“Not Fading Away” Car Show and Shine 11 June
19MAY22 VVA 989 Chapter Meeting with Nibbles and a Prize
AVVA-VVA 989 members were treated to sandwiches and finger food before the May General Chapter Meeting. A special speaker, City of Sparks Council member Paul Anderson spoke about the status of the Nevada Veterans Memorial Plaza under construction at The Sparks Marina. Nevada Veterans Memorial Plaza will honor all fallen military members from the state of Nevada since 1864. The goal is to have the Memorial open this July. VVA 989 as donated a plaque that memorializes all Vietnam Veterans. Further details can be found on the VVA website under Veterans Resource. Many items were discussed to improve recruitment and participation. Recently elected Vice Pres. O’Boyle initiated a door prize at the meeting. Randomly a VVA member went home with a $ 25 gift certificate from Olive Garden. The chapter looks forward to strengthening participation of present and future members.
18MAY22 Rolling Thunder “Ride For Freedom” Visits VAMC Reno
Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Group made a stop in Reno today to visit with patients at VA Reno. The group started in Sacramento and will arrive in Washington DC for a ceremony at the Vietnam Veterans Wall. The group was escorted by Reno PD motorcycle officers and Reno Patriot Guard joined in. The riders were treated to a barbecue at the VA Guesthouse. Great group of comrades to visit with and appreciate their beautiful motorcycles. VA patients had an opportunity to view the bikes and discuss veteran issues with them.
The major function of Rolling Thunder®, Inc. is to publicize the POW-MIA issue: To educate the public that many American Prisoners of War were left behind after all previous wars and to help correct the past and to protect future Veterans from being left behind should they become Prisoners of War-Missing In Action. We are also committed to helping American Veterans from all wars. To find out more information about this patriotic group of veterans, please go to their website http://www.rollingthunder1.com
17MAY22 NNSVH Veteran Residents Getaway to Scheels
Northern Nevada State Veterans Home Veterans, with the assistance from NNSVH staff and members of VVA 989, enjoyed a getaway to Scheels today. Each resident was teamed up with a volunteer for their visit. After viewing the aquarium arches the Veterans enjoyed lunch at Ginnas Café. Ginnas staff was very helpful with assisting with lunch selections. After lunch there was time to explore all the displays at Scheels. War stories were exchanged between us all. Smiles were the uniform of the day! Definitely a few new friendships were made. NNSVH staff appreciated all the assistance during the excursion. Staff is looking forward to more excursions in the future. For me, it was time well spent. I was thanked many times by the veterans for the opportunity to shop and explore. Once again VVA 989 volunteers showed up for the veterans who definitely appreciate our involvement. Reporting for Duty today our President J.R., Darrell, Hugh, Jay, and Ray, Well Done 989!!
17 MAY22 Marine Corps League Battleborn Detachment
Department Marine of the Year – George and Susan Malone
27APR22 AVVA VVA989, The Katie Grace Foundation and Wild Whimsical Women all Honored
The pandemic placed the monthly Veteran of the Month and Veteran Supporter of the Month ceremonies on pause. But a special “catch-up” ceremony, to honor recipients in northern Nevada who missed their in-person ceremony, brought out a crowd. The old Assembly Chambers in Carson City was packed as 16 recipients of the Veteran of the Month and/or Veteran Supporter of the Month were recognized by Governor Steve Sisolak, along with Veterans Services Commission Chair, Bill Baumann and Vice Chair, Mike Musgrove. Expect more “catch-up” ceremonies to honor our veterans and supporters in the months ahead. Congratulations to the recipients who are as follows:
October 2020 – Mr. Norman Allen is the 2020 October Veteran of the Month. Mr. Allen has worn many hats in the veteran community, such as long-time board member for VVA Chapter 989, leader and life member of the VFW, and board member for the Veterans Development Group. August 2020 Wild Whimsical Women is the August 2020 Veteran Supporter of the Month. These ladies support veterans through many community events and programs like a “Christmas for Veterans Giving Tree,” where many household items went to veterans in need
February 2021 -Mr. Robert Edwards is the Veteran of the Month for February 2021. Mr. Edwards has been involved with VVA Chapter 989 and VFW Post 3819. He also served as a “relief” driver for a van that transported veterans from Winnemucca to their VA appointments in Reno. April 2021-Mr. Raymond Scow Sr. is the Veteran of the Month April 2021. Mr. Scow is always available to support his brothers and sisters in VVA Chapter 989, serving as Color Guard Captain, Homeless Veteran Standdown Coordinator, Parade Coordinator, Sergeant at Arms, and Board Secretary.
October 2021-Mr. JR Stafford is the Veteran of the Month for October 2021. Mr. Stafford has been involved in many successful community events and programs: starting Military Appreciation Night with the Reno Aces, posting color for Veterans in Care Ceremonies, heading VVA 989’s role in the Homeless Veteran Standdowns, and much more. Mrs. Brigitte Stafford was named Veteran Supporter of the Month for July 2021. Mrs. Stafford has executed many high-profile events for the Associates of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 989. Some of these events include assisting with National Vietnam Veterans Remembrance Day and securing donations for Honor Flight Nevada and the NNSVH. December 2021- John Dickinson is our December 2021 Veteran of the Month. His many accomplishments include serving in various positions within VVA 989 and conducting outreach events wherever is needed. He is also instrumental in the VVAs Scholarship program that supports northern Nevada students.
May 2022 -The Katie Grace Foundation is our Veteran Supporter of the Month for May 2022. Kimberly Weingartner and her organization have supported the veteran community through relocation gift baskets, bicycle programs, and many donations to the NNSVH to include laptops, planter boxes, hand sanitizer, and more
25 APR 22 Announcing the Partnership with the Katie Grace Foundation and VVA 989 “Household Goods for Veterans ” Program
We’re pleased to have partnered with the Katie Grace Foundation, to assist, and distribute household goods for Veterans here in the Reno area who are in need. Please use the “Green” below and review the attached letter and application “form” and let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
21 APR 22 Chapter Meeting and Annual Elections
21 APR 22 at the Chapter meeting at the Bunker, members of VVA 989 voted on candidates for the 2022-2023 Chapter year. The Chapter welcomes a new Vice President, Frank O’Boyle, and returned our Secretary, Hugh Ricci and our Treasurer, John Dickinson for a one year term. The election also provided us with four new Board of Directors positions for a two year term; seated for this new term will be John Ostrander, Norman Allen, Dale Bohannan (a new candidate to the board) and Bill Grey who was reelected.
This evening the four new Board Members join four existing Board members, whose terms will expire in 2023. They are: David Levine, (Current Board Chair) Red Kittell (our Brunch Meister), Susan Malone (our Chaplain), and Rick Kaufmann Also serving an additional one year term on the Board is our immediate Past President, Linda Dickinson as prescribed in the By-Laws, and Brigitte Stafford as the AVVA Area Representative. Brigitte’s position is “advisory only” and she is a non-voting member of the Board.
We also very much appreciate the past work of Ray Scow as an outgoing Board Member and Secretary to the Board. He will remain on the Parade Committee and our Color Guard Captain and serve us as Sgt.-at-Arms. Thank you Ray. Your time and talents will be missed, but you’ve earned some time off, Good Sir! A whopping thank you to the 33 members who came to the Bunker for the election this evening. With the memberships support for this board the future is bright !
Chapter 989 15th Anniversary Dinner
VVA Chapter 989 15th Anniversary Dinner • May 26, 2022 • 1730-2100 HRS Tamarack Junction Casino • 13101 S Virginia St, Reno, NV 89511
$25.00
29 MAR 22 Nevada State Veterans Home AVVA – VVA 989
Vietnam War 50 Year Anniversary Pinning and Quilts of Valor Celebration
Tuesday, 29MAR21 was a banner day for Vietnam Veterans as it’s the date of the National Holiday in Remembrance of Vietnam Veterans and in this case it was particularly good for those Vietnam Veterans residing in the Northern Nevada State Veterans Home (NNSVH) in Sparks. VVA 989 had been trying since before COVID protocols were in place to recognize Vietnam Veterans residing in the NNSVH with their 50th Anniversary Pin recognizing their service. After several postponements and a cancellation or two due to active cases of COVID among the residents and staff, the Chapter was finally able to recognize these marvelous men and women in residence. The ceremony took place in the “Town Hall” and residents from all three wings of the home attended. Those veterans unable to attend the Town Hall presentation(s) were presented with their 50 year commemorative pin in their rooms after the official ceremony was concluded. Earlier in the day, our good friends from the Comstock Lode Quilters presented “Quilts of Valor” to several residents who were not present during the last, “Quilts of Valor” resentations earlier in the year. The Quilts of Valor are quite often give to veterans returning from an Honor Flight as they arrive at the Reno International Airport. As NNSVH residents are unable to fly and do the strenuous itinerary of an Honor Flight, the quilters graciously presented the quilts to deserving residents in their rooms. Chapter Past President Linda Dickinson, and current President J. R. Stafford were present for the 50 year “Pinning” ceremony and were surprised with their own Quilt of Valor early on in the ceremony. Also, presented with their quilts were NDVS Director Kat Miller, LtCol. Bill Long, US Army, (ret.), and MS Amy Garland, a Deputy Director at NDVS, and US Navy veteran.
27 MAR 22 Vietnam Remembrance Day
The annual Vietnam Veterans Remembrance Day Ceremony held at the Reno Elks Lodge 597 on Sunday, March 27, 2022, and presented by the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 989, bridged the strength of camaraderie and understanding across generations. Vietnam veterans and many of those who enlisted after them deployed overseas; others, like their brothers and sisters before them, paid the ultimate sacrifice, dying in a foreign land thousands of miles from the shores of the United States. Both Army Col. Jerome Guerrero and Capt. Samuel Brown each experienced the life of a combat officer in Iraq and Afghanistan, respectively, while retired 1st Lt. Andy LePeilbet one of the most decorated soldiers in Nevada, offered his perspective on Vietnam, and Steven Ward shed light on being a Gold Star father.
“Why are we here?” asked J.R. Stafford, master of ceremonies and president of VVA 989. “Many of these veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan served their country with honor.” Stafford said the aim is not to allow decades to pass for the current group of veterans like the years forgot about the Vietnam vets.
“We welcome them home today and honor our Gold Star families,” added Stafford, who, along with his wife Brigitte, organized the event. Hugh Ricci of Reno said Vietnam veterans returning in the 1960s and early 70s didn’t receive much of a homecoming. According to Ricci, his family was there to support him. Now, he said many veterans are receiving the help they need.
LePeilbet served in Vietnam in 1969 as a young 22-year-old Army lieutenant. By the time he returned home, the Placerville, Calif., native had earned two Silver Stars, a Bronze Star a Purple Heart and a Distinguished Service Cross for displaying extraordinary heroism. “Until that first firefight, we really didn’t know how we would be or how we would react,” LePeilbet said. In less than an hour, LePeilbet said about 50% of the platoon was wounded. On March 3, 1969, his men faced hostile fire from the North Vietnamese Army. Pinned down by grenade and small arms fire and butted against a river, this platoon couldn’t escape or maneuver to avoid the firefight. “I saw the greatness of your soldiers in my soldiers 57 years ago,” LePeilbet said.
After 50 years Vietnam War Veterans were WELCOMED HOME at the Remembrance Day Ceremony.
By Steve Ranson, Nevada News Group
2021 VVA-AVVA Sierra Nevada Chapter 989 Accomplishments !
Note: Click or Tap on a Colored Buttons for more information
At long last, the Vietnam Veterans of America – Sierra Nevada Chapter 989 Scholarship Gala opened to cocktails and anticipation of the fun to come. Attendees took part in a raffle and silent auction. President Stafford opened the program by thanking all for coming and being part of a very significant milestone in the evolution of the VVA 989 Scholarship Program for veterans at UNR & TMCC. This included the auction and raffle prize contributors and those who’d purchased Diamond and Gold tables.
Please follow the link for complete story and photos of this smashing successful event.
Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8265, press 1
Veterans, If any of you need to reach out to talk, don’t hesitate to call the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8265, press 1.
And yes, be patient as the line is being overwhelmed. Apparently, many of our younger brothers and sisters having been on the ground in Afghanistan are now experiencing feelings that many of us felt long ago.
Image Posted with Permission from “Art by Karla “ Facebook site.
The Friday Brunch Bunch of VVA 989 Meets for breakfast at the GOLD AND SILVER Inn 4th Street and Vine, RENO, NV. On first FRIDAY OF EACH Month @ 1000 hours for Coffee, Conversation and Comradeship.
2021 NAME ADDITIONS ON THE VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL
This year, there were two additions to The Wall, bringing the total number of names on The Wall to 58,281. There were also two service members who were repatriated in 2020 and those service members had their status symbols changed on The Wall. The number of Americans still listed as missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War stands at 1,584.
Chapter 989 Color Guard and Flag Trailer
POW/MIA Recognition Day was designated by Congress in 1979 to be the third Friday in September. The day honors the sacrifice made by America’s prisoners of war, those who are still missing in action and their families. While many prisoners of war returned home, thousands still remain missing or unaccounted for.
Freedom and security are precious gifts that we, as Americans, should never take for granted. We must do all we can to extend our hand in times of need to those who willingly sacrifice each day to provide that freedom and security. While we can never do enough to show gratitude to our nation’s defenders, we can always do a little more. – Gary Sinise
On Going Support
Northern Nevada State Veterans Home (NDVS)
Nevada Veterans Memorial Plaza Sparks Marina
Wreaths Across America
Scholarships for Veterans at TMCC and UNR
Homeless Veteran Stand Down
Nevada Veterans Coalition (NVC)
“Adopt a Vet” Dental Program
Military & Family Support Service- Army & Air National Guard
Vietnam Veterans of America Sierra Nevada Chapter 989 Reno, Nevada 