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 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