Greetings My Fellow Seabees,
February has crept up on us all and we working our way to our Mid-year meeting at the Pentagon Sheraton Hotel in Washington, DC. Since our last Can Do there have been some new names added to our NavySVA support persons; Pavlos Kaltsas, Life Member of our Navy Seabee Veterans of America has filled the position for PNC Bear Holland. Welcome Aboard Pavlos, it is a pleasure to have you on board as our representative to the Veterans Day National Committee (VDNC). The Committee meets 3 times each year to plan for the Veterans Day Memorial activities at the Arlington National Cemetery. Pavlos resides in the immediate DC area and is very familiar with the city of Monuments and will be a great support person for our functions and participation in the Veterans Day activities.
Since our last communication I have attended several Navy Seabee activities one in Sacramento, CA to support Island X-8 in their dedication of a monument at the Dixon National Veterans Cemetery. That would be the 15th Monument dedicated since the project was supported by the NavySVA by PNC Dave Buchanan. Thanks Dave for the great idea and the support that you have from all of our Seabees.
It was a very wet day in Sacramento but the turn out of dedicated members of NMCB 18, DET Sacramento, members of Island X-8, a number of Retired Seabee Veterans from the area made a great showing of support for the Island Commander Dennis Modin who lead the fund raising effort for the Monument. Guest speaker was the Cemetery Director, and District Commander of the America Legion and yours truly, National Commander of the NavySVA.
I have also attended a number of meetings of the Arizona Islands X-3 and X-5,met with Southwest District Commander Ken Ward who is doing a fine job of making connections with the Islands in the District. The Island activities in Arizona have impacted the Communities with a number of supportive functions such a Christmas party for Blind Veterans in the Tucson area and fundraising and support for two WWII Veterans who journeyed to Washington DC with the Honor Flight program organized in the West Valley/Phoenix area. Up coming activities are the Mid-year meeting of the Executive Board to prepare for the 2013 National Convention and Reunion that will be held in the Davisville area August 21-24, 2013. Island X-1 of Davisville, RI is hosting and we encourage all Seabees to attend. Members of MCB 1 are also hosting a reunion of their members and all Seabee are invited to attend.
Seabees Can Do, Jerry Landcastle, National Commander Navy Seabee Veterans ofAmerica
November 12, 2012
Members of the Navy Seabee Veterans, Inc // Seabees and Supporters // Members of the National Island at Large // Navy Seabee Veterans Auxiliary // Islands across this great Country and around the world
Greetings:
This is my opening communications through our outstanding publication “Can Do” (Thank you Andy) it gives me great pleasure to be your National Commander and I will strive to keep you all informed and will respond to your personal communications to me on the same day that I receive it. I have a number of things on my agenda this year that I will offer to the membership and hope to gain support for and complete in a timely manner.
First let me say that I admire and appreciate all the work that Commander Carl Barrett put into the Navy SVA over the past two years. He has completed his term as Commanders and has us in great shape to move forward with our membership projects under the leadership of Danny West. Thank you Carl and we look forward to your coming service to our NavySVA, as the Chairman of our Board of Directors.
Second let me welcome all of the new list of Officers ( see the complete list on the inside cover of Can Do that were recently elected or appointed to their offices at our National Convention and Reunion at Gulfport, MS in early October. Great organizational Committee and activities, for the National Convention and Reunion by Island X-1 Gulfport and their Auxiliary. The Navy Seabee Veterans of America is proud of and thanks to the reorganized NSVAA for all the support and effort by your organization and their growing membership. Keep up the good work. We honor and appreciate your efforts and dedication.
Some of the duties of the National Commander are to be a participant in the memorial Ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery for the wreath laying at the Navy Seabee Memorial and at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. I had the honor of fulfilling both of those duties this past weekend on Veterans day November 11, 2012. It is a great honor to be able to participate in both of those ceremonies.
That brings me to one of the items on my list of “to do” (by the way I do not publish my entire list as I want others to share with me what they want to see accomplished and we will work on all of them together”. We have opportunities for our Seabees to participate in the Ceremonies at the annual Veterans Day Program sponsored by the Veterans Day Committee. We have openings for two persons to carry our National Ensign and the Seabee Flag into the Amphitheater. We need to create a list for those interested in being available to participate in that honor program. Additionally, we have openings for persons that would like to participate in presenting a wreath to be laid at the Tomb of the Unknown on that same Veterans Day If interested please contact me for details.
We are now the proud recipients of a set of Flags, the National Ensign and the Seabee Flag, offered and accepted from Past Commander Bear Holland Island X-1 North Carolina. The Flags will be turned over to our National Master at Arms Patrick Lyons for safe keeping, maintenance and delivery to all functions as required for our national meetings and functions. Thank you to Past Commander for his service and dedication to our NavySVA.
For a number of years Bear Holland has been our representative to the Veterans Day National Committee (VDNC) that meets three times each year in Washington, DC. Bear is stepping down as it consumes a great deal of his time for the three trips to DC, a one day enroute, hours for the meeting and hours home. He has recommended that we search for a Member that lives in the DC area that could make the meeting for one day three times each year. We have a complete list of functions and duties as that person coordinates our activities with the VDNC and NAVFAC for the NavySVA. I am soliciting a volunteer for the task and hope that we can fill the spot early this coming year. Please contact me directly.
Our year has started off with many projects underway and we are making great progress to fulfill our commitment to place a Navy Seabee Monument in each National Cemetery across the country. This project was brought to us by Past Commander David Buchanan and supported by a membership vote. The number of Monuments placed at this time are 14 and we hear monthly of new ones being prepared and made ready for installation. Great project, lets all participate. Contact David for details and design that has been approved by many of the directors of the cemeteries. Arrangements have been made for the monuments to be picked up and delivered to the area where the new Memorials are to be installed.
I want to thank all of our members for their support and their dedication to our NavySVA. I look forward to working with all of you and will provide support for your projects and requirements as I learn of your needs. We can do this together,” Seabees Can Do”.
Looking forward to a busy, productive year, and I am eager for your proactive comments and support.
Jerry Landcastle, National Commander Navy Seabee Veterans of America