2018 Monthly Meeting Photos
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Chapter 1071 - December 15, 2018 Membership Meeting
Our annual free Christmas breakfast for our members was a great success. Our guest speaker was member Bob Coleman who gave a moving talk about his experience in the Navy 25 years from 1952 to 1976 and retired as a Lieutenant Commander. Thanks to Cliff Fejfar for calling and bringing in a special guest, Santa Claus. Jim Topkoff talked about our Chapter being awarded the “Wall That Heals”, which is the official 3/4 size replica of the Vietnam Wall in Washington, on June 19th 2019. Our attendance for this meeting had a record total of 77 members and guests. Thank you to all who attended.
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Chapter 1071 - November 17, 2018 Membership Meeting
Our guest speaker for our November meeting was our Board Member Steve Newton who was in the Army from 1965 to 1968 serving as an Army Engineer. Our annual food and clothing drive was a great success and we loaded a truck from the A.C.T.S. Resource Center who will distribute them to their Veterans Assistance Program. Certificates of Appreciation where given to George Frey and Randy Russo who each drove Army 5 ton trucks carrying our chapter members in the 2018 Arvada Harvest Festival Parade. Our attendance for this meeting was a total of 64 members and guests. Thank you to all who attended.
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Chapter 1071 - October 20, 2018 Membership Meeting
Our guest speaker for our October meeting this Saturday was our Board Member Jim Topkoff who was in the Navy from 1962 to 1966 serving as a communications specialist. Willa Chandler talked about the ACTS Resource Center that has a Veterans Assistance Program. ACTS will be picking up our food and clothing drive items at the Novembers members meeting. Member Phil Post donated $1,000 in behalf of our Chapter to the Lakewood Police Dept. to be used for safety equipment. A 103 year old WW II Veteran Harold Nelson who served under General Patton joined our meeting. Our attendance for this meeting was a total of 64 members and guests. Thank you to all who attended.
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Chapter 1071 - September 15, 2018 Membership Meeting
Our guest speaker for our September meeting Cliff Fajfar who was in the Navy and spend most of his time down South in the rivers of the delta in Vietnam. Our attendance for this meeting had a total of 57 members and guests. Thank you to all who attended.
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Chapter 1071 - August 18, 2018 Membership Meeting
Our guest speaker for our August meeting this Saturday was our Board Member Owen Oliver who was an Army Staff Sergeant with the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne). He spent his Vietnam tour running long range reconnaissance and patrol missions in the north and south. Our Chapter made a donation to the Wings Over the Rockies Museum curator Matthew Burchette for the diorama for a Huey helicopter that has been donated to the Museum by Col. Bill McPherson. Our attendance for this meeting was a total of 68 members and guests. Thank you to all who attended.
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Chapter 1071 - July 21, 2018 Membership Meeting
Our guest speaker for our July meeting was our Board Member, Jim Higgins, who was a Navy A-4 Skyhawk pilot during 1968 - 1973. Jim told us about his training and two Vietnam cruises. David Steiner presented Our Chapters 2018 Tony Lopez scholarship of $6,000.00 to Adam Kiehl who will be attending CSU in the Fall. Joining our presentation was Adam’s father and grandfather. Also attending was Tony’s wife JoAnn Lopez along with her daughter Vicki Lopez. Pres. Stan Paprocki presented Steve Newton with a plaque thanking him for his outstanding service, support and dedication to our chapter members and tireless efforts on the behalf of veterans. Sec. Marty Chavez also presented a shirt that reads “I would like to apologize to anyone I have not offended – please be patient I will get to you shortly”. Member Joe Sleevi presented a certificate of appreciation for our chapters help with his Jeffco Platoon 50th year celebration. Our attendance for this meeting was the largest so far with a total of 80 members and guests. Thank you to all who attended.
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Chapter 1071 - June 16, 2018 Membership Meeting
Our guest speaker for the June meeting was our Vice President, Terry Ritenour, who told us about his service in Vietnam as a Marine. Our second speaker was member Sam Bunge. Sam
spoke about the Veterans Vietnam Restoration Project which he participated in for four different years. Jeanne Oliver thanked our members for attending her stepfather’s funeral at Ft Logan and President Stan Paprocki presented her with the burial flag. Jose Gonzales was presented with a plaque for his hard work on getting the City of Brighton to build the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Our attendance for this meeting was a total of 62 members and guests. Thank you to all who attended.
spoke about the Veterans Vietnam Restoration Project which he participated in for four different years. Jeanne Oliver thanked our members for attending her stepfather’s funeral at Ft Logan and President Stan Paprocki presented her with the burial flag. Jose Gonzales was presented with a plaque for his hard work on getting the City of Brighton to build the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Our attendance for this meeting was a total of 62 members and guests. Thank you to all who attended.
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Chapter 1071 - May 19, 2018 Membership Meeting
Our guest speaker for our May meeting was our Sgt. at Arms, Jose Gonzales, who told us about his service in Vietnam as a Combat Engineer. Vice President Terry Ritenour presented Judge Margie Enquist of the Jefferson County Veterans Treatment Court an Honorary Life Membership to the VVA. Board Member David Steiner did the installation of Chapter 1071 Officers: Pres. Stan Paprocki, VP Terry Ritenour, Sec. Marty Chavez Treas, Leonard Smith, and Chaplain John Altfeltis. Our attendance for this meeting was a total of 72 members and guests. Thank you to all who attended.
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Chapter 1071 - April 21, 2018 Membership Meeting
The speaker for our April meeting was Leonard Smith who served with the Army 29th Signal Group in Vietnam, Thailand and other locations. Jim Higgins and Phil Waters talked about the High School visits at Erie, Mead, Columbine, Dakota Ridge, and Green Mountain High Schools. Our Chapter presented member Mary Ann Whitehead a Certificate of Appreciation for the binder and plaque that has all of the Vietnam Colorado MIA and POW veteran's names on dog tags that she created. Member Dan Dietz also received a Certificate that was delivered to his home by Stan Prapocki and Steve Newton. He restored and refinished the antique wooden plaque for Mary Ann to mount the dog tags. This is being used for our High School speaker’s events and other Chapter events. The election of officers was voted on and passed, President Stan Paprocki, Vice President Terry Ritenour, Secretary Marty Chavez, and Treasurer Leonard Smith. Our attendance for this meeting was a total of 65 members and guests. Thank you to all who attended.
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Chapter 1071 - March 17, 2018 Membership Meeting
Our speakers for our March meeting were Ray Holtz and he spoke about his experience as a Combat Engineer Platoon Leader in Vietnam. Here is a link to his Photo Gallery Members
page on our website with 36 photos. http://www.vva1071.org/ray-holtz.html
The other guest speaker was Joanna Walters, a 1994 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. Joanna was one of the first women to serve as a surface warfare officer aboard US Navy warships.
Member Mary Ann Whitehead presented to our chapter a plaque that has all of the Vietnam Colorado MIA and POW veterans names on dog tags that she created. Member Dan Dietz restored and refinished an antique wooden plaque for Mary Ann to mount the dog tags. This will be used for our High School speaker's events and other Chapter events.
Our attendance for this meeting was a total of 67 members and guests. Thank you to all who attended.
page on our website with 36 photos. http://www.vva1071.org/ray-holtz.html
The other guest speaker was Joanna Walters, a 1994 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. Joanna was one of the first women to serve as a surface warfare officer aboard US Navy warships.
Member Mary Ann Whitehead presented to our chapter a plaque that has all of the Vietnam Colorado MIA and POW veterans names on dog tags that she created. Member Dan Dietz restored and refinished an antique wooden plaque for Mary Ann to mount the dog tags. This will be used for our High School speaker's events and other Chapter events.
Our attendance for this meeting was a total of 67 members and guests. Thank you to all who attended.
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Chapter 1071 - February 17, 2018 Membership Meeting
Our guest speaker for our February meeting was our President Stan Paprocki, who served with the 101st Airborne Division. Stan discussed his time in Vietnam. Kemp Elementary School principal Bob Savage thanked our chapter by helping educate their students on the proper way to raise & lower the American Flag at their school in Commerce City. Joseph Ellis spoke about the Jeffco Veterans Court and the Veterans Pod in the jail. Our attendance for this meeting was a total of 79 which is the largest turnout of members and guests. Thank you to all who attended.
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Chapter 1071 - January 20, 2018 Membership Meeting
Our guest speaker for our January meeting was member David Steiner, who talked about his missions from 1967 to 1974. David is a retired LT.Col. USAF and was a Master Navigator on C-141 and other aircraft. He flew 740 combat hours and received multiple awards. We also presented our annual donation to the Lakewood Elks Lodge 1777 for allowing us use of their Lodge for our meetings. Our attendance for this meeting was a total of 64 members and guests. Thank you to all who attended.