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Many Veterans,
especially Vietnam Veterans spent time the SDIT during the "Send-Off" weekend.
I must say, I know OUR FATHERS were very proud of their comrades, I know
I was. Many of the Veterans, especially in the Southern California
area have have not had the opportunity to participate in an SDIT event
such as this, because we have mainly gathered in Washington, D.C. and a
few times in Sacramento. I am sure that this will have been an event
that they too, will never forget.
-JC
Under mostly clear and starry skies, 114 persons (according to the sign-in
book) attended the Sendoff Dinner BBQ in Hermosa Beach, CA for the SDIT
members and support staff yesterday March 1st. Sponsored by the VVA California
State Council, all attendees were feasted with tri-tip steak, beans, salad,
garlic bread, cake and lots of water, coffee and soda.
Words of welcome and thanks were expressed by Tony Cordero, SDIT
National President, Tom Corey, VVA National President, Rich Sander from
VietNow and Dick Southern, California State Council President. Chapter
53 was the host chapter and its members were joined by avva and vva members
of California Chapters 355 (Santa Clarita), 47 (Riverside), and CSC State
Officers and SDIT State Liaison in setting up and serving the attendees.
Thanx to all who donated time and/or money to making this dinner a success.
Look for more info in an upcoming issue of the Veteran and on the VVA Website.
Jerry
Yamamoto for the CSC Sendoff Committee.
***************************
Jerry...
I also want to add my congratulations
to you, Chapter 53 members who helped make this send-off a reality, and
CSC members who took part. I felt that the evening was a huge success,
and both Anne and I enjoyed speaking with SDIT members making this historical
journey of healing. It was also a joy to meet Rich
Sanders of VietNow (we knew
each other from our writings for VietNow magazine, but never met until
last night)...and Nancy Switzer. Nancy's AVVA letter
of support was instrumental
in helping us get our initial grant to help homeless/incarcerated veterans.
She and I have communicated many times via email, but have never met until
last night. She is one special lady! During our conversation, Nancy invited
me to speak during the National Convention in St. Louis, and I told her
I would be honored to do so. Also enjoyed meeting Tom Corey, and appreciated
his words at the opening of this event. It was a wonderful thing to do
for these young men and women, and it was beautifully done. You, Ch.53
helpers and CSC ought to feel a great deal of pride for a job well done.
Salute.
Matt Davison
******************
Good Morning All,
I will
not presume to write an after mission report on the SDIT send off that
was sponsored by the California State Council. I would like to say
a few words about the event form the view point of a guest.
Last
night, Saturday, 01/March/03 a send off Bar - B - Q dinner was hosted by
the California State Council. The MC was terrific and many invited
dignitaries were in attendance. Many plaques and proclamations were
presented. All in all it was an unqualified, and resounding success.
I am
sure that some of the major participants will provide future details.
Suffice to say that the VVA could not be more proud of the activities of
its members last night, those who were there as well as those who were
not able to attend, YOU were all there in our minds and hearts and I believe
I can state as a fact in the hearts and in the minds of the SDIT "kids".
In particular Dick Southern and the president of the Lost Patrol Chapter,
call sign Night Hawk and some of the local
chapters AVVA members (Judy
Garland). Volunteers every one, spent the
majority of the evening
and long after cooking and preparing the food and then pulling K P long
after the SDIT attendees had left for the hotel.
I look
forward to many of the participants in last nights event to recount their
evenings recollections.
Allow
me to close with the thought, that if any of you or anyone you know, knows
anyone who could benefit form becoming involved with the SDIT organization.
Do not hesitate to contact your chapter to find your local SDIT organization
and by all means get them and yourselves involved.
Christopher
P.S. I certainly hope that
someone else is better @ remembering the names of the other volunteers
who gave so much to make this event such a memorable occasion. There
were a lot of them, form a lot of local chapters. They did themselves,
the VVA and the AVVA PROUD.
*******************************
IF YOU DIDN'T GO TO THE
SDIT SEND OFF - YOU MISSED A WONDERFUL AND HISTORICAL EVENT. AND
the food was good too.
Steve Mandel V V A- 53
***************
The
SDIT Send Off...
When you go to a party early, that is to say before it officially begins,
you have a chance to see the stage being set. You can see the people
behind the scenes. You can develop an appreciation for all the hard
work that goes into setting up a party. The send off took a couple
months to plan, coordinate and the final set up went perfectly. The presentations
by the V.V.A from State level and the National President of the V.V.A.
were well done. The prayer written by Paul Verner was a perfect
beginning to open the gathering. There were about 115 people in the room.
Officials from SDIT and the V.V.A. talked of the trip to Viet Nam that
was to start the next day.
There
was excitement everywhere. The trip was about to begin for the Sons
and Daughters In Touch. The trip that will change in there minds
the fact that Viet Nam is more than an event. It is a place to see
and remember their fathers.
Up to now Viet Nam was an event in history for them. It was the event that
ended the lives of their fathers. The Kids, as they are called will travel
through various parts of Viet Nam in teams. Each team has a color
code. They will be traveling to the places where their fathers died.
They will also see a lot of Viet Nam.
I was interested in the Blue Team going to South Viet Nam in the Delta
region because I was there. I brought to the party my picture book
of my time
in
Nam and we shared memories from 30 years ago. There was great comradeship
in the room that night and I wish all the Kids a safe trip and I hope they
discover the things that will bring them peace. This is a time to
grow with new friends and I am sure the adventure will be a positive experience
for all.
Warmest
regards to the Kids and Jeanette Chervony for letting me spend a little
time with them.
Dean-
VVA Chapter 53
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