The East Alabama chapter of USACCRA met on July 30 at Olive Garden in Oxford. We welcomed into our fellowship Chaplain (MAJ) Marshall S. Chavez, a National Guard Chaplain on active duty assigned to Fort McClellan. As his presence lowered the average age of our group significantly, we enjoyed the personal contact with one who is following a path many of us have trod in the past.

Pictured below are: Seated (LtoR): Hugh Kelso, Dorothy Kelso, Sandra Morton, Mickey Morton; Standing (LtoR): Tom Smith, Carolyn Smith, Marshall Chavez, Jim Wilson, Jim Holliday, Brenda Perry, and Gary Perry.

“The Arizona Chapter has held two lunches this winter, in Tucson on February 6^th at The Parish Restaurant, and at Ft. Huachuca on March 8^th at the Thunder Mountain Activity Center.  The next event will be at Mimi’s Café in Scottsdale, on March 28^th.  We will plan one more luncheon this winter in Tucson, during early April.   If you have moved to Arizona, or are “snow-birding” there, please contact Donna Weddle at dcweddle@cos.net to get yourself added to the roster for information on future events.”

First Picture at Ft. Huachuca:  Donna Weddle, Tom and Susan Day, Fred Robinson, Terry Cotton, and Pat Dickson

Second Picture in Tucson:  Bob Bendick, Donna Weddle, Roy Ludlow,  Ken Kohlenbrander, Tom Day, Paul Weddle, and Steve Utter

Friday, 25 January 2019 was the “kick-off” meeting of the Washington DC-area Chaplain Corps network of chaplains, chaplain assistants (RAS), DREs, DA Civilians and spouses.  Central to our start was gathering in prayer, led by David Hicks.  Our agenda was to enjoy the friendship and connections together.  There is a definite “afterglow” from the November 2018 USACCRA 9th Biennial Chaplain Corps Family Reunion.  Many words of thanks were expressed for the National leadership and the satisfaction of teamwork to celebrate chaplain ministries and communities.

Pictured are:  (seated) Connie and Wayne Ice with Wayne, Jr., Carolyn and BenChuck Manning, Bill Jokela and Randell Bowen, (standing) Paula and Eric Wester, David and Janice HIcks, Gary Dahl, Ben and Betty Nass, Renee Kilsh, Wayne Lehrer, Phyllis and Jack Marcom and Susan Dahl.  We got regrets from Jeff and Monika Young, Otto Reinbacher, Bruce Burslie, Jane Heaton, Bob Chance, Dennis Madtes and Doug Lee (with late-breaking cancellations). Of course, Donna Weddle is on her “western decampment” based in the Phoenix area for the winter and fostering gatherings there.  Our Washington DC gathering was a time of celebration and gratitude.

Looking ahead, the group determined to set the next meeting for Tuesday, 30 April at the Patton Club, Fort Myer, Virginia, gathering at 11:45 am for a 11:55 am kick-off.  Also, looking toward the future, by acclamation the group determined that Chaplain Wayne Lehrer would join SGM Susan Dahl and Chaplain Donna Weddle as the DC-area planning team.  This was prompted by Chaplain Eric and Paula Wester who bade farewell as Eric retires from active ministry as an ecclesiastical endorser.  In February, they move to Jacksonville, Florida.

Next meeting:  Tuesday, 30 April, 1145 am at the Patton Club.  Hope to see you there!

Greetings to all of you,

The gathering of the Chaplaincy people was this past Tuesday (30 April) at the

Fife and Drum Dining Room at Ft Myer (1145).  Ten of us were able to be together

this time (see photo).

Among the items discussed were:

> which day of the week is best for our gatherings.   We decided to move them

to Thursday for the near future.

>  How often should we gather?  Quarterly, as we do now, or more often?  We

decided that should be at the next gathering.

>  What, besides gathering for lunch, are we prepared to do at our gatherings?

Example:  Go to Gettysburg and ask Ch Hicks to share their city.

The MDW Chaplains were also meeting at this same time, and we secured information

on the Chaplain Anniversary celebration so that our members can include it in our

reserved dates.  2019 anniversary on 26 July, beginning about 0930 at Ft Myer’s

Memorial Chapel.  Plans include a memorial service at Arlington National Cemetery’s

Chaplain Hill, followed by a cake cutting, and lunch at the Chapel.   Please put our

corp anniversary on your calendars.

Our next gathering will be Thursday, June 20, 1145, at Ft Myer.

Wayne Lehrer, “convener!”

Picture 1

Picture 2

Dear Colleagues and Friends in the Chaplain Corps,

See the photos for a glimpse at our participants for the April Luncheon and Planning Meeting.  We convened at the Patton Club (formerly the Officers’ Club) at Fort Myer, Virginia for a marvelous buffet.  This was a “working lunch” for our group to take up on-going plans for the 9th Biennial Chaplain Corps Family Reunion.  Dates for the Reunion are 7 – 10 November 2018.  We will be gathering under the theme, “Always In Service.”

The DC local planning effort convened for the prayer (offered by David Hicks), a delightful meal and shared updates.  Attending were (picture 1, left to right): Donna Weddle, Jane Heaton, Wayne, Jr., Connie and Wayne Ice, David and Janice Hicks; (picture 2) Gary Dahl, Gerald Holliday, Randall Bowen, David Bowerman, Bill Jokela, Eric Wester, Jack Marcom, Susan Dahl, Phyllis Marcom, Renee Klish and Wayne Lehrer.

Regrets were offered by Kristi Pappas, Sherry and Jerry Reynolds, Jeffrey and Monika Young, Mary Pullen, Timothy Mallard, Ben and Betty Nass, Ivan Ives, Jim and Justine Roberts, Steve Moon, Benchuck Manning, Dennis Madtes and Doug Lee.

Our next meeting will be on Friday, 15 June at 1145.  Our location is a “sneak preview” of the site for the reunion:  Sheraton Pentagon City, 900 S Orme St, Arlington, VA 22204

Stay tuned for further details about our next meeting, on-going calls for volunteers and plan to register for the November Reunion!

(Tucson): Sandy & Bob Flaherty, Steve Utter, Terry Cotton, Ken and Ann Kolenbrander, Rose and Dave Lundell, Donna Weddle, Tom Day	(Scottsdale)- Dan Butler, John Schumacher, Ken Bucey, Sue Delossa, Sandy Flaherty, Bob Flaherty, Al Delossa, Donna Weddle, Martha Schumacher
(Tucson): Bob Flaherty, Donna Weddle, Eugene Friesen, Ken Kohlenbrander, Ann Kolenbrander, Terry Cotton, Sandy Flaherty	(Sierra Vista)-Skip LaMertha, Donna Weddle, Tom Day, Ken and Ann Kolenbrander, Dawn LaMertha, Pat Dickson

The Arizona Chapter has held four lunches this winter, two in Tucson, one in Scottsdale, and one in Sierra Vista.  Thanks so much for all who attended and helped set these lunches up.  We’ve had several new participants this year and are happy that so many are able to get together with old and new Chaplaincy Friends.

If you’d like to join us,  or have started a new group of your own anywhere in the country, please send pictures and information to Donna Weddle dcweddle@cox.net.  I’d be glad to help in any way I can.

Donna Weddle

3^rd Vice President for Local Chapters

At the Fall Luncheon meeting of the DC-area USACCRA on Thursday, October 12^th, we started with local plans to support the 2018 USACCRA National gathering.  The biennial national gathering includes the volunteer effort with contracted support from Armed Forces Reunions.

Dates – Wednesday (1700) through Saturday (1200), 7 – 10 Nov 18

Where – Sheraton Pentagon City Hotel

“The Arizona Chapter has had two great lunch meetings this winter and is looking forward to a third on April 7^th, at Ft. Huachuca.  The first lunch was held at the Thunder Canyon Brewery, in downtown Tucson, on February 9th.  Attendees included Donna Weddle, Steve Utter, Roy Ludlow, Eugene Friesen, John Stieve and daughter Sarah, Dave Lundell, Ken and Ann Kolenbrander, Tom Day, and Bob Bendick.  The picture is again hampered by all of our bright Arizona sunshine. 

The second lunch, organized for the Phoenix/Scottsdale/Glendale crowd, was held at Mimi’s Café in Scottsdale on March 1^st, with the Al and Sue DeLossa, Marion and Carol Pember with daughter Kim, John and Martha  Schumacher, Bob and Sandy  Flaherty, and Ken Bucy present.  Thanks so much to Al DeLossa for organizing this lunch. 

Our next lunch will be on April 7^th at Ft. Huachuca.  Thanks so much to Fred Robinson, Ken Kolenbrander, and Tom Day for leading this event.  Please contact Donna Weddle at dcweddle@cox.net for more information.”

Please edit as needed, Dan.

God’s peace,

Donna

We didn’t take a picture this time, but here is the summary of our last meeting.

The East Alabama Chapter of USACCRA met Tuesday, March 28, at the Golden Corral in Oxford, Alabama.

The guest speaker was LTC David Wood, Professor of Military Science at Jacksonville State University. Those attending were apprised of numerous changes in ROTC recruiting and training, as well as new issues relevant to all commanders, given new personnel policies currently in place.  

Attending were George Gray with his sons David Gray and Larry Gray, Jim Holiday, Jim Wilson, Mickey and Sandra Morton, Troy and Dianne Douthit, Hugh and Dorothy Kelso, and Tom and Carolyn Smith.

The next meeting will be on June 27 at 11:30 again at the Golden Corral in Oxford. Any and all chaplaincy family members are invited.

Thank you for including this article in the next newsletter.

Tom

Thank you, Eric Wester, for providing the photo and the following write-up:

On Tuesday, 16 May, we gathered as currently serving and retired chaplains, chaplain assistants, and DREs.  We met at the Fort Belvoir Officers’ Club overlooking the scenic Potomac River.  This time there were no reported sightings of bald eagles, but routinely visitors to the area spot them either flying or perched in all their glory.

We welcome all attending:  Eric Wester, Gary and Susan Dahl, Donna Weddle, Dave and Janice Hicks, Demetrius Walton, Carleton Birch, Timothy Mallard, Wayne and Connie Ice with son, Wayne, Jane Heaton, Sherry and Jerry Reynolds, Bill Jokela and Randall Bowen.

Due to travel or moves, we extended greetings and prayers for some not with us who sent word:  Wayne Lehrer, Ben and Betty Nass, Rick Cantrell, Jeff and Monika Young (in Germany), Ivan Ives (in Oregon), Dennis Madtes (attending his youngest son’s college graduation in SC) Paula Wester (working at Walter Reed) and Ron Crews (relocated to Gainesville, GA).

Chaplain Timothy Mallard, the garrison chaplain, welcomed our group and offered our invocation and prayer of gratitude for the meal.  We enjoyed a bountiful buffet and got some updates.  First, Donna Weddle, shared her grateful words for the enormous support and turn-out for the committal service to bury beloved Army Chief of Chaplains (MG) G.T. Gunhus on Friday, 28 April at Arlington National Cemetery.   Also, Donna is a member of the National USACCRA Board, so she provided information about the hotel search for the planned Fall 2018 national USACCRA gathering.  The 2018 USACCRA meeting is planned for the national capital region.  Details about the gathering and our preparation and support will follow.
Chaplain Mallard updated the group on ministry activities at Fort Belvoir and emphasized the robust and diverse military mission and vibrant chaplaincy activities, including 10 different regular worship services, religious education, and other ministries.

Finally, we noted the upcoming 242^nd anniversary of the Chaplain Corps and planned observances.  Additional information received on the day of the meeting announced a morning memorial service at Fort Myer, Arlington, VA, along with ceremonies at Chaplains Hill and the Tomb of the Unknowns.  All of these activities will be Friday, 28 July 2017.  Practicing and retired chaplaincy personnel will be welcomed at this event planned by the Military District of Washington.

Next Event:  Fort Myer, Friday, 28 July 2017 to commemorate the 242^nd Anniversary of the Chaplain Corps!  Watch for further details.