JOIN VVA and AVVA

The meal will begin at 1:30 pm and will consist of: fried catfish, hushpuppies, french fries, beans, cole slaw, pickled tomatoes, soft drinks iced tea & coffee. We ask members to bring a dessert to share.

We will have some special guests: Staff and volunteers from the VA Clinic, volunteer drivers for the DAV van, some of our local supporters, some of our local elected officals, and some special friends.

The business session will begin after the meal is finished. Topics to be discussed will include: Updates on veterans' issues; Review of recent booth set-ups; Upcoming events; Committee reports; VVA # 278 website; future fundraising project(s); Plans, projects & goals for VVA # 278; etc., etc., etc..

REMEMBER: Sunday, October 21, 2007 at 1:30 pm at 525 East Broad St. We hope to see you there! Please RSVP USMCgreg@aol.com or 870/773-2305 for meal so we can have an idea on the numbers to expect.

Since our last newsletter we have had a surge of new members - 7, thats right, seven. and we would like to give them a warm welcome into the VVA # 278 family:

WELCOME ABOARD & WELCOME HOME!!!

Our new members are: Charlene Carter, Paul Fisher, Cathy Hicks, Rusty Hicks, Charlie L. Jones, William Lane and Tommy Rutherford.

Again, Welcome aboard & Welcome Home!!

VVA # 278 has four (4) members who haven't renewed in the past year or so. We would like to see all of these back in the VVA # 278 family! We want you! We need you!! They are:Phillip Alexander, Violet Burgess-Brabham, Dona Millward, and Michael Stolba. We miss you!

Line-up will begin at 10:00 am. Please e-mail USMCgreg@aol.com or call 870/773-2305, 870/773-8279 or 870/7731078 to confirm your spot in the line-up. All others will fall in at the end. Please confirm before November 1.

We hope to make this the biggest parade in recent history. Help us do this for these new veterans and those who are serving now!

After the parade, noon until 4:00 pm, Tom Sadowski, owner of the local McDonald's, will again feed veterans free at any local McDonald's in Texarkana, Atlanta and Ashdown. No tricks or strings, just free food. Again, Thanks Tom!!!

At each McDonald's, there will be some local veterans and/or boy scout to sign in the veterans for their free meal. VVA # 278's McDonald's will be the one on Richmond Road across from Central Mall. Come see us!

Also, on Monday, November 12 the local Golden Corral will again feed veterans free from 5:00 pm until 9:00 pm. We also appreciate the folks at Golden Corral. This is a nationwide event for them. Thanks!!

For all you jarheads out there, you probably realized (you better have) that the parade falls on the Marine Corps birthday. What can I say? As of right now the local Marine Corps Birthday Ball will be held on Saturday, November 3. Check with the local USMC Reserve unit for more details.

20th ANNUAL POW/MIA VIGIL

On Friday & Saturday, August 31 -September 1, VVA # 278 held our 20th Annual POW/MIA Vigil/14th Annual "Ride to Remember".

Although the attendance could have been better (always) it was a complete success. We had more at the services, more in the "Ride", and great newspaper coverage.

For the "Ride", we had great cooperation from the local police/sheriff/DPS with the escort. We even had a helicopter escort down State Line Avenue thanks to VVA 278 member Don Ruggles. Part of the goals of these vigils is to draw attention to this issue. With these escorts, we definitely drew attention and with the newspaper coverage, they knew what the "Ride" was. Thanks to all who participated in this event. And the balloon release went very well, also.

At the first Candlelight service on Friday night we dedicated two bronze plaques which we added to the Memorial site. These plaques dedicate the two trees to two local POW/MIAs from the Vietnam War, one, Stephen Musselman from Texarkana, whose remains were returned and, James Clements from Atlanta, who returned alive but passed away several years ago. Stop by and see these plaques.

The rest of the services went very well, we remembered some who have been with us at these vigils in the past but have passed on, and we met some new friends who are going to step up and take their places in remembering our POW/MIAs! Dr. Dan Bookout stopped by on Saturday night and described an ongoing recovery effort in which we will be assisting in if needed.

Thanks to all who attended and who participated!

WE WILL NEVER FORGET OUR POW/MIAs!!!

Local World War II MIA Returned

On Friday, September 28, 2007 nine members of VVA # 278 participated in the services of a local World War II MIA, 2nd Lt. Raymond Cooley. Raymond Cooley was 21 when his plane was forced down by a severe storm April 16, 1944 on a New Guinea mountainside. Raymond was raised in Leary, Texas, just outside Texarkana.

Raymond's widow, daughter and other relatives, along with a boyhood friend attended the service, getting closure after 60 plus years.

Cooley's remains were found with the nine other crew members who were interred earlier this month at Arlington National Cemetary.

The Arkansas Army National Guard, Air Force, Texarkana Arkansas Police Department, and the Patriot Guard took part in the service.

Welcome Home Raymond Cooley!

The TAVC recently purchased it's third DAV van to transport veterans to the VA Medical Center in Shreveport, LA. It is in service now. The old van has been placed in service helping local needy veterans get to the VA Outpatient Clinic here in Texarkana. Drivers are needed for both of these vans. You don't have to be a veteran to be a driver! For more information on how to volunteer for these driver positions contact an officer of TAVC or VVA # 278.

We sincerely thank all of those who helped us in getting this van through the TAVC's annual Chilli Cook-off. The TAVC's 2008 Chili Cook-off is scheduled for Friday, February 15, 2008 at the Truman Arnold Center at Texarkana College. This is "Salute the Hosptialized Veterans" week.

October 21: VVA # 278 meeting

November 10: Veterans' Day Parade

November 10: Marine Corps Birthday

November 18: VVA # 278 meeting

December 16: VVA # 278 meeting

As of now the officers of MCL # 1149 are: Commandant: Roy Ford, Senior Vice Commandant: Ernest King, Junior Vice Commandat: Terry Ruth, Judge Advocate: Greg Beck, Adjutant/Paymaster: James Knox, Chaplain: Roy Ford.

The League Detachment also voted to join the Texarkana Area Veterans Council. I apologoze for not remembering who else was chosen as delegates. I remember Ernest king was one of them.

Sorry!

Due to health conditions Gary Trice had to resign his position as President. Jim Bryant stepped up from Vice to President. They are going to wait till eelction time to fill the slot of Vice. Arkansas' State Council meetings are not as busy as Texas but there are only five chapters in Arkansas. But they are all very active and are taking care of veterans. And there are definetly some fantastic people in Arkansas, I always enjoy attending their meetings. The next one will be in February 2008.

We know have a "Patriotic Ensemble" we are going to draw on. This contains a U.S. Flag kit, a POW/MIA throw, a "Wall" t-shirt, a POW/MIA bracelet, a patriotic cd and a patriotic cassette tape. the drawing will be held at our November 11 meeting. Dig deep!