|
|
On
this page:
•
VBOB Spring Meeting April 21st;
CIA
Forms new chapter
•
Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge Luncheon Dec. 16, 2012
•
Wreath Laying Ceremony at
Riviera
Beach Coast Guard Station, Dec. 15, 2012
•
Attention Korean War Veterans
•
Veterans Day Weekend, November 10 & 11, 2012
Parades
in Lakes Worth and West Palm Beach
• Honor
Flight article
•
Memorial Day Events, May 28, 2012
•
Nam Knights Motorcycle Club's 14th Annual Rock 'n Roll
Sunday
~
VETERANS
OF THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE ~
• Veterans
of the Battle of the Bulge Florida
SE Chpt. (62):
~
Spring Luncheon held, Sun., April 15th 2012 ~
•
POW Pledge of Allegiance,
submitted by Murray Stein, P.Pres. 106th Div.
•
Gen. Carlson's speech at the April 2003 VBOB meeting
•
"What is a Veteran?" submitted by Jimmy Walker,
C.I.A. Cdr.
•
Korean War Memorial Unveiled on 60th Anniversary
•
A Visit to Omaha Beach
•
Helping Homeless Veterans - Stand Down House, Lake Worth
•
Veterans' Organizations Directory
VETERANS'
HOT LINKS
|
|
VBOB
Spring Meeting April 21, 2013; CIA Forms New Chapter |
 |
|
(l-r)
C.I.A. chapter B11FL founding members: Muriel Berkman, Harold
Berkman (Exec. Officer), Connie Roth (Chapter Secy), George Fisher
(Commander),
Bill
Cross (National Commander, and Annette Fisher (seated). |
|
The
Florida Southeast Chapter of the Battle of the Bulge will hold their
spring meeting on Sunday, April 21st, in the Grand Ballroom of the
Airport Hilton Hotel in West Palm Beach. The chapter always holds
their meetings on Sunday when there are no doctor appointments.
As
in the past, an open invitation has been extended to all returning
troops and their families as guests of the chapter. They are
introduced individually and always receive a standing ovation.
Complete
luncheon cost is $35.00. for reservations, call George Fisher,
chapter president, at 561-585-7086.
The
first meeting of the newly formed Combat Infantrymens Association
Chapter B11FL was held at the Wycliffe Country Club.
For
more information about either the Veterans of the Battle of the
Bulge or the Combat Infantrymens Association, please call George
Fisher at 561-585-7086. |
|
Veterans
of the Battle of the Bulge Fla SE Chpt. (62) Hold 68th Anniversary
Luncheon,
Dec. 16th,
201212 |
 |
|
Photo
by Jimmy Shirley
(L-r)
Chapter Cdr. Brig. Gen. Al Irzyk (Ret), Mrs. Genevieve Verbeek, George
Fisher and Mike Pendergast. |
|
By
Betty Thomas
Veterans
of the Battle of the Bulge local chapter met for their 13th annual
"The Christmas We Never Had" meeting at the Hilton Hotel
at the Palm Beach airport on Sunday, December 16th, 2012, the 68th
anniversary of that bloodiest of all battles of WWII. The gala
luncheon was attended by veterans representing most of the Infantry,
Air Force and Armored Divisions involved in the battle.
Members
of the Military Order of the Purple Heart #717 and members of the
Combat Infantrymen’s Association also attend these meetings. Also
attending were wives, children, significant others and guests of the
members.
Mike
Prendergast, Executive Director, Florida Department of Veteran
Affairs, read the Proclamation from Governor Scott making December
16, 2012, Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge Day in the state of
Florida.
Keynote
speaker was the Consulate General of Belgium, Mrs. Genevieve Verbeek.
Chapter
founder and president George Fisher announced the forming of a new
Combat Infantrymen’s Assn. chapter, inviting all those interested
in joining to contact him.
Contact
George Fisher at (561) 585-7086 for more information. |
|
U.S.
Coast Guard, Riviera Beach,
5th
Annual "Wreaths Over the Water,"
Dec.
15, 2012 |
 |
|
Photo
by Jimmy Shirley
Lt.
Col. Mel Pollack, Air Force (ret), tosses the last of seven wreaths
into the water at the Lake Worth Inlet honoring service members lost
at sea. Pollack represents all POWs and MIAs. His plane was shot down
in North Vietnam where he spent 5 years as a POW at the Hanoi Hilton,
sometimes sharing a cell with Sen. John McCain. |
|
By
Jimmy Shirley
The
Condo News publisher, and this writer, were privileged to
have been invited to the 5th Annual "Wreathes Over The
Water" ceremony last Saturday morning, 15 December, at the Coast
Guard Station Lake Worth Inlet in Riviera Beach, Fla. The
brainchild of Auxiliarist Ed Greenfield, the moving ceremony
commemorates the veterans who had no headstone to mark their graves,
those lost at sea.
After
the land-based ceremony held at the Station, we were part of a group
who were taken by boat to the Lake Worth Inlet. We were supposed to
have been taken out into the open water. But the seas were angry
that day. So, the seven wreaths, representing the six branches of
the service including the Merchant Marines plus one for the
POWs/MIAs, were cast into the water of the inlet instead. A bagpiper
on the boat with the wreaths played "Amazing Grace" as the
wreaths were tossed overboard. |
|
ATTENTION
KOREAN WAR VETERANS |
|
My
name is Charles Koppelman and I have been recently recognized by the
Department of Defense 60th Anniversary of the Korean War (KW60)
Commemoration Committee as your KW60 Ambassador here in the Condo
News area.
The
Committee, a three-year program initiated in 2010, seeks to honor
the service and sacrifice of Korean War Veterans, commemorate the
key events of the war, and educate Americans about the Korean War’s
significance.
The
Korean War is often referred as "The Forgotten War" As a
KW60 Ambassador, I hope to propel Korean War Veterans and their
contribution to greater public awareness. I will focus on
establishing a local voice of sincere appreciation for the selfless
service and sacrifices that Korean War Veterans made on behalf of
all Americans. I look forward to incorporating Korean War Veterans
history and Veterans into local activities such as community
festival events, school programs and commemoration ceremonies.
As
part of the program, I plan to thank and honor as many of our
treasured Korean War Veterans (June 25,1950 – July 27, 1953) as
possible in a heartfelt and meaningful way. I hope that working
together locally and reaching across the Palm Beach community, we
can partner, collaborate and achieve more to acknowledge our valued
Korean War Veterans.
If
you are a Korean War Veteran (June 25, 1950 –July 27, 1953)
interested in being recognized with an official Certificate of
Appreciation sent to you by the Department of Defense and signed by
the Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta, you may Email me at:
KWV148@yahoo.com.
The
following information is requested: (PLEASE PRINT) Rank,
First and Last Name, Service Branch, Street Address, City, State and
Zip Code. Email address optional.
Mail
to: Charles Koppelman
KW60
Certificate
24
Hastings B
West
Palm Beach, FL 33417-1209 |
|
Veterans
Day Weekend, 2012
Lake
Worth & West Palm Beach
Photos
by Jimmy Shirley |
 |
|
Veterans
of the Battle of the Bulge marched in both parades, Saturday in Lake
Worth, and Sunday in West Palm Beach..
L-R:
(holding banner) Bob Erskine, Will Jasmund, and George Fisher
and in the vehicle Al Irzyk & Joseph "Juggs"
Petrucci. |
 |
|
Members
of Post 501,Golden Century Post of the Jewish War Veterans marched
in the West Palm Beach parade on Sunday. |
|
This
year’s Veterans’ Day Parade returned to Lake Worth on Saturday,
November 10, 2012 as part of the city’s kickoff of its 100th
Anniversary celebration.
Then,
on Sunday, November 11th, West Palm Beach hosted their Veterans’
Day Parade, with even more participants. (Jewish War Veterans do not
march on Saturday.)
The
weather was spectacular for both events and the spectators were as
enthusiastic on both days. The parades were followed by festivities
featuring honored guests and speakers. |
|
Honor
Flight
By
Hank Morris
Condo
News Columnist
Golden
Lakes Village, Ph A, West Palm Beach, FL |
 |
|
Honor
Flight Veterans at the Iwo Jima memorial.
Hank
Morris is in the front row 4th from left. |
 |
Hank
Morris with his
Honor
Flight Guardian |
|
In
my humble opinion, one of the most honored organizations that have a
very low profile in the long lists of organizations is the
"Honor Flight Network." So many people, including World
War II and Korean veterans have never heard of this wonderful
volunteer program that aims to give appreciation to those men and
women that served in the Armed Forces during those periods. Right
now, the figures are from 900 to 1000 World War II veterans are
dying each day. They were members of the "Greatest
Generation," and that is why they are asked if they would like
to be part of a free, all expense paid trip, to our National
Capital, with visits to the World War II Memorial, (at the same stop
a visit to the Korean and Vietnam Memorials as well as the Lincoln
Memorial) and visit Arlington National Cemetery watching the
Changing of the Guard. This includes a free flight on U.S. Airways.
I
had orientation with the Southeast Honor Flight located in Stuart,
Florida who meet at the Knights of Columbus building on Gaines
Avenue a week before we left. On Nov. 3rd at 4 A.M. they had free
transportation to the airport where coffee and snacks were
available, breakfast on the flight, lunch at the Knights of Columbus
in Arlington, Virginia, coffee plus at the airport and dinner served
on the flight home, we were well fed. If you lived in the West Palm
Beach area, you met the group at the PBI airport. Free parking was
arranged for the Veterans that drove to the airport in this area and
again coffee, Danish and very warm greetings welcomed us. Each
Veteran was assigned to a guardian and wheel chairs were available
for all veterans. They were encouraged to use them. Most of the
guardians came from the Martin County Fire Rescue group located at
800 SE Monterey Road, Stuart, FL 34996 and deserve as much
recognition and support that they can get. I was very fortunate to
have LaMar Shell as my guardian. Yes, I did use the wheelchair and
she pushed me to where we had to go many times. Her son, Owen, only
14 years old, was also a guardian that was assigned to help a
veteran in the wheelchair. What made tears come to eyes of most of
the Veterans on the trip was the greeting that we received from the
people at the Ronald Reagan Airport in D.C, when we debarked. Young
to old, men and women, civilians and service women and men greeted
us. There were signs and applause, hugs and kisses. Thanks over and
over again. There was a band playing for us. Unbelievable but true.
There were four busses waiting for our group and we had a police
escort from one place to another. I have never in my life seen or
have been part of a day being honored by so many people who
appreciated our service in the Armed Forces of this great United
States.
It
did not end there. Before boarding the plane home, there was
entertainment for us from the 1950s and of course, dinner and mail
call on the plane home. When those that left the group that lived in
the West Palm Beach area, there were people waiting to greet us as
we left the terminal and that was at 9 P.M. Thanks must go to so
many volunteers for having these flight from all over our Country.
You might have never heard of the Honor Flights before, but now you
have. I want to say another "Thank You" to the guardians
and volunteers because they have to pay for the flight that they
volunteer on. Nothing is "free" for them. I was so happy
to read in the paper that Tequesta Fire Rescue held a "Boot
Drive" to raise money for the Honor Flight.
For
more information you can write to SEFL Honor Flight, Inc., P.O. Box
1503, Stuart. FL 34995. I hope that you will join me in sending a
donation so that more World War II Veterans and Korean Veterans may
have the same wonderful experience that I and many others had.
Golden Lakes Village - Phase "A". |
|
Memorial
Day Events, May 28, 2012 |
|
Memorial
Day Ceremony at the VA National Cemetery |
|
|
|
Above:
(l to r) Dr. Amy Franklin, guest speaker at the VA National Cemetery
Memorial Day ceremony Monday, May 28th, with Charlotte Rebillard,
Women Veterans of America, Chpt. 11, and Mishelle Kochel, VA
National Cemetery Director are pictured in the lobby of the cemetery
office building before the ceremony.
Amy
Franklin and Charlotte were stationed together from 1975 – 1978
first at San Vito Air Station, Taipei, Taiwan and then at Shu Lin
Kou Air Station, San Vito, Italy. They have maintained a lifelong
friendship. Amy, over the years, went to college and obtained a
doctorate degree and now works at the Pentagon in Washington, DC.
Luckily, she was available to fly down to West Palm Beach and be
their guest speaker. |
|
Forgotten
Soldiers Outreach, PB
Memorial
Park present their,
7th
Annual "A Day to Remember"
Photos
by Jimmy Shirley |
|
Ted
Deutch and SFC Traci Caicedo, guest speaker |
 |
 |
Boynton
Beach Mayor
Woodrow
L. Hay
and
his wife Mildred |
|
Lynelle
Zelnar, founder and Executive Director of
Forgotten
Soldiers Outreach,
and
her son Bryson. |
 |
 |
The
New Young Patriots presentation of the
Battle
Field Cross --
a
soldier’s rifle, helmet
and
duffle bag. |
|
Forgotten
Soldiers Outreach and Palm Beach Memorial Park presented their 7th
Annual "A Day to Remember" Memorial Day Service Monday,
May 28th. The event was well attended. Speakers included SFC Traci
Caicedo and several dignitaries. Some 22 veterans and service
organizations presented their wreaths, assisted by the Boys Scouts
of America, Boynton Beach Troop 395 and Cub Scouts of America Pack
241. The wreath presentation was followed by the placing of the
Wreath of Honor, a dove release, and much more.
|
|
Memorial
Day POW/MIA Ceremony
|
|
Text
supplied by the
Patriot
Guard Riders.
Those
who have served and those currently serving the uniformed services
of the United States are ever mindful that the sweetness of
enduring peace has always been tainted by the bitterness of
personal sacrifice. We are compelled to never forget that while we
enjoy our daily pleasures, there are others who
|
 |
|
Photo
by Jimmy Shirley |
|
|
have endured and
may still be enduring the agonies of pain, deprivation and
internment.
We
call your attention to this small table, which occupies a place of
dignity and honor near the podium. It is set for one, symbolizing
the fact that members of our armed forces are missing from our
ranks.
They
are referred to as POWs and MIAs.
We
call them comrades.
They
are unable to be with their loved ones and families tonight, so we
join together to pay our humble tribute to them, and bear witness
to their continued absence.
This
table, set for one, is small, symbolizing the frailty of one
prisoner, alone against his or her suppressors.
The
tablecloth is white, symbolic of the purity of their intentions to
respond to their country's call to arms.
The
single red rose in the face signified the blood many have shed in
sacrifice to ensure the freedom of our beloved United States of
America. This rose also reminds us of the family and friends of
our missing comrades who keep the faith, while awaiting their
return.
The
yellow ribbon on the vase represents the yellow ribbons worn on
the lapels of the thousands who demand with unyielding
determination a proper accounting of our comrades who are not
among us tonight.
A
slice of lemon on the plate reminds us of their bitter fate.
The
sale sprinkled on the plate reminds us of the countless fallen
tears of families as they wait.
The
glass is inverted - they cannot toast with us this night.
The
chair is empty - they are not here.
The
candle is reminiscent of the light of hope which lives in our
hearts to illuminate their way home, away from their captors, to
the open arms of a grateful nation.
Let
us remember and never forget their sacrifices.
Let
us now have a moment of silent prayer that all of our comrades
will soon be back within our ranks.
May
God forever watch over them and protect them and their
families. |
|
Poinciana's
3rd Annual Memorial Day Parade & Ceremony |
 |
(l-r)
Marvin Rosenberg
and
Louis
Rodino
Photo
by Ted Suss |
|
Ed Manley
plays"Taps"
Photo by Ed Manley |
 |
 |
Boy
Scout Troop 208
marches
in Parade
Photo
by Ed Manley |
|
This
year’s parade was led by Lou Rodino and Marvin Rosenberg and
featured the John I. Leonard High School Band led by Director Milton
Joselyn and the Boy Scout Troop 208.
The
Navy Color Guard of West Palm Beach led the march of the Poinciana
Veterans. Those unable to march rode in golf carts.
Pat
Murray led the singing of the Star Spangle Banner. Lou Rodino
followed with his welcoming remarks. Bill Murray then gave the
invocation. Former State Senator David Aronberg was the key note
speaker.
The
names of this year’s deceased veterans were then read by Ted Cott
followed by Ed Manley playing Taps. At 12:00 noon we had our flag
raising ceremony followed by Marvin Rosenberg’s closing remarks.
After
that those who wanted had an enjoyable lunch of hot dogs and
hamburgers at "Quench Restaurant" in the Poinciana
Clubhouse. |
|
Nam
Knights Motorcycle Club hosts 14th annual Rock 'n Roll Sunday
|
|
Charlotte
Rebillard, Women Veterans of America, Chpt. 11 and John Oldham of
Forgotten Soldiers Outreach
Photo
by Jimmy Shirley |
 |
|
Nam
Knights Motorcycle Club hosted the 14th annual Rock ‘n Roll
Sunday in Greenacres May 20, 2012. The festivities included a
salute to the flag, music by three bands, motorcycle and car
shows, a Vietnam-era Huey helicopter display and, of course, food
and games.
The
event is a fund raiser for the Nam Knights Charities which include
Vetsville Cease Fire House, the VA Medical Center, Veterans
Adaptive Sports, and some area veterans. The event is free but
relies on a raffles, contributions and revenue from the event
vendors to make up the funds and the city of Greenacres donates
the use of the Community Park for the event.
Some
1800-2000 people attended the event.
For
information, go to www.namknights.com
or call (561) 248-2694. |
|
Veterans of the
Battle of the Bulge Florida SE Chapter (62) |
|
Veterans
of the Battle of the Bulge Fla SE Chpt. (62) Held Their Spring
Luncheon,
April
15, 2012
By
Betty Thomas
Photos
by
Betty
Thomas and Jimmy Shirley
Twelve and a half years ago in
December 1999, the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge, Florida
Southeast Chapter (62), held their first ever luncheon/meeting at
the 391st Bomb Group Restaurant that was located at the south side
of the Palm Beach International Airport on Southern Blvd. in West
Palm Beach. The restaurant had a WWII U.S. Army Air Force theme.
There had to be at least 25 diners to rent the room. There were
34. They called their meeting "The Christmas We Never
Had."
The
next meeting in April 2000 had to be held at the Hilton
Hotel, Palm Beach Airport, due to the rapid growth of the Chapter.
This
was due to the work of one man, George Fisher, with the help of
his wife Annette. The Chapter became the fastest growing group in
the U.S. even as the number of veterans of WWII are dwindling in
huge numbers.
"I
got a letter from George Fisher," explained Chapter Commander
Brig. Gen. Al Irzyk (ret), "saying that he wanted to form a
Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge Chapter in Palm Beach County,
but he needed signatures and would I agree to sign the petition. I
did," said Irzyk. The rest is history.
This
Chapter meets twice a year for their "Anniversary of the
Battle of the Bulge" gala/luncheon in December and again in
the Spring, in April.
The
next meeting will be on the 68th anniversary of the Battle,
Sunday, December 16th, 2012. It will be the 13th anniversary for
the chapter.
This
year's spring meeting was held on Sunday, April 15th, 2012.
Keynote speaker was State Senator Maria Sachs, a true friend of
all veterans. She has introduced and co-sponsored many bills to
benefit veterans. In fact, she said she has not served on any
other committees as State Senator so she can put all her efforts
towards veterans issues.
Later
in the program, Charles Dykes, a National Service Officer with the
Military Order of the Purple Heart, detailed the claims process.
He reminded the audience that he is always at the VA Hospital to
assist veterans in making their claims.
For
information on the Chapter please call George Fisher,
founder/president,
at (561) 585-7086.
 |
|
December
18, 2011:
Irwin J.
Stovroff, V.P. of Veterans Helping Today’s Returning
Heroes, Inc.; Charlene Szabo, Dir. of the VA Hospital; and
Cash, a Veteran Service Dog. These dogs are trained for
veterans who were severely wounded in the global war on
terrorism. Stovroff is a WWII U.S. Army veteran. He was
shot down over Germany and was a POW for 1 year. He was
awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. The organization
has raised nearly $3 million for the program to date.
For
more information about Vets Helping Heroes, Dogs for
Disabled, contact Mr. Stovroff at 561-488-6155 or email irwintfi@aol.com
Photo
by Jimmy Shirley |
|
April
2011 - M.O.P.H. #717 members and wives:, l-r:
Seated,
Louise
Barone, Helen Nunberg,
Gloria
Ott, Bunny Mathisen,
and
Jennie Petrucci;
Standing:
Patrick Barone,
Martin
Nunberg (Cmdr),
George
Fisher, Kip Monroe (Adj),
Ray
Mathisen,
Gen.
Al Irzyk, (Ret), and
Joseph
"Jiggs" Petrucci. |
|
April
2011 (Couples, l-r)
Joan
& Robert Russo;
Yolanda
& Albert
Pace;
Ann
Sablone;
Grace
& Tony Barrasso
are
from Greenway Condominium, Royal Palm Beach |
|
|
|
Joan
Herman & William Langfan,
2100
South Ocean Blvd.,
at
the Dec. 2009 Christmas Gala.
|
|
|
|
Ivan
and Rose Steenkiste from Belgium. Mr. Steenkiste is a
photographer with special interest in nature. He also has
photographed Battle of the Bulge sites and chronicled Gen.
Irzyk's December 2006 revisit to Bastogne and Chaumont
Battlegrounds where Gen. Irzyk and Gen. James Leach were
honored in a ceremony at the Mardasson Memorial for parts
they played in the liberation. Gen. Irzyk if referred to
as the Liberator of Chaumont and holds the Purple Heart,
Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Cross, Bronze Cross
and legion of Merit. To read Steenkiste's account and see
his remarkable photographs, visit General
Albin Irzyk.
|
|
Say
Thanks to a Vet
by
Tony Ditizio
We
arise each morning
to
do as we please;
Off
to work or to church,
to
bend our knees;
To
shop or to plant
or
prune a tree;
Knowing
we live in a land
where
we're free.
So,
lest we forget,
say
thanks to a Vet.
Young
and old,
they
went off to war
To
fight for freedom
on
some distant shore,
Doing
their duties
without
glamour nor fame,
Praying
each day,
no
bullet had their name.
Their
thoughts were
of
home and their family,
Risking
their lives
so
that we will be free.
So,
lest we forget,
say
thanks to a Vet.
Some
paid the price,
never
to come home
To
the wife, mother or child,
across
the foam.
When
called before God,
who
asked openly,
"Thy
did you come
here
to Eternity?"
They
replied without thinking, f
or
they knew, you see,
"To
keep our land a
nd
our family free."
So,
lest we forget,
say
thanks to a Vet.
|
|
POW
Pledge of Allegiance.
Submitted
by Murray Stein
|
I
PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG ...
I
am an American. I was a POW. I have served my
country. I need no one to tell me what allegiance
I owe ... to my flag ... to my home ...
OF
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ...
This
is my country. I have fought for it. I have been
imprisoned for it. I have died for it.
AND
TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS...
This
flag stands for me, for love. My love for my
family. My love for my friends. I did not forsake
it when I was beaten, when I was starved, when I
was killed ...
ONE
NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE ...
I
am one man. I have one country. I worship one God.
Under God I was saved. Under God I have no fear...
WITH
LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL ...
My
allegiance is to Liberty, to Justice. My flag
represents the best of myself, my effort, my home,
my country. I will pledge allegiance to the flag,
I will pledge under the love of God. It is my
right, My privilege, My duty. I have earned it.
Tell me not how! I have given you much. I am an
EX-POW. Take nothing more from me.
I
PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG ...
|
|
|
"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who
points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer
of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs
to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is
marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly,
who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the
great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself
in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows in the end the
triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, if he
fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his
place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who
know neither victory nor defeat."
— Theodore Roosevelt |
|
|
LET'S
KEEP THE SPIRIT ALIVE. PLAN TO JOIN US.
|
|
|
|
George
& Annette Fisher with Evelyn and Al Irzyk. George
Fisher is founder and president of the VBOB chapter and
Albin Irzyk, Brig. Gen. (Ret) is commander.
Photo
by Betty Thomas
|
|
April
2012:
State
Senator Maria Sachs with George Fisher, Pres. &
founder of the Chapter.
Photo
by Jimmy Shirley |
 |
|
December
2011:
(L-r)
Rep. Ted Deutch
and
George Fisher.
Photo
by Jimmy Shirley
|
 |
|
Al
Irzyk with
Col.
Alan L. Weierman, Commanding Officer of the Southeastern
Military Academy.
Photo
by Jimmy Shirley
|
|
Angel
Crespo served with the U.S. Army 4th Inf. in Iraq from
Sept. 2008 to Sept. 2009, the same unit that captured
Saddam Hussein in 2005.Crespo had served in the National
Guard during peace time. After 9/11, he enlisted in the
Army. He was a guest of the VBOB Chapter.
Photo
by Jimmy Shirley
|
|
April
2011:
(L-r)
Rev. Anthony Beasley,
Chief Chaplain, VA Med. Ctr.;
Brig.
Gen. Al Irzyk (Ret), VBOB Cdr.;
Col.
Alan L Weierman,
C.O. Southeastern Mil. Academy;
Kristy
McKillop, Asst. Dir., VA Med.Ctr.;
George
Fisher, Pres./founder VBOB
|
|
|
|
April
2010:
l-r:
Janine Mendelsberg, Celina Portnoy, George Fisher, Yvette
Sendker and Yvonne Jeck.
|
|
|
|
Victory
Belles Nicole Oberleitner, Courtney Bae and Victoria Reed
with George Fisher, VBOB President after the Dec. 2010
luncheon.
|
|
|
|
December
2010 Luncheon:
M.O.P.H.
#717 members and wives: couples, l-r:
Helena
& Martin Nunberg; Louise & Patrick Barone; Fla
State Service Officer Angela next to M.O.P.H. Exec.
Officer Kip Monroe (center standing); Anita & J.P.
Haskins, State Executive; Flo & Don C. Smith, State
Examiner.
|
|
|
|
April, 2010, (L-R)
George Fisher, president/and founder of the VBOB Chapter,
with BOSN4 James T. Mullinax and PA Specialist Edwin
Greenfield, U.S. Coast Guard. Millinax was assigned to the
Coast Guard Cutter Baranof in the North Arabian Gulf
during Operation Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom and the
first Gulf War.
|
|
|
|
April
2010:
L-R:
With husbands standing behind their wives: William &
Edna Panzini; Tony & Chicki Ditizio; Louie & Jo
Panzini; Tony & Grace Barrasso; and Joseph &
Johanna Currao. The group is
from Greenway Village in Royal Palm Beach.
|
|
For information about the chapter, call George
Fisher, Pres., at 585-7086. |
Combat Infantryman's Assn.
Co. B, 1st Bn, 1st Reg, FL
Some
veterans bear visible signs of their service:
a missing limb, a jagged scar, a certain look in the
eye.
Others may carry the evidence inside them: a pin holding
a bone together, a piece of shrapnel in the leg -
or perhaps another sort of inner steel: the soul's
ally forged in the refinery of adversity.
Except in parades, however, the men and women who
have kept America safe wear no badge or emblem.
You can't tell a vet just by looking. What is a vet?
He is the cop on the beat who spent six months in Saudi
Arabia sweating two gallons a day making sure the
armored
personnel carriers didn't run out of fuel.
He is the barroom loudmouth, dumber than five wooden
planks,
whose overgrown frat-boy behavior is outweighed a
hundred times in the cosmic scales by four hours of
exquisite bravery near the 38th parallel.
She - or he - is the nurse who fought against futility
and went to sleep sobbing every night for
two solid years in Da Nang.
He is the POW who went away one person and came back
another -
or he didn't come back AT ALL.
He is the Quantico drill instructor who has never seen
combat -
but has saved countless lives by turning slouchy,
no-account
rednecks and gang members into Marines, and teaching
them to
watch each other's backs.
He is the parade - riding Legionnaire who pins on his
ribbons
and medals with a prosthetic hand.
He is the career quartermaster who watches the
ribbons and medals pass him by.
He is the three anonymous heroes in The Tomb Of The
Unknowns,
whose presence at the Arlington National Cemetery must
forever
preserve the memory of all the anonymous heroes whose
valor
dies unrecognized with them on the battlefield
or in the ocean's sunless deep.
He is the old guy bagging groceries at the supermarket -
palsied now and aggravating slow - who helped liberate a
Nazi death camp and who wishes all day long that his
wife were
still alive to hold him when the nightmares come.
He is an ordinary and yet an extraordinary human being -
a person who offered some of his life's most vital years
in
the service of his country, and who sacrificed his
ambitions
so others would not have to sacrifice theirs.
He is a soldier and a savior and a sword against the
darkness,
and he is nothing more than the finest, greatest
testimony on
behalf of the finest, the greatest nation ever known.
So remember, each time you see someone who has served
our country,
just lean over and say Thank You. That's all most people
need,
and in most cases it will mean more than any medals they
could
have been awarded or were awarded. Two little words that
mean a lot,
"THANK YOU."
Father Denis Edward O'Brien
USMC
|
|
The
speaker at the April 10, 2003 spring luncheon of the V.B.O.B. was Brig. Gen. William E. Carlson,
who is a veteran of the wars in Korea and Viet Nam, and holder of
the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, Silver Star
and Bronze Star. He played an important role in the creation of the
Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge Monument in Orlando, FL, and
was the keynote speaker for the National Convention there.
Though
he was too young to serve during WWII, Gen. Carlson has been a
student of the greatest battle ever fought in modern times. He
skillfully traced the Battle of the Bulge from the planning stage
to the end in a breathtaking speech that drew vivid pictures for
the rapt audience and rendered most eyes tearful and voices mute
when it was over. It was so moving that we elected to carry it as
a permanent feature of this Web page
Click
here to read the text
of
Gen. Carlson's Speech:
Brig. Gen. Wm. E. Carlson's Speech
|
|
|
Korean
War Memorial Unveiled on 60th Anniversary, June 25, 2010
Story
& Photos by Jimmy Shirley |
|
Korean
War Memorial |
|
|
|
Joe
W. Green, 1st Vice President of the Richard E. Cronan Chapter #17
of the Korean War Veterans looks on during the ceremonies. |
|
Doo
Hwa Oh, a Sgt. in the ROK Marine Division, stands with the
Memorial. He has lived in Palm Beach County for over 35 years. |
|
|
On
Friday, June 25th, the 60th Anniversary of the beginning of the
Korean War, a Monument to the Veterans of that war was unveiled at
the Boynton Beach Bicentennial Park.
The
monument was sponsored by the Richard E. Cronan Chapter #17 of the
Korean War Veterans, Delray Beach. Some 200 people attended the
unveiling.
Monuments
for WWI, Pearl Harbor, POW/MIAs, plaques commemorating
individuals, and now Korea, fill the park.
According
to the Department of Defense, more than 54,000 U.S. troops gave
their lives during the war and some 100,000 were wounded.
|
|
A
Visit to Omaha Beach
Story
& photos by Ralph Wugman,
Cdr.
Golden Century Post #501 Jewish War Veterans of the USA |
|
|
Omaha
Beach in its present peaceful condition. The size of this beach,
compared to the length of New York beaches where the writer grew
up, was, in comparison, small, yet deadly, where many of our
troops lost their lives. |
|
Omaha
Beach American Cemetery Memorial |
|
|
|
Visitors
at the Omaha Beach American Cemetery. Each grave marker has the
name of the deceased, his rank, his unit, date of death, but not
the age of these heroes. |
|
Grave
markers at the Omaha Beach American Cemetery with Star of David
markers in the foreground. |
|
|
On
a visit to Normandy, France last year, I visited Omaha Beach and
the American Cemetery there. There are over 5,000 graves of the
young men who made the supreme sacrifice for our country. Many of
the fallen heroes from WWII remains were returned t their families
in the United States.
|
|
Helping
Homeless Veterans
By
Jimmy Shirley |
|
|
Roy
Foster at the Stand Down House in Lake Worth
Photos
by Jimmy Shirley |
|
L-R:
Tairetha Foster, Casimiro Hampton-Crocket, Ph.D., Admin. Dir. of
Faith*Hope*Love*Charity, Inc. (resident of Mayfair House
Condominium in South Palm Beach), (name) , and Roy Foster at City Hall in
West Palm Beach on Veterans' Day, Nov. 11, 2009, where Roy was
honored as a nominee for CNN Hero of the Year 2009 Award. |
|
|
Roy
J. Foster is a modern success story. An Army veteran, 54 years
old, he overcame the hopelessness of being a homeless alcoholic to
co-found The Stand Down House, a rehab halfway house for what is a
national scandal - homeless veterans. I say this because it aught
to fall on the federal government, for whom these proud men and
women pledged their very lives, if need be, in the service to
their country, to care for them the rest of their natural born
lives.
Mr.
Roy was one of those who found it hard to readjust back to the
civilian life they had left behind. After serving nearly 6 years
in the Army, four of those in Germany, he came back home with
little sense of direction. Heading to California, where he had
some family, Mr. Roy mostly found some drinking buddies and party
animals that only wanted to good times to roll forever. He began
to realize this was not the life for him and headed back east.
Arriving
in South Florida he connected with Faith Farm to have a place to
stay and something to do, refurbishing the furniture they sell to
help fund their program. Eventually, through his Faith Farm
connection, he got a job working to counsel borderline criminals
in the Palm Beach County jail, contracting through the Sheriff’s
Department. His counseling was with drug addicts and alcoholics,
having some real life experience with the latter. Mr. Roy worked
for a time out at the county stockade located near the South
Florida Fairgrounds.
In
1994, Mr. Roy and his friend Donald Reed, deceased, formed
Faith*Hope*Love*Charity, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization
dedicated to offering struggling veterans a hand up to help them
find dignity in their lives once again and to find a worthy
endeavour for their life’s work. In May of 2000, Stand Down
House opened on Davis Road in suburban Lake Worth. The facility
has the sound endorsement of Rep. Ron Klein (D) Florida, Rep. Tom
Rooney (R) Florida and Charisse Grant, VP for Programs of the Dade
Community Foundation, among others.
Currently,
Stand Down House provides 46 beds and has contracted with the
Department of Veterans affairs to provide 21 more on referral. The
help they provide includes medical classes, substance abuse
classes, psychiatric visits and compensated work therapy. My hat
is off in total respect for what Mr. Foster and his dream has
done, the good that has come from it and the broken lives from
war, that he and his organization have helped put back together.
For
more information on how you can help, please call their
administrative office at 561-968-1612, the Stand Down House at
561-649-9919 or visit their website at http://www.standown.org/.
Trust me on this. Their mission is worthy, you could almost say
"They are on a mission from God."
|
|
Veterans
Organizations Directory |
|
Veterans
of World War 1 U.S.A., W.P.B. Barracks No. 507
In
Memoriam, Al
Ross, 1902-2003
|
Airborne
Veterans
(All
Service Branches -- Jump Qualified Eligible)
James
Hunter, Chairman: (561) 793-3597
Robert
Robinson: (561) 706-9299 (M-F)
American
Legion District 11
Paul
Bosco, Commander, 561-281-8454
American
Legion
Auxiliary
Palm Beach Unit 12, 3201 So. Dixie Hwy.,
W P B., (561) 655-1343
Post
47, 2315 N. Dixie Hwy., Lake Worth, FL
33460, (561) 585-4616
Post
258, 364 Swain Blvd., Greenacres, FL 33463, (561) 432-0781
Riviera
Beach Memorial Post 268,
1690
Ave. H. West, Riviera Beach, FL 33404, (561) 844-7125
Post
367, meets in the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center,
(561) 792-3813, (561)
795-4854
Post
371, Palm Beach Gardens, Duke Peters, Adj., (561) 626-1460
Combat
Infantrymen's Association, Inc.
George Fisher (561) 585-7086
Disabled
American Veterans, Chap. 42
Joseph
Jakuboski, Cdr.
7305
N. Mil. Trl., Rm 1A-141, West Palm Beach, FL 33410
(561)
422-8312
Disabled
American Veterans of Delray Beach & Boynton Beach
Chapter
152
Michael
Corbett (561) 742-8016; Ted Adams (561) 558-1399
8th
Air Force Historical Society
Robert
H. Nolan Fl. Chapter
For
membership, Jim Hart, 114 Monterey Way, Royal Palm Bch., FL 33411
Jewish
War Veterans
Post
266, Delray Beach, Cdr. Raymond T. White, (561) 499-9584
266-A
Delray Beach, Bea Schwartz, 561-498-4843
Post
321, Delray Beach, Arthur Greenwald, (561) 499-6804
321-A,
Delray Beach, Rhea Sahl, 561-496-7024
Post
440, Boynton Beach, Irv Schildkraut, (561) 738-7091
Post
459, Boca Raton, Cpl. Leo Petrover, (561) 361-1101
459-A,
Boca Raton, Lee Hoppen, 561-637-8430
Post
501, Golden Century, WPB, Ralph Wugman, (561) 689-1271
Post
502, West Palm Beach, Jack Tare, (561) 732-0732
Post
520, Lantana-West Palm Beach, David Waldstein - (561)
439-1157
Post
520-A, West Palm Beach, Dorothy Greenwald, (561) 478-6521
631,
Boca Raton, David Richman, 561-487-8768
631-A,
Boca Raton, Annette Rose, 561-483-8113
Post
684, Royal Palm Beach, Dr. Lawrence Schmookler (561) 697-9011
Post
819, W. Boynton Beach, George Cohen, (561) 732-4111
Palm
Beach District Council, Ralph Shear, 561-482-4032
Treasure
Coast District Council, Howard Lowenthal, (561) 478-2780
Korean
War Veterans Association
Lt.
Richard E. Cronan Chapter 17
Delray
Beach, FL
Arnold
Bob Kempler, Sect. (561) 499-4892
Marine
Corps League
Gen.
A.A. Vandegrift Detachment 068
PO
Box 210545, West Palm Beach, FL 33421
Tom
Totz 561-267-3346 or Cary Haerlin 561-662-8295
www.palmbeachmcl.org
Email: det068info@palmbeachmcl.org
Military
Officers Association of America (MOAA)
Palm
Beach Area Chapter (out of Boynton Beach)
Membership,
Call Sonny Barber @ 561-362-5206
Palm
Beach-Martin Counties Chapter (out of Jupiter)
Membership,
Call Marc Oliveri @ 561-753-7565
Military
Order of the Purple Heart, Post 717-West Palm Beach
Office:
Veterans' Administration Hospital, Suite 1A-143
Membership:
Call (561) 422-5647
Navy
Seabee Veterans of America
Department
of Florida, Island X-12 Palm Beach County
William
Edwards, Secretary, (561) 881-8245
Pearl
Harbor Survivors Association, Inc. Fla. Gold Coast Chpt. 4
Jerome
Mintz, Pres: (954) 472-2754
E.K.
Carstens, Sec'y.: (954) 989-8438
Reserve
Officers Association, Chapter 20, Palm Beach County, FL
Membership,
call Don Isaacs (561) 697-4902
US
Coast Guard Combat Veterans Ass.
PO
Box 544, Westfield Ctr., Ohio 44251
Baker
W. Herbert, LM, National Secretary
330-887-5339
Palm
Beach County contact Jack Campbell
N.J.:
732-229-2413; W.P.B.: 561-842-3057
Veterans
of the Battle of the Bulge, Fla. SE Chapter (62)
Al
Irzyk, Brig. Gen., Ret., Commander; George Fisher, President
Membership:
George Fisher, (561) 585-7086
Veterans
of Foreign Wars
Post
4143, 2404 Broadway (US-1), Riviera Beach, FL 33404, (561)
844-5718
Post
4360 & Ladies' Aux,217 Alemeda Dr, Palm Springs, FL 33461,
439-4515
Post
4445, 364 Swain Blvd., Greenacres. FL 33463, (561) 432-0781
Veterans
Services of America
P.O. Box 8035, West Palm Beach, FL 33407
(561) 613-1181 • info@vetserve.org
Vetsville
Cease Fire House (Shelters for Veterans)
291
NE 19th Ave., Boynton Beach, FL 33435 (561) 533-5797
Vietnam
Veterans of America
Chpt. 25, West Palm Beach, FL
Membership
call (561) 512-0678
Women
Veterans of America
Chapter #11
Charlotte
Rebillard, Commander
Membership,
call (561) 686-7262.
|
To
list your veterans organization or to correct your
organization's listing, send your request by email
to info@condonewsonline.com.
Or
mail to: Condo News, P.O. Box 109,
West
Palm Beach, FL 33402 |
|
|
|
|
Please
patronize our advertisers.
Tell them you saw their ad in
the Condo News Online! |
Home
Food,
Fun & Entertainment | Out & About
| Decorating Concepts | Gardening
Sports
| Fit After Fifty | TCCA
News | Local News | Special Features
| Gulf Wars
The
Clubhouse Gallery | Ask
the Lawyer | Rembaum's
Association Roundup
Community Association Counselor
Brag Book | Essays
| Letters to the Editor &
Opinion Articles
Yesteryear Village
Classified Ads | Real
Estate |
Display Ads
Ad Form | Advertising Rates
| Contact Us
|
|
The
Condo News print newspaper is published every other Wednesday*. It is circulated throughout Palm Beach County,
from Delray Beach to North Palm Beach, and from Singer Island, Palm Beach and
South Palm Beach to Royal Palm Beach, in Condominium, Cooperative
and Home Owner Association Communities. For more information, or
to have the Condo News brought to your community, e-mail us
or write to: P.O. Box 109, West Palm Beach, FL 33409. Tel:(561)
471-0329
*
Due to the economy, the Condo News will be published every other
Wednesday until further notice. |
|
