One of our newest member organizations is finally expanding its activities and events in or near the Lehigh Valley with the coming year. Below is a summary of major known events as provided by Sam Johnson, Captain, USMC, its current President. (more…)
CLYDE HOCH SPEAKS TO THE COUNCIL
Clyde Hoch, author of Tracks – Memoirs of a Vietnam Veteran, spoke to the Council on his service in the Marine Corps, his remembrances of war and his return home.
First off, he expressed his appreciation to the Council for their concern for veterans as he thinks too often veterans “are tossed aside” once they have played their role in the defense of the nation.
Now in his sixties, he believes he has a story to tell – as many other veterans do also – which can help the young understand that sometimes great sacrifices are made on their behalf, that millions of men and women before them have left their loving families to do whatever is necessary to protect our way of life. Nor does it matter they ultimately served as cooks or infantry, for the deed was in the willingness to sacrifice for others even when those “others” often little understood or cared for the service members during the Vietnam era. (more…)
First Generation Gets It Right
First Generation Visual Communication in Allentown “gets it.” While it is important to support our troops when deployed, it is also important to support them as veterans when they return home and are most likely to be forgotten. First Generation realizes it takes the “whole village” to do this. Not only must federal, state and county governments do their part on our behalf, but in times of war our community must make a special effort to ensure those local nonprofits effectively helping the local military veteran community are supported as well. One cannot afford the opinion of one former state legislator who stated helping veterans is the federal government’s responsibility alone. (more…)
SWINFARD ADDRESSES COUNCIL
Dr. Ronald W. Swinfard, M.D., President and CEO of the Lehigh Valley Health Network (LHVN) spoke to the Council at its business meeting on 19 October. During the Vietnam War, he served in the Medical Service Corps as a Battalion Surgeon (a lieutenant position) of an Aid Station (a platoon equivalent organization) in 195th Brigade of the Americal Division (23rd Infantry Division), circa 1970. After a short stint as a high school teacher, upon return from service and decommissioning, he embarked on a career as a doctor, first training in internal medicine and later dermatology as a specialty. In 2003, Swinfard was hired by the Lehigh Valley Health Network as Chief Medical Officer (CMO) after serving at fifteen years at the Harry S. Truman VA Medical Center in Columbia, Missouri, eventually rising to the position of Section Chief for Dermatology. He was also a key figure in the University of Missouri Hospital – Columbia. In November of 2010, he was selected for his current position. He stated that he is ever mindful of the sacrifice of others who gave their lives and because of them, believes we should celebrate our lives and make them useful in the service of others.
In his talk, “The Downstream Health Effects of War,” he observed that few doctors are veterans and hence a learning curve is often required when it comes to their care. He noted that that LHVN sees a lot of veterans in their Emergency Rooms; and that while the organization has done some work with the local VA Clinic, it intends to do more on the behalf of our local veterans. (more…)
Bethlehem Morning Star Rotarians Sponsor a Concert to Support Victory House A concert on 20 November conducted by the Allentown Band, America’s oldest concert band, and sponsored by the Bethlehem Morning Star Rotarians in recognition of the Armed Forces worldwide and the coming 70th anniversary of Pearl Harbor will benefit Read more…
Judith’s Reading Room Helps Veterans Sanctuary As an extension of one of its ongoing efforts, which is support our troops with books to read, Judith’s Reading Room is donating to Veterans Sanctuary a custom designed mobile library stocked with books hand picked to help in the recovery of veterans suffering Read more…
President Christopher Posch of the Band of Brothers veterans group at Northampton Community College, a member organization of LVMAC, announced at the September Council meeting that his organization is raising funds for a “Tribute to the Troops” section in the Tribute Garden at the main campus site. (more…)
18 April….Crayola Factory Family Day Camp….Sponsored by the PNG Children & Youth Program…..Many activities throughout the day….To register visit http://www.jointservicessupport.org/events/kioskRegistration.aspx?Mode=AddNew&ld-bd7eaaf6-0722-4b71-99b2-647a90fdbb36 or you can call the PNG Child & Youth Program @ 717.861.6289 22 April…….Keystone Wounded Warriors Day @ Hershey park. the park is reserved for military and special organizations this day. A Read more…
Council Speaker: On 21 September 2011, Captain Samuel Johnson, USMC – who is assigned as an Instructor-Inspector to the newly relocated 150 personnel Battery I, 3-14 Regiment of Artillery (155 mm) which closed on the Lehigh Valley’s Navy-Marine Corps Reserve Center from Reading on 15 September – spoke to the Council on the origins and initiatives of the Keystone Wounded Warriors, a new nonprofit, charitable 501(c)(3) organization incorporated in October of 2010 and just beginning to operate in the Lehigh Valley. (more…)
Trout Unlimited – Hokendauqua Is Having Another Event for Injured Veterans Trout Unlimited’s Hokendauqua has arranged for its third Project Healing Water Fly Fishing event of the season to occur on 8 October just upstream of the Robin Hood Dell bridge in Little Lehigh Park. Rain date is 9 October. Read more…