Blue Star Memorial Highway
This marker on the corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Calle Mayor in Torrance was dedicated on Sunday, April 19, 2009.
Our Chapter AVVA member Kyle Orlemann attended the ceremony. Chapter member Paul Verner blew Taps.
After World War II, a nationwide movement was started to pay tribute to the nation's armed forces, by designating various State and national routes as "Blue Star Memorial Highways." The Blue Star, taken from the blue star in the service flag, was chosen to symbolize the memorial because it was used during World War II on flags and homes of families that had a son or daughter in the service.
In 1945, the National Council of State Garden Clubs, Inc. approved the Blue Star Memorial Highway Marker program. California Garden Clubs, Inc. accepted the program in 1947, when the California Legislature designated Highway 40 (now Route 80) and Highway 99.
For more information visit the Caltrans web page on Blue Star Memorial Highways.
14th Annual VVA Chapter 53 Scholarship Winner
Christine Cordero, Bishop Montgomery senior, is the recipient of the 2009 Chapter Scholarship after her great essay about the services of her grandfather, William Cordero, USAF pilot shot down over Laos.
Her essay detailed the involvement of her father, Tony Cordero, in creating the Sons & Daughters In Touch (SDIT) organization to bring together children, like her father, of those military personnel who were killed in action or POW/MIA in the Vietnam War zone.
50th Annual Torrance Armed Forces Day Parade & BBQ
This year, the City of Torrance honored the men and women of our nation's military with a three-day celebration that began on Friday, May 15 and continued through Sunday, May 17. The Parade was on Saturday, May 16, and this year's honored branch was the United States Navy.
At the Torrance PD sponsored BBQ preceding the Parade, between 1500 and 1700 young Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coasties (and their families) were fed. Thanks go to Chapter members (and friends of our Chapter) Steve Crecy, Paul Verneer, Hal Shafer, Susan Mattera, Pam (Susan’s sister), Rita (Susan’s mom), Kyle and Jerry Orlemann, Dick Cunningham, Dennis Wild, Ron Heath, Ed Sakahawa, and Steve Mandel who volunteered their services.
At our Chapter booth we had the opportunity to speak with a great number of both active duty military personnel and veterans and were able to provide assistance with information and answers to questions regarding VA benefits and disability retirement paperwork.
VVA Honors Akaka with Diversity Award
WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 20,2009 - Today the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) presented U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI) with its Diversity Award in recognition of his public service and leadership for veterans and others.
“I am honored to receive the Diversity Award from Vietnam Veterans of America. VVA's commitment to ensuring that no generation of veterans abandon another should be embraced by all Americans,” said Senator Akaka, Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee and veteran of World War II.
The award was presented by VVA representatives from their national office. In a letter notifying Akaka of the award, John Rowan, VVA's National President, stated “On behalf of the members and families of Vietnam Veterans of America, we are pleased to inform you that you have been selected to receive the diversity award from our Minority Affairs Committee in recognition of your tireless work on behalf of all veterans and in particular those who are members of minorities in America.”
VVA is the only national Vietnam veterans organization congressionally chartered and exclusively dedicated to Vietnam-era veterans and their families. VVA boasts over 50,000 members, and more than 600 local chapters.
May Meeting Speaker
Dr. Bradley Warren, psychiatrist and therapist from the West LA VA Medical Center’s PTSD Clinic, gave a great presentation at our General Membership Meeting on May 27th.
Dr. Warren’s talk was about the connections between PTSD and other disorders, particularly bipolar disorders. There was a great rapport between Dr. Warren and our members and a very interesting dialogue ensued.
The Moving Wall
Several of our members attended the May 28th Opening Ceremony of the Moving Wall at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Cathedral City.
Our members joined those from Riverside VVA Chapter 47 in assisting the many veterans and members of the public who came to find the names of their relatives and friends on the Wall throughout the Memorial Day weekend.
Thanks go (in no particular order) to Steve Crecy, Dean Bugenhagen, Paul Verner, Kirk Gillett, Frank Gillett, Pam Gillett, Andy Grow, Steve Mandel, and Jerry Yamamoto for representing our chapter. Kirk’s mom, Joy, also visited the wall for the Opening Ceremony.
New Website Honoring Veterans
Website launched recognizing and honoring America's veterans
The new website, www.honoraveteran.com, was created by Nick Russell, from VFW Post 8813 in Marinette, Wisconsin. Nick wanted to provide a place where people can submit a short biography of their veteran friends and family members, to honor their service to our country. Hopefully it will help raise public awareness of the brave men and women who have answered our country’s call to duty.
There is absolutely no charge to read the website or to submit veteran biographies.
Do You Have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is conducting an exciting new study on PTSD
PTSD affects up to 8% of the population, but not much is known about this disorder. Therefore, the Pituitary Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center wishes to further the understanding of PTSD by seeing if changes in the stress hormone axis are involved in the biology of PTSD. The plan is to explore the stress hormone axis by looking at pituitary volumes and hormone levels.
Who: Men and women 18 to 80 years old.
What: There will be three visits. The first visit is a screening history and physical with basic blood and urine tests. The second visit is to draw baseline hormone levels. The third visit involves pituitary blood tests, an MRI of the pituitary and questionnaires.
Where: At the Pituitary Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Complimentary parking and a meal voucher will be included.
Contact: If you or someone you know may be interested in learning about this study, please contact Alexis Jacobs at (310) 423-3395 and ask about the PTSD study.
Questions may also be directed to AVVA member Kyle Orlemann who recently completed the sudy.
WLA VA is conducting a study on Risperidone Treatment for Chronic PTSD
Many people with PTSD still have symptoms despite available treatments. The goal of this study is to test the effectiveness of an antipsychotic medication called risperidone in the treatment of military service related chronic PTSD. Participants in this study will receive either risperidone or a placebo for six months, in addition to receiving their usual care for the treatment of PTSD and other psychiatric and medical disorders.
You may qualify if you
- Are age 18 years or older
- Have been diagnosed with military service related PTSD
- Have tried antidepressants in the past for your PTSD
- Are living in a stable situation within 50 miles of WLA VA
- Use birth control if you are a woman of childbearing age
You are not eligible if you
- Have bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or schizoaffective disorder
- Have a serious medical condition
- Have tried risperidone in the past
- Have had a drug problem (except nicotine) in the past month
- Are participating in a research study which provides treatment
For more information contact Sabrina Ereshefsky or Anna Melnick at 310-478-3711 ext 44187.
There is compenstion up to $230.
The Buzz That Veterans Hear
By Tom Wilkinson
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 10, 2009; HE01
Capt. Nathan Green remembers the alarm sounding that day last April in Baghdad's Green Zone. He remembers running, and then the loud explosion of the rocket hitting 30 feet behind him. He was knocked unconscious, suffered a traumatic brain injury and now hears the high-pitched whine and static buzz of an AM radio. All the time. -- (Click here for more.)
Project to Help VA Patients Grows
AVVA member Kyle Orlemann knits for vets. Her original project was making caps for cancer patients at the Long Beach VA Medical Center. That quickly grew to include patients at the West Los Angeles facility. Today Kyle is knitting caps for patients, military personnel stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan, and lap blankets for wheelchair bound patients.
When she started the project she used her own funds to buy supplies. She made a request for yarn donations at a VVA Chapter 53 meeting and the Chapter surprised her with a check for $253 to buy more materials. More yarn donations came in, both from Chapter 53 and Temple Beth Emet of Burbank.
But the project has outgrown her ability to keep up. Kyle knits whenever and wherever she can sit down, whether it’s while dining out at a restaurant, while attending Chapter 53 meetings, while watching TV, or just visiting with friends. Plus, the Occupational Therapy Unit at the WLA VA facility has expressed interest in meeting with Kyle to explore the feasibility of introducing knitting as part of patient physical rehabilitation.
Kyle needs help, particularly from people who knit. It's easy to learn and she is willing to teach whoever shows an interest. Anyone who would like to join Kyle in this project to help VA patients and active duty personnel should call Kyle at 310-725-0019. More volunteers are needed!
Disney Presents: What Will You Celebrate?
When: Beginning Jan. 1, 2009
What: Disneyland® Resort and Walt Disney World® Resort will invite Guests to celebrate their lives' special moments - large and small - with family and friends at the place where dreams come true. Disney Parks offer that "something for everyone" that families look for in a "celebration vacation," and everyone who visits a Disneyland® Resort or Walt Disney World® Resort theme park on their birthday in 2009 will receive free admission. New entertainment and magical experiences, planning tools and customized celebrations, special vacation enhancements and ticketing options will help make those special moments in life become memories that last a lifetime.
Who: Guests visiting Disneyland® Resort and Walt Disney World® Resort in 2009
How: Guests can get more information and start the process by registering their birthdays at www.disneyparks.com.
Touched by an Angel
Frank Watson believes in Angels. In fact, he claims to have met one.
Frank is an in-patient at the WLA VA facility. He's there because, as he puts it, “I failed to take care of my health.”
His right leg was in such bad condition that the doctors wanted to take it off at the hip.
After receiving that good news, Frank was on the verge of leaving the hospital and just going home to die. It was while wandering around the hospital that he saw a lady who was knitting and selling coupon books to raise money for vets and they began to chat.
“I began to see a person with a real heart for vets,” Frank said. “She talked with great joy about vets, what we go thru and the organization that she loves and supports - Vietnam Veterans of America.”
She also told him about her project of knitting caps and lap blankets for disabled vets. As she finished up a cap that she had been working on, she gave it to Frank.
Such a small gesture.
But not small to Frank.
“You just never know when God is going to send an angel around to cheer you up,” he said. “Something happened that day and the old fighting spirit came back into my heart!”
With renewed energy, Frank went back to his doctors and demanded other options. After considerable discussion, the doctors determined an alternative course of treatment involving a series of operations to try to save Frank's leg.
Frank is no longer considering just going home to die.
“I know for sure: that fateful day, God sent around a coupon selling angel!”
The lady selling coupon books that day was Chapter 53's AVVA member Kyle Orlemann.
Events Calendar
Contact Us
By mail:
Vietnam Veterans of America
South Bay Chapter 53
P.O. Box 7000-185
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
Or call: 310-540-8820
Or email: Info@VVA53.org
Or for matters pertaining to our newsletter email: LZ53Editor@VVA53.org
Or for matters regarding this website email: Webmaster@VVA53.org
Or just join us at Billy's Deli, 5160 W. 190th St.(at Anza), in Torrance on the 4th Sunday of the month.
VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL
Service: All Services
Instituted: 1965
Criteria: Service in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia or Thailand during the above period
Devices: All Services: bronze, silver star; Army: bronze arrowhead; Navy: bronze Marine Corps device
Notes: Authorized by executive order on July 8, 1965 for US military personnel serving in the Vietnam Theater of Operations after July 3, 1965 through March 28, 1973. Personnel must have served in Vietnam on temporary duty for at least 30 consecutive/60 nonconsecutive days or have served in combat with a unit directly supporting a military operation in Southeast Asia. Military personnel serving in Laos, Cambodia, or Thailand in direct support of operations in Vietnam are also eligible for this award. The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal was awarded for earlier service in Vietnam from July 1, 1958 to July 3, 1965, inclusive; personnel receiving that award may be awarded the Vietnam Service Medal but are not authorized both awards for Vietnam service. The front of medal depicts an oriental dragon behind a grove of bamboo trees; below the base of the trees is the inscription: REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM SERVICE. The reverse of the medal depicts a crossbow with a torch through the center and contains the inscription: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA along the bottom edge. The colors of the suspension drape and ribbon suggest the flag of the Republic of Vietnam (the red stripes represent the three ancient Vietnamese empires of Tonkin, Annam, and Cochin China) and the green represents the Vietnamese jungle. Bronze and silver stars are authorized to signify participation in any of the 17 designated campaigns during the inclusive period.
Vietnam Advisory 1962-1965
Vietnam Defense 1965
Vietnam Counteroffensive 1965-1966
Vietnam Phase II 1966 - 1967
Vietnam Counteroffensive Phase III 1967-1968
Tet Counteroffensive 1968
Vietnam Counteroffensive Phase IV 1968
Vietnam Counteroffensive Phase V 1968
Vietnam Counteroffensive Phase VI 1968-1969
Tet 69 Counteroffensive 1969
Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969
Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970
Sanctuary Counteroffensive 1970
Vietnam Counteroffensive Phase VII 1970-1971
Consolidation I 1971
Consolidation II 1971-1972
Vietnam Cease-Fire 1972-1973
