Disabled American
Veterans, Department of Ohio
35 E. Chestnut St., PO Box 15099, Columbus, OH 43215-0099 Phone (614) 221-3582 FAX (614) 221-4822 E-mail:
ohiodavadjutant@ameritech.net
Website: www.ohiodav.org
May,
2009
JOSEPH
JOHNSTON
Department
Commander
I would like to thank everyone who attended and provided support to my Commander’s Testimonial Dinner. The evening was superb and the entertainment was astounding! I especially want to thank Ray and Joyce Hutchinson for their tireless efforts of planning and executing the event. I also want to thank Will Davis, Nick Border, Don Scheerer, Frank Williams, and Ray aka Josephine Hutchinson for the many laughs and smiles that they provided to us all.
It was great to see Chaplain Jim Keller and Executive Committeewoman Martha Tepker at the event and back on their feet from the medical problems they have experienced. However, we were saddened to hear of the hospitalization the day before the dinner of Officer of the Day Glen Hale. I know that we all wish Glen a speedy recovery and return to his home and the DAV family.
In the DAV legislative world, I was happy to hear that the DAV and other legacy VSO’s had been successful in preventing President Obama from implementing the budget plan to charge veterans’ private insurance companies for their treatment at the VA. This would have been a major degradation in the benefits we all receive and expect as a result of our service.
Each year we all celebrate Memorial Day across the State in a myriad of ways that honor the memory of our fallen. I especially want to thank the individual members of all our chapters for the manner that we support activities of remembrance on this special day. I know that each of you feel that this is an honor and a duty, and I always have experienced and respected the dignified manner in which each chapter carries off these sacred rituals.
At our most recent Executive Committee meeting, PDC Verne Nygaard shared some sobering statistics regarding the relative age of his own chapter members, the propensity of which are in their 70’s to 90’s. Obviously, without serious membership influx, his chapter will cease to exist within the next 20 years. Even the Vietnam era veterans are now in their 60’s. This underscores that absolute necessity to actively recruit and utilize our veterans from the Persian Gulf wars and Afghanistan if we are to survive in the future. I encourage every chapter to find innovative ways to entice our younger veterans to join and be active in our organization. It is the DAV’s most significant future problem and also the answer to it. The department will be taking extraordinary efforts next year to assist in recruiting at the two Ohio NSO offices and I am sure that our membership committee can use any assistance you might render in generating new ideas for this important task.
I hold each of you in my heart and mind. God Bless you all and our great Country!
Joe Johnston
Commander
Nat’l. Hdqrs., DAV (877)
426-2838
NSO Office, Cleveland (216) 522-3507
NSO Office, Cincinnati (513) 684-2676
Washington Office, DAV (202) 554-3501
Cincinnati HSC,
Sheila Clements (513)
475-6443
Jeffrey Riley (513) 475-6443
Dayton HSC, (937)
268-6511
Gene McCorkle Ext.
2962
Wade Park HSC, (216) 791-3800
Walter Dryja Ext.
3395
Chillicothe HSC (740) 773-1141
Larry Queen Ext. 7916
Columbus Clinic, (614) 257-5487
Michael
Hackworth
Brecksville HSC, (440) 526-3030
Don Branford Ext. 7353
Warren Clinic (330)
392-0311
Youngstown Clinic (330)
70-9200
Ext.
105
Veterans Administration 1-800-827-1000
DATES TO
REMEMBER
May 1-2, 2009 Forget-Me-Not,
H.B. “Doc” Riley Chapter #51, Ironton and Coal Grove, Ohio.
May 1-2, 2009 Forget-Me-Not,
Union County Chapter #55, Kroger, Ace Hardware, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Community
Markets, Marysville, Ohio.
May 2, 2009 Tenth
District Meeting, Summerville at Pinnacle, 1305 Lamplighter Drive, Grove City,
Ohio, lunch at 11 a.m. and meeting the follow.
May 2, 2009 5th
District Meeting, American Legion, Norwalk, Ohio at 2 p.m.
May 3, 2009 7th
District Meeting, Alliance Chapter #50 at 2 p.m., Alliance, Ohio.
May 9, 2009 Forget-Me-Not,
St. Mihiel Chapter #6, Wal-Mart, Massillon, Ohio.
May 15-26, 2009 Forget-Me-Not,
Ross County Chapter #18, Chillicothe, Ohio.
May 15 & 22, 2009 Forget-Me-Not
, Youngstown Chapter #2, Wal-Mart, Austintown, Ohio.
May 22-23, 2009 Forget-Me-Not,
Ross County Chapter #18, Feast of the Flowering Moon (Downtown), Chillicothe,
Ohio.
May 22-23-24-25, 2009 Forget-Me-Not,
Hamilton-Fairfield Chapter #15, Bass Pro Shop, Fairfield, Ohio.
May 29-30, 2009 Forget-Me-Not,
Brooklyn-Parma Chapter #116, Wal-mart Super Center, Parma, Ohio and Giant
Eagle, North Royalton, Ohio.
June 2-3-4-5, 2009 Forget-Me-Not,
Clermont County Chapter #63, Amelia Kroger, Batavia, Ohio.
June 13, 2009 Mobile
Service Office, Athens Harley Davidson, 165 Columbus Rd., Athens, Ohio, 10 a.m.
to 5 p.m.
June 14, 2009 Mobile
Service Office, Pickaway Chapter #70, 141 W. Main Street, Circleville, Ohio 8
a.m. to 4 p.m.
June 15, 2009 Mobile
Service Office, Clermont County CBOC, 4355 Ferguson Dr., Cincinnati, Ohio, 8
a.m. to 4 p.m.
June 16, 2009 Mobile
Service Office, Dr. George P. Tyler, Jr. Chapter #90, American Legion Post,
2944 Elk River Road, Ripley, Ohio, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
June 17, 2009 Mobile
Service Office, Hamilton-Fairfield Chapter #15, Hamilton VA Healthcare
Associates, 1755-C South Erie Highway, Hamilton, Ohio, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
June 25-28, 2009 DAV
Department Convention,
The
Crowne Plaza, Dublin, Ohio.
August 1, 2009 Brecksville
VA Hospital Annual Summer Picnic, Brooklyn-Parma Chapter #116, Main Dining Hall
between 12 noon and 2:30 p.m., Brecksville
August 1, 2009 Forget-Me-Not,
John W. Covert Chapter #47, East Liverpool, Ohio
August 7-8-9, 2009 Forget-Me-Not,
Salem Chapter #122, Salem City area, Salem, Ohio.
August 22-25, 2009 DAV
National Convention, Sheraton Hotel Denver, Denver, Colorado
Sept. 24 – 26, 2009 DAV
Auxiliary Fall Conference, Drawbridge Inn, Fort Mitchell, Kentucky.
October 9-11, 2009 DAV
Department Fall Conference, The Crowne Plaza, Dublin, Ohio.
Feb. 28 – Mar. 3, 2010 DAV
Mid-Winter Conference, Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington, VA
June 24-27, 2010 DAV
Department Convention,
The
Crowne Plaza, Dublin, Ohio.
July 31 – Aug. 3, 2010 DAV
National Convention, Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia
October 8-10, 2010 DAV
Department Fall Conference, The Crowne Plaza, Dublin, Ohio.
WILL DAVIS FOR HIGHER OFFICE
The past several years serving on
the Disabled American Veterans Executive Committee has been a time of both
personal and professional growth for me.
The experience and knowledge that I’ve gained in attending the DAV State
and National Conferences will always be considered the high points of being
involved with the DAV.
My trip to Washington DC this year
has shown me a better understanding of the legislative process. I hope to continue with this learning
process.
I would like to thank the Nominating
Committee and the membership for giving me this opportunity. I’m submitting my name for the position of 2nd
Jr. Vice Commander and I’m asking for your support.
Respectfully
submitted,
Will Davis
DAVID MAY for HIGHER OFFICE
I David May, 2nd Jr. Vice Commander
for DAV Department of Ohio, will seek “Higher
Office” at our next Department’s Convention in June 2009. I would like to
request your consideration, knowing I will accept the opportunity and
challenges to serve in such office. I will continue serving as a strong
advocate for our disabled veterans and their families. This is my pledge to
you.
I joined the DAV in 1983 as a Life
Member. I am a service-connected Vietnam-era veteran who served in the U.S.
Army in 1972-74.
On the Chapter level I have held a
wide variety of Chapter positions. I am an active member of Alliance Chapter 50
presently serving as Chapter Adjutant and Bingo Co-Chairman. Also, for the past 16 years, I have helped
veterans as a VA Volunteer at the Canton VA CBOC with 9,000+ accredited hours.
My participation and positions held
on the Local, State and National levels in DAV and other veterans’ service
organizations are:
DAV
Alliance Chapter 50
Presently serving as Adjutant and
Bingo Co-Chair Commander (two years) 2002-04
DAV Commissioner, Stark County
Veterans Service Commission since
2003
Chapter Distinguished Service Award
2004 & 2007*
DAV Department of Ohio
2nd Jr. Vice Commander 2008-09
Executive Committeeman (2 years) 2006-08
7th District Commander (2 years) 2003-05
DAV National
Presently serving on the Interim Membership Committee for 2008-09
Commander, Blind Veterans National Chapter #1 in1997-99
Member, Commanders and Adjutants Association since 1999
Department of Veterans
Affairs
Volunteer, Canton VA CBOC
Member, Cleveland VAMC’s VIST Committee Member, VA VISN 10 Blind Rehab
Committee Member, Akron/Canton Blind Veterans Support Group
Other
Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) Ohio Regional Group
President in1996-98, and currently serving as
Secretary and Treasurer
BVA National Board of Directors 1997-2000
In closing, I am retired and free to travel on behalf of DAV. I
am asking for your support for Higher Office in DAV Department of Ohio. Thank you in advance. s/David
May
Thought for MAY : What this country needs are more unemployed politicians!!
As if it wasn’t
bad enough that Veterans are being branded as “Rightwing Extremists” by
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano; a Congresswoman from Florida further
insults us Veterans. A Congressman from
another Florida District introduced legislation to include crimes against
Veterans as Hate Crimes. The
Congresswoman publicly stated that she represented the “Gay Community” –among
other groups – and she felt it would “belittle her gay constituents” to include
Veterans in the Hate Crimes category. Say,
What??? Read again my Thought for
May!!!
May is National Military Appreciation Month, designated by Congress to recognize men and women of our armed forces for their valor on and off the battlefield. A time for each generation to reflect on sacrifices of their forefathers, and an opportunity to foster patriotism and love of our country. Of course, May also includes Victory in Europe Day (May 1); Military Spouse Appreciation Day (May 8); Armed Forces Day (May 16) and Memorial Day (May 25). These different days show our appreciation to all military – active duty and Veterans – as well as their families, acknowledging the unique sacrifices they have faced because of their service to our country. The month of May also allows America to remember those who have paid the supreme price by giving their lives for our country and the freedom we enjoy.
Injured Soldier Gets New Face. Sgt. Darron Mikeworth’s face was virtually destroyed by a suicide bomber in Iraq. Thanks to a one of a kind partnership between the UCLA Medical Center & Brooke Army Hospital a unique procedure has managed to put Sgt. Mikeworth’s face back to a close resemblance of what it was before the bomber hit.
VA Claims: The VA has told us that 40% of Ohio’s Veterans file their own claims! We need to get the word out to these Veterans to ask the DAV to file claims for them! Statistics clearly show that Veterans, who use the DAV’s expertise on their claims, actually receive almost three times more $ in VA compensation than those Veterans who file their own claims!
REMINDER:
Our June Convention is fast approaching! Each Chapter should send at least
their Commander & Adjutant to attend and learn what DAV is all about. We can always use new members on our various
Convention Committees. Get involved and
take back information obtained to your Chapter members. Help us meet our mandate of helping make
better lives for our Fellow Disabled American Veterans and their families.
A Little Bit of Humor: During
a Police Recruit Training Class, the Instructor asked: “What would you do if you had to arrest your
mother?” One of the recruits said “Call for
backup!!”
As always, keep
our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan in your thoughts and prayers as they fight,
like we have fought, to keep America free.
Never shall we forget that Freedom is not Free!!