November is here and in many ways is the start of the holiday season. There are several significant days during this month that hold a special place for all of us. The second Tuesday in November is election day where every US citizen has an opportunity and an obligation to vote. This year there are many important issues and political races on the ballots in all 50 states. Your service in the military adds a special layer of responsibility to the voting process for that is one of the freedoms that all citizens have and your service solidifies that fact. No matter what your beliefs are, you have an obligation to vote, for only when we the citizens of this country express our positions through the votes that we cast, can our democracy stay viable.
Happy birthday to the United States Marines on November 10th. You have been on the cutting edge of fighting for and maintaining our freedoms for 247 years. Semper Fi, you Devil Dogs! November 11th is Veterans Day. It marks the armistice ending WW1 and is the day when all veterans have come to be recognized and thanked for your service. There are lots of businesses that give extra recognition on Veterans Day so don’t be bashful and allow them to honor your service. Finally, November 24th is Thanksgiving. It is often a special family day where families come together and share a special meal to give thanks for all that we have in this country. Take a moment this Thanksgiving to reflect on the blessings that you have.
This chapter has made over 200 presentations of WW2 medallions and are probably the leaders in NCOA for that fact. NCOA has now come out with Korean Medallions to honor the Forgotten War and I just received an email indicating that Vietnam War Medallions will be going to the manufacturer very shortly. Korean Medallions can be ordered for $23 each and in the near future we will have pricing for the Vietnam medallions. Start gathering a list of veterans for all of these wars and lets continue to be a leader in the Association in recognizing our brothers and sisters who served and sacrificed.
Our 6th annual VeteRUN was a huge success. We raised over $28,000 to support two worthy charities that address veteran suicide prevention and mobility issues for wheelchair bound veterans. Thanks goes out to all who contributed they funds and time to make this a historic event.
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