FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington DC, March 21, 2012

MOPH National Commander Testifies on Veteran Priorities for 2012

On March 21, 2011, Bill Hutton, National Commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, testified before a joint hearing of the Senate and House Committees on Veteran’s Affairs on the priority veteran issues that the organization believes the Congress needs to address in the 112th Session of Congress.

National Commander Hutton Testifies Before Congress

In his opening remarks, Commander Hutton thanked the respective Committee Chairmen for their continuing efforts on behalf of America’s Veterans and the many accomplishments achieved during the 111th Legislative Session. However, Hutton made clear that much remains to be done to support of our military men and women who have served and continue to serve in harm’s way. MOPH believes, without equivocation, that upon their return home these veterans deserve the best health care available and the timely processing of claims for any benefits earned by their service.” According to Commander Hutton, “MOPH’S priorities for the Second Session of 112th Congress include:

TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (TBI): MOPH notes that the signature wound of conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan is TBI. These injuries change the lives of victims and the lives of their loved ones forever. While none of us can change this horrific episode in their lives, we can insist and ensure that they receive the best possible medical care that is available. MOPH supports S. 957 and H.R. 1855, the “Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitative Services Improvements Act Of 2011.”

POST TRAUMATIC STRESS (PTS): After ten years of war and multiple combat deployments, many military members are suffering the effects of PTS. Suicide and attempted suicide rates continue to be of concern among our military including Guard, Reserves and Veterans in spite of the many efforts by DoD, the VA and others in the medical profession. PTS also affects the member or veteran’s family as well and is one of the significant contributing causes of suicide, homelessness, substance abuse and acts of violence including domestic violence, sexual assaults and unemployment. MOPH especially urges Congress to provide necessary funding to ensure that additional medical and mental health specialists are available at DoD and VA facilities to provide service to veterans suffering from PTS.

VA CLAIMS BACKLOG: MOPH and other VSOS have testified on these issues for many years. The Veterans Committees have held many hearings concerning the delay and accuracy of processing VA benefits claims, and Secretary Shinseki has placed the reduction of the time required to process a claim as one of his top priorities. MOPH urges Congress to ensure that VA has sufficient funding to continue to update information technology systems, and to have qualified professionals process claims in a timely manner. It is also imperative that the VA concentrate on accuracy and gets it right the first time. Finally, the VA and DoD should once and for all perfect their partnership to immediately implement a truly seamless transition system.

ELIMINATION OF THE SURVIVOR BENEFIT PROGRAM (SBP) AND THE DEPENDENT INDEMINITY COMPENSATION (DIC) OFFSET: MOPH acknowledges that this issue has little visibility in Congress at this time of austere budget measures. However, all recognize that the dollar for dollar offset of SBP receipts by the amount of DIC receipts is wrong. The military member paid for SBP; just as we all do for an insurance policy to provide for the surviving spouse. DIC, which is administered by the VA, is paid when a military retiree dies of a service connected injury or a disability. MOPH was disappointed that a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act for 2012, which would have corrected this onerous situation, did not become a part of the final legislation. MOPH will keep the offset issue on the radar screen as it affects many thousands of surviving spouses and at some point we are hopeful that justice will be done.

JOINT PRISONERS OF WAR, MISSING IN ACTION ACCOUNTING COMMAND (JPAC): Although not under the purview of the Veteran Committees, MOPH addresses it to you as members of Congress and American citizens. MOPH has an unwavering commitment to obtain the fullest possible accounting of all Americans still listed as missing in action and unaccounted for. Guaranteeing the return of fallen warriors from the many battlefields is a most sacred of missions; none of our members will rest until this mission has been fulfilled. As veterans we follow the adage that “we leave no soldier behind.” The fulfillment of this sacred mission is important not only to the families who seek closure but to our country. MOPH urges Congress to provide full funding for JPAC for as many years as it takes to complete the mission.

FUNDING FOR THE VA HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION (VHA): MOPH urges the Congress to ensure adequate funding to care for those veterans who are enrolled in the VHA system, especially as the number of returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans requiring medical attention continues to increase. MOPH supports H.R. 3895, the “Protect VA Healthcare Act of 2012.” We agree that the healthcare of America’s veterans should not be subject to the sequestration provisions of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act. This country sends our men and women to war and we must recognize our responsibility to care for them when they return.

CONCURRENT RECEIPT: This is another one of those issues that is obviously wrong and an injustice, but given the current deficit and budget woes, may not be addressed by this congress. Nevertheless MOPH believes that all military retirees, regardless of VA disability rating, should be authorized to receive both their earned military retirement for their many years of dedicated service in uniform and the VA compensation, which is a benefit that they receive for being injured or diagnosed with an illness as a result of their military service.

VETERANS EMPLOYMENT: MOPH is pleased that Congress passed, and the President signed into law, The “Vow to Hire Heroes Act of 2011” to address the extremely high veteran unemployment rate. With the nation’s unemployment rate at 8.5 percent and the rate for veterans at 12 percent, MOPH urges Congress to ensure full implementation of this program.

TRICARE/MEDICARE: Many members of MOPH rely on these two programs for their health care. For retired military members, Tricare is an important benefit that was earned. MOPH urges Congress to take action to prevent the 27 percent cut in payments that will take effect on March 1 of this year, to medical providers who accept Tricare/Medicare patients. It is well known that many doctors are not accepting new patients or are opting out of the program altogether.

SERVICE DISABLED VETERAN OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES (SDVOSBs) AND VETERAN OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES (VOSBs): Through congressional efforts, Public Law (PL) 106-50 was signed into law in 1999 and Part 19, of the Federal Acquisition Regulations, gave Service Disabled Veterans the opportunity to be part of the Federal Government contracting arena as a designated group. As enacted, Public Law 106-50 established a SDVOSB procurement goal of 3 percent for all federal agencies and prime contractors. However, it was discovered that PL 106-50 did not allow for set aside procurements for SDVOSBs and thus, other mandates were created to establish lawful procurement vehicles to assist agencies in achieving the 3 percent goal. However, the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) “Veterans First Program” is not operating in a manner that puts Veterans first and uses other procurement methods to bypass SDVOSBs and VOSBs. The MOPH urges that you insist that the VA adhere to Congressional intent and guarantee that veterans do come first in implementing the Veterans First Program.

The organization now known as the “Military Order of the Purple Heart of the U.S.A. Inc.,” (MOPH) was formed in 1932 for the protection and mutual interest of all combat wounded veterans and active duty men and women who have received the decoration. Chartered by the Congress, the MOPH is unique among veteran service organizations in that all its members were wounded in combat. For this sacrifice, they were awarded the Purple Heart Medal. With grants from the MOPH Service Foundation, the MOPH and its Ladies Auxiliary promote patriotism, fraternalism, and the preservation of America’s military history. Most importantly, through veteran service, they provide comfort and assistance to all veterans and their families, especially those requiring claims assistance with the VA, those who are homeless, and those requiring employment assistance. Through the VAVS program, MOPH volunteers selflessly provide assistance to hospitalized veterans at VA medical facilities and state veterans homes.

For information contact:
MOPH National Legislative Director, Hershel Gober, (202) 550-2491, [email protected]
or
National Public Relations Director, John Bircher, 352-753-5535
Email: [email protected]
www.purpleheart.org

Twelve College of the Ozarks students will embark with six Bataan Death March/Corregidor POW survivors and liberators and three descendants of survivors on an incredible journey to the Philippines April 3-13.

Seventy years ago this March and May, thousands of American and Filipino soldiers were taken as prisoners of war by the Japanese in the Philippines on Bataan and the island of Corregidor. They would become known as the “Ghost Soldiers,” nearly forgotten because of the raging war in the Pacific. These “Ghost Soldiers” endured unthinkable living conditions and inhumane treatment by the Japanese military.

It would take reports of the savage Bataan Death March to reach the U.S. mainland before the outrage spurred the U.S. military to save the “Ghost Soldiers.” Once the Americans heard how American soldiers were made to march 80 miles without food or water, shot upon stopping or resting, and ruthlessly beaten or bayoneted, special forces, following the invasion, were dispatched to liberate the POWs three years after they had been imprisoned.

Now, 70 years later, Philippine survivors Wayne Carringer (27th Bomb Group, U.S. Army Air Corps), Jim Collier (59th Coast Artillery, U.S. Army), Bob Ehrhart (4th Marine Regiment), Warren Jorgenson (4th Marine Regiment) and Bataan/Corregidor liberators Ed Night (43rd Infantry, U.S. Army) and Lawrence Nelson (1st Calvary, U.S. Army) will accompany College of the Ozarks students to significant sites. Among those, the contingent will visit Camp O’Donnell, the prison camp where some were held on Luzon, the Balanga location where Major General Edward King surrendered the “Battling Bastards of Bataan” and Mt. Samat for the Day of Valor 70th Anniversary ceremony.

Since June 2009, College of the Ozarks has been sending its students with WWII veterans to European and Pacific battle sites to learn about history from the men who lived it. The students are devoted to learning each veteran’s story, so that their legacy will live on, their sacrifices will not be forgotten.

During the trips, two or three students pair up with a veteran and document the trip by journaling, keeping up a group blog and recording the veterans stories, as well as significant moments on the trip, by using a flip-cam or digital voice recorder. Students report learning more during one of these two-week trips than they learned in 12 years of pre-college schooling. Moreover, they vow to pass on to their children what they learned.

This trip and others like it are about history and making history. Generational gaps are bridged, emotional wounds of the veterans healed, and what may have been a superficial patriotism transformed into unwavering love of country and our nation’s veterans.
Students are selected from a pool of applicants who submit essays defining their desire to learn from the veterans. The highly competitive process has produced student-veteran pairings who share not only experiences, but more importantly, a bond between two very different generations that is cherished by both.
The Patriotic Education Travel Program is funded completely by College of the Ozarks and generous donors, allowing students and veterans to travel at no personal cost. For more information about participation or support of the Patriotic Education Travel Program, please contact the Character Education Office at (417) 690-2242.

March 19, 2012
Branson, MO

The 4th Annual “Hand in Hand Branson Honors Purple Heart Recipients” will take place April 26 – 28, 2012. This 3 day event is sponsored by Branson.com, Hand in Hand for Veterans and the Branson Community. I would like to say a special thank you to the following businesses and individuals….The “Hamner Barber Theatre” for their continued support of the event by allowing us to use their theatre as the “home” of the Purple Heart Recipients. The “Entertainers” who sing and entertain for those combat wounded, Central Pro – Am Association who create the “fishing contest,” along with Scotties Trout Dock. Branson Landing Shops for opening their doors for a “culinary experience,” Shepherd of the Hills” for sponsoring the “fish fry,” The Titanic for inviting the Purple Heart Recipients to be guests on their ship and Taney County Sheriff Jimmie Russell for coordinating the motorcycle run, Chip & Sandy Milner for coordinating registration, Jim Jewsbury from MODot and to all the volunteers that help throughout the three days. A special “shout out” to the businesses in town who allow our guests to be PROUD they are Veterans.
Our combat wounded comment each year about how wonderful all of the people in the different business are to them and their families. It gives me great pleasure to pass this information on to all of you in our community.
Without the Veteran we cannot be “FREE” and all of you openly share your love and patriotism for these men and women and I wanted to start our year by saying………THANK YOU, Branson.

Marlyce Stockinger, Event Coordinator
“Hand in Hand Branson Honors Purple Heart Recipients”

Tony Orlando Receives Prestigious Seven Seals Award

The Department of Defense issued the Seven Seals Award to Branson resident and legendary entertainer Tony Orlando for the work he does in the United States, as well as overseas, in supporting National Guard and Reserve members.
The Seven Seals Award is the highest award given to civilians, and was created to publically recognize Americans who provide outstanding patriotic support and cooperation to those that have been called to serve in the armed forces.

The Seven Seals Award represents the seven military reserve components: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine and Coast Guard reserves, along with the Army and Air National Guard.

Orlando frequently visits and entertains troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and performs countless shows for military personnel and their families in the United States. For 18 years he has hosted “Tony Orlando’s Yellow Ribbon Salute To the Veterans” in Branson MO on Veteran’s Day: a free show to all veterans who attend the Branson Veterans Homecoming, America’s largest veteran’s day celebration.

New Jersey Air National Guard Chief of Joint Staff, Brigadier General James J. Grant, and Department of Defense State Vice Chair Don Tretola presented Orlando with the award at The Borgata Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Tony Orlando will return to Branson November 1, 2012 to star in “Tony Orlando’s Great American Christmas” at The Welk Resort Theatre.

Student’s Dream To Be An Author Becomes Reality

Veteran John Primerano with Cailin Casey during Pariotic Education Trip to France, Belgium and Germany.

Senior Cailin Casey says that she has always wanted be an author of fiction books. These days, she says all she wants to write about are real heroes. Last spring, Casey and 16 other College of the Ozarks students accompanied six WWII Veterans to battle sites in Europe as part of the College’s Patriotic Education Travel Program, which is designed so that students learn about history and sacrifice from the men and women who lived it. During the trip she became inspired, so much, that upon her return, she wrote a short book about stories the Veterans shared with her.

The book, Twice as Brave, is a collection of the true stories of six WWII Veterans, Andy Anderson (5th Engineers Special Brigade), Bill Kamsler (102nd Infantry Division), Ned Knapp (75th Infantry Division), John Primerano (101st Airborne), Lou Rabesa (Army Air Force), and Bryan Sperry (75th Infantry Division).

EXCERPT (Casey, page 1): “Below John Primerano’s dangling boots were 450 feet of nothing but air. All the guys had told him, ‘You don’t want to get hung up in the trees.’ The distance between his feet and those tall poplars was becoming steadily shorter. Before the jump, he couldn’t pass up the treat of a whole tin of peaches and sat with his buddies beneath the wing of the plane and ate every bite. Those peaches were more appetizing going down than coming back up all over his jumpsuit. Still it seemed he was headed right for those trees. In moments, he was sure his chute would be caught in them and he would be stuck like a feather in a barbed wire fence.”

Individuals interested in obtaining a copy of the book may purchase one for $9.99 at The Keeter Center Gift Shop at College of the Ozarks (417) 690-2110. Casey is donating all of the proceeds to the College’s Patriotic Education Travel Program. On May 12, from 1-3 p.m., the College plans to host a book signing event for Casey at The Keeter Center. Book clubs or other groups may request her to share about Twice as Brave at one of their meetings by calling (417) 690-2276.

Twice as Brave may be small (less than 50 pages), but is the beginning of something much bigger for Casey. One of the Veterans John Primerano, whom she accompanied on the trip, asked Casey if she would write his biography. She accepted his offer and will begin writing his memoir this summer, after she graduates from College of the Ozarks. “I always thought I would write fiction,” Casey said, “but sometimes truth is more fascinating than fiction.”

College of the Ozarks Students Accompany WWII Veterans/Pearl Harbor Survivors to 70th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor

Ten College of the Ozarks students will accompany five WWII veterans (two of which are Pearl Harbor survivors) to the 70th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor next week. The group, which will set out on this historic journey Sunday, will spend four days in Oahu, visiting the Punchbowl National Military Cemetery, touring Ford Island, witnessing the USS Arizona in its watery grave, and attending the Pearl Harbor 70th Anniversary events.

Two of the veterans, Guy Piper and Clarence Pfundheller, are Pearl Harbor survivors, so the anniversary events will have special meaning to them and their student travelers. Veterans Parke Piper, George Beden and Bruce Heilman all fought in the Pacific Theatre and will be able to share their stories about engagements at Okinawa, the Phillipines, Midway and the recovery effort at Hiroshima following the atomic bombing.

After Oahu, the group will travel to the Okinawa to see the sites of perhaps the bloodiest battle of the Pacific. Following Okinawa, they will go to Japan to visit the Peace Museum and Atomic Dome in Hiroshima.

“From this trip, I expect to learn nothing less than how little I knew about true sacrifice and service,” says College of the Ozarks junior Chelsea Kliethermes. “It will be the ultimate opportunity to travel alongside some of our nation’s heroes and learn their stories.”

Since June 2009, College of the Ozarks (a small, Missouri work college) has been sending its students with WWII veterans to European and Pacific battle sites to learn about history from the men who lived it. The students are devoted to learning each veteran’s story, so that their legacy will live on, their sacrifices will not be forgotten.

During the trips, two or three students pair up with a veteran and document the trip by journaling, keeping up a group blog and recording the veterans stories, as well as significant moments on the trip, by using a flip-cam or digital voice recorder. Students report learning more during one of these two-week trips than they learned in 12 years of pre-college schooling. Moreover, they vow to pass on to their children what they learned.

This trip and others like it are about history and making history. Generation gaps are bridged, emotional wounds (of the veterans) healed, and what may have been a superficial patriotism transformed into unwavering love of country and our nation’s veterans.

Veterans Grove Plaza Dedication Rescheduled for 3:30 pm on November 10, 2011

Veterans Grove Plaza Dedication has been rescheduled for 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 10.

The Veterans Grove Plaza is an expansion of Veterans Grove that displays flags representing each branch of the military, as well as the American Flag.

Veterans Grove honors World War II veterans who have participated in Patriotic Travel with C of O students. Each Veteran is honored with the planting of a Sugar Maple, which is aligned with others to create the same unique pattern of the marble crosses at the American cemeteries in Europe. Next to each Sugar Maple is a bronze marker with a Veteran’s name.

Veterans Mr. Andy Anderson, Mr. John Primerano and Mr. Louis Rabesa, who traveled with C of O students to Europe this summer with the Patriotic Education Travel Program, will have trees dedicated in their honor, during the Veterans Grove Plaza Dedication on Thursday.

Welcome to Veterans Homecoming Week
Nov 5 – 11, 2011 “An American tribute to ALL Veterans and First Responders”

Saturday, Nov 5:
Flag Retreat: 5pm at Factory Merchants Branson – free
Veterans Registry, Tactical Operations & Veterans Village: 9am-5pm at Factory Merchants Branson – free
Day Room: 9am-6pm at Factory Merchants Branson – free
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall: 8am-6pm at Welk Resort Branson – free
Tribute to Bob Hope and the USO performance & concert: 2pm at Factory Merchants Branson – free
571st Air Force Band Concert: 2pm at Factory Merchants Branson – free
Veteran Walls of Heroes Display: 9am-6pm, Factory Merchants Branson – free
KISS Statue on Display: 9am-6pm, Factory Merchants Branson – free
2nd Annual Branson West Veterans Parade and Flag Lighting Ceremony: 5:30pm in Branson West – free
Veterans History Project: Stories needed for Library of Congress – call Dick Erickson 417-231-3866
General Tommy Franks Traveling Road Show and Classroom: located at Branson Mall – free
Candlelight Memorial Service: 6pm at Branson Landing sponsored by Submarine Association – free
Sail the USS Branson Belle “Troop Ship”: 8pm at Showboat Branson Belle – 417-338-3911 – $44 per
The B-25J Mitchell Medium Bomber of the Commemorative Air Force will on display and providing rides at the Branson West Airport. Rides will cost. Display – free
Book signing: Dick Hrebik with: Corps Vet and The Warrior Among Us, Veterans Museum. Call 336-2300

Sunday, Nov 6:
Reveille and Retreat: 7am & 5pm at Factory Merchants Branson – free
Veterans Registry, Tactical Operations & Veterans Village: 9am-5pm at Factory Merchants Branson – free
Day Room: 9am-6pm at Factory Merchants Branson – free
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall: 8am-6pm at Welk Resort Branson – free
Veterans Museum serving Hot Dogs: 11:30am – 2:00pm. Donations accepted for Ave of Freedom – free
Veteran Walls of Heroes Display: 9am-6pm, Factory Merchants Branson – free
KISS Statue on Display: 9am-6pm, Factory Merchants Branson – free
Veterans History Project: Stories needed for Library of Congress – call Dick Erickson 417-231-3866
General Tommy Franks Traveling Road Show and Classroom: located at Branson Mall – free
Veterans Sporting Clays Shoot: 9am at Ozark Shooters Sports Complex – $75 per person
The B-25J Mitchell Medium Bomber of the Commemorative Air Force will on display and providing rides at the Branson West Airport. Rides will cost. Display – free
Book signing: Denzil Batson with: Korea We Called It War. Veterans Museum. Call 336-2300

Monday, Nov 7:
Reveille and Retreat: 7am & 5pm at Factory Merchants Branson – free
Veterans Registry, Tactical Operations & Veterans Village: 9am-5pm at Factory Merchants Branson – free
Day Room: 9am-6pm at Factory Merchants Branson – free
Army Special Forces “A” Team from Ft. Campbell KY: 9am-5pm, Factory Merchants Branson – free
Veteran Walls of Heroes Display: 9am-6pm, Factory Merchants Branson – free
KISS Statue on Display: 9am-6pm, Factory Merchants Branson – free
Veterans History Project: Stories needed for Library of Congress – call Dick Erickson 417-231-3866
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall: 8am-6pm at Welk Resort Branson – free
All-American Lunch: 11:30-1:00 at Factory Merchants Branson sponsored by Steve’s Treehouse – free for all veterans and active duty personnel, $4 donation for all others.
Persian Gulf War Veterans Mini-Reunion: 9am-noon at Golden Corral – free
Flag Retiring Ceremony performed by local Boy Scout Troop 2001: 7pm at Veterans Museum – free
The B-25J Mitchell Medium Bomber of the Commemorative Air Force will on display and providing rides at the Branson West Airport. Rides will cost. Display – free

Tuesday, Nov 8:
Reveille and Retreat: 7am & 5pm at Factory Merchants Branson – free
Veterans Registry, Tactical Operations & Veterans Village: 9am-5pm at Factory Merchants Branson – free
Day Room: 9am-6pm at Factory Merchants Branson – free
USAF Band of Mid-American “Shade of Blue” Concert: 2pm at Factory Merchants Branson – free
Army Special Forces “A” Team from Ft. Campbell KY: 9am-4pm, Factory Merchants Branson – free
Veterans History Project: Stories needed for Library of Congress – call Dick Erickson 417-231-3866
Veteran Walls of Heroes Display: 9am-6pm, Factory Merchants Branson – free
KISS Statue on Display: 9am-6pm, Factory Merchants Branson – free
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall: 8am-6pm at Welk Resort Branson – free
Gold Star Mother and Blue Star Mother Brunch: Steve’s Treehouse hosted by Ozark Mountain Blue Star Mothers. Free 417-272-0630
Korean War Mini-Reunion: 2pm-5pm Stone Castle Inn, 3050 Green Mountain Dr. 417-230-2278
POW/MIA Service of Remembrance: Welk Resort Theatre, 8am, 417-336-4232
The B-25J Mitchell Medium Bomber of the Commemorative Air Force will on display and providing rides at the Branson West Airport. Rides will cost. Display – free

Wednesday, Nov 9:
Reveille and Retreat: 7am & 5pm at Factory Merchants Branson – free
Veterans Registry, Tactical Operations & Veterans Village: 9am-5pm at Factory Merchants Branson – free
Day Room: 9am-6pm at Factory Merchants Branson – free
Veterans History Project: Stories needed for Library of Congress – call Dick Erickson 417-231-3866
Veteran Walls of Heroes Display: 9am-6pm, Factory Merchants Branson – free
KISS Statue on Display: 9am-6pm, Factory Merchants Branson – free
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall: 8am-6pm at Welk Resort Branson – free
Rose Petal Ceremony and Women Veterans Appreciation Luncheon: 11am-1pm, Stone Castle Hotel & Conference Center, $20 for lunch and ceremony. 417-339-6823 for reservations
15th Annual Military Gala & Banquet Saluting Strategic Air Command: 5pm, Chateau on the lake. $51 per person 866-481-GALA
4TH Infantry Division Special Hospitality Room: 4pm-10pm, Savannah House. 920-684-0147
Women Veterans Mini-Reunion: 5pm-8pm, Golden Corral. Free for women veterans/spouse $15 for others 417-230-2278 (RSVP)
Army Special Forces “A” Team from Ft. Campbell KY: 8am-11:30am The Keeter Center College of the Ozarks
The B-25J Mitchell Medium Bomber of the Commemorative Air Force will on display and providing rides at the Branson West Airport. Rides will cost. Display – free

Thursday, Nov 10:
Reveille and Retreat: 7am & 5pm at Factory Merchants Branson – free
Veterans Registry, Tactical Operations & Veterans Village: 9am-5pm at Factory Merchants Branson – free
Day Room: 9am-6pm at Factory Merchants Branson – free
Veterans History Project: Stories needed for Library of Congress – call Dick Erickson 417-231-3866
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall: 8am-6pm at Welk Resort Branson – free
Veteran Walls of Heroes Display: 9am-6pm, Factory Merchants Branson – free
KISS Statue on Display: 9am-6pm, Factory Merchants Branson – free
WWII Mini-Reunion: 4pm-6pm, College of the Ozarks Reunion and Taps Ceremony –Free
236th Marine Corps Birthday Ball: 5pm -12midnight, The Hilton-Branson Convention Center 417-334-2360
Wal-Mart Tribute to Veterans: 9am Wal-Mart Super Center Ceremony, entertainment – Free to Veterans
Vietnam Veterans Mini-Reunion: 2pm-5pm Camden Hotel and Conference Center 417-338-4048
The B-25J Mitchell Medium Bomber of the Commemorative Air Force will on display and providing rides at the Branson West Airport. Rides will cost. Display – free
Book signing – Joe Bonsall of the Oak Ridge boys to sign: G.I. Joe & Lillie. Veterans Museum – free

Friday, Nov 11:
78th Annual Veteran’s Day Parade Historic Downtown Branson: 11am, 417-779-3602 or 334-2296
The Tony Orlando Salute to the Veterans: 2pm, Welk Resort Theatre, 1984 St Hwy 165, A Branson tradition and a chance for Tony to say “Thanks to all our veterans. Free seating in limited call for reservations 800-808-9355.
The B-25J Mitchell Medium Bomber of the Commemorative Air Force will on display and providing rides at the Branson West Airport. Rides will cost. Display – free
The Day Room and Vendor Village will be Closed at Factory Merchants Branson
Book signing: Tom Van Hees with: Life Interrupted by War and Disability Compensation guide. Veterans Museum. Call 336-2300

Saturday, Nov 12:

Book Signing and Lecture by Dr. Todd Baker at 9am IMAX Entertainment Complex 3562 Shepherd of the Hills Expressway. Dr Baker is the author of “Baghdad ER” free and open to the public 417-335-3533.
The B-25J Mitchell Medium Bomber of the Commemorative Air Force will on display and providing rides at the Branson West Airport. Rides will cost. Display – free

NEWS FROM HARD WORK U. ® COLLEGE OF THE OZARKS
POINT LOOKOUT, MO 65726
(417)690-2212
FOR MORE INFORMATION
ELIZABETH ANDREWS HUGHES
PUBLIC RELATIONS

Date: October 31, 2011

SUBJECT: COLLEGE OF THE OZARKS TO HONOR VETERANS WITH WREATH LAYING AND FLAG CEREMONY

On Friday, November 11, 2011, College of the Ozarks will honor Veterans with a sunrise wreath-laying ceremony, a canon shot with the raising of the flag, “Reveille,” and the playing of “Taps” at the main flagpole on campus next to the Lyons Memorial Library at 7 a.m.

“The Veterans Day observance ceremony is a tribute to all Veterans and the sacrifices they have made. For many veterans it can be a time of reflection on hardships and friendships,” said Sergeant Phillip W. Roberson.

The Veterans Day Wreath Laying and Flag Ceremony is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the Military Science Department at (417) 690-2294.

Guest Speaker – Dale Dye

236th Marine Corps Birthday Ball

What: 236th Annual Marine Corps Birthday Ball
When: November 10, 2011
Location: Branson Convention Center (Hilton)
Cost: $60 per person
Attire: Semi-formal
Speaker: Dale A. Dye
For reservations or information call: (800) 569-3493

After joining the Marine Corps at 18, Dale Dye served in Vietnam in 1965 and 1967 through 1970 surviving 31 major combat operations. He emerged from Southeast Asia highly decorated including three Purple Hearts for wounds suffered in combat. He spent 13 years as an enlisted Marine, rising to the rank of Master Sergeant before he was chosen to attend Officer Candidate School. Appointed a Warrant Officer in 1976, he later converted his commission and was a Captain when he was sent to Beirut with the Multinational Peacekeeping Force in 1982-83. He served in a variety of assignments around the world and along the way managed to graduate with a B.A. in English from the University of Maryland.

He worked for a year at “Soldier of Fortune” Magazine when he finally decided to retire from the Marine Corps in 1984. He spent time in Central America, reporting and training troops in guerrilla warfare techniques in both El Salvador and Nicaragua before leaving the magazine in 1985 and heading for Hollywood.

Starting with the Academy Award-winning Platoon, Dye has matched his mission with Hollywood’s need to look smart. His specialty is training. By putting actors through a week or more of military-like drills—as he did for Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan and Tom Hanks’s Band of Brothers, and most recently in the new HBO maxi-series The Pacific, –he makes them convincing soldiers and better actors. He has worked on more than fifty movies and television shows. He’s also a well-known actor, and can be seen in TNT’s Falling Skies.

He is also an accomplished author, having written six novels including the best-selling novelization of Platoon. His latest book is the gripping Peleliu File, companion to his earlier Laos File. He and his wife Julia also co-wrote the graphic novel Code Word: Geronimo.

Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, USA (Ret.), best-selling author of ‘On Killing’ and ‘On Combat,’ said “Capt. Dale Dye has done more than any other man alive to influence the way that America (and the rest of the world) views the U.S. military.”

For reservations or information call: (800) 569-3493