From the Desk of the Chairman
December is here and we are on the brink of another year. December is full of memories. December 5th is National Communicate with your kid’s day so if you haven’t spoken with your kids lately, this would be a good thing to do. December 7th is Pearl Harbor Day of Remembrance, a day that had a huge impact on our world. December 13th is National Guard Day as well as Wreaths Across America Day. December 20th is the birthday for US Space Force as they turn 6 on that day. December 21st is the start of Winter, so bundle up. The 25th is Christmas and I hope that all of you have a day full of family, warmth and joy. And of course, the 31st is New Year’s Eve, the last day of 2025 and the day many of us stay up to welcome in a new year.
With a big push for participation in the Medallion program, your chapter has been working hard to promote this program. To date we have awarded over 1833 Medallions. We now have a good supply of all Medallions, and I just placed an order for more WW2 Medallions. Around Veteran’s Day, I had the privilege in presenting a WW2 Medallion to a 105-year-old Army veteran. It is important to recognize any WW2 veteran that is still with us, but it is equally important to share these Medallions with the families of WW2 veterans that have passed on because they provide a great opportunity to share with younger generations the true meaning of “The Greatest Generation” and what the qualities that made them great like hard work, sacrifice, service and accountability. These items are in short supply in our world today and we who have served are in a great position to teach and remember what these qualities mean.
This is the first year that we have gotten involved with a program called Wreaths Across America. As of this writing, we have raised enough funds to purchase over 163 wreaths. For the first year, that is a beginning, and it should be an easy target to exceed going forward. Times have been hard this year for a variety of reasons, and we have all had to endure, but resilience is a lesson that service in the military has taught us. I encourage you all to get behind this project wherever you are and either support fundraising to purchase wreaths that honor a fallen comrade or family member or consider volunteering to help place the wreaths. This year, December 13th is Wreaths Across America Day and then visit a local cemetery and see the impact of this program.
The recent government shutdown should show you all what it means to be prepared. Whether you are or were a government employee who was furloughed or required to work without pay or you were impacted by the lack of access to programs that impact on your day-to-day life, we all need a plan just in case things like this happen again. Natural disasters are another example of things that can impact your life. The old Boy Scout motto of “Be Prepared” has perhaps now helped many of us have a profound understanding of what that phrase means. I pray for all of you and hope that as we approach Christmas time, we come to understand what truly is important in each of our lives. Family and faith in our Lord can help us endure what life throws at us.
I would love to hear from all of you with your thoughts and suggestions. If you have any ideas or suggestions, either contact me at retiredveteran89@outlook.com and I can assure you that your leadership will take note.
Strength in Unity & Leadership By Example,
MCPO (SCW) Terry M. Haines, USNR Retired
Chairman, Rogue Chapter #1260