The Spirit of 776

January 2017

Meeting at Bettendorf Public Library

January 25 at 1900 hours 7:00 P.M.

VIETNAM
VETERANS OF
AMERICA
CHAPTER 776
Never Again Will
One Generation of
Veterans Abandon
Another.

Volume 21 Issue 1

Veteran
Service Officers
&
Service
Coordinators
Clarke Barnes
309 944-3674
Ed Gaudet
563 343-9456
David Woods
563 326-8723
Ernest Ledjte
563 785-6182
Tom Lemon
563 359-3201
Honor Guard
John Lavelle
563 355-4213
Web Master
Roger Granbois
roger@granbois.net
President Greg Paulline
Vice-President Bruce Cheek
Treasurer Harold Hansen
Secretary John Lavelle
Trustee. Lyle Peterson

$500 Scholarship
Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 776
offers a scholarship for Vietnam veterans,
OEF/OIF veterans and the children and
grandchildren of Vietnam veterans every
year. Apply for this scholarship through
the chapters web site: vva776.org
Click on Membership and then click on
VVA Scholarship for more information
on this scholarship and begin the
process.

POC - Larry Witt - 563 388-7179

Officers and Board of Directors
563 650-3055
Dir. David Woods
563 349-4129
Dir. Ed Gaudet
563 505-9674
Dir. Bill Matthews
563 355-4213
Dir. Steve Satre
563 386-1286
Dir. Larry Witt

563 326-8723
563 349-9456
563 355-5618
563 289-1776
563 388-7179

Minutes for November Membership Meeting

The meeting was called to order by President Greg Paulline at 1900 hrs. at
Milestones in Davenport. Officers present; President Paulline, vice president
Cheek, treasurer Harold Hansen, and secretary John Lavelle. The members
recited the Pledge of Allegiance and observed a moment of silence for POW/MIA's
and also for those still serving in harms way. A sheet was passed for members to
sign and each member stated their attendance. The minutes of the last meeting
were approved as published in the newsletter. Harold Hansen shared the current
financial status of the chapter. Members in distress this month, we learned that
Lyle Peterson is home and doing rehabilitation, Edwin was in attendance at the
meeting and is getting stronger, we learned that Gerald Hunter is having some
health issues and hope to hear that he is soon on the mend. We received thank
yous from the Humility of Mary Shelter, Jasons Box, the family of Brandon
Ketchum, Iowa Work Force Development, and the Iowa City VA Hospital, all for
donations over the past few months. We heard coin stories from Mike Martin,
who presented a coin to a veteran from the 25th Infantry, Al Thede who gave a
coin to a WWII veteran, Jim Daxon presented a coin to a Gold Star Mother at
C.A.S.I., Tim Nations had to have his cat put down by a vet and found that he was
also a veteran. Larry Will gave us the new numbers of members, 47 Individual,
154 Live, and 20 AVVA members. There are still a few pending as well as a few
members who need to renew. We heard from Jim Owens that the visit to Palmer
Hills was a good one and that the trip to Iowa City is set for Dec 12 and as usual
they will met at the McDonalds on Northwest Blvd. There is an effort to help the
Veterans Outreach on 4th and Perry in obtaining bread donations from Hy-Vee.
Ed Gaudet spoke about Gary White and his situation after having had a stroke.
We are in the process of finding a means to assist Gary and his wife at this time.
This years Christmas and Thanksgiving baskets totaled 23 and costs
approximately $27 a piece, the DAV also added gift cards to these baskets in the
amount of $25. On November 15th Bruce Cheek organized the Veterans Car Club
of the Quad Cities. As a chapter we are members of this organization. The original
bi-laws of the River Valley Car Club were adjusted to create the new car club. The
next meeting will be held on Dec. 12, Don Valley will be the advisor for the group.
The car club is a combination of the local Seabees Veterans group, VVA Chapter
776, and The All-Vets Memorial. Davenport Superintendent Tate has approved
the flying of the POW/MIA flag at Brady Street Stadium and we are in the process
of purchasing one to that one can be flown when the track season begins
outdoors. The meeting as adjourned. Minutes submitted by John P. Lavelle,

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CHAPTER SCHOLARSHIP
If you are interested in furthering
your education, or if you have a
child or a grandchild who is
interested in furthering their
education. Go to the Chapter Web
Site. Click on Membership and
then click on VVA Scholarship.
Start the process today. This is
for a $500 scholarship. DONT
DELAY, GET THIS DONE NOW!

An Opportunity to Take Part

In the coming months, we will be working on a community Town Hall Meeting
dealing with a group of related issues concerning veterans. The issues deal with the
actual cost of war, not the monetary cost, but what it does to the human soul. We
will be needing your help. I know that for about a year the 22 Push-ups to gain
awareness was popular, but this town hall meeting will go beyond that and
hopefully many of you will be involved in making it a success. The issue of Veteran
suicide will be a major part, as well as PTSD and TBI. We are hoping for a large
turnout of Vietnam veterans and especially those vets that have taken part in the
war on terror. We are going to need work getting the word out and on the day of the
presentation, we will be needing lots of grunt work at the location on the campus of
St. Ambrose University. The date for this event is March 18th, try to make yourself
available and step forward to volunteer and assist in the Operation Engage America,
it will be beyond 22 Pushups and hopefully do a great deal to help vets heal.,