VHP VOICE
Connecting Students with Veterans
TM
to Honor Veterans, Preserve America's Heritage and Develop Future Leaders
December 19, 2018: Volume 8, Issue 2
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Vietnam Veterans of America Achievement Medal Awarded to Barbara Hatch
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Gene Crego, President, American Council of the Vietnam Veterans of America, presented VHP Founder Barbara Hatch with a lifetime membership and the
Vietnam Veterans of America Achievement Medal
. Thank you,
Vietnam Veterans of America,
for honoring
Barbara's passion for
Connecting Students with Veterans
!
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Christopher Raso Awarded
Arizona History Teacher of the Year
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During Canyon Ridge School's Veterans Day Commemoration Assembly, Christopher Raso, a VHP Teacher Advisor, was awarded the Gilder Lehrman Arizona History Teacher of the Year, presented by Diane Douglas, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Arizona Department of Education. Congratulations, Chris!
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Inaugural "Storyteller Award" Announced
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On March 9, 2019 Veterans Heritage Project will proudly recognize
The Honorable Rick Romley with our first “Storyteller Award.”
Rick’s service story was captured by Patrick Ward in the 2009 edition of
Since You Asked
. Rick shared lessons of inner strength and a heavy belief in “Service before Self,” which he continues to demonstrate through a commitment to fellow veterans and to creating awareness for VHP’s mission.
Help honor Rick and join us
as we celebrate the connection between veterans and students at the "
Saluting Stories of Service" Celebration
, our inaugural fundraising dinner.
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VHP Alumni
Holiday Gathering
Dec. 26, 2018
4:30 - 6:30 pm
10210 N. 32nd Street, Suite C-2
Phoenix AZ 85028
Come enjoy holiday treats, fun games, and catch up with friends and teachers. Consider bringing an ornament that represents you to help decorate our tree.
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Austin Anton
participated in VHP from 2009 to 2011 before attending the University of Texas. Upon graduating in 2015, he spent two years working for a public policy think tank in Phoenix, and served as a Director on the VHP Board. He recently moved to Washington, D.C., where he works in public affairs for a banking trade group that advocates on bank regulatory issues.
Nia Deeyor
participated in the CSHS chapter of VHP, interviewing five veterans during his three years in the program (2007-2010). Who will ever forget his special bond with Helen Coyte, World War II WAVES?! After graduating from Duke in 2014, he did graduate work at the University of Pennsylvania and earned a Master's degree in the Science of Health Care Delivery from ASU. He is partnering with a medical center to develop a surgical checklist APP to reduce complications due to surgical errors.
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Shout Out to our Chapter Schools!
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Congratulations and thank you to all our teachers and students for their dedication! Our chapter schools have been working hard since August to capture and write the stories of veterans in their communities. In order to publish these stories in our next volume of
Since You Asked, students had to finalize their veterans' stories by December 15. Thank you! Enjoy your winter break!
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VHP Student Represents at Sons of American Revolution Meeting
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Notre Dame Preparatory High School VHP Chapter Vice President
Lauren Kobley
had the opportunity to share about VHP and what the program means to her at a Sons of the American Revolution meeting. She even presented a copy of
Since You Asked
to the State and National Presidents of SAR! Thank you, Lauren, for being such an amazing youth ambassador for VHP!
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Chapter Advisor Hosts Unique Editing Day with Veterans
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On November 29, advisor Scott Sloat and his
Chino Valley High School Chapter
hosted the veterans they interviewed for this year's book at the school for a
Veteran Proof Rough Draft Day. Each veteran and student pair sat at a computer and looked through the latest draft of the veteran's story to make any changes the veteran wanted and to get the veteran's approval on the story before going to print. Such a great way to continue fostering the connection between our students and veterans! Way to go, Scott!
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Two VHP Chapter Schools Implement Military History Course
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Program Director Barbara Hatch and Program Coordinator Brittany Henritze visited
Show Low High School and
Cactus Shadows High School to sit in on their Military History Course, implemented this year. The course was initially created by our former Chapter Advisor at University High School, Don Dickinson, and is supplemental to the VHP program on campus, helping to bring VHP to more students beyond the after-school club environment. We are grateful to Becky Adams, Bret Lineburg, and Don Dickinson for blazing this trail!
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Chapter Sends Christmas Cards to Troops and Veterans
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Desert Sands Middle School
in Phoenix
and the
Kofa High School
Chapter in Yuma, Arizona, spent a Saturday making Christmas cards to send to the
American Legion to be included in Christmas boxes for military families in Yuma, to the airport for the Military hospitality rooms, to the VA hospital in Phoenix, and to a former student of advisor Tammy Foley, who is a medic currently deployed in Iraq.
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VHP CSHS students Drew Seiser and Oscar DeSimone placed a wreath during the 77th anniversary of
Pearl Harbor Day at Wesley Bolin Plaza in Phoenix. Remington
Bottoroff
was thrilled to meet Army veteran Maurice Storck, who was at Schofield Barracks on Dec. 7, 1941, when the Japanese attacked. Above right, the group honors Korean War veterans, reminding us that Freedom Is Not Free!
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March 31, 2018
Since You Asked
XV, Phoenix I Edition
Community Reception & Book Signing
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With this year's book and event themed "A Salute to the Korean War," we look forward to celebrating the many Korean War veterans interviewed this year, along with those interviewed from all other conflicts. We hope to see you there!
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- February 2 - Phoenix Suns vs. Atlanta Hawks, 7 pm
- March 9 - Saluting Stories of Service Celebration, 6 pm at Scottsdale Hilton
- March 31 - Community Reception and Book Signing, 3 pm at DoubleTree Resort
- April 27 - Niceville, Florida Community Reception & Book Signing, at Northwest Florida State College Community Life Center
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OUR MISSION NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT
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As a friend of VHP, you know that the ability for veterans to share their military experience, how it has affected them, and what they have learned over their lives can be healing.
When you support VHP, you are also helping students reach their potential. The academic rigor of the program improves their writing, communication, and time management skills and builds their confidence, preparing them for college and career. As students seek to emulate the character traits of their veterans--integrity, reliability, leadership and teamwork--you have prepared them for life.
With your gift, you can connect generations, bridge a gap between civilian and military populations, improve school culture, build character and civic pride in students, and honor our veterans' service.
Please consider a
year-end tax-deductible contribution
to help VHP reach additional students and veterans. We have 38 schools on our interest list and 640 veterans on our waiting list. There are ½ million veterans in Arizona alone. Each veteran deserves to tell his or her story. Thank you for
Connecting Students with Veterans in order to Honor Veterans, Preserve America's Heritage and Develop Future Leaders.
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When you shop with one of the community partners below, they will donate a percentage of your purchase back to VHP!
Click icons below to learn more.
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Sponsor a Student Scholarship
Consider leaving a legacy or recognizing a special individual through a student scholarship
. Scholarships can be named in memory of, or in honor of, a veteran, a student, or even a civic group. We would love to discuss your ideas and interests in supporting any of the annual
$3,000, $2,000, and $1,500 scholarships
, all presented to assist graduating VHP students in their undergraduate studies.
To learn more, contact
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VHP Chapters Selling Suns Tickets
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Phoenix Suns vs. Atlanta Hawks
7:00 pm Saturday, February 2
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Does your holiday gift list include a Phoenix Suns fan? Looking for a fun family outing?
If you purchase tickets from a participating VHP Chapter for the February 2, 2019 game against the Atlanta Hawks, your holiday giving will also honor veterans and support civics education.
Choose one of the links below to get your game tickets
before the January 2 deadline
. Thank you!
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A big thank you to
Paula Burr, advisor of VHP Publishing Chapter Shadow Mountain High School, for hosting our annual Publishing Training for all chapter schools working to publish an edition of this year's
Since You Asked! Anthony Bueno of Lumenbrite provided additional Adobe training.
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Volunteer
Chapter Advocate Sven Olson drove up from Tucson for our annual Publishing Training to refresh himself on how to use Adobe InDesign and Photoshop so he could assist our Tucson schools with book layout. Sven goes above and beyond to help our chapter schools, and we are so grateful to have him on the team!
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Vietnam Marine Veteran Mike Burns has been volunteering for VHP for the past five years in various capacities - interviewed in 2014, speaking for our Veteran Presentations, playing a leadership role on our Editorial Committee, and acting as an Advisor to the Board. Now that he and his wife Emma are permanent Arizona residents, we are
pleased to have him join the Board of Directors as Vice President! President Craig Houk and the rest of our Board appreciate the extensive business and non-profit experience he brings to the team.
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At the
ACSS Conference
in October
,
VHP CSHS Student
Lauren Anderson
and Founder Barbara Hatch were thrilled to meet
Karen Korematsu
, daughter of interned Japanese American Fred Korematsu, before they presented a session entitled "Teaching the Standards Through Oral History" to teachers in attendance. Arizona Council for the Social Studies provides excellent training for its teachers. We are glad to offer VHP as an option to enhance student skills!
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Thank you to the
Kickstart Mentorship Academy for inviting our veterans to speak as part of your November program. VHP Board Member
Roger Sandeen, past Board Member
Phil Yin, and AZDVS Veteran Counselor
Ron Paul were pleased to share their service stories.
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Thank you to VHP Board Member
Brig. Gen (Ret.) Pete Palmer for
including VHP in their Veterans Day celebration at the Scottsdale Waterfront Residences.
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Veterans Heritage Project was thrilled to have Board Member
Anita Daghestani
, a proud Wells Fargo Team Member, represent VHP
on the 5th Tee Box at Mountain Shadows for the
Wells Fargo
Fiesta Bowl
Charities Par 3 Golf Challenge
! Jude LaCava represented VHP in the closest-to-the-pin challenge.
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VETERANS DAY CELEBRATIONS
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Boulder Creek High School/North Valley Regional Library chapter proudly marched in the
Daisy Mountain Veterans Day Parade.
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Ironwood Ridge High School
honored 13 veterans interviewed this year and the 8 faculty who are veterans at their annual
Veterans Day Assembly.
The school's culinary program served a special lunch to the veteran guests afterward!
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Todd Swigart, advisor of the Shea Middle School chapter, hosted his largest
Pillars of Freedom event yet. Attendees learned about VHP and then toured a display of veteran essays posted on the outside pillars in the campus courtyard.
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First-year chapter
Canyon Ridge School, led by advisor Christopher Raso, hosted
two wonderful Veterans Day events - a beautiful assembly incorporating community groups, VHP students, and the entire school, and a drive to collect goods for elderly veterans.
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Niceville, Florida's VHP chapter led by Gretchen Erickson hosted a
pancake breakfast Veterans Day weekend to celebrate veterans and raise money for their VHP chapter. It was a huge success for their first year!
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Boulder Creek High School/North Valley Regional Library chapter President Emma Suttell was the student speaker, and Vietnam Veteran Jim Zwit, interviewed by the chapter, was the Keynote speaker at the annual
Anthem Veterans Memorial Veterans Day Ceremony.
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VHP and the Town of Carefree celebrated the 10th anniversary of co-hosting the
Carefree Veterans Day Celebration with the help of Cactus Shadows High School and Sonoran Trails Middle School. Speaker Arden Rowley captivated the crowd with his story of being a POW in Korea. Speaker Suzanna Ausborn worked security for the Air Force and shared that she lost her husband to an attack while he was teaching Afghan pilots.
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Eight chapter schools came out to celebrate veterans by marching in the
Phoenix Veterans Day Parade.Thanks to Sanderson Lincoln for lending six parade vehicles for us to honor nine of our veterans at this special event! Vietnam Veteran Allen Todacheenie and his family drove three hours to ride in our Vietnam car! We also thank WWII veterans Dub Button and Ray Maldoon, Korean War veteran Lew Bradley, Cold War veterans Chris Heydrick and Vanessa White, and War on Terror veteran Lee Lange for honoring all veterans by riding with VHP!
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University High School hosted its annual
Veterans Day Assembly with new chapter advisor Jacob Ollanik and the VHP students leading the efforts. The event included a keynote presentation, music from the school choir, and each VHP veteran stood as students read their bio, including a 96 year old Pearl Harbor survivor.
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IN MEMORY OF
Ruth Barnett, Priscilla Ong, Mike Rizzo,
Zeke Prust, Frank Walley, Dean Schwanz,
Gilbert Romero, and Frank Martinez
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Veterans Heritage Project honors the beloved veterans we have lost and their spouses. Your stories live on in our memories, our books, and our hearts.
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VHP honors World War II veteran
George Herbert Walker Bush
for his Naval service in the Battle of the Philippine Sea with Torpedo Squadron 51. He scored several hits on Japanese installations on Chichi-jima on 2 September 1944 before forced to bail after his plane was hit by flak. He was rescued by the U.S. submarine
Finback.
He flew 58 combat missions and received the Distinguished Flying Cross and three Air Medals. This experience led him to wonder
w
hy he had been spared and commented, "What did God have for me?" He went on to become our 41st President. VHP honors him for a lifetime of service to our nation.
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Thank you,
SRP, for supporting our "
Saluting Stories of Service" Celebration with a
$15,000 Honor Sponsorship!
Fifteen years ago SRP provided the funding to support the publication of veteran stories in the students' very first edition of
Since You Asked. Their support continues to help VHP serve more students and veterans!
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We are excited to announce
Thunderbird Charities awarded VHP a
$10,000 grant to support critical program elements such as supplies, training, and veteran and volunteer appreciation.
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Plexus Worldwide generously
donated $5,000 to VHP in honor of Veterans Day and invited our veteran speakers, Ltc. (Ret.) David Clukey and Captain (Ret.) George Burk to share their service stories with their employees. Thank you, Plexus, for your support and patriotism!
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For the past three years the
Westbrook Village Veterans' Support Club has included VHP in its annual Veteran Appreciation Dinner. In addition to honoring veterans, the dinner raises funds and recognizes two non-profits, presenting each with a
$5,000 donation at the dinner. VHP was thrilled to be recognized alongside the Arizona Patriot Guard Riders. Thank you, Westbrook Village Veterans' Support Club and also
Lori Reiland PLLC, GMH Investment Advisory and Carol Buonincontro of
AZ American Real Estate for your support through the dinner sponsorships!
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Since 201
3,
The William L. and Ruth T. Pendleton Memorial Fund
has been a supporter of VHP as our interests in civics education, youth development, and programs in support of the elderly and families are strongly aligned. Thank you for once again supporting our mission with a $
3,200 grant.
Thank you to the
Wells Fargo Foundation for providing a
$2,500 grant to support our oral history program, recognizing that VHP improves our
community’s quality of life through civic projects.
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Board of Directors
Colonel Donald "Craig" Houk, CPP
Mike Burns
Brigadier General J. Derek Hill
Mary Ellen Reilly, Esq.
Joseph Brophy, Esq.
Anita Daghestani
Brigadier General Peter Palmer
Arch Rambeau
Roger Sandeen
Shelly Yeck, MBA
Staff
Michelle DiMuro, CFRE
Barbara Hatch
Brittany Henritze
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Board President, US Army, Retired
Board Vice President, Attorney & Retired Executive, Veteran
Board Treasurer, USAF, Retired
Board Secretary, Wilkes & McHugh, P.A., Veteran
Partner at Jennings, Haug & Cunningham, LLP, Veteran
Learning & Development Manager, Wells Fargo
US Army, Retired, Consultant, General Dynamics
Retired Sr. VP & Officer, General Dynamics
Principal, RSVP & Associates, Veteran
Manager, General Dynamics, Alumni Parent
Executive Director
Founder and Program Director (Volunteer)
Program Coordinator, VHP Alumna
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Veterans Heritage Project | 602-218-4036 | www.veteransheritage.org
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