December 12, 2009 KVA Christmas Party - KWVA/KVA Chapter #299 Seventh Annual Christmas Party again turned out to be an excellent event. MA LT. Governor Timothy Murray was keynote speaker along with Deputy Secretary of Massachusetts Veterans Services Coleman Nee, the Boston Korean Consulate General, Past Massachusetts DAV State Commander Tom Daley, OIF/OEF Massachusetts Director Dominick King, Gold Star Mother and President Christine Devlin and Massachusetts Marine Corps League Adjutant Warren Griffin. KWVA National Director and KVA Founder Jeff Brodeur was the MC along with KVA Chapter #299 Commander Albert McCarthy. Just under 100 KVA members and guests attended the party. Past KWVA National Director Rusty Tramonte was present with his Vice Commander Frank Hayes from KWVA Chapter #34 as well OIF/OEF Co-founder Ken Isaksen. Many new KWVA/KVA Chapter #299 members were present. We had 1 Chosin Reservoir member present and 2 Operation Paul Bunyon members present and several who served in the Inchon invasion. The other members present served in Korea or during the war from 1947 to 1989. KWVA/KVA Chapter #299 Treasurer Bob Joy was awarded the KVA Member of the year award. KVA Bags were given out to the members and the food was catered from Joseph's in South Boston Ma.
Thanks to all who attended and see you see next year. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year From the officers and members of the Korean War Veterans Assn, Korea Veterans of America Chapter #299!
KVA Commander Al McCarthy, Color Guard SGT. Otis Mangrum, KVA Founder Jeff Brodeur and KVA Vice Commander Art Griffith present the Korean Consulate General of Boston a plaque.
KVA Commander Al McCarthy, KVA Jr. Vice Commander Ken McKenna, KVA Vice Commander Art Griffith, Color Guard SGT. Otis Mangrum, KVA Founder Jeff Brodeur and KVA Director Bob Joy present Massachusetts LT. Governor Timothy Murray a plaque from the KVA.
KWVA National Director Jeff Brodeur and Massachusetts LT. Governor Tim Murray stand in front of the KVA original colors.
OIF/OEF Co-Director Dominick King is presented KVA Briefcase bag.
KWVA Past National Director and KWVA Chapter # 34 Commander Rusty Tramonte Corporal (Ret.) Vincent Mannion-Brodeur and present KWVA National Director Jeff Brodeur at KVA Christmas Party 2009 at West Roxbury Elks.
KVA Members and Guests at the Christmas party.
KVA Commander Al McCarthy discusses business with Mass. Lt. Governor Murray.
Iraq War Veteran Vincent Mannion-Brodeur and Afghanistan War Veteran Ken Isaksen at Christmas party.
November 2009 - Charles Pepin of Hollywood Florida just joined the Chapter. Charlie was the former Chief of Staff for the KDVA. He was with the KDVA in the early years when we were workin gon the KDSM.
October 27th KWVA Convention Dallas Texas - Minutes of the KWVA Member Meeting will be published in the next Greybeards magazine. The 2011 KWVA National Convention will be held in Boston.
KWVA/KVA CHAPTER # 299 VICE COMMANDER ART GRIFFITH (LEOMINSTER MA) AND KWVA NATIONAL DIRECTOR JEFF BRODEUR (HYANNIS MA) WITH COLONEL JAMES STONE, RECIPIENT OF CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR FOR HEROIC ACTION IN THE KOREAN WAR. COLONEL STONE SERVED WITH THE ARMY'S 1st CAVALRY DIVISION. GRIFFITH AND BRODEUR ATTENDED THE KWVA NATIONAL CONVENTION IN DALLAS TEXAS.
BRODEUR AND GRIFFITH WITH KOREAN AMBASSADOR AND KOREAN CONSULATE GENERAL OF HOUSTON TEXAS AT THE KWVA NATIONAL CONVENTION IN DALLAS TEXAS.
Jack Barnicoat is presented KVA Mantle Peice in recogniton of his support for the KVA and all Veterans.
Art Griffith, Jeff Brodeur, Wounded Warrior Vincent Mannion-Brodeur, Jack Barnicoat, Otis Mangrum.
October 17th Gardner Mass. Verterans Homestead Grand Opening - Art Griffith, Henry Clifford, and Otis Mangrum represented the KVA at the Veterans Homestead today in Gardner.
Art Griffith, Henry Clifford, and Otis Mangrum at Gardner.
Art and Otis present Brigadier General Sutton from the Pentagon with KVA Challenge coin at today's grand opening ceremony of Veterans Homestead in Gardner Ma.
October 15th KWVA/KVA Marker installed at Bourne National Cemetery - On a brisk New England day, the KWVA/KVA marker was installed at Bourne Ma. National Cemetery honoring ALL Korea Veterans who served and paid the ultimate price. We would like to thank Barnicoat Monuments in Middleboro Ma. who did the engraving for free, all our donators and Paul McFarland and his staff for this historic day.
KWVA National Director / KVA Founder Jeff Brodeur with Bourne National Cemetery Director Paul McFarland.
KWVA National Director / KVA Founder Jeff Brodeur with Cemetery Installer Morris and Bourne National Cemetery Director Paul McFarland.
September 26th Leominster Fundraiser - See pictures below (pics by Pauline Lagace).
Both Leominster and Wareham were great fundraisers for the KVA. Thanks to all who supported these fundraisers. Thanks to all those involved. Their participation in these fundraisors is what makes the KVA the best and largest chapter in the KWVA.
Jim Hanks, Tom Blanchette, Ken McKenna and Art Griffith -Walmart in Leominster.
Charlie Morris and Al McCarthy at Leominster fundraiser.
September 19th Wareham Fundraiser - See pictures below.
KVA MEMBERS BOB WAGNER , JIM NEWMAN, JEFF BRODEUR WITH PROSPECTIVE MEMEBR WHO IS ON HIS WAY TO SERVE AT KUNSAN AFB, KOREA.
BOB AND ALBERTA JOY WITH YOUNG KVA DONATER.
September 12th Middleborough Meeting - See meeting pictures and minutes below.
A good showing of KVA Chapter 299 members pose for a group photo at the September meeting in Middleboro, MA
The Fitchburg Police Retirees Association received a plaque from the KVA at the September meeting in Middleboro recognizing their significant financial support toward the purchase of a stone marker for the State Military Cemetery in Winchenton, MA honoring al those who served, and those who died in Korea. Pictured from L-R are: Ken McKenna, Tom Blanchette, Carl Pohl, Otis Mangrum and Jim Hanks from the FPRA, along with Al McCarthy, JeffBrodeur, Bob Wagner and Art Griffith. All are KVA # 299 members.
L-R: Ken McKenna, Tom Blanchette, Jim Hanks, Otis Mangrum and Carl Pohl hold the plaque recognizing their contribution as members of the Fitchburg Police Retirees Association toward the purchase of a stone marker in the State cemetery in Winchenton, MA. All are members of KVA Chapter 229 and McKenna is Jr. Vice Commander and Mangrum is both Sgt. at Arms and Honor Guard Sgt. of 299 as well.
L-R: Jeff Brodeur, co-Founder of the KVA and National Director of the KWVA receives both the Korea Defense Service medal and the ROK Service Medal from KVA member Charles Morris for display in the KVA office in the State House in Boston. The ROK SErvice Medal was awarded and distributed to U.S. military personnel in 1972 but the JCS/Pentagon refused to accept the award.
K.V.A. MEETING MINUTES - Sept. 12, 2009
The meeting was called to order on Sept. 12, 2009 at 1240 hrs at the VFW post Middleborough, MA. All Officers were present or accounted for and a quorum of members were present.
- A plaque was presented by Commander Al McCarthy & Vice Commander Art Griffin to the Fitchburg Retired Police in recognition of their fundraising support for the cemetery markers at the State and National cemeteries in Mass. Accepting the plaque were Chapter 299 members/associate members: Kenneth McKenna, Otis Mangrum, Carl Pohl, and Jim Hanks. Also in the group was retired police officer, Tom Blanchette, our newest associate member.
- The KVA Support Group (Pauline Lagace, Alberta Joy, and Cheryl DiPasqualle) were thanked for their continuing, and outstanding, efforts to provide the membership with delicious food at all our meetings.
- Sick call noted that Larry Swope and Robert Griffin can not attned our meeting due to illness. The membership extends their sincerest wishes for speedy and complete recovery.
- KVA Adjutant, Charles Morris, donated two medals to the KVA office at the statehouse in Boston: the Korea Defense Service Medal and the Republic of Korea Service Medal. Jeff Brodeur, KWVA National Membership Director and co-founder of the KVA received the medals on behalf of the membership. Commander McCarthy commented that the ROK Service Medal was originally created by the ROK for award to U.S military personnel stationed in South Korea during the cease-fire period. It was, in fact, awarded and distributed in 1972. However, the JCS/Pentagon refused to accept the award based on a standing rule that the U.S. will not accept a foreign medal unless the medal is also being awarded to military personnel of the country making the award. The Commander notd that the KVA is joining in the movement to have the ROKSM re-issued by the ROK and accepted by the JCS in time for the 60 th anniversary of the armistice.
- Ken McKenna was recognized for collecting over 60 cell phones for presentation to the Blue Star Mothers, Chapter 1, Leominster, MA, for the benefit of U.S. service personnel. WELL DONE!
- Anthony Morra, a walk in, was signed up for membership at the meeting. WELCOME!
- R.O.T.C. Scholarships of $100 each and a plaque were awarded to an ROTC student at Monty Tech in Fitchburg, by Otis Mangrum and Bob Joy while Bob Wagner presented a similar check and plaque in Wareham Ma.
- The KVA has donated $100 Dollars to the newly formed OIF/OIF VETERANS GROUP at the statehouse in Boston.
- Members who marched and drove in the 4 th of July parade in Fitchburg were thanked for their participation
- Members were informed of military discounts available at Best Buy, Home Depot, and Midas Muffler.
- Jeff Broduer, Chapter 299 Quartermaster, had a PX and all 12 new style shirts were purchased by members in under 5 minutes, along with some new style hats. Orders for at least 8 more were placed with Jeff.
- Bob Joy created a “KVA get well card” that we will use for sick list personnel. WELL DONE!
- Jeff Brodeur is working on this year’s Christmas Party. Possible invitees include:
- The Republic of Korea Counsel General
- Navy MOH recipient, Capt. Thomas Hudner, and/or Navy MOH recipient, Capt. Thomas Kelley.
- Otis Mangrum will try to get the Army Coral Group to perform
- The possibility of buying more KVA/KWVA Challenge Coins was briefly discussed and will be brought up at the October meeting for consideration by the membership.
- The KVA Honor Guard (Otis Mangrum and Art Griffith) will represent us at the opening of the Northeast Veteran Training and Rehabilitation Center in Leominster.
- Jeff Brodeur & Bob Joy completed arrangements for two markers to be placed in the state cemetery in Winchendon and the National cemetery in Bourne, MA at a deeply discounted price of $1,900 ($1,000 has already been donated as of the meeting with another $200 received at the meeting and two fundraisers to be held in the next two weeks).
- Fitchburg Police Retirees and the Leominster Fire Dept were the largest combined contributors.
- In the future, only one marker per year will be purchased, and only with the prior approval of the membership at a regular meeting.
- It was noted that on July 26, 2009 and in all future years the flag will be flown at half mast at all federal buildings and installations. In honor of “National Korean War Veterans Day”
- Commander Al McCarthy has sent letters supporting the issuance of the following medals;
- The “Cold War Victory Medal" for Veteran’s who served from 9-2-1945 to 12-26-1991.
- The “Korean Service Medal” issued by the Korean Government in 1972 but rejected by D.O.D.
- And the “United Nations Medal” for all post armistice veterans who served in South Korea.
- Check book:
- The Treasurer will have physical control of the check book
- Expenditures less than $200, one signature is sufficient (already in By-Laws)
- Audited every two meetings
- Review 30 minutes in advance of meeting: 3 BOD members present
- A debit card is available for use by the Quartermaster on behalf of the KVA
- See KVA By-Laws for additional information.
- Larry Swope was working on gathering information on all items owned by Chapter 299 to create an inventory. Due to Larry’s illness, Al McCarthy will take over this responsibility.
- After much discussion on the floor about by-law changes, Bob Joy and the By-Law committee will meet after the meeting and have a new by- law change at the next meeting to be voted on by the membership.
- A list of question was drawn up for the October KWVA National Convention in Dallas. The answers will us in preparing for the 2010 National Convention which we (Chapter #299) will be hosting in Boston.
- It was noted that Jeff Brodeur, National KWVA Director, and Art Griffith, National Fund Raising Committee Member , will attend the National Convention in Dallas and their expenses will be covered by the KWVA.
- Members were reminded of the fundraising activities to be held on Sept 26 in Leominster and Wareham.
- A motion made and seconded to close meeting. Meeting adjourned at 1430 Hrs.
- The By-Law Committee then met to discuss possible new modifications after the meeting.
Respectfully submitted by Adjutant, Charlie Morris.
August 18th - Today Jr. Vice Commander Ken McKenna turned in 25 old and unwanted cell phones to the Blue Star Mothers Chapter 1 of Leominster. They in return, will have the phones recycled and with the money they recieve, they will purchase phone cards to send to the troops overseas.
July 4th Fitchburg Parade - The KVA was represented at the parade by Art Griffith, Ken McKenna, Carl Pohl, Pauline Lagace, Cheryl Dipasquale, Otis Mangrum and Commander Al McCarthy.
Our Banner carriers were Khristina and Kenneth St. Louis.
WELCOME NEW KVA MEMBERS
- CHET BLOCK , BROOKLINE MA
- JOE DELANO , DORCHESTER MA
- BEN NICHOLS , PLYMOUTH MA
- PAUL FEROLA , HULL MA
- FRANK DOWD , WORCESTER MA
- ADELARD MARCOUX, FITCHBURG MA
- JIM HANKS , FITCHBURG MA
- TOM BLANCHETTE , LUNENBURG MA
- ROBERT WILLIAMS , NEW CASTLE PA
- JOHN LAPLANTE , CANTERBURY N.H.
- CARL DEVREE, HUDSONVILLE , MI
- BILL COMER , ENGLEWOOD FL
- GREG PUTNAM , VENICE FL
- STAN KOSINSKI , CITRUS HEIGHTS CA
- BOB ONSRUD - WISCONSIN - ARMY
- BOB WILLIAMS - PENNSYLVANIA - ARMY
- WHITNEY MAXFIELD - VERMONT - ARMY
- VINCENT DEL ZOPPO - MASSACHUSETTS - ARMY
- CHET BLOCK - MASSACHUSETTS - NAVY
June 6th Leominster Meeting and Installation of Officers - Elected Officers were installed at this months meeting. Corporal Vincent Mannion-Brodeur was presented a Certificate of Achievement for his Honorable Service in Iraq by the Fitchburg Mass. Police retirees.
KVA officers installed - KVA Director Jeff Brodeur, KVA Treasurer Robert Wagner, KVA Director Bob Joy, KVA Jr. Vice Commander Ken McKenna, KVA Vice Commander Art Griffith , KVA Commander Al McCarthy
Fitchburg Ma. Police Retirees Carl Pohl, Jim Hanks, Otis Mangrum, Ken McKenna award Corporal Vincent Mannion-Brodeur a Certificate of Achievement for his Honorable Service in Iraq.
KVA Members at June 6th Installation Meeting.
Korean War Veterans Assn/Korea Veterans of America Chapter # 299 lay wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Front row KWVA National President William Mac Swain and KWVA National Director Tom McHugh. Back row KVA Vice Commander Art Griffith, KVA Commander Al McCarthy, KVA photographer Pauline Lagace, KVA Color Guard SGT. Otis Mangrum.
KVA Color Guard members Art Griffith and Otis Mangrum with KVA Commander Al McCarthy, KWVA National President Bill Mac Swain, KWVA National Director Tom McHugh lay wreath at KWVA National Monument.
The President makes his first Memorial Day speech as seen from the KWVA Box.
Art Griffith and Otis Mangrum before entering the Arlington Amphitheater.
Art Griffith and Otis Mangrum with Korean Minister of Defense at Arlington on Memorial Day.
Memorial Day 2009 Vice Commander Art Griffith, Commander Al McCarthy, Sgt. At Arms Otis Mangrum at Vietnam War Memorial Statue.
The Korea Veterans of America Chapter #299 KWVA at the 5th year anniversary of it's Middleboro Monument. It is the first monument in the Country to honor all Korea Veterans who have served in defense of the Korean Peninsula and to all who paid the ultimate sacrifice from 1945 to the present date.
KVA Chaplain Larry Swope reading off KVA deceased. Color Guard Sgt. Otis Mangrum ringing bell after each name is read. KVA Vice Commander Art Griffith, KVA Jr. Vice Commander Ken McKenna and KVA Webmaster Ron Kreusel look on.
KVA members Commander Al McCarthy, Don Hall, KWVA National Director Jeff Brodeur, KVA Director Bob Joy, Iraq War Veteran Vincent Mannion-Brodeur, KVA Monument Designer Maura Brodeur, Kva Treasurer Bob Wagner, and KVA Member Jim Lewis.
Fund-raisers were held in April at the Shaws Supermarkets and Walmart Stores in Wareham and Leominster. Following Members were present at these fundraisors: Otis Mangrum, Al McCarthy, Charlie Morris, Henry Clifferd, Art Griffith, Pauline Lagace, Ken McKenna, Carl Pohl, Bob Joy, Don Hall, Vincent Mannion, Jim Newman, Jeff Brodeur, and Bob Wagner.
KVA Members Carl Pohl and Henry Clifferd at Walmart in Leominster.
Commander Al McCarthy and Sr. Vice Commander Art Griffith at Walmart in Leominster.
KVA Members Otis Mangrum, Al McCarthy and Charlie Morris at Shaws in Leominster.
KVA Members Henry Clifferd and Art Griffith at Walmart in Leominster.
KVA Members Bob Joy, Don Hall, Jim Newman, Jeff Brodeur and Bob Wagner at Walmart in Wareham.
April 4th Worcester Meeting
KVA HAD ITS MEETING TODAY IN WORCESTER AND RATIFIED ITS BYLAWS. ALL PRESENT OFFICERS WERE REELECTED INTO OFFICE FOR ANOTHER 2 YEAR TERM. AL McCARTHY WILL REMAIN AS COMMANDER, ART GRIFFITH VICE COMMANDER AND KEN McKENNA JR.VICE COMMANDER. NEXT MEETING WILL BE MAY 9TH IN MIDDLEBORO AT THE VFW.
KVA NEW MEMBERS;
1) BILL COMER - ENGLEWOOD, FLORIDA - USAF
2) STAN KOSINSKI - CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA. - USAF
3) CARL DEVREE - HUDSONVILLE, MI. - ARMY
4) FRANK DOWD - WORCESTER, MA. - USMC
MEMBERS NEED TO RENEW THEIR MEMBERSHIP IF THEY DID NOT ALREADY DO SO WITH KWVA NATIONAL
Minutes of the KVA meeting on 03-07-09
NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
Nominations and elections will be held at the April meeting. Anyone wishing to be elected must submit their intention to seek an elected office in writing in advance of the meeting if they can not attend the meeting on Election Day. Voting will be by those Regular Members (see By-Laws) in attendance at the meeting and absentee ballots will not be accepted or counted.
GENERAL BUSINESS
The members welcomed Donald Christian as a guest at the March meeting. Mr. Christian is a recipient of the French Legion of Honor, Chevalier rank, which is the highest military honor bestowed by France and is their equivalent of the U.S. Medal of Honor. Mr. Christian fought on D Day in France.
It was suggested that the Army Choral Group be invited to sing at the next Christmas Party. Otis Mangrum, a member of the chorus, will look into this and report back.
Larry Swope was appointed by the Commander to complete and audit of property owned by the KVA and in the possession of various members. He will report back at the next meeting on his efforts.
A final accounting of the number of Challenge coins ordered, the final cost of the coins, and the number of coins remaining following the Christmas Party, was discussed and will be brought up at the next meeting.
A beautiful silk Korean Flag was received from Ambassador Lee. The Commander will write a thank you letter to the now former ambassador on behalf of the Chapter.
Membership applications were given out to all members present at the meeting with the request for each member to bring in a new member this year.
Henry Clifford runs a radio program in the Fitchburg area and will help raise awareness of KVA membership.
Memorial Day in Massachusetts will be handled by Larry Swope, Henry Clifford and Otis Mangrum assisted by other interested members. The Mass Nat’l Cemetery and Laurel Hill Cemetery are on the proposed agenda.
A By-Laws Committee was appointed by the Commander and met immediately following the main meeting of the membership. The Committee reviewed the current By-Laws and came together on a number of proposed changes. Bob Joy later converted the By-Laws from an Adobe format to a Word Document and incorporated all of the proposed changes. The document was then forwarded to the Webmaster, Ron Kreusel, who published the edited document on the KVA website for review by the membership before the next meeting on April 4 th..
It was noted that the May fundraiser is still being finalized and that an October 11 th fundraiser is in the works.
Scholarships for JROTC Cadets will be made in May. Otis Mangrum will take care of arrangements in Fitchnurg and Bob Joy will handle Wareham.
VOTING
- The members voted to authorize the purchase of a Korean Flag, pole, and stand for the KVA. Otis Mangrum will handle this.
- The members voted to invite the Blue Star Mothers to the next meeting and to align our organization with theirs and support their various efforts and programs to help veterans on an ongoing basis.
- The members voted to support the program to have the Purple Heart stamp become the forever stamp of the USPS.
- The members voted to support the effort to have the U.S. government approve the issuance of a Cold War Victory Medal.
- The membership voted to support the effort to have the Korean government once again offer the Korea Service Medal to Post Armistice veterans and to support the effort to have it accepted by the U.S. government, whether or not veterans have to buy it themselves.
- The members voted to pay a thirty dollar fee to join the Veterans Council of Fitchburg. Included in the fee is the right to store things at the veteran’s center, such as our flags, banners, signs etc. Henry Clifford will be our representative on the Council and will report back to the KVA leadership on events and activities.
- The members voted to allocate $150.00 to the KVA Support Group to cover the costs of food for the installation of officers.
- The members voted to provide $500.00 to front the costs of sending the KVA Honor Guard to Arlington, VA for the Memorial Day services. The Commander will also travel to Arlington for the services at the cemetery and the Korean War Memorial. The KWVA has already agreed to reimburse the KVA for the costs so the money will be recovered after submission of bills to the KWVA.
- The members voted to have the Treasurer physically control the check book. They also voted to have the Financial Audit Committee, made up of three members of the Board of Directors, review the Financial records 30 minutes in advance of every second meeting of the membership. This would be a supplement to the audit requirements called for in the By-Laws.
Leominster Ma. - Thursday February 19, 2009
KVA Chapter #299 members (Ken McKenna, Art Griffith, Otis Mangrum, and Charlie Morris) turned out to honor Private Jonathan Roberge, who was killed in Iraq on Feb. 9th. Private Roberge was the first Leominster resident to die in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Private Roberge, 22, was on patrol near Mosul when a suicide car bomber attacked, also killing three other US soldiers and an interpreter. Private Roberge had graduated from Leominster High School's Center for Technical Education in 2005. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Private Roberge. We honor his service and sacrifice.
October 19th 2008 - Beirut 25th Anniversary Ceremony - KVA Color Guard participates in a Ceremony marking the 25th Anniversary of the Beirut Barracks Bombing. Read more about this ceremony which honors those 220 Marines, 18 Navy and 3 Army soldiers who were killed in the attack at http://www.patriotledger.com/news/x398370529/
MARINE CORPS LEAGUE MEMBERS WITH LTG DUNFORD USMC, KVA COLOR GUARD ART GRIFFITH, BOB WAGNER, OTIS MANGRUM AND KWVA NATIONAL DIRECTOR JEFF BRODEUR.
USMC LTG DUNFORD GUEST SPEAKER.
KVA COLOR GUARD AT BEIRUT MEMORIAL EVENT.
