...for as long as it takes
The National Alliance of Families Ninth Annual Meeting was held in Washington, D.C. on June 18 - 20th, 1998. This is in from Gunny Fallon, who attended that meeting:
If it is at all possible Gunny please put the word out that Shelby is sick and needs all our prayers and support. I firmly believe that one of the reasons that she was sent to D.C. was to place me close to the Wall. My father is a Vietnam Vet. He was in the Air Force for two tours. He saw a lot of squadron mates lost. Growing up he would never talk about his experiences. Now that I am an adult the situation places both of us and my daughter in D.C. I firmly believe everything happens for a reason and there must be a reason for this most recent situation.
"My mother would love to get some mail from the veterans! How sweet...She has her good days and her bad days...Her health is frail and she has had several strokes. Since we last e-mailed, I have been trying to get her house repaired. She is having some severe financial problems and we have been wrapped up in that."
Her name and address: Bereth Hubbs 6658 Lake Charlene Drive Pensacola, Florida 32506
32 cent therapy could work wonders. Cards and notes are needed. The true story of the Donald Hubbs loss can be found on my home Page: Dave Murray's Fight for POW/MIA's
"Hello all, I just wanted to drop you all a quick note informing everyone that my
dad is finally at home. He arrived home this evening, June 10th, at
around 6:30 P.M. Two great friends of dad, Mr. Guerrero, and Mr.
Miranda, kindly brought my dad home. He was so happy to finally be
home. He looks really good, too. He is a little sluggish, but doing
well.
For the next 28 days he will be on an I.V. treatment for an urinary
tract infection. It was either come home and be with your family, or
stay in the hospital another 28 days. You can guess which option he
took.
Hopefully soon we will have my dad's personal e-mail address posted. He
desperately wants to learn how to use the computer so that he can
communicate more readily with people. He knows that he will have a long
recovery, and he wants to keep himself busy. He won't be doing any
traveling any time soon, so he'll have to find a new hobby. Hopefully,
he can learn how to use the computer. As soon as we can get an e-mail
address established, we'll let you all know. I have printed all of the
e-mail messages that he has received so far, and for the next couple of
days he will be reading them. He's got plenty to read, so it should
keep him busy. He is very thankful to all who have written, and there
have been a lot, and he says......... "Thank You, Thank You, Thank You."
Also, my family would like to thank everyone out there for their words
of encouragement, and their prayers. All of our prayers were answered.
My dad is finally home and well on his way to a recovery. Thank you,
everyone, and thank you God.
Sincerely,
Yvette and Rene Garcia Denise and Stan Prochazka, and family Noel and Andrea Benavidez, and family Roy and Lala Benavidez"
In a meeting of the N. Ia, S. Mn. Retired Military Assn.., I was surprised to learn that 27 members, not on the net, thought all the POWs were returned, as they believed the government double speek garbage. One pilot saw someone captured in Laos that didn't return. The other two, on the net, wasn't sure.
Needless to say, the locals are now being educated in the reality of the issue. This is a must for their support. Most of the local businesses say they will place any poster I bring in. Someone want to come up with an OFFICIAL poster ? If so, put it on the net to copy.
Has everyone seen the DOD POW/MIA site ? Interesting. Consider the source and take it for what it's worth. After 45 years working for/dealing with the government, what they say isn't necessarily what they mean. We are told what we want to hear but most of us know brain washing isn't a new technique.
Public Law 105-85 requires that the building containing the Office of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs display the POW/MIA Flag on 6 specified days a year.
Acting Secretary, Togo D. West, Jr., has directed that the VA fly the POW/MIA Flag every day at the Central Office, 810 Vermont Ave., Wash, DC. This directive became effective, 2/10/98.
Other than that, the amendment to the Defense Authorization Bill requires that the POW/MIA Flag be flown at all U.S. Post Offices, all major military installations (designated by SEC/DEF), the White House, principal offices of the Secretaries of State, Defense and VA, the Selective Service Headquarters (DC), all VA-System Cemeteries and Veterans Service/Counseling Centers, on the following six designated dates:
Armed Forces Day
Memorial Day
Flag Day
Independence Day
National POW/MIA Recognition Day
Veterans Day
9th Annual Ride For Freedom '98
I was very honored to be a part of the 9th Annual Ride for Freedom "98"
sponsored by the Friends of the Forgotten at the Philadelphia Vietnam
Veterans Memorial. It was quite stirring to see over 1000 Motorcycles enter the city in support
for our cause.
The intent of the Friends of the Forgotten is to educate and raise public
awareness on the POW*MIA issue. I was grateful to have the opportunity to
speak on behalf of Operation Just Cause and hopefully gain more support.
We are all in this together and a house together stands!!
Some of the guest speakers at the event included:
1. Mayor Ed Rendell of Philadelphia, who supported the Friends of the
Forgotten and told them to keep up the fight.
2. David Christian (most decorated US Vietnam War Veteran) spoke of the
responsibility of all men and women who wear to the colors to keep on our
elected officials until all remains and missing are accounted for, as that
is our duty. He will continue the fight until all are returned to American
soil or until he takes his last breath.
3. George "Jay" Veith (Former Army Captain and author of "Code Name Bright
Light") informed us of President Clinton's attempts to stop the search for
Korean remains and to brush aside the responsibility of these Foreign
Nations to account for our missing. He is most knowledgeable on this issue
and told everyone to not let up on our elected officials, but demand the
truth and demand action be taken.
4. Peggy Moore (POW*MIA Activist & Poet) who read a very moving poem
dedicated to the remembrance of "D" day. Also made the plea that we must
educate all those around us, so the fight does not stop with us.
After all the speeches there was a roll call of names of all those still
missing from PA. One of the gentlemen who was reading the names, J. H.
Chitwood, lost a brother in Korea who has been missing ever since. I know
that he will never stop trying to find out and this has just made me more
aware of how important our fight is.
One thing was clear in all the speeches. We must continue to write our
Congressmen and Senators, we must continue to bring the issue to light and
not let it die with our generation, but teach our children so this will not
be repeated in the future.
Thank you.
Cheryl York
