The 82nd Airborne Division Association Inc, South Florida Chapter - Membership and Events © 2007 Bob Wirt, WebMaster

I know this is an immensely impersonal way to say hello and ask you to do something, but desperate times sometimes call for desperate measures. Please forgive me and know that you, individually, are very special to me in many ways and for many reasons.

As many of you know, I have started a new position in the financial services industry. I am the Director of Marketing and Business Development for Investor Solutions in Coconut Grove.

But my passion remains my volunteer-related work, in general, and for our military and Veterans, in particular. My latest project is bringing a Fisher House to Miami. For those of you that have been or are involved in the military, you know what a Fisher House is and how important they are to our soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen and Coasties. For those that don't, please read on.

The Fisher House program provides a compassionate home away from home for families of patients receiving long term or rehabilitative care at every major military and VA medical center. They serve as a tangible symbol of support for our military and Veterans and their families. They have played a critical role in caring for our wounded and injured in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

Miami has been named a recommended site for a Fisher House. Over 400 military families annually, in the South Florida area, are paying with out of pocket money for lodging costs so that they can be with loved ones at the Miami VA hospital. This outlay is not reimbursable and our young families can ill afford this necessary expense. We don't have an active duty base in Miami; we have mostly Reservists and Guardsmen that have found themselves in harm’s way. We must help them!

A potential Fisher House community is asked to raise seed money for that house to be built. The Fisher House Foundation will then provide the remaining (and majority) percentage of funds to construct and furnish the house and ensure the operating & maintenance costs and expenses in perpetuity. We need to raise $2 million dollars to start the construction of the 21- room private suite house to be located on the VAHS Miami campus. The land is available, cleared and ready.

As you acknowledge your many blessings AND think about your end of year contributions, please consider showing your thanks by making a donation toward our Miami Fisher House. Regardless of your political position on our foreign affairs philosophies and actions, we must support our individual Americans that comprise our Services and ensure our freedoms. To make your contribution to this tax deductible, 501(C)(3) entity, you can go to the national site at www.fisherhouse.org ; be sure to scroll down to the Miami VAHS Fisher House. Or you can go to our site at www.fisherhousemiami.org where all payment options are identified. Or you can make the contribution as part of your Combined Federal Campaign contribution. Any and all amounts add up.

Any questions you have I will be happy to answer, but most everything can be found at the two websites. Thank you for your consideration in this very important and urgent activity. Our Veterans need your support.

With Love, I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving & Season’s Greetings - Lettie Bien

Don't forget our next regular meeting will be 8PM on Tuesday, January 15th, 2008, at the:

American Legion Post 92
211 North 21st Avenue
Hollywood FL 33020-4506
Phone: 954-923-2760

Here's a map, for the 2nd Lieutenant in each of us:

2008 Officers and Directors Installed November 10th 2007

	Officers for 2007-2008
South Florida Chairman French Shannon 1331 SW 114th Way Davie FL 33325-4548 1-954-472-3721 ( Marie ) French82abn@aol.com	Vice-Chairman Tony Altobell Post Office Box 22476 Fort Lauderdale FL 33335 1-954-583-8081 ( Carol ) chimera86@aol.com	Secretary / Treasurer Bob Buffington 2765 Garden Drive Cooper City FL 33026-3605 1-954-435-9174 ( Helga ) RBuff@bellsouth.net
Chaplain Myles Gill 1000 Tallwood Avenue Apt 101 Hollywood FL 33021-7967 1-954-322-4452 ( Carolyn ) MylesGill@miamibeachfl.gov	Judge Advocate Irv Weinsoff 600 NE 36th Street PH 3 Miami FL 33137-3952 1-305-573-1666 ( Sylvia ) Weinsoff@msn.com	Sergeant-At-Arms Roger Cupo Apt 503 1830 Dixieana Street Hollywood FL 33020-3153 1-954-993-1705
	Directors for 2007-2008
Director Jimmy Campillo 3444 SW 53rd Court Fort Lauderdale FL 33021-7967 1-954-322-4452 ( Lucy ) jamlu82@comcast.net	Director German Martinez 81211 NW 15th Street Pembroke Pines FL 33024 1-954-435-4992 ( Leonides ) Airborne1914@bellsouth.net	Director Ron Stirlacci 117 Lake Emerald Drive Apt 303 Oakland Park FL 33309-6269 1-954-732-0773 ( Lydia ) RL2760@aol.com
Director Al Gilliam 4700 NW 18th Court Lauderhill Fl 33313-4122 1-954-739-7082 ( .......... ) MRG1654@msn.com	Director Don Moffett 32 Bunting Drive Key Largo FL 33037-3003 1-305-453-9991 ( Phyllis ) PhylMoff@bellsouth.net	Director / WebMaster Bob Wirt Post Office Box 11280 Fort Lauderdale FL 33339-1280 1-954-565-8123 ( Bettye ) BobWirt@82airborne.org
Chapter Historian :	Irv Weinsoff Weinsoff@msn.com

Irv, Bob, Al, Ron, German, Don, Roger, Jimmy, French and Tony sworn in by Secretary/Treasurer Bob Buffington

A Dying Institution: Our Veterans Associations
LTC Bryan Hernandez, J-3 Plans © 2007

This past weekend I spoke at the South Florida Chapter of the 82nd Airborne Association Veteran’s Day reunion. As I entered the small conference room, tucked quietly within the corner of a suburban restaurant, I quickly noticed the age difference between those of the chapter’s proud veterans and myself. I was the “honored” guest, a young 37 years old veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, amongst men that had parachuted into the fields of Normandy over 60 years ago, delayed Communist forces along the Yalu River in the Korean War, and fought in the jungles of the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. I felt like a dwarf amongst giants, humbled by those who had written the pages of modern history by their sweat and blood. I did not feel special but rather honored to sit and talk with these quiet men with whom time has slowly taken away their youthfulness but not their pride and patriotism. Upon arriving that evening, I walked around to greet people and introduce my wife, but I could not help noticing that we were the youngest people within the room. Suddenly, a feeling of sorrow and shame embraced me as I wondered where my fellow veterans were. Within the small room were men of all different parts of American society that held a special bond and pride of their service and sacrifice, given to their nation during perilous times in their youth. They all answered the call to serve and following their duty, they made a commitment to come back together in order to remember and take care of those who returned less fortunate. During the mid-20th century veterans associations were successful recruiting service members from World War II and Korea due to the large number of veterans involved in these conflicts and their political activity to advance veteran rights as the country absorbed them back into society. In the political aftermath of the Vietnam War, other veteran organizations began appearing as disenfranchised veterans called for attention and gratitude for their service in an unpopular war. However, there has been a noticeable decline in the membership of many veteran groups since these wars. The decline seems attributable to the	LTC Bryan Hernandez, J-3 Plans lack of sustained conflicts, with combat affected veterans, in the 1980s and 1990s, disinterest by younger vets, and a general misconception that veteran organizations are for the older generations of WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. The question is if the hundred of thousands of veterans returning from Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere will replenish the depleted ranks of America’s veteran organizations. Unfortunately, this group of veterans, once bursting with membership is slowly withering away. Further, this phenomenon is not exclusive to the veteran’s chapter that I met, but is occurring throughout this nation as more and more veterans leave their ranks with few, younger veterans replacing their hallowed halls. When I finally sat down, I asked a question to the veterans at my table, “Where are the veterans from our recent wars?” The answer was, “Not here.” My next thought was why. The history of veteran’s association is intricately linked with the history of our nation both in their development and in their purpose. Since the War of Independence to the Civil War and following America’s world wars in the 20th century, veterans have organized into collective groups in order to advocate both recognition of their service and request assistance in areas such as health care and education. More importantly, they have served as institutions to remind Americans	of the human costs of war and the sacrifice made by so few for so many. These institutions are dying with their aged members and as they disappear, so will their wisdom and history. As the evening continued, I asked dozens of questions about the experiences of the veterans at my table, which included a former Tuskegee Airman turned combat paratrooper in the Korean War. There was a glaring point that these men, and their spouses, shared a camaraderie that our generation of veterans needs to continue. While we continued to talk, it came time for me to deliver my speech and so I humbly went to the small podium situated in the middle of the room among tightly packed dinner tables. I talked briefly about the history of Veteran’s Day, the 82nd Airborne Division, and proudly discussed the division’s many deployments in the current Global War of Terror, to include my former battalion that is now on its fourth deployment in five years. At the end, I concluded with what I termed a “Call to us”. I explained that the “call” was our need and responsibility, as a collective group, to honor the thousands of service members who will not return from the war and to be prepared to receive the thousands of veterans that are coming home wounded and fatigued through organizations such as theirs. Veteran organizations are invaluable and not a relic of past conflicts but institutions that need to engender the new wave of American veterans fresh from the sands of the Middle East. At the end of the night’s events, my wife and I stayed around to give our thanks for the invitation and say our goodbyes to the many veterans that attended. Many veterans stopped to say thank you in a way that made me feel even more humble, it was if I was a visiting dignitary or movie star. I quickly let them know that I was the one humbled because they were, and continue to be, my heroes. As I delicately shook many tired and aged hands, I made a promise to them that my generation would honor them not through words but rather by stepping up to take their place to ensure America does not forget those who have bled for its freedom.
		LTC Bryan Hernandez, J-3 Plans © 2007

Installation Banquet for 2008 Officers and Directors Elected September 16, 2007

Once again our annual Installation Banquet is upon us.

This year's banquet will be in a different place than the past dozen or so have been.
Due to ongoing renovations taking place at the Bavarian Village, this year's banquet has been moved to

The TROPICAL ACRES RESTAURANT - located 0.6 miles west
Of I-95 (exit #23) on Griffin Road in Fort Lauderdale, so start planning now.

WHEN: Saturday November 10th 2007
WHERE: Tropical Acres Restaurant
                    2500 Griffin Road
                    Fort Lauderdale FL 33312
                    (954) 989-2500

RESERVATION: Must be received no later than October 26th
Cocktails start at 1800 (6pm). Dinner is served at 1900 (7pm)

The guest speaker will be Lieutenant Colonel Bryan P Hernandez :
LTC Hernandez has served one tour in Afghanistan as the Combined Arms Assessment Team leader
attached to the 3rd BCT, 101st Airborne Division in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
He also served in Iraq as the G-3 plans officer with the 82nd Airborne Division
He served his second tour in Iraq as Battalion Executive Officer, 1st Bn, 504th AIR, 82nd Abn Division
He is now serving with Southern Command as Joint Planner in J-3 Plans.

<<<<CLIP & MAIL >>>> <<<<CLIP & MAIL >>>> <<<<CLIP & MAIL >>>>

Make checks payable to the 82d Abn Div Assn So FL Chapter

Mail checks to Bob Buffington @ 2765 Garden Drive, Cooper City, Fl 33026-3605

ENTRÉE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. NUMBER ......@ .........COST OF EACH .........TOTAL

Roast Prime Rib . . . . . . ....... .. (. . . ). . . . . . . . . .... . . . $27.00 . . . .. . . . $

Broiled Florida Red Snapper ......(. . . ). . . . . . . . .... . . . . $27.00 . . . .. . . . $

Stuffed Breast of Chicken . ......(. . . ). . . . . . . . .... . . . . $24.00 . . . .. . . . $

( Artichoke Parmesan ) . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Number of Meals ___ = TOTAL $

Dinners will be served with: Tossed Green Salad; California Medley ( vegetables );

Stuffed Baked Potato; Tea &/or Coffee; Breads and Butter; Black Forest Cake;

Cash bar will be available. . . . . . . . . . . .

Name: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . guest:

Phone: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . email:

Any questions? Please contact Bob Buffington at 954-435-9174 or email rbuff@bellsouth.net

Scenes from recent Picnics & Meetings @ TY Park, Hollywood FL

Group shot from the Fall Picinc September 2007

Ron Stirlacci; Bob Wirt; Andy McGowan; Gus Vass; French Shannon; John Crews and son; Bob Buffington
Jim Bono; Roger Labonte; Jimmy Campillo; Irv Weinsoff; Al Gilliam

Images from the Summer Picinc June 2007

	Jim Bono rigged and ready to go... Bob and Bettye, sittin' in a tree Rigging up Ron Stirlacci's parachute for a sound-off for equipment check cooks at the ready...the ladies chat and, oh yeah, there was a meeting

Images from the Spring Picinc March 2007

Chapter Pledges Allegiance before the business meeting presided over by Chairman French Shannon

Hospitality Tent (above) ... Meeting by the lake (right)
	Tony back at the grill as in days of old... Roger, Roger...

Images from the Fall Picnic last September 2006

Early arrivals headed for the burgers, dogs and soft-drinks		French, Ron and Buff preside...
The elections in progress...	Bob Wirt and Roger Labonte...	Joe Lanzillo, Airborne Ranger...

Fall Picnic, SUNDAY, September 16th, 2007 - TOPEEKEEGEE YUGNEE PARK ( TY Park )

Take I-95 to Hollywood Florida Exit At Sheridan Street or Stirling Road - Go West about a mile to Park Road - Turn North from Sheridan or South from Stirling another mile or so to the main park entrance - Follow the signs to the 82nd Airborne! Pavilion (#4) - Turn to your (military) right, just inside the Park's Main Entrance (Look for the Chapter Banner) at 3300 North Park Road, Hollywood FL 33021 phone 954-985-1960.

Picnic starts at 11:00AM ... Before lunch there're coffee and donuts for the early-birds. Most everyone is busy chowing down by noon or so and the eating and socializing take up the better part of the day with consumption of the complementary burgers, hotdogs, chicken and cold drinks which abound. If you plan on eating more than your share, bring a covered dish of your choice so the rest of us won't starve. We supply coffee and sodas - if you want beer or wine just bring your own. Groceries contributed by individuals are welcomed, as always, as they definitely supplement the meeting's food budget.

WHO? All paratroopers past and present - members or not. Bring your families and friends, especially that co-worker who also served in the airborne. Wives, kids and grandkids of all ages are welcome at what is a really enjoyable family affair. Anyone you know who was airborne and is not a member should be invited to attend. The Chapter is a great place for airborne types to socialize with their own and to renew old friendships or develop new ones with other like-minded troopers.

All members and their families are welcome to attend. Troopers who are not yet members but who want to come to the picnic and check out the South Florida 82nd Airborne Chapter are welcome to do so, and may sign up on the spot to become members themselves. A new membership in The South Florida Chapter of The 82nd Airborne Division Association may just be the best $15.00 you'll spend this year.

A business meeting for the election of officers will be held beginning at 1300 hours, for which nominees must be present to be elected. Those who have not already put their names forward for office are encouraged to do so at any meeting or contact French Shannon at 954-472-3721 or by email at French82abn@aol.com

We always need the services of those willing to contribute their time to the Chapter's ongoing operations and effectiveness. The Chapter's 50th anniversary is upcoming in 2008, and our longevity is due solely to the dedication of a lot of volunteers (just like yourself) who have given of their time and effort to ensure its success. We need a Vice-Chairman; a Sergeant-At-Arms; a Judge Advocate; and three new Directors - as the old ones are getting old.

See you there!

FLORIDA ALL AIRBORNE DAYS
Thursday, October 25th to Sunday, October 28th, 2007
Sponsored by the Tampa Bay Chapter, 82nd Airborne Division Association

Convention Hotel: La Quinta Inn Clearwater
21338 US Highway 19 North, Clearwater, FL 33765-2828
Phone: 727-799-1565 Fax: 727-797-6801 TOLL FREE 800-531-5900
Mention FL All Airborne Days to receive the Convention Room Rate of $59/night
Hotel is located north of Gulf To Bay Blvd (Highway 60) on the west side of US Hwy 19

Convention Registration: $75 per person, which includes all aspects of the Hospitality Room.
For those only able to attend the Saturday dinner, the cost is $35 per person.
( This DOES NOT include the Hospitality Room )
We must have your registration by Friday, October 19th

Make checks payable to TBC and mail to Tampa Bay Chapter

2543 Sweetgum Way West, Clearwater FL 33761-3923

Name

Chapter

Street Address

City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . State . . . . . Zip

Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . email

Number of Full Registrations ___ @ $75 = . . . . . . . .. . $

Number of Saturday Banquet only*___ @ $35 = . . . . . $

Total Enclosed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $

* Saturday Banquet ONLY does not include Hospitality Room privileges

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Thursday, 25th OCT: Registration open from noon to 6:00 PM.
Hospitality includes hamburgers, hot dogs and chicken, from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
Hospitality room open from noon to 2200 hrs.

Friday, 26th OCT: Registration open from noon to 6:00 PM.
Hospitality includes a fish fry from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
Hospitality room open from noon to 2200 hrs.

Saturday, 27th OCT: Registration open from noon to 3:00 PM.
Hospitality includes a pig roast from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
Hospitality room open from noon to 6:00 PM, on order to set up for dinner. ( Will reopen after dinner )

Saturday Banquet: The meal on Saturday will be a catered buffet.
We will have a social hour from 6:00 to 7:00 PM, followed by buffet dinner.

Sunday, 28th OCT: Depart for home.

RAFFLE: We will raffle a Kel-Tel P3AT.380 automatic pistol at the Saturday dinner.
This is a highly regarded light weight personal weapon - Tickets are $15 and only 100 tickets will be sold.
Contact Jack Nolan for raffle tickets : phone 727-797-7706 email JNolan7@tampabay.rr.com

JOIN US IN SUNNY FLORIDA
We Guarantee You And Your Family Will Enjoy Yourselves

Sick-Call Update on Terry Watts from Jan Watts :

From: TPWatts82@aol.com Sent: Sunday, August 26, 2007 11:33 AM Subject: TERRY UPDATE - HELLO,

IT'S BEEN AWHILE SINCE I LAST WROTE AS USUAL. THERE WAS A FEW WEEKS THAT TERRY WAS FEELING BAD AND THEN OUT OF THE CLEAR BLUE SKY HE FELT JUST GREAT. COULD IT BE BECAUSE HE IS GOING TO IRELAND IN TWO DAYS???

CAN'T SAY, BUT WHO CARES... HE IS FEELING JUST GREAT!!! HE WAS FEELING SO BAD THAT I HAD TO HELP HIM DO EVERYTHING. THEN LITTLE BY LITTLE HE GOT OVER THIS AND STARTED DOING EVERYTHING INCLUDING DRIVING AGAIN. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH THAT HELPED ME.

AS WE SPEAK HE IS RIDING DOWN BY THE BEACH WHERE HE HAS BEEN GOING TO WALK OUT ON THE BOARDWALK. THIS GIVES HIM THE NICE SEA AIR AND ALSO HELPS HIM TO DO MORE WALKING.

HE IS HOLDING HIS OWN AT 142 POUNDS FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. AS OF TUESDAY HE WILL HAVE BEEN OFF HIS KEMO FOR 3 WEEKS, WHICH ALWAYS HELPS. HIS EATING HAS IMPROVED 100% AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT HE IS DRINKING BOTH WINE AND BEER AGAIN. BEING OFF THE KEMO GIVES HIM BACK HIS TASTE FOR THINGS. SO I AM HOPING THAT HE WILL PUT ON MORE THAN A FEW POUNDS WHILE IN IRELAND.

JUST TO LET EVERYONE KNOW WE WILL BE GONE FRO

	The 82nd AIRBORNE Division Association
	South Florida Chapter Bob Buffington, Secretary / Treasurer 2765 Garden Drive Cooper City FL 33026

	Coming Soon - FLORIDA ALL AIRBORNE DAYS - 2008 15-21 OCT 2008
	Hilton Fort Lauderdale Airport 1870 Griffin Road Dania Beach FL 33004-2214 Phone: 954-926-8515