"Airborne", to all members of Midwest Chapter 17:                                                                                               Spring, 2008

Chapter 17 annual Report

This year has been a busy but rewarding year for our Chapter, a brief but detailed summary of the Mid West Chapter 17 activities are as follows:

 We of Chapter 17 began the year with a five-member team traveling to Washington DC to attend General and Mrs. Williamson’s funeral.

Meetings

March-3 2007 meeting was held with the W.PA members. This meeting occurred at the annual T.E.T festival given each year in New Stanton P.A.. Fourteen members participated in the meeting.

April 21, 2007 meeting held in Columbus, Ohio. Seven members participated.

May 28, 2007 meeting held, in Frankfurt, KY. Nine members participated.

Chapter 17 participated in the Memorial Day ceremony, Frankfurt KY at their Viet Nam memorial,  26 members of the 173d are honored there.

July 27-29, the annual Chapter SummerFest was held, on the 28^th which included a Chapter meeting. 19 members participated.

September 12-16, Kokomo Indiana Veterans gathering, a meeting was held during a week long event, 25 members participated.

During all of the meetings, I, as the new president discussed plans for communication between our members and the direction the Chapter members would want to go.

We had exchanges on how each state could participate, in fund raising and holding yearly events.

Taps and Remembrance 

- Pat Emery 

- Tom Racho 

-  Gary Fahey 

-  George Barksdale 

-  Bruce Plecan

- Sandy Schulte wife of member John Schulte

 - Mrs. Justine M Snowden mother, of fallen Sky Soldier Lamar Frederick, and Chapter 30 Gold Star mother, lived in Northern Ohio.

 - Ms Summer Sopko, Daughter of member Jerry Sopko.

Active Duty Sky Soldiers

Joseph A. Miracle

 Joseph Lancour

 Matthew Blaskowski

 William R. Fritsche

 Brian Gorham

Among the attended funerals of our fellow Viet Nam veterans, the Chapter Honor Guard from Ohio was present for a number of services outside our Chapter area. John Schulte and myself attended on behalf of the association.

- Flags of Honor, Orient Ohio

- Blue Ash Air Show, Blue Ash, Ohio

February, 8, 2007, our web site/Skip Kniley was awarded the C.A.P.O. This award was given to our web master for his patriotic dedication to preserve the memory of the 173d Airborne Brigade. Skip received the Patriotic Excellence Award. We of Chapter 17 our very proud and honored to have Skip, not only as a member, but a Skysoldier that makes a Difference. The CAPO award is sponsored by the Casper Aviation Platoon Organization.

August 10-11 2007,  Tim Culbertson of Cincinnati, Ohio Purple Heart Chapter 3620 was named and awarded the Top Americanism award in the United States and its territories. The TOP Americanism Officers position is chosen from names from the hundreds of Purple Heart Chapters on a yearly basis for their work, Great job Tim.

- December 31, 2007 ending balance for Chapter 17 was $3141.46.  

- January 30, 2008 beginning balance is $3588.61.