July is here and we are now on the downhill slide towards 2024. Our National Conference is this month in San Antonio where the Association will recognize a hero from all branches and with a little luck, we might be named Large Chapter of the Year for NCOA for the 5th out of the last 6 years. I hope to see all of you there! July 4th is Independence Day and for many citizens holds a special place in our hearts. There are some who are trying to re-write history and downplay everything that our country was founded on. I trust that no one reading this article fall into that category but we do have a responsibility to remind those misguided souls that the United States of America became a beacon of hope for the entire planet earth on the backs and with the blood of our fellow veterans. Freedom isn’t free and for those trying to take that freedom away, remind them of the cost that has already been paid and I would bet there are those who would pay it again if it came to that.
I want to thank all of the Rogue Chapter members, especially our newest transfers in from Florida, Mike Sklar and Woody Wooten who recently handed out 22 of our medallions to Korean & Vietnam veterans. For their efforts they recruited five new members into NCOA and the Rogue Chapter. Well done! As of this moment we have presented 315 WW2, 82 Korean & 318 Vietnam Medallions and I have no doubt those numbers will continue to increase. You can all be proud because the efforts of the Rogue Chapter have motivated NCOA members all over the country to recognize our veterans.
A project that I and a number of Rogue Chapter leadership and members are working on is to bring a permanent Vietnam Memorial Wall to southern Oregon. I have been to the Wall in Washington DC and have volunteered over the years to work at the traveling wall as it makes its way around the country. The healing impact for many Vietnam veterans is tremendous. A recent Honor Flight with 27 veterans, mostly Vietnam veterans went to DC to visit their memorials. Many of those Vietnam vets were afraid of how they would react when they stood next to that wall and without an exception, they came back saying that visiting the wall was a huge event in their life equal to the birth of a child. The biggest problem that this project is having is that way too many people know nothing about it and until we can make this project known to the masses, it will be an uphill battle. People who know nothing about it can’t support it because to them it doesn’t exist. We have been asking every veteran to give up a coffee and donate just $5 and the project would be completed in no time. Everybody can afford $5 but they can’t help if they don’t know about it. Can you help spread the word. For more information, go to sovbmemorialwall.com.
We are within reach of our recruiting goal of 50 new members from any category. Regular membership is normally $30 but if you recruit a new member, it will only cost $20 providing you process the application back through the chapter so that we can make up the difference. Auxiliary membership normally costs $20 and during this drive it only costs $15. This is only for new members, and they can use a credit card on our Chapter website https://ncoarogue.org and complete an application on the membership tab. Applications can be submitted with a check to NCOA, PO Box 5597, Central Point, OR 97502. Your chapter will make up the difference. Please help!
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