Past Commander Bear Holland
As I begin my first of what I hope to be many open letters to you as you’re newly elected NSVA National Commander I realize the depth of the responsibility you all have entrusted to me and the foot steps and deeds of those whom I follow. I am very proud and honored to serve the Seabee community
I have had the privilege to meet, work with, and serve on the staffs of many CEC and Seabee leaders who have motivated me to want to do more than just stand on the sidelines and watch. These individuals like Captain Guy I. Blanton, Vice Admiral Mike Loose, Rear Admiral Greg Shear, and Rear Admiral Richard Cellon. Seabee’s like Jim Massengill who recruited me into the SVA and showed great faith in me, Billy Potter who nominated me for my first National Office, Dick Parker and Donal Egelus (my hero’s) who befriended me early on and tucked me under their “Master Chief” wings. All demonstrating to me what I should try to emulate as a leader. And, Past National Commander Dave Buchanan who challenged me to bust my back side, as he did, for the NSVA and its membership past, present and future. Dave and I shared many functions in the last two years and I have learned a lot from him. These Seabee’s and many more like them have given me the motivation to give it my all and energy to carry on that which they, you and I hold so dear. I love the Seabee’s and the NSVA. I thank you all.
For those of you who, for whatever reason, were unable to attend the “Navy Seabee Veterans of America - 62nd National Convention & Reunion” at Bellingham Washington - you missed a very well planned and executed program. North West District Commander Jerry Landcastle with the help of the convention committee and the membership of the Islands of NSVA Department of Washington accomplished a tremendous task. Making all of us feel welcome and entertained and enabling us to successfully conduct our business. I have been to conventions with a larger number of attendees but never one any better planned or executed. A big “Bravo-Zulu” to all involved.
With that said, I have watched as our membership and the attendance at our conventions dwindle. Each year I see the same core of members traveling, sometimes great distances, to do our organizations business and share our history and camaraderie with each other. To that add varying numbers of members from the convention sponsoring Department or Island and you can see where our convention numbers are generally derived from. We, the CEC/Seabee community (active, former, and retired) are all responsible for carrying forward our precious history [born of peace, combat and natural disaster from 1942 to the present and the passing on of that mantle to those CEC Officers and Seabee’s yet to come. It doesn’t matter whether you are, or were, a “Construction Recruit” or a salty old “Chief”. A “Boot Ensign” or “Vice Admiral.” You are an integral part of the seed planted by Admiral Ben Morrell. That seed sprouted and grew into a vital part of our nations fighting machine. Those first Construction Battalions of WWII that built and fought so hard to show us what was expected of those Seabee’s to follow. Those brave and talented Seabee officers and men passed that spirit and responsibility on to the Seabee’s that followed. In peace time and in every conflict to follow from Korea to Vietnam, to Desert Storm, to Iraq, to Afghanistan and around the world. Our history continues. It’s time to rededicate yourself to doing “your” part to ensure our great efforts and history does not falter but grows stronger. Join and become active in associations from units you served in or associations based on theaters and conflicts you served in. Then close the loop by also joining the NSVA National organization whose membership includes Seabee’s from 1942 to the present. Together we ensure the survival of each others group and CEC/Seabee fraternal strength for years to come. Strength is in numbers.
I dedicate myself to service to the Seabee community therefore each of you and ask you to be a friend and not an associate. An associate will tell you what you want to hear to avoid potential conflict. A friend will tell you when you’re being an idiot because they care. We all need such a friend sometime.
Respectfully yours,
W. R. “Bear” Holland
NSVA National Commander
Commander's Year End Comment
11 August 2008
As with all good things there has to be an end, and with the election in September my tour of duty will sadly come to that end.
I have had the most amazing time representing you and the NSVA over the past two years.
I have attended Island meetings, Department meetings and picnics, State and National Conventions, SMSA meetings to decide how to disperse the monies for the scholarships and I have participated in the formation of a new FALLEN SEABEE SCHOLARSHIP FUND for children of the SEABEES who gave all in the global war on terrorism.
We, Vice Commander "Bear" Holland and I, represented the NSVA at Historical Foundation meetings to decide how to raise money for the New Museum, and we joined in the groundbreaking ceremonies at Port Hueneme, Ca. I was a member of the board that presented a check for 10 million dollars to the Navy to start construction on the Museum.
I have represented the NSVA at functions of other organizations like the American Legion and the All SEABEE East Coast Reunion where we were not recognized but had several NSVA members in attendance to support that function.
I have been to the Change of Command from Admiral Loose to Admiral Shear and the MCB 11 Battalion Re-commissioning , and have seen three Force Master Chiefs of the SEABEES take command over the past two years.
I have had the Honor of officiating at the Veterans Day Ceremonies at the SEABEE Monument at Arlington National Cemetery and participating in the ceremony to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown, a most humbling experience.
I have attended dedications of monuments to SEABEES, and I attended ceremonies by a community in Georgia to present a severely wounded SEABEE with a new home that was barrier free to increase his quality of life.
We have saved some Islands from de-activating but are witnessing many that just can't be saved partly due to age and time in service of the people that were willing to step up and fill the leadership positions, and some just gave up. These positions are thankless jobs if you are looking for anything other than to help further the growth of our Organization, but they are essential to keep things working.
Membership has been an issue for some time now and we have been recruiting members but unfortunately we are losing members at an alarming rate from the WWII era. The younger SEABEES are the lifeblood of our organization as it was when the NSVA was formed in 1948. Recruit the younger SEABEES and ask them to carry on for all of us.
We have brought the Web site up to speed and are constantly tweeking it to meet the everyday demands of the SEABEE community.
As Island Commander, my Island is in the process of raising money to put a SEABEE Monument in as many of the 125 National Cemeteries as possible.
I have enjoyed working alongside the entire NSVA board and I do not have sufficient words to describe the invaluable support I have received from your National Secretary, Mel Ramige in every aspect of this position. Bear Holland, as my second, has gone beyond the duties of his positions description at personal expense just to make the NSVA the great organization it is and has the potential to become.
11April 2008
Hello SEABEES,
This has been an up and down beginning to a new term of office for me.
As you all know by now the complete National Executive Committee including myself were re-elected to serve you for another year. With your support, either by direct hands-on support or loyalty toward the people you have chosen to guide our organization, I think we can make a difference.
I have attended my own Island functions these past months as well as many Department and Island function representing the Navy Seabee Veterans of America.
I attended the All SEABEE Reunion in Gulfport, Ms. Ron Harvey and the members of Island X-1 Gulfport did an outstanding job of hosting this event. I was also present at the re-commissioning of MCB 11. Many of the Veterans of the de-commissioned battalion were on hand to show their support to the new members of MCB 11. There was a luncheon that followed the ceremony and we talked to many of the SEABEES about joining the NSVA.I attended the Dept. of Ill. picnic where I was able to sit down and talk to National Secretary Mel Ramige about the direction we should be heading to make our organization better.
I was invited and attended a chili cook-off hosted by X-5 Harrison, Mi., our only Island in Michigan. Following their annual auction they presented me with a check for $330.00 dollars to be sent to Mississippi for the continuing clean-up efforts as a result of hurricane Katrina. Congratulations X-5 for your compassion and generosity.
I have had signs made up for my vehicle advertising the NSVA and have several people inquire about the SEABEES and ask for information about joining either for themselves or a friend or relative. They are not expensive signs, but are very effective. These signs are a good tool for recruiting and will be passed on to the next Commander of the NSVA.
In November I attended the funeral of PNC John “Jack” Brandt. Jack had fought a battle with cancer for the past several years. Several SEABEES were in attendance to show the respect everyone had for Jack. The NSVA held a Memorial Service at the funeral home and I was privileged to officiate. It was my great honor to be asked by the family to participate as a pall bearer. Five SEABEEs and Jack’s grandson carried Jack to rest. Cathy Brandt, brave soul that she is, even asked us to sing the SEABEE SONG as it was one of Jack’s favorites. On my trip home I stopped by the Tonawanda, NY. SEABEE Memorial and was given a personal tour by Ken and Diane Wendt who are members of the Monument Builders and very active in the NSVA and NSVAA as officers.
The NSVA’s annual hosting of the Veterans Day Ceremony in at the SEABEE Memorial in Washington D. C. was very well attended. Emcee and National Vice Commander Bear Holland did an outstanding job as always. Admiral Shear offered his remarks and 3 wreaths were laid in honor of the Navy Seabee Veterans of America, Viet Nam Veterans, and the Navy CEC. After our ceremony, we moved to the Rotunda and watched the V. President lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown, listened to his remarks to the VETERANS, and watched our SEABEE flag and National Emblem carried into the Rotunda by MCPO Rick Abernathy and MCPO Joe Tack. Rick and Joe did a fine job. Anyone in the NSVA can have the honor of carrying the flags into the Rotunda, all you have to do is volunteer to the Commander or Vice Commander.
December is the month of parties and I was fortunate to attend some. X-3 Pittsburgh, Pa. always invites the members of the Department of Ohio and again this year we attended and I informed the attendee's of the good things happening at the National level , always reminding the members to recruit and bring in new members.
In February I attended the East Coast Seabee Reunion and met up with several NSVA members, passed out applications and made the NSVA presence known.
March found us in Washington D.C. for a dinner gathering with the Historical Foundation members, a breakfast meeting with the SMSA members with a formal meeting afterwards where Joe DeFranco was this years recipient of the 2008 Distinguished Service Award for his 10 years of Service to the SMSA. At 11:00am we recessed and formed at the SEABEE Memorial to present the NSVA's wreath along with the CEC"s wreath with Admiral Shear and Force Master Chief of the Seabees laying the CEC wreath and Joe Martinez and myself doing the honors for the NSVA.
At 1:00 pm the Historical Foundation meeting convened where the announcement was made that the Foundation had presented the NAVY with a 10 million dollar check to start the museum in Port Hueneme, Ca., and that the fund raising campaign would continue to finance the exhibits on the interior of the Museum.
This same evening was the CEC/ SEABEE Ball and it was done in style. The Command Master Chief of the NAVY was made an HONORARY SEABEE by Admiral Shear and Force Master Chief of the SEABEES James Fairbanks. I was honored to be seated at the same table with BU3 Pete Roy Herrick (RET.) of NMCB14 who was wounded and left paralyzed from the neck down while deployed to Iraq. He received the Rear Admiral Lewis B. Combs Award. The Citation read: For outstanding contributions in perpetuating the legacy , accomplishments and traditions of the Civil Engineer Corps and SEABEES.
BU3 Herrick (RET) travels around giving motivational speeches to wounded VETERANS where ever he is able.
We are working on projects to bring members into the NSVA and we need to find ways to keep the members we do recruit. The organization is only as good as the members make it. I will be looking for more input at the Mid-year meeting.
On a personal note, my Island X-4 Toledo, Ohio has undertaken the project of putting SEABEE monuments in National Cemeteries. There are 125 National Cemeteries right now and we would like to put a SEABEE monument in every one of them. If you can help please contact a member of Island X-4 for information.
Thank you for giving me this opportunity
In the CAN DO spirit
David J. Buchanan, Commander
On Saturday, June 8th, 2007 the Department of Ohio held their Memorial Service in Monroe, Michigan during the Department’s Convention.
The service was held in the Heck’s Memorial Veterans Park, owned by Monroe County and maintained by Monroe’s Viet Nam Veterans of America Chapter 142. The Viet Nam Veterans provided the Seabees with a 7 man Color Guard for the Memorial Service and Posted the colors for the opening ceremonies of the Convention.
The playing of the bagpipes was provided by Department Piper and new Ohio State Commander John"Pete" Elliott at the Opening Ceremonies and at the Memorial Service.
National Commander David J. Buchanan, and outgoing State Commander Warren Cintron along with Margaret Robinette, 93 year old widow of SEABEE Harley Robinette of Island X-4 Toledo, placed the wreath during the Memorial Service.
