December 2015 - Alachua County

December 2015
From the Directors Desk,
Seasons Greetings. Happy Hanukkah, Happy Winter Solstice,
Merry Christmas and Happy Kwanzaa! One great thing about our
great nation is our freedom of religion. While we each lean toward
our own, we respect others rights to believe what they wish. Freedom
is very important and we need to embrace that right. May you enjoy
friends and family and have a joyous holiday season.
Kim E Smith (USN,FLARNG)
Director
Alachua County Veteran Services
December Holidays and Recognitions
December 1: World AIDS Day
December 10: Human Rights Day
December 6-14: Hanukkah– Jewish Holiday
December 22: Winter Solstice- Shortest Day of the year
December 25: Christmas– Christian Holiday
December 26– Jan 1: Kwanzaa– African–American Holiday
Observations and Fun Facts
Universal Human Rights Month
Safe Toys and Gifts Month
Viet Nam Veterans
of America
VVA Chapter
1092
Seasons Greetings
from
your Veteran
Services
Team!
Being a Gulf War Era Veteran myself, I have often referred to the Viet Nam Veterans as my big
brothers and sisters. I have many friends who served in this war whose stories have been
shared with me. While serving in the Florida Army National Guard, I even had opportunity to
serve with men who served in Viet Nam.
This is a special group of people as our country had to learn many lessons about what not to
do when our Veterans come home. The actions and behavior expressed toward our Vietnam
Veterans is an embarrassing chapter in our nations history. The service members who followed
in military service after Viet Nam are thankful for the sacrifices and political battles these Veterans went through resulting in better treatment and welcome home for us. Thank you for
your service and thank you for being the voice of change for the Veterans of today.
This past year, the Vietnam Veterans of America was founded with the though “Never again
will one generation of Veterans abandon another”. With that thought, the Viet Nam Veterans of
America strive to honor all veterans of all eras.
Alachua County’s local chapter was started just a year ago and meet the 3rd Thursday of each
month at the American Legion Hall. They have social at 6PM and the meeting begins promptly
at 630PM.
An Honor Guard is being organized for local services. When communicating with Mr. Forest
Hope, Commander of the local chapter he stated “ We feel our presence to say farewell might
help to show the family we care and remember the service of a fellow Veteran”
When Viet Nam Veterans Came home, many were not welcomed, were called names and even
spit upon. As a result many have created a shell and it is sometimes hard to get these Veterans to come forward. Time heals some wounds.
The contact information for this and other Veteran Organizations can be found on the last page
of this newsletter.
Alachua County Veterans Day Celebration a Great Success
Our annual Veterans Day Celebration at the Veterans Memorial Park was a joy to attend. While the weather
was not cooperating to allow the helicopters nor skydivers arrive, the day was cooler than past years.
This year commemorated 50 years since the beginning of the Vietnam war and Vietnam Veterans were honored for their service and sacrifice and for paving the way for future veterans. Our Veterans are loved, appreciated and thanked by the Alachua County community and we are proud to call this home.
This year, citizens were invited to come an hour earlier than they have been in the past. “Veterans Row” as it
has been fondly called by the veterans groups who set up their tents was more than double its size. New
veteran organizations participated along with community organizations who serve the veteran community.
Citizens enjoyed meeting the numerous representatives of each organization and had opportunity to learn
what each was about and connect with other veterans. Displays of military vehicles were on site from Sky
Frog Tree Service and the Florida Army National Guard.
The advanced program included a working dog demonstration by the United States Air Force. Citizens
crowded around and enjoyed as our servicemen showed what our working dogs can do. Indeed this was a
crowd pleaser. Our formal program included a musical tribute by Lincoln Middle School playing patriotic
music and pleasing the crowd with their talent. Our own Ray Davis enriched our knowledge of our American Flag with his patriotic Pledge of Allegiance and tribute to the American Flag. Julie Rattley from the VA
awed us with her incredible talent singing our National Anthem. Our beloved Chaplain Glen Busby also
from the VA provided moving and spiritual words. The Young Marines pleased the crowd with their Posting of Colors, Wreath laying ceremony and the American Flag folding Ceremony. Acting Director of North
Florida South Georgia Veteran Health System, Nancy Reissener inspired the crowd with her moving speech
about Vietnam Veterans and their experiences when they returned from the war. From the Military Order of
the Purple Heart, Stephen Dodd brought us to almost tears as he spoke to the crowd about stories of earning
a Purple Heart. The UF Billy Mitchell Drill Team amazed us with their skill and mental fortitude as they
performed their drill demonstration. Stephen Hutto and Megan Payton of Buchholz High School performed
Echo Taps as the colors were retired.
After our formal ceremony the celebration continued as people enjoyed love music from the Justin Lee Band
and ate tasty BBQ from Cowboyz Restaurant .
Overall it was a terrific day with a lot of people doing a lot of hard work and collaboration in putting this
together. Thank you to all who participated to make this a successful event. If you were not able to make it
to this years event, please join us next year. We honor and celebrate our Veteran Community in Alachua
County and it is a great event.
Veterans Entrepreneurship Program
Each year in the Spring, the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University
of Florida hosts a major national program that helps disabled veterans to start entrepreneurial ventures (or grow them if they are in the early stages of starting something). This
program features top presenters and resources for veterans from across the country who
have a passion to start something. This program is at no cost to the veteran.
For more information go to :
http://warrington.ufl.edu/centers/cei/outreach/vep/
Volunteers are also needed in Gainesville between May 7th and 14th.
For more information, please contact
Michael H. Morris, Ph.D.
James W. Walter Clinical Eminent Scholar Chair
Academic Director, Entrepreneurship
Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, 133 Bryan
Warrington College of Business Administration
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL 32611
Ph: 352-273-0329; Fax: 352- 846-2170
"Entrepreneurship is a mindset, it's about living an adventure as opposed to taking risks"
Social Security and Pension Benefits
We have been seeing an increase in Veterans seeking to apply for Pension benefits due to receiving a letter from Social Security warning that their Social Security benefits will be stopped if the Veteran does not apply for Pension benefits.
This can be frustrating to the Veterans as they paid into Social Security and
earned the benefits being paid back to them only to have Social Security say to
apply for VA Pension which is a needs based benefit. Many Veterans know that
they may not qualify for this benefit but are still required to apply for it. The
Florida Department of Veterans Affairs is currently looking into this to protect
area Veterans from having their Social Security shut off due to a requirement to
apply for an alternate source of government funding.
Application for Pension has complexities including forms and documentation.
Our staff are efficient and we make it as easy as possible for the Veterans and
their families to apply. If you have received this letter from Social Security,
please contact our office so we can work with you on your application to ensure
you satisfy what Social Security is seeking from you.
There are multiple benefits available to our veteran community, we are happy to
advise you about what you may qualify for and assist you in applying for your
earned Veterans Benefits.
VETERANS AWARD
BANQUET
February 27, 2016
Paramount Hotel
Gainesville, Florida
Music By
TBA
TICKETS $30 PER PERSON
Buy Your Tickets Early, Limited Seating
Dress Uniform | Formal Attire
1700 Happy Hour | 1800 Dinner | 1930 Awards
Open Bar Available at the Command Post Bar
All drink donations go to create a “Dick Davis” Veterans Bridge
Scholarship at SFC for a UF student veteran.
WHERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS?
American Legion Vicki VanBuren
(352) 562-9963
Korean War Veterans Don Sherry
(352) 375-8355
Marine Corps League Sandy Golden
(352) 494-4547
MOAA
Jim and Candy Gleason
(352) 333-8974
VFW
Dick Lester
(352) 376-7660
DAV
Pete Sabo
(352) 332-4608
$79.00
Special Room Rates at
The Paramount Hotel
ALACHUA COUNTY VETERANS MEMORIAL COMMITTEE
WWW.WOUNDEDWEAR.ORG
ARE YOU
COMBAT WOUNDED?
PURPLE HEART?
THEN YOU'VE EARNED A
FREE CLOTHING KIT!
WOUNDEDWEAR.ORG WILL SEND
YOU THE FOLLOWING ITEMS, FREE!
Softshell nylon jacket
Embroided Purple Heart Polo
Soft cotton tee and sport shorts
Black "WoundedWear" baseball cap
and more............
Just give us your sizes, let us verify your
Purple Heart, and we'll do the rest.
(Your kit should reach us in 4-5 weeks)
We'll get it to you as soon as it arrives.
SSG John A. Reiners Chapter #0823
Military Order of the Purple Heart
P.O. Box 357808
Gainesville, Fl. 32635-7808
Stephen Dodd (386)336-2663 tnlrat68@gmail.com
Norm Sassner (352)339-4645 nsassner@yahoo.com
Veteran Organization Information
Organization
Meeting Information
NOTE: Any meeting updates or changes need to be sent to Kim Smith at
ksmith@alachuacounty.us for update and modification in the newsletter
Time
Contact
Phone
DATES OF MEETING WILL FALL ON SPECIFIC DAYS OF
THE MONTH. The Days are listed.
40 & 8 Voiture 1388
1st Monday American Legion Post 16
6:00 PM
Major Stroupe
352-486-3872
American Legion Post 16
2nd Wednesday
700PM
Vickie Van Buren
352-372-8802
IWO TRIO
1st Tuesday Jason's Deli
11:30 AM
Bob Gasche
376-0402
Sons of the American Legion
Chapter 16
2nd Monday American Legion Post 16
7:00 PM
Paul Salg
352-278-8360
7:00 PM
Dick Davis
378-5560
Gen. James A. Van Fleet Chapter
267 Korean War Veterans
1st Wednesday at American
Legion post 16
Veterans for Peace
1st Wednesday Call for directions
7:00 PM
Scott Camil
375-2563
Military Support Group of Alachua
County
1st Thursday 1st United Methodist Church in
Alachua
6:30 PM
Jim Yakubsin
222-8837
National Society of the Sons of
the American Revolution
3rd Tuesday at Browns Country Buffet, Alachua
FL
5:30 PM
David Cromer
352-375-1257
MOAA Military Officers Association of America
2nd Tuesday
7:00PM
James Gleason
352-333-8974
Alachua County Veterans Advisory Board
2nd Monday Location usually Kanapaha Park
Freedom Center; Location posted on http://
advisoryboards.alachuacounty.us/boards/
info.aspx
5:30 PM
Kim Smith
264-6740
VFW Post 2811
2nd Thursday General meeting and auxiliary will
meet at the Post at 1100 NE Waldo Road
7:00 PM
Commander Dick
Lester
386-462-1192
VietNam Veterans of America
Chapter 1092
4th Monday at the American Legion Post 16;
Social at 600
6:30PM
Forest Hope
352-514-0270 vvachapter1092@yahoo.com
American Legion Post 232 North
Hawthorne/Waldo
3rd Monday at post home (9302 Holden Park
Road in Hawthorne)
11:00 AM
Cmdr/Service Officer
William Sohl
246-7645
American Legion Post 230 and
Auxiliary
3rd Monday Post home in Hawthorne at (20370
SE Hawthorne Road)
12 Noon
Frank Womack
352-450-6376
American Legion Riders Chapter
16
3rd Monday Legion Post 16
7:00 PM
Kevin Porterfield
352-494-2281
Rolling Thunder Chapter 3
Location and dates vary, call for details
7:00 PM
Daniel Buckland President
352-281-2026
D-Day WWII Veterans
2nd Thursday at Conestogas Restaurant Alachua, FL
11AM
Bryan Walker
352-372-9685
Milton Lewis Young Marines
4th Saturday VFW Post 2811
9:00 AM
Cary Hill
Military order of the Purple Heart
1st Saturday at American Legion Post 16
1:00PM
Steve Dodd
386-336-2663
7:00 PM
Commandant Jim Yakubsin
352-222-8837
Marine Corps League Gator De- 4th Tuesday of the month at 1st United Methodist Church in Alachua
tachment
352-495-2710 or
514-3915
American Legion Post 149
1st Tuesday
7:00PM
Marjor Stroupe
352-486-3872
VET CENTER
105 NW 75th St Suite 2 Gainesville, FL 32607
Call
Ingrid Rincon Office
Manager
352-331-1408
Rick Fabiani President
352-514-8435
Commander Pete
Sabo
352-332-4068
The Gainesville Fisher House
DAV Chapter 90
4th Wednesday DAV HQ - 2015 SW 75th Street
5:30 PM
352-