Minutes from June 26th meeting.

• The meeting began at 6:30pm with introductions.

• Pledge of Allegiance.

• Treasurer Report – Volunteer for Treasurer position – Linda Cagle – all in favor. $117 in kitty – will open BS checking account – needed letter from BSM approving and now have that.

• Bonnielee – BS shirts – brought samples to try on and she will be taking orders. Each shirt is $20 (cash or check only)

• Blue Star pins - $4 each – taking orders for that also

• Bears - $25 each – Bonnielee has only 12 of them – company that makes them is now out of business. You can also get bears that you can record your own message on. Chrissy Harlan from the VFW will find more info out about them.

• Donations/Care packages – we will hold off on them for the time being – need more donations for postage and heat a factor at this time – Debbie Miller will still collect things and store them at her home if anyone has anything.

• WildOats on Speedway Blvd. Has a donation table set up for us. Will send thank you to Kelley Prust, Marketing Manager.

• PO Box – discussed necessity for it – some agree it’s necessary, others don’t. Debbie Miller will check on some prices and report back at the next meeting.

• Fundraising Chair – Debbie Seifert asked to chair a committee – all in favor – anyone wanting to join the committee, please email Debbie S. at debsrons@hotmail.com.

• Discussed group support and necessity of a phone tree – will update contact list and elaborate at next meeting.

• Some announcements:
• VFW picnic July 4th – FRG’s & BSM invited
• Mt. Lemmon to have picnic & parade – BSM invited to participate

• Allotted time to try on shirts

• Meeting adjourned at 8:35pm

• Minutes taken by Debbie Seifert

Agenda for 6/26 Meeting

Arizona Chapter 1
Meeting 6/26/07
Agenda


Welcome – Pledge of Allegiance
Treasurers Report
New Business: Shirts/pins – Bonnielee
PO Box
Donations update
Fundraiser person
Calling Tree
Cards to families of Fallen Soldiers
Bylaws
Update on Soldiers and share stories
Closing

Our Soldiers

"I recently attended a showing of "Superman 3" here at LSA Anaconda.

We have a large auditorium we use for movies as well as memorial services and other large gatherings.

As is the custom back in the States, we stood and snapped to attention when the National Anthem began before the main feature. All was going as planned until about three-quarters of the way through the National Anthem the music stopped.

Now, what would happen if this occurred with 1,000 18-22 year-olds back in the States?

I imagine there would be hoots, catcalls, laughter, a few rude comments, and everyone would sit down and call for a movie. Of course, that is, if they had stood for the National Anthem in the first place.

Here, the 1,000 soldiers continued to stand at attention, eyes fixed forward. The music started again. The soldiers continued to quietly stand at attention. And again, at the same point, the music stopped [mid-anthem].

What would you expect to happen?

Even here I would imagine laughter as everyone sat down and expected the movie to start.

Here, you could have heard a pin drop. Every soldier stood at attention. Suddenly there was a lone voice, then a dozen, and quickly the room was filled with the voices of a thousand soldiers:

'And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave, o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?'

It was the most inspiring moment I have had here in Iraq.

I wanted you to know what kind of Soldiers are serving you here.

Thanks to: http://www.blackfive.net/main/2007/06/the_difference.html

Arizona's Loss

Arizona's Loss is to honor Arizona's fallen servicemen and women. If you would like to pay tribute, feel free to post in the comment section.

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