VETERANS VOICE by Art Sloane Memorial Day comes each year in May and services are held at the National Memorial Cemetery in Phoenix. This service has grown from a few hundred participants to over 2,000, and expenses have also increased. Chairs need to be rented and tents put up because of the temperature. Other expenses include printing, postage and water. For this reason, the Memorial Day Committee is asking for donations. Any funds left over are donated to the National Cemetery. If you would like to help, send your contributions to Memorial Day Committee of Arizona, Attention: Mel Brody, Treasurer, 8989 N. Gainey Drive, Unit 146, Scottsdale, AZ 85258. Many Valley residents receive discount packets in the mail. One of them asks you to donate your car to charity. I suggest only one that I am able to refer. This one has a telephone number 1-888-979-VETS. I vouch for this one since they have sent two checks this week to Arizona StandDown and Boots for our Troops Foundation. Each check was for $10,000. You may also donate to CarsHelpingVeterans.org. St. Francis Wounded Warrior Retreat will be held Feb. 6-8 at the Franciscan Renewal Center, 5802 E. Lincoln Blvd., Scottsdale. The purpose is to examine the challenges and difficulties confronting service members and veterans in light of the life of the most famous of saints, who rose out of the ashes of combat to become an icon of peace. The cost of the retreat, including food and lodging, is $125, but scholarships are available. Details: Sandra Provost, 602-881- 4478. The 70th anniversary of Iwo Jima will be observed in Sacaton the weekend of Feb. 21. The observances are sponsored by Ira Hayes American Legion Post 84 on the Gila River Reservation. Organizations that want to take part in the parade, which consists of units throughout he U.S., should contact 520-562-8484 or Irahayespost84.org. There are also many other activities after the parade and over the weekend, and after the parade, lunch is served by the Post Auxiliary. Veterans back to WWII will be taking part in high school graduation ceremonies from Hamilton High School in May at Wells Fargo Arena at Arizona State University. These ceremonies are along with the 2015 graduating class from the school, and it is voted on every year by the seniors to award these certificates to all veterans who never had the chance to take part in their own schools’ graduation ceremonies. It does not matter if they have since graduated from college. So far, we have six veterans taking part back to WWII. If you are interested in knowing more, contact Art Sloane at 480-802-6810 or Ed Hermansky at the school at 480-883-5090 before noon. A Welcome Home Ceremony for Vietnam Veterans will be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 20 at Arizona State University West Campus, LaSala Ballroom. A reception complete with food and drink will kick off the event. Please RSVP to goo.gl/forms/KKaxgTGT8L or call 602-828-6167. Each Vietnam veteran will receive a token of appreciation at the event. Many veterans at the Central Arizona Shelter Services have been able to obtain employment but are having trouble getting to work because they do not yet have funds to afford a car or becvause public transportation in Phoenix does not run late enough at night or to places they have found jobs. If you have a bike you are not using, contact Art Sloane at 480-802-6810 so we may pick it up. You will be able to receive a tax donation credit. Reach retired Master Chief Petty Officer Arthur G. Sloane, Coast Guard, at 480-802-6810 or artgbeard@aol.
Posted on: Sat, 24 Jan 2015 00:33:20 +0000
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