll fills the vacancy created by the res ignation of

Robin L Higgins who was asked by President George W Bush to serve as Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs in the Un ited States Department of Vetera ns Affairs

Jennifer s twenty years ofmiliQry tra ining and experience in fhe Un ited Slales Navy make her an excelem choice for this position sa id Governor Bush Because ofher expertise in many areas ofcivil training and leadership Jam confident thai she will ~ervc the veterans of the Slafe of Florida superbly

Carroll 4 of Jacksonville retired from the US Navy in 1999 with the rank of Lieutenant Commander Since her retirement she has been a civic leader in her community and an advocate for veterans throughout the s tale She was a candidate for Florida s J rd Congressional District dur ing the 2000 elections

The new Director of the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs was born in Tri nidad West Indies coming to the US at the age of eight She graduated from Uniondale High School Uniondale NY in 1977 and holds a Bachelor s Degree in Political Science from the University of New Mexico

Carroll enlisted in the US Navy gett ing through bool camp Orla ndo NTC in 1979 111 1986 following a 6 wk oes School in New Port RI she was commissioned an Ensign She retired in 1999 as an LC DR

Her du ty assignments included Aviati on Machinist s Mate Naval Recruiter for Minority Officer Programs Assistant Material Control O fficer Quality Assu rance Officer Assistant Aircraft Maintenance Officer Ground Support Equipment Officer Avionics Division O fficer Admira l s Aide and Administra- tion Department Head

Carroll received numerous personal and unit awardsdecorations during her 20-year military career including Meritorious Service Medal two Navy Commendation Medals two Navy Achievement Medals two Joint Meritorious Uni t Awards four Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbons US Coast Guard Operations Ribbon Navy E Good Conduct Ribbon Nat ional Defense Serv ice Medal Navy

Volunteer Service Medal two Sea Service Ribbons Overseas Ribbon two Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon and Expert Pistol Medal A resident of Jacksonvi lle JeTUl ifer has been married to Nolan for 17 years and they have three childreoshyNolan lJ Nyckie and Necho

CJWsTltWf II surnt __ JUS(Y ~

BOil tmJMp AIIIZOWo ~~flO~ICgtA nollJmHCl SOUlll~ 1t1RY~ oLAIlAAIA

-rEfflEH IlNTR INDIA JIDlt 0I0Hgtl HEW YOmlt ClJIf mAANS FLORooo JSltIIY 1oIOIINlt INISAS JO HAnt ONA IiOWMO P 1IVCK)MCiltEON co~HIA JIM GlllIOHS EVoo Q~U IL SIMISQH ~NO RfCIWlD j( LUfIt lOUISIANA ROB SIMMONS CONrltECllCUT _ ClltNSHAW flORIO flIiHRY E WlOWN JR SOIJl)1 CAAoUNA

PATIIICK ~y

CHIU COUHSEL O STAROltIIltCT~

Mr Victor 1 Haas

m~ ~OUJle of iUprtllentatibes COMMITIEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS

CHRISTOPHER H SMITH ~-

ONE HUNDRED SEVENTl-I CONGRESS

135 C NNON HOVS~ Orna BUIlDING

WASHINGTON DC 20515

httpvete-hoLisegov

May 142001

~~

lAN[ tvANSIIJfIOISWoII()foj( 806 IruoIEM tAIIFOIOOA WI$ v GU1lE~1IEZ UIhIOI5 COMIm 1IOMl_ flORIDA COW c IpoundTERSOIt MINSOTA JU(JAC-SO SLVESTRE IEolS 1UUoS VIC S 0 DIOOOOOI(lVf2 OJltU ROHNtr SgtltOoS 1SS1n SgtlLEY BE~l(y EV 1IOllON IIIll r~ TOM U[W1 NfW MfgtCCCJ

CM OURISHIN DUIOCRAl1C SlMf OIllECTO~

Korean War Veterans Association Mid Florida Chapter 173 114 Orion Way Sanford FL 32773

Dear Mr Haas

Thank you for contacting my office conceming VAadministered benefits

I have taken the liberty of enclosing the VA s Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents booklet It adequately explains in laymans terms the benefits available to certain veterans and eligible dependents Additional information is available on VAs website al wwwvalOV You may access the V A Committees bearing schedule and legislative updates on the Committees website httpveteranshousegov

Thank you again for writing and [ hope this infonnation is helpful

Sincerely

~twr-~t0 CHRISTOPHER H SMITH Chairman

CHSpm Enclosure

TALLAHASSEE May 15 200 I - Governor Jeb Bus h

VlTERAta AFFAIRt and Ca binet unan imously vOled to appoint Jennifer S CarroU as the Executive Di rector of the Florida Department of Veterans Affai rs Carroll fills the vacancy created by the res ignation of

Robin L Higgins who was asked by President George W Bush to serve as Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs in the Un ited States Department of Vetera ns Affairs

Jennifer s twenty years ofmiliQry tra ining and experience in fhe Un ited Slales Navy make her an excelem choice for this position sa id Governor Bush Because ofher expertise in many areas ofcivil training and leadership Jam confident thai she will ~ervc the veterans of the Slafe of Florida superbly

Carroll 4 of Jacksonville retired from the US Navy in 1999 with the rank of Lieutenant Commander Since her retirement she has been a civic leader in her community and an advocate for veterans throughout the s tale She was a candidate for Florida s J rd Congressional District dur ing the 2000 elections

The new Director of the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs was born in Tri nidad West Indies coming to the US at the age of eight She graduated from Uniondale High School Uniondale NY in 1977 and holds a Bachelor s Degree in Political Science from the University of New Mexico

Carroll enlisted in the US Navy gett ing through bool camp Orla ndo NTC in 1979 111 1986 following a 6 wk oes School in New Port RI she was commissioned an Ensign She retired in 1999 as an LC DR

Her du ty assignments included Aviati on Machinist s Mate Naval Recruiter for Minority Officer Programs Assistant Material Control O fficer Quality Assu rance Officer Assistant Aircraft Maintenance Officer Ground Support Equipment Officer Avionics Division O fficer Admira l s Aide and Administra- tion Department Head

Carroll received numerous personal and unit awardsdecorations during her 20-year military career including Meritorious Service Medal two Navy Commendation Medals two Navy Achievement Medals two Joint Meritorious Uni t Awards four Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbons US Coast Guard Operations Ribbon Navy E Good Conduct Ribbon Nat ional Defense Serv ice Medal Navy

Volunteer Service Medal two Sea Service Ribbons Overseas Ribbon two Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon and Expert Pistol Medal A resident of Jacksonvi lle JeTUl ifer has been married to Nolan for 17 years and they have three childreoshyNolan lJ Nyckie and Necho

CJWsTltWf II surnt __ JUS(Y ~

BOil tmJMp AIIIZOWo ~~flO~ICgtA nollJmHCl SOUlll~ 1t1RY~ oLAIlAAIA

-rEfflEH IlNTR INDIA JIDlt 0I0Hgtl HEW YOmlt ClJIf mAANS FLORooo JSltIIY 1oIOIINlt INISAS JO HAnt ONA IiOWMO P 1IVCK)MCiltEON co~HIA JIM GlllIOHS EVoo Q~U IL SIMISQH ~NO RfCIWlD j( LUfIt lOUISIANA ROB SIMMONS CONrltECllCUT _ ClltNSHAW flORIO flIiHRY E WlOWN JR SOIJl)1 CAAoUNA

PATIIICK ~y

CHIU COUHSEL O STAROltIIltCT~

Mr Victor 1 Haas

m~ ~OUJle of iUprtllentatibes COMMITIEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS

CHRISTOPHER H SMITH ~-

ONE HUNDRED SEVENTl-I CONGRESS

135 C NNON HOVS~ Orna BUIlDING

WASHINGTON DC 20515

httpvete-hoLisegov

May 142001

~~

lAN[ tvANSIIJfIOISWoII()foj( 806 IruoIEM tAIIFOIOOA WI$ v GU1lE~1IEZ UIhIOI5 COMIm 1IOMl_ flORIDA COW c IpoundTERSOIt MINSOTA JU(JAC-SO SLVESTRE IEolS 1UUoS VIC S 0 DIOOOOOI(lVf2 OJltU ROHNtr SgtltOoS 1SS1n SgtlLEY BE~l(y EV 1IOllON IIIll r~ TOM U[W1 NfW MfgtCCCJ

CM OURISHIN DUIOCRAl1C SlMf OIllECTO~

Korean War Veterans Association Mid Florida Chapter 173 114 Orion Way Sanford FL 32773

Dear Mr Haas

Thank you for contacting my office conceming VAadministered benefits

I have taken the liberty of enclosing the VA s Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents booklet It adequately explains in laymans terms the benefits available to certain veterans and eligible dependents Additional information is available on VAs website al wwwvalOV You may access the V A Committees bearing schedule and legislative updates on the Committees website httpveteranshousegov

Thank you again for writing and [ hope this infonnation is helpful

Sincerely

~twr-~t0 CHRISTOPHER H SMITH Chairman

CHSpm Enclosure

CJWsTltWf II surnt __ JUS(Y ~

BOil tmJMp AIIIZOWo ~~flO~ICgtA nollJmHCl SOUlll~ 1t1RY~ oLAIlAAIA

-rEfflEH IlNTR INDIA JIDlt 0I0Hgtl HEW YOmlt ClJIf mAANS FLORooo JSltIIY 1oIOIINlt INISAS JO HAnt ONA IiOWMO P 1IVCK)MCiltEON co~HIA JIM GlllIOHS EVoo Q~U IL SIMISQH ~NO RfCIWlD j( LUfIt lOUISIANA ROB SIMMONS CONrltECllCUT _ ClltNSHAW flORIO flIiHRY E WlOWN JR SOIJl)1 CAAoUNA

PATIIICK ~y

CHIU COUHSEL O STAROltIIltCT~

Mr Victor 1 Haas

m~ ~OUJle of iUprtllentatibes COMMITIEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS

CHRISTOPHER H SMITH ~-

ONE HUNDRED SEVENTl-I CONGRESS

135 C NNON HOVS~ Orna BUIlDING

WASHINGTON DC 20515

httpvete-hoLisegov

May 142001

~~

lAN[ tvANSIIJfIOISWoII()foj( 806 IruoIEM tAIIFOIOOA WI$ v GU1lE~1IEZ UIhIOI5 COMIm 1IOMl_ flORIDA COW c IpoundTERSOIt MINSOTA JU(JAC-SO SLVESTRE IEolS 1UUoS VIC S 0 DIOOOOOI(lVf2 OJltU ROHNtr SgtltOoS 1SS1n SgtlLEY BE~l(y EV 1IOllON IIIll r~ TOM U[W1 NfW MfgtCCCJ

CM OURISHIN DUIOCRAl1C SlMf OIllECTO~

Korean War Veterans Association Mid Florida Chapter 173 114 Orion Way Sanford FL 32773

Dear Mr Haas

Thank you for contacting my office conceming VAadministered benefits

I have taken the liberty of enclosing the VA s Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents booklet It adequately explains in laymans terms the benefits available to certain veterans and eligible dependents Additional information is available on VAs website al wwwvalOV You may access the V A Committees bearing schedule and legislative updates on the Committees website httpveteranshousegov

Thank you again for writing and [ hope this infonnation is helpful

Sincerely

~twr-~t0 CHRISTOPHER H SMITH Chairman

CHSpm Enclosure

ROSTER OF DEPARTMENT FL OFFICERS

PresidentPublication Editor Thomas W Gaffney ~4 Vespers Way Orange C ity FL 32763-9233 (904) 715middot

--a803 (877) 87 1middot2538 (FAX) gJffncl (l mpine llcl

JST Vice-President Cbarley D Price 126 Dirksen Drive DeBary FL 32713 (407) 668middot8415 chari pric t lt101 Cillo

2 Vice-President Joe E Madeline 10524 Versailles Blvd Clermont FL 33733 (352) 242middot1249 lmhOJuJc a 1ll5Tl com

3ft VPSE District Chair Joseph D Firriolo 2S 10 NE 209 Terr North Miami Beach FL 33 180-1044 (305) 931-6535 S mg nGrJJldllliJ 7 ii 301 com

Secretaryl Treasurer S C Cb uck Scerchele PO Box 149854 Orlando FL 32803 (407) 895middot6242 (407) 646-4213 (FAX) ~crchck (i hOI1Il11 COIJI

Judge AdvocatelEmail Network Coocdinluor Jake FtBIter 22731 North Highway 329 Micanopy FL 32667 (352) 466shy3493 tfcaSler tI cOCombo nct

Legislative Affa irs Director Cha rley D Price 126 Dirksen Dr DeBary FL ]2713 (407 668-8415 (fAX) (407) 668-2737 ~harl~pncc Ii lt101 COni

~tBte vms COOIdinator C larence Dadswell 4810 301 Sf _ gtonh SI Petersburg FL 33733 (727) 522-6496

Historian AmeliaAmy Cara fano 1885 Van Allen Drive Dehooa FL 32738 (904) 532-0534 C1pfJfJnoa Juno com

Chaplain Verlin Buck Rogers 933 8urrisridge Drive Lakeland fL 32809 (941 )85 8-3559 buckngsri6 ac1r1 hhnk nCI

Sergeanl-al-Arms Peter F- McKay 858 Sullivan Street Deltona FL 32725 (904) 532-3298 glgllllon ibJtSlQrnlnct

QWlMermasler TOUI SIUIMrl 6160 82 Ten Nobull Pinellas Park FL 3378 I-I 307 (727) 547-1991 tdsunscna cs COIl1

Qspury QuartennaSler Murdoch Ford 8029 Shaw Drive Tampa FL 33615 (8 13) 885-5432 mennlou u(CmhlJnk net

Department Founder Emmetf 1 BenjHmio 106 NE 5 Street Havana FL 32333-171 4 (850) 539-9053 kwva acmai l msn COlli

POWMIA liaison Officer Ed Fenton 1124 Holly Dr Mount Dora FL 32757 (352) )83-8915 kIPllcd a 101com

)irector Korean Comm unity Liaison James Puek Rle 2 -Box 1286 Starke Fl 3209 1-9545 (904) 964-3594

ADMIN ISTRATION TERM 2001-2002

Depanment Past Presidcnt Frederick 1 Sbear 12 25 NW 2 1 St Apt 502 Stuart FL 34994-9322 1-~88-S32-3891 k etfrto Ii 11K ~tnln ort

National Military Affairs Adv r J Wallale Schoettelkotte

Civilian Aide 10 lhe Secretary of the Army PO Bolt 3029 Winter Park F1 32789 (407) 629-5786 (407) 831-4771 fAX

Capita l Projects Director C harlc W M~ddol 235 Sinclair Drive Tallahassee FL 32312 (850) 222-4882 1l1Jdd iI clC( 1I~-nct C(gtllI

Military Advisor to lh( COIlPcil Maj Gen James L- Dozier USA (Ret) PO Box 3455 North Ft Myers FL 338 18-3455 (941) 543 -3933 (941) 543-6675 (FAX)

Honor Guard Functions - Cent ral FL Chllrles E Eby 5234 N Jndiana Winter Park FL 32792 (407) 646-4J78 (407) 646-4213 (401) 678-5799 t1vman~29 a 10lc0111

Honor Guard Function s - West Coast David W Ha oson 2559 IS Avenue NOrlh SI Petersburg FL 33713-560 I (8 J) 328middot)028 D$llansCh (j ilolcOlll

Honor Guard Functions - Southeast Roben F McCaffrey 2167 Sunflowcr St Pori Saint Lucie 34952-4859 (561) 335middot5371 Mary AMC aaOICOll

Department o f Florida Webmaster David MikeDenbimer 743 Trailwood Drive Altamonte Springs FL 32714 (407) 646-4825 (407) 646-4213 (FAX) dcrshuncr 01 1100 com K IV AmiddotDDFmiddotWJ13 MASTFRrriJ middot18tn COIll

AssocialeChoplain Reverend Robert Miller 155 Fellwood Fem Park 32730 F1 (407) 160-6676 (407) 260-6804 (FAX)

Media Consultanl RolKrt D Jobnson 504 Dew Drop Cove Casselberry FL n707 (407) 646-4825 (407) 695 middot 1560 (fAX) rOlohnCl I ctmiddotiJ CIl1lilIllSIl com

National Service Officer David C Jtamga Veterans ARairs Supervisor State of Florida Department of VetenJls Affai rs 13000 Bruce B Downs Blvd Tampa FL 336 12 (813) 972-2000 egtlt1 6589 (813) 978 -5832 (FAX)

Audiologjc Service Officer Dr Glen Mlaquoormick Audiologist 410 Douglas Drive Jupiter FL 33458 (561) 575-3400 GlcllJ uch Mcc ( frcc cbcom

KWVA National VP Edward L- ltTed Magill 433 Spring Lake Dr Melboume FL 32940-955 (321) 255-0837 Ill map ill rJ 61C I1Ct

KWVA Natiooal Director Ted Trousdale 5180 Walton Avenue Titusville FL 32780-7030 (352) 267-5233 l rouScent lefaJ1lplnel I1~ 1

ROSTER OF CHAPTER PRESIDENTS DOF KOREAN WAR VETERANS ASSN

Suncoasl Chapter 014 Central Florida Chapter 153 Ll Baldomero Lopez (USMC) shy -

Sam Farina President Ray Ellington President Tampa Chapter 175 1430066 SI N Lot 307 782 Humphrey Circle V E Buck Rogers President Clearwater FL 33764 Dellona FL 32728 933 Burrisridge Drive (727) 535-788 (904) 775-3242 Lakeland FL 33809-0802 ssflrinaaii net ICnteJ QIll))lIlct net (863 ) 858-3559 Eddie Lyon Chapter 015 guckngcri( Ii COl rt hli Ill net Joe FirrioJo President 25 10 NE 209 Terrace FL Gulf Coast Chapler 155 South Lake County Ch 188 No Miami Beach FL 33 180 (3 05) 931-6535 SIIl ~lJl ~rlIldml7 il ]01 com

JerOll1e MODtagnino President 5309 SW llh Aven ue Cape Coral FL 33914

Robert L Beasley President 1345 12th Street Clennont FL 347 11-2822

Col A Grilsavage Chapter 016 James Cbason President

(94 1) 549-4538 Jerome -152-1 a c~ com

(35 2) 241-0544 hkooob(Icbl ilet

24300 NE 15 Place Salt Springs FL 32134-6042 Wm Charene MOH Ch 158 CentTal FL East Coast Ch 11 )89

(352)-685-0644 Joe Noto Pres ident Robert E Hawes President

1(lI IIChltlsOIi o ltJoltolll PO Box 845 2 10 1 Debby Place Avon Park FL 33825 So Daytona Beach FL J2J19Lt RE Cronan Chapler 11017 (863) 452-6024 (904) 788-8040Herb Dnell President k I() 11 stralQ 1lC1 130bnnh aGolcom~223 Whispering Palm Drive

Boca Raton fL 33496 Citrus Chapter 192(56 1)487-4651

Slinshine Stale Chapler 11 159 Benjamin A Reed Presidenthd1rdf a hOlm1I1 corn Jack Edwards President 9136 N fontana WayTreasure Coast Chapter 106 PO Box 5298 Citrus Springs FL 34434-4948Frederick L Shear President shyLargo FL 33779middot5298 (352) 489-69731225 NW 2) St Apt 502 (800) 320-5262-31Sruar1 FL 34994 JJ Ed ~Hru(I cri7on nCI Manasota Chapler 199(56 1) 692-2442

William Field Presidentk etfredilI1lCscnin Ofpound Lake County Ch apter 169 3003 Kiwi PlaceMiami-Dade Chapter 110 Martin J Gleason President E llenton FL 34222

Ainslie Ferdiet~q bull President 1 2 1 72SE 96~ TeIT (94 1)722-71837 17Ponce de Leon Blvd S-2 15 Belle view FL 34420-5444 Ifo-holl qaol comCornl Gables FL 33134-204amp (352) 245-9691(305) 445-3557 (W) 111 111111 231-7 middot(1 aol com Northeast Florida Chapter 200lallofTic(idltc nel

Rudy Meares PresidentCapilal City Chapter 123

Mid-Florida Chapler 173 PO Box 477Bill Jacobs President

Victor J Haas President Middleburg fL )2050-04 77229 Lake Ella Drive

114 Orion Way (904) 282-1772Tallahassee FL 32303

Smford FL 32792 Iil (r 79()9 d bcl lsouthllet(850) 222-3382

(407) 330-9724 J (j emaIl 10Sll com

rdI5cltl l k2scrlces com Brevard County Chapter 2 10

Osceola Chapter t 124 Paul S Spescia President Bill Trincbilclla President Nature Coast Chapter I74 1720 Fairway Lane 58 15 Sunrise Lane fohn P McMillan President Rockledge FL 32955-4031 SI Cloud FL )4771 4529 Breawater Blvd (32 1)636- 1148 (407) 957-5570 Spring Hill FL 34607 (352) eS1l1S)brcalrl ~I 10100111 (3~ 10 (J mpncl net (D Conboy)

597-9491 Ide (j bcllsQuth nct

--

THE OEPARTMENT OF FLORIDA ~ CODE OF ETHICS DRAFTED MAY 2000

P REAMBLE To e stabli sh t he ground rules f or t he conduc t of all our

Officers Chap t e rs and Members i n dea l i ngs wi th a l l fe llow me mbers and the general publ ic as it concern s the KWVA a r e wr i t t en below as g eneral gui de lines

The inten t is to eliminat e the c a uses of a ll misconce pt ions a n d i nnuendoes we have exper i e nced that created mi s under s ta ndi ngs anger a nd frus t r at i on a nd eliminat e negat i v e r he t ori c c onc ern ing o ne another We mus t a l l understand th a t our main purpose i s ve terans helping veterans We have t he necessary t a l ent t he me mbership and hopefully the wherew itha l t o make the ~lor ida Dep artme n t and the i ndividua l Chapters a ll we desi re and e nvis ion t hem to be IF we work t ogethe r as a team

THE CODE

1 We wil l ac t with i ntegri ty dignit y and i n an e th i cal manne r in our deal i ngs wi th each othe r and with the publ ic

2 We will pra ctice and encourag e our fellow members to act i n a p ro fess ional and e t h i cal manne r that will re flec t cre d it upo n them selves a nd the KWVA

3 We wil l re f rain f rom all ve rbal or writ ten cri t i ci s m of a nother -- member of the Depa r t ment o r Chap t er Di s a greement s pet tine s s pe r sona l ity clashes I d i spu t e s etc a r e to be worked ou t between the pa r ties or in the case of a major dispute media t ed by an i ndependent p ar ty a ppointed by the J udge Advocate - either o n a Depa rtment or Chapter leve l as required Di sputes or cr i tic i s m ate neve r to be a i red in individual Chapter o r Depart me n t Newsle t ters or e mai l t ran s mi ss i ons without exception

4 Each i ndiv i dua l member of t he Florida Dep artmen t of t he KWVA will s tr ive to ma i ntain and imp rove the i mage of our Department a nd each Chapter in the d epa r tment

5 No membe r sha ll f or any reason encourage o r otherwi s e pa r tic i pate i n the fo rmat ion o f a nother Chapter in di rec t c ompeti tion with a n existing Chapter i n a particula r area If a membe r is unhappy Or d i s s atis f i ed the e thics rul c V3 s hould a ppl y

6 Abo ve all t he us e of r easona b l e and common s e nse judgment is enco u raged As with a ny Code o r set o f Ru les t he above does not c over e a ch and every situation a nd are simply guidelines to b e fo llowed By doing so we wi ll creat e a positive image fo r e a c h other the p ublic perce pt i on and fo r future KWVA members

v N Buck Rogers Chaplain

I

bull bull

bull

STATEWIDE ADVERTISERS WANTED

Support Veterans Voice KWV A Dept of Florida NEWSLETTER

Make $600 Check payable to KWVA Department of Florida identify as Vewsleuer Booster

Send to

Department FL K WV A 2500 Leahy Ave DF AS Bldg Roo m 125 PO Box 931 670 DFAS Orlando FL 32893-1 670

ilqlutmrl I f forih

JI_laquoIU 1lu hlm ~~riltiOl i lll 2500 Leahy AveDFAS BldgR125

PO Box 931670 DFAS Orlando FL 32893-1670

This publication is also

soliciting and accepting ads

from all businesses engaged in

the American way of life - retail

manufacturing insurance

personal services legal firms computer services financial

services realtors individual

proprietors etc

Business card size ads are

$50 per year $9 per edition For

additional infonnation call Tom

Gaffney (904) 775middot8803

AMELIA AMY CARAFAN0 1

DOF KWVA Historian has requested thaI all ChapleTs submit photos amp accOunts of their activities lor the Dept s archival records Newspaper clippings aso provide excellelll sources

nil historian can be reached af (904) 511-0534 Same No jor FAX Email address is ltCtcarlfano 11 U IIO COI1lgt

Mailing address J88S VSD Allen Drive Deltona FL 32738

Amy amp Charles Carafano 1885 Van Allen Drive Deltona FL 32738

THE OEPARTMENT OF FLORIDA ~ CODE OF ETHICS DRAFTED MAY 2000

P REAMBLE To e stabli sh t he ground rules f or t he conduc t of all our

Officers Chap t e rs and Members i n dea l i ngs wi th a l l fe llow me mbers and the general publ ic as it concern s the KWVA a r e wr i t t en below as g eneral gui de lines

The inten t is to eliminat e the c a uses of a ll misconce pt ions a n d i nnuendoes we have exper i e nced that created mi s under s ta ndi ngs anger a nd frus t r at i on a nd eliminat e negat i v e r he t ori c c onc ern ing o ne another We mus t a l l understand th a t our main purpose i s ve terans helping veterans We have t he necessary t a l ent t he me mbership and hopefully the wherew itha l t o make the ~lor ida Dep artme n t and the i ndividua l Chapters a ll we desi re and e nvis ion t hem to be IF we work t ogethe r as a team

THE CODE

1 We wil l ac t with i ntegri ty dignit y and i n an e th i cal manne r in our deal i ngs wi th each othe r and with the publ ic

2 We will pra ctice and encourag e our fellow members to act i n a p ro fess ional and e t h i cal manne r that will re flec t cre d it upo n them selves a nd the KWVA

3 We wil l re f rain f rom all ve rbal or writ ten cri t i ci s m of a nother -- member of the Depa r t ment o r Chap t er Di s a greement s pet tine s s pe r sona l ity clashes I d i spu t e s etc a r e to be worked ou t between the pa r ties or in the case of a major dispute media t ed by an i ndependent p ar ty a ppointed by the J udge Advocate - either o n a Depa rtment or Chapter leve l as required Di sputes or cr i tic i s m ate neve r to be a i red in individual Chapter o r Depart me n t Newsle t ters or e mai l t ran s mi ss i ons without exception

4 Each i ndiv i dua l member of t he Florida Dep artmen t of t he KWVA will s tr ive to ma i ntain and imp rove the i mage of our Department a nd each Chapter in the d epa r tment

5 No membe r sha ll f or any reason encourage o r otherwi s e pa r tic i pate i n the fo rmat ion o f a nother Chapter in di rec t c ompeti tion with a n existing Chapter i n a particula r area If a membe r is unhappy Or d i s s atis f i ed the e thics rul c V3 s hould a ppl y

6 Abo ve all t he us e of r easona b l e and common s e nse judgment is enco u raged As with a ny Code o r set o f Ru les t he above does not c over e a ch and every situation a nd are simply guidelines to b e fo llowed By doing so we wi ll creat e a positive image fo r e a c h other the p ublic perce pt i on and fo r future KWVA members

v N Buck Rogers Chaplain

I

bull bull

bull

STATEWIDE ADVERTISERS WANTED

Support Veterans Voice KWV A Dept of Florida NEWSLETTER

Make $600 Check payable to KWVA Department of Florida identify as Vewsleuer Booster

Send to

Department FL K WV A 2500 Leahy Ave DF AS Bldg Roo m 125 PO Box 931 670 DFAS Orlando FL 32893-1 670

ilqlutmrl I f forih

JI_laquoIU 1lu hlm ~~riltiOl i lll 2500 Leahy AveDFAS BldgR125

PO Box 931670 DFAS Orlando FL 32893-1670

This publication is also

soliciting and accepting ads

from all businesses engaged in

the American way of life - retail

manufacturing insurance

personal services legal firms computer services financial

services realtors individual

proprietors etc

Business card size ads are

$50 per year $9 per edition For

additional infonnation call Tom

Gaffney (904) 775middot8803

AMELIA AMY CARAFAN0 1

DOF KWVA Historian has requested thaI all ChapleTs submit photos amp accOunts of their activities lor the Dept s archival records Newspaper clippings aso provide excellelll sources

nil historian can be reached af (904) 511-0534 Same No jor FAX Email address is ltCtcarlfano 11 U IIO COI1lgt

Mailing address J88S VSD Allen Drive Deltona FL 32738

Amy amp Charles Carafano 1885 Van Allen Drive Deltona FL 32738

I

bull bull

bull

STATEWIDE ADVERTISERS WANTED

Support Veterans Voice KWV A Dept of Florida NEWSLETTER

Make $600 Check payable to KWVA Department of Florida identify as Vewsleuer Booster

Send to

Department FL K WV A 2500 Leahy Ave DF AS Bldg Roo m 125 PO Box 931 670 DFAS Orlando FL 32893-1 670

ilqlutmrl I f forih

JI_laquoIU 1lu hlm ~~riltiOl i lll 2500 Leahy AveDFAS BldgR125

PO Box 931670 DFAS Orlando FL 32893-1670

This publication is also

soliciting and accepting ads

from all businesses engaged in

the American way of life - retail

manufacturing insurance

personal services legal firms computer services financial

services realtors individual

proprietors etc

Business card size ads are

$50 per year $9 per edition For

additional infonnation call Tom

Gaffney (904) 775middot8803

AMELIA AMY CARAFAN0 1

DOF KWVA Historian has requested thaI all ChapleTs submit photos amp accOunts of their activities lor the Dept s archival records Newspaper clippings aso provide excellelll sources

nil historian can be reached af (904) 511-0534 Same No jor FAX Email address is ltCtcarlfano 11 U IIO COI1lgt

Mailing address J88S VSD Allen Drive Deltona FL 32738

Amy amp Charles Carafano 1885 Van Allen Drive Deltona FL 32738