VFWMG UNIT 4-4149
Activity
Report - November 2007 - Part 1
WELCOME HOME AND ESCORT MISSIONS: Seems November has been a
very busy month for our Group. We are holding our regularly
scheduled monthly meetings, with good attendance and participation.
We delay our starting times ocassionally, due to Welcome Home receptions at the
airport. There are more and more opportunities for gathering up the
Group for a run to the terminal and wave the flags. It is hard to
put into the words the sense of pride one feels to witness the excitement and
feel the love our community demonstrates at these events. We
anticipate 20+ such celebrations each month. It is one of the
things we do that we enjoy most. Unfortunately, however, we also
receive those calls for escort service for those we have lost. A loving
service we offer with far less excitement, but multiplied pride to serve.
Once again, our helmets are off and a big thank you is offered to Dick and
Teresa Galloway, of our Unit, for their faithful service. It is one
of those thankless jobs that they do, relentlessly. It keeps Teresa busy,
for sure. God bless you both for your
dedication
!
RECRUIT, RECRUIT, RECRUIT ! That's the order of the
day. Proudly, our Group is growing in numbers as is the enthusiasm
for our mission. The addition of the Motorcycle Group into the VFW
organization proves again to be an excellent recruiting tool. We
encourage all the groups to make sure you carry applications for membership,
vest order forms, flags and plenty of VFW PROGRAMS literature with you
when you ride. Never pass up the opportunity to ask a fellow
Veteran to become an active member.
VETERANS DAY: Our Group was well represented at
the Annual Veterans Memorial Service conducted at the Permian Basin
Vietnam Memorial. We would like to invite you to visit the website of the
memorial at http://www.veteransmemorial.us/about.htm.
The
event is well attended by the community and the presents of our riders serves
as a strong message and support and patriotism. Even the very young
are witness to this sacred ceremony.
Unit
Auxiliary, Sandra Davis with her granddaughter Jeanette. They are never
too young to be instructed in Patriotism!
Post
Commander Dal Davis took the opportunity to visit with the sheriff of Midland
County. It's always a good idea to keep law enforcement on our
side.
VFWMG
Unit 4-4149 has offered it's services to the County and it's efforts toward
Homeland Security as part of the first responders in the event of
emergency. Our sheriff welcomed the experience of combat veterans
to serve in crucial situations.
After
the ceremonies, the Post and Unit 4 served lunch to the Veterans.
Thanks again to TJ & Whitefox are their efforts with the meal.
Great job!
Members
of the Unit rode to Monahans and visited the memorial there.
TOYS FOR TOTS: On the 17th our Group participated in the
annual Toy Drive, sponsored by the Salvation Army and a local television
station. The reported total of the toys were in access of $100,000
this year and our Post was offered as the storehouse for
distribution. Several of the Post members, as well as Unit members
assisted in the collection, organization, wrapping and distribution of the
toys. The endeavor was a complete success and our thanks goes out
to all of those that offered their assistance.
A
few of those that gathered the toys.
BUDDY POPPY: If you know anything about the VFW you
know how we feel about the Buddy Poppy. Well, leave it to a member of the
Unit to promote not only the VFW, its programs, the Buddy Poppy, but also the
Motorcycle Group.
In
front of Walmart is his Goldwing. The kids loved it and it Helped in
the promotion of the Buddy Poppy. In the hours the booth was set
up, thousands of Buddy Poppies were distributed along with flags and plenty of
smiles from the children.
Tragedy
struck our area recently with three (3) Odessa, Texas police officers were
killed in the line of duty during a hostage situation. Members of
the Unit offered support to the victims families and attended the funeral
services.
The
bear pictured above was place at the burial site of one of the
policeman, Officer Jones, a Veteran.
Our
Group is also present and accounted for when nice things happen. A
Post Office in Odessa was renamed to honor a Veteran, Rex Young, KIA in
Vietnam.
Members
of the R.O.T.C. were there to honor a fallen brother.
We
are currently raffling a 2004 Tank Mini Custom 50 Motorcycle.
Proceeds from the raffle to go toward the VFW Programs. If you would like
a purchase a raffle ticket for $20, just call 432-683-3997 or send an email to justdal911@aol.com and let us know.
Start the year off right. Easy
ways to stay in shape in the new year.