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Chapter and Local
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Chapter Elections
Chapter 120 elections will take place during our April
membership meeting. If you intend on running for any open
positions, please let the
Nominating Committee know as soon as possible.
Positions opened for election:
• President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer
• Five (5) Directors of the Board
• Five (5) State Council Delegates
• Three (3) Members of the Nominating Committee
See Chapter 120
Election
Rules
AVVA Elections
Associates of VVA (AVVA) elections for the Connecticut Representative will be
held on May 16, 2010 at the State Council office, 196 West
Street, Rocky Hill CT. Ballots will be mailed to all AVVA
members, in the event that you cannot make the meeting.
A Journey to Vietnam
Pattie Dumin completes her journey to Vietnam to find
closure in the loss of her brother Paul
On March 2, Pattie Dumin began the last leg of her trip to
Con Thien, where her brother Paul was killed in action on
November 26, 1967 while on patrol with A Company, 1st BN,
1st Regiment, 1st Marine Division. Her trip began with a 1
hour 20 minute flight from Saigon to Hue City and a two-hour
automobile trip to Dong Ha in Quang Tri Province. See
A
Journey to Vietnam
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Connection Available Through E-Mail
The Chapter 120 newsletter, The Connection, is available to
members who wish to receive this monthly publication via
e-mail versus US Postal Service. We currently have 56
members receiving the newsletter by e-mail, saving the
Chapter over $250 annually. To those members, we thank you
for making the decision to help the Chapter reduce its
postal expenses.
The newsletter is available in Adobe format and is sent
approximately one week earlier to members wishing an
electronic copy than those who receive the "snail-mail"
copy. This time difference is based on the lead-time for
printing and mailing the newsletter via USPS.
If you decide that you would wish to receive the newsletter
via e-mail attachment IN-LIEU of the "snail-mail" copy,
please e-mail the newsletter editor at jrcvva120@aol.com. If
at any time, you decide that you would like to change from
electronic copy back to the "snail-mail" copy, send an
e-mail to the newsletter editor. |
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Membership Renewals
Is your membership renewal about to become due? Please renew
today so you can continue to receive the award winning Chapter newsletter,
as well as The VVA Veteran! And as you renew, please
consider joining the other 133 members who have chosen Life
membership. |
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Eugene Edward Tetreault
VVA Chapter Member
Eugene "Gene" Edward Tetreault, 66, of East Windsor, passed
away unexpectedly at home Thursday (March 25, 2010) with his
wife by his side. Born in Hartford to the late Joseph and
Claire (Deschenes) Tetreault, he has been a resident of East
Windsor for the past 24 years. Gene was a graduate of
Hartford Public High School – Class of '62, where he became
the National Track Champion, as well as earning several
other local and national track awards. He also attended
Villanova University, and CCSU. Gene was a veteran of the
Vietnam War, serving as a medic, and after returning, worked
for USPS in Hartford, and later for Mercury Citgo in East
Windsor, retiring in 2005. Gene attended Trinity United
Methodist Church in Windsor with his wife, Debbie. He was a
"Friend of Bill", a member of the Recovery Club in Windsor,
and of the VVA – Vietnam Veterans of America. Gene loved
watching the Red Sox, any "duster" westerns on TV, listening
to Bruce Springsteen, and especially vacationing in Maine
with Deb and eating lobster. Gene is survived by his loving
wife of 31 years, Deborah "Deb" (Palmer) Tetreault; a
brother, Paul Tetreault and his wife, Marie, of Chaplin CT;
his in-laws, "Mumsie" and "Rep Chuck Palmer" of Pownal, VT;
a brother-in-law, Allen Palmer and his wife, Laura, of Barre,
VT; many close friends, especially, John, Steve, Marty,
Chuck, Roger, Sherry, Janet, and Steve and Tina; many nieces
and nephews; and his feline buddies, "Max" and "Chloe". Gene
was predeceased by two brothers, David and Peter Tetreault.
Gene's family will receive relatives and friends on Monday,
March 29, 2010, at 11 a.m., at Trinity United Methodist
Church, 180 Park Ave., Windsor, for a Funeral Service,
followed by Military Honors performed by the U.S. Army
outside the church. Calling hours will held at Windsor Locks
Funeral Home, 441 Spring St., Windsor Locks, on Sunday,
March 28, 2010, from 4-8 p.m. Burial will be private at the
convenience of the family. Contributions in Eugene
Tetreault's memory may be made to Vitas Hospice Charitable
Fund, 255 Pitkin St., East Hartford, CT 06108. For
information and on-line condolences, please visit
www.windsorlocksfuneralhome.com |
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Connecticut Department of
Veterans' Affairs |
Bond Commission to Approve Major Improvements at State
Veterans Home
Governor M. Jodi Rell announced on March 10 that nearly $2.5
million in state bonding to cover the state’s share of a
$9.2 million upgrade to the “domiciles,” or living areas, at
the State Veterans’ Home in Rocky Hill is expected to gain
approval when the state Bond Commission meets March 16.
Governor Rell is also proposing $250,000 to rehabilitate
five vacant, state-owned homes across the street from the
Veterans’ Home for use by veterans returning from Iraq or
Afghanistan who need a temporary place to stay. See
Bond
Commission to Approve
2009 Veterans' Resource Guide
Available
The CT Dept of Veterans' Affairs has created the
2009 Veterans' Resource Guide. |
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POW/MIA |
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Air Force Pilot MIA from Vietnam War Identified
The Department of Defense announced today that the remains
of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from the Vietnam
War, have been identified and will be returned to his family
for burial with full military honors. See
Pilot Identified
DPMO News Releases
For the latest news
releases from the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel
Office (DPMO), click
HERE
National Alliance of
Families Newsletter
For the latest POW/MIA news from the
National Alliance of Families, see their
Bits 'n' Pieces Newsletter |
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At The Capitol |
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"Welcome Home
Vietnam Veterans Day" Bill progresses through
Legislature
Introduced by the Select Committee on Veterans'
Affairs on February 18, the “Welcome Home Vietnam
Veterans’ Day” bill,
HB5352 , unanimously passed the VA Committee and
the Government Administration & Elections
Committee. At the time this newsletter went to press,
the bill was sent to the Offices of Legislative
Research and Fiscal Analysis for review. This review
is due to be completed by 4/6/10.
Anticipating passage of the bill, ceremonies were
held on March 30 at the Connecticut Vietnam Veterans Memorial in
Coventry CT and at the Legislative Office Building
in Hartford.
VVA Endorses
“Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day”
While VVA in Connecticut
is pressing for its own "Welcome Home Vietnam
Veterans' Day, VVA National has endorsed a
resolution introduced in the Senate by Senator
Richard Burr (R-North Carolina), Ranking Member on
the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, which would
establish March 30th as “Welcome Home Vietnam
Veterans Day.” See
VVA Release
For a complete list of bills
passed by the Select
Committee on Veterans' Affairs, see
Bill Record Book
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On The Hill |
House and Senate VA Committees Receive VSO Legislative
Presentations
The House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees held a
joint hearing on Thursday, March 18, 2010, to receive the
legislative presentation of AMVETS, the National Association
of State Directors of Veterans Affairs, Non Commissioned
Officers of America, Gold Star Wives of America, Fleet
Reserve Association, The Retired Enlisted Association,
Vietnam Veterans of America, and the Iraq and Afghanistan
Veterans of America. See
VSO presentations
House Chairmen Letter on Health Care
On Sunday, March 21, 2010, Bob Filner (D-CA), Chairman of
the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, affirmed that
current health care reform legislation does not
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undermine or change the Department of
Veterans Affairs mandate to provide comprehensive health
care to veterans. He joined House Armed Services Chairman
Ike Skelton (D-MO), House Ways & Means Chairman Sander
Levin (D-MI), House Education and Labor Chairman George Mill
(D-CA), and Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA)
to make clear that full health coverage from the VA is
regarded as having met the individual responsibility
requirements in the legislation to maintain quality health
coverage. The Chairmen penned a letter to Rules Committee
Chairwoman Louise Slaughter (D-NY) ensuring their commitment
to protect the quality health care systems for service
members and veterans. See
Release
House Passes Bills Package to Eliminate Homelessness,
Provide Job Opportunities and Protect Home Ownership for
Veterans
House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA)
announced that the U.S. House of Representatives voted to
approve seven measures that would improve benefits and
services to veterans provided by the Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA). See
Release
Senate passes "Welcome Home"
Resolution
On March 19,the Senate passed
Resolution
451, "Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day".
The resolution was introduced by Sen. Burr,
Ranking Member on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs
Committee. |
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