The Veterans Assembly Hall: Recent Episodes
veteransassemblyhall
Merrimack Valley based broadcast featuring Veterans events, businesses, and news from the local area.
Amazing discussion with Jason Main, President and Co-Founder of Friends Never Forget (501c3) about their non-profit and the Program Operation Camp.
As we wrap up, we talk about some upcoming Annual Events
7th Annual Memorial Day BBQ
Sunday, May 25, 204 12:00p-4:00p
Middlesex 4H Fair Grounds
https://www.operationcamp.org/about-operation-camp
We read the Massachusetts VFW Newsletter and highlight some of the significant nuggets worth taking away.
As we peruse the VFW Newsletter we go article by article through the State Position reports:
- 00:01:55 MA VFW State Commander
- Claims Shark Bill - legislative goal
- New recognition Programs
- JrROTC of the Year
- Member of the Year
- Employee of the Year
- "Be active in your community"
- 00:05:25 MA Sr Vice Commander
- Legislative Conference In DC - Visiting State Representative and Legislative Body
- 00:06:25 What is the VFW? Our Nation's Largest & Oldest War Veterans Organization, Congressionally Chartered
- 00:08:15 MA Jr Vice Commander
- Violations of Membership ByLaws - VFW "Associate" Memberships are not permitted by Charters & ByLaws
- Recommended Solutions:
- VFW Auxiliary
- VFW Riders Group
- Community Support directly to the post
- 00:13:05 MA QuarterMaster
- VFW Volunteers serving meals at Homeless shelters
- Updates and Reports are due
- Trustee Audits every quarter
- 00:15:00 MA State Judge Advocate
- Parliamentary Procedures
- Unnecessary Committee Reports & Shortening your meeting
- Make and Handle Motions
- How to close a debate
- 00:21:04 MA State Surgeon
- "Its OK, not to be OK"
- Buddy Checks, do them
- Get Outdoors and Get Active
- Be the Eyes and Ears of the Veterans Community
- Veterans Crisis Line dial 988 24/7/365
- 00:25:45 Massachusetts Department Program for VFW Life Memberships
- Department will pay 1/2 of your Life Membership
This week the The Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of the Inspector General and Federal Bureau of Investigation completed their investigation resulting in the indictment of a Haverhill Massachusetts man for defrauding a Non-Profit Health Care agency in Nashua NH and fraudulently obtain $50,000 from a Staff Sergeant Fox Suicide Prevention Grant.
We discuss the details of how none of the $750,000 earmarked for Veterans at Risk of Suicide never made it to that community and instead funded personal expenditures, a Royal Caribbean cruise, and Only Fans subscriptions.
We look into the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program and the non-profit in Nashua NH that was bilked out of much needed community funds.
Lloyd and I will be returning in 2024 with the Veterans Assembly Hall Podcast. As we being programming our segments, I was struck by the passing of Toby Keith today to record a few minutes and reflect on how we lost a great artist, patriot, and veterans ally.
With that, it made me wonder how artist and music (in general) connects with us throughout our lives and for some powerfully with deployments & their military service. On top of that, Toby was a frequent performer on the USO tours and visited the troops in theater many times.
We will explore that more in a future segment but for today, we thank you Toby for the sharing your talent and your unwavering support.
Dracut VSO Jeff Hollett's speech at the Greater Lowell Veterans Council's Ceremonies.
Veteran's Agent - Jeff Hollett Office # (978) 455-1349. Cell # (978) 856- 5007. Office Location: 951 Mammoth Road - Dracut, MA 01826.
On November 11th of this past, I was invited to speak during the Greater Lowell Veterans Council's Ceremonies. I was asked to relate my experiences deploying and as you will head, returning home.
Tonight we read through the Massachusetts VFW News.. What are the statewide objectives for the coming year?
Some trends emerge: Fisher House In Boston, Women Veterans, and reforms for the Soldiers Homes in Chelsea & Holyoke.
Roll Call is back this month as we discuss the new WW1 Memorial In DC and efforts to create a GWOT Memorial. Memorial Day is a weekend of honoring and remembering! Take a minute to reflect on that purpose.
Hidden Battles Scott and Chris join us in the studio to talk about their upcoming programs and the goals of Hidden Battles.
Today we discuss the following articles from our American Legion and VFW Monthly Magazines.
S.4900 - Daniel J. Harvey Jr. and Adam Lambert Improving Servicemember Transition to Reduce Veteran Suicide Act / Dubbed the "Reverse Boot Camp Bill" this pilot program focuses on servicemember's transition from the Military and accessing the resources that one might need.
Black History Month... we talk about some well known folks and their service to our country.
5 Unusual Museums you should visit this year!
It December folks and the VAH Roll Call is marching forward toward the new year, its in sight. Today we talk about the recent lawsuit win against the US Army's Discharge review process.
There aren't a ton of events but we give a shout out and mention to Clear Path New England, the Jaffrey NH American Legion's Brick fundraiser, the Greater Veterans Council's Pearl Harbor ceremony on December 07th at 11am, and finally Jimmie Johnson's recently announced sponsorship with the American Legion.
Roll Call is our weekly short program where we talk about upcoming events and current topics.
This week we talk about the latest controversary surrounding the Veterans Northeast Outreach Center and the response from the Massachusetts Military Support Foundation to the newspaper article that appeared in the Valley Patriot.
We discuss the course reversal on the decision to re-instate the Wreaths Across America program at Arlington National Cemetery and the great work this program accomplishes.
We highlight the upcoming event VetsAid 2020 being organized by Musican Joe Walsh and friends for December 12th.
Lastly we talk about the VSO Job Posting in Methuen MA.
On a final and somber notes, we remember Marlborough MA native CWO2 Marwan Ghabour who was killed in a Blackhawk crash this past week in Egypt while engaged in a humanitarian relief mission.
Tonight we talk about our attendance at the Town of Dracut's annual Veterans Day Remembrance service today at Veterans Memorial Park.
Highlights from the Speakers Bureau:
Town Manager Ann Vandal
Town Selectman Tony Archinski
State Representative Colleen Garry
State Senator Barry Finegold
Congresswoman Lori Trahan
We also discuss the role organizations like the American Legion, VFW, AmVets play in the community. Get involved, make change for the future.
We wrap up with short events review.
22 in 22, 5K Run or Walk, and the Tyngsboro American Legion's chicken sandwich lunch coming up next week.
Fired up the board and recorded this special episode for Election Day. Get out and Vote
Talked about why elections are so important for our veteran community.
Speaking about community, the rant continues about Veterans Serving their communities.
Lastly we review some of the local upcoming veteran events.
Veterans Assembly Hall Podcast.. your voice is being heard in the Valley!
Tonight we launch "The Roll Call" a monthly review of what's new on our Podcast Facebook with regard to local Veterans News, Events, and Issues.
We started by taking a few minutes to remember our friend Rolan Cartier and continue by looking at some of the events coming up before Veterans Day:
Pepperell VFW's Veteran Drive-Thru Breakfast (Nov 7)
Tewksbury's Veteran Appreciation Gift Bags (Nov 7)
Newburyport Salvation Army's "OPERATION WARMING HEARTS" clothing drive (now thru March)
Northeast Veterans Outreach Center's "Thanksgiving Turkey Baskets for Veterans" (Nov 20 /23)
Westford VSO's Veterans Day Video Compilation
Lowell Veterans Commission new appointment: Latashia White and we talk about the Commissions Meeting Agenda from the October 21st session.
Lloyd and Mike return to the microphones to jump start the Veterans Assembly Hall Podcast.
We Talk about some upcoming local events and then the discussion turns to technology and how well we are or are not connecting with our Veterans.
Great topic..
See you next month!
Lloyd and Mike are at the Reaching Out desk tonight talking about outreach and staying connected in this CoVid socially separated world. We touch on the impact socially isolating might be having on the veteran community.
This month the three of us are on together to take about recent events.
We talk about the impact of the CoVid19 virus on Guard & Reserve activations.
The VFW hosts monthly Zoom Call Ins for Women Veterans and the Air Force changes it service song to be more gender neutral. We talk about the Air Force decision to permit maintainers to wear short pants as part of their flightline uniform and then we get serious discussion about continuing failures at the VA.
Lastly we highlight a great program by a local American Legion in Maine that is converting utility trailers into temporary shelters for veterans.
As usual our discussion roams all over but proves to be interesting and entertaining at the same time.
Scott from American Legion Riders 221 calls into the studio to talk about the events that the Bedford MA post and Riders have scheduled for the coming month.
Monthly Family Dinners at the Post Home (3rd Wednesday of the month) are open to all and organized in cooperation with Clear Paths for Veterans New England.
MAR 21 ALR221 hosts their Spaghetti Bash, all the pasta you can eat!
APR 19 - Scott participates in his 5th Tough Ruck on the historical Concord greens and Minuteman Battlefield Road.
Reaching Out is a monthly episode that features a round table discussion on a variety of local topics and national discussions that impact our #Veterans. This month Lloyd and I cover alot of ground in a little less than 45 minutes.
01:28 Homeless Veterans
04:27 Northeast Veterans Outreach Center, Haverhill MA
06:03 Homeless Veterans - are the published numbers accurate?
07:40 Warrior In Need
10:20 % of adults that are veterans
15:10 Scrub Sheet Topics
15:30 Tightening the curfew for servicemen abroad - any impact?
20:00 Lowell City Council seeking info on how LPD/LFD address wellness programs, discussion about how Combat Veterens are impacted in critical incident response
22:45 Are we losing relevancy in history as our war era veterans pass?
30:50 Talk about resurrecting city parades, like a Memorial Day Parade. Are they a thing of the past? We talk about how would you honor Memorial Day. is a parade appropriate?
Events Highlighted
MAR 03 City of Lowell's Veteran of the Month
MAR 16 On Track to the Wall, Veterans Assisting Veterans, Benefit Concert at the Lowell Elks
MAR 27 16th Annual Valley Patriot's Bash & Scholarship Award Night
Tonight we sit down with the American Legion Riders 442 "Dirty Water Crew" to discuss what they've been able to accomplish and what's going on at the Cambridge Post and beyond.
Find out more about their organization at the following links:
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/DirtyWaterCrew/
WebPage: https://dirtywatercrew.org/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxc_d_Lr4_3gnCpX23LzafA
Upcoming Events:
MAR14 Gravy/Sauce Cook Off 11am
https://www.facebook.com/events/2989540311097292/
APR11 Comedy Night at Post 442 Cambridge 6pm
food, drink, comedy, DJ, raffles
APR19 Tough Ruck 2020
https://www.facebook.com/events/2660118137382998/
#Veterans #Cambridge #AmericanLegion #ALR #motorcycle
Mike and Tom host "Reaching Out" take moment at the outset to remember the three crewmembers lost in the Air tanker crashes near Cooma fighting Snowy Monaro fire. All three were US Citizens and US Veterans.
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- Capt. Ian H. McBeth of Great Falls, Montana
- First Officer Paul Clyde Hudson of Buckeye, Arizona
- Flight Engineer Rick A. DeMorgan Jr. of Navarre, Florida
Discussion about the Navy's recent dedication of ship in the name of Doris Miller. We talk about his heroism and how the Navy's tradition of memorializing individuals is so very different from the other services.
Discussed Massahusetts HR 4179, Sponsored by State Representative Linda Dean Campbell (Haverhill/Methuen)
- HR 4179 American Revolutionary Hero Deborah Sampson of the Fourth Massachusetts Infantry Regiment
What an incredible story has emerged about this great patriot of the Revolutionary War.
The Veterans Assembly Hall is the Voice of our Valley's #Veterans. We provide the platform for those voices to be heard on issues and events happening, impacting, and of interest to our communities.
"Reaching Out" is a monthly roundtable that covers a wide range of current subjects and topics.
Want to participate on the Veterans Assembly Hall, email us at VeteransAssemblyHall@gmail.com
American Legion Riders Post 313 (Chelmsford MA) is in studio to talk about their upcoming Blizzard Barbeque on Saturday February 29, 2020 4p-8pm. We talk about the how the riders are doing since their charter was started little more than a year ago and the mission of Homeless Veterans that they've adopted.
Jason Main is in studio to talk about his organization, Friends Never Forget and their project Operation Camp which sends children of Gold Star families to camp every summer. With a number of fundraisers coming up, the push is on to raise funds to make this coming year as successful as the last. Great Cause, Great and Dedicated People doing amazing work.
http://friendsneverforget.org/
https://www.operationcamp.org/
Upcoming Events:
Burns Night Supper
- Saturday, January 25, 2020
- 6:00 PM 11:30 PM
- Doubletree by Hilton (map)
Celebrating the life and works of Robert Burns, The Baird of Scotland. Music by Charlie Zahm. Hosted by Class Act Imports with proceeds benefiting Friends Never Forget and Operation Camp.
Schedule of events
6:00 PM: Music by Charlie Zahm
7:00 PM: Toast to the Haggis
7:15 PM: Roast Beef dinner with all the trimmings and HAGGIS!
8:45 PM: Pipes and Drums
Tickets required in advance!
4th Annual Gold Star Memorial Day BBQ Saturday, May 23rd, 2020 | 12 - 4PM Middlesex Country 4H Fairgrounds 55 South Chelmsford Road, Westford MA
Today I'm joined by Tom Mattox and Lloyd Corricelli for a round table discussion on the idea of "Reaching Out" to our fellow veterans, every small gesture makes a difference.
Topics:
Topic Ideas:
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- John Cuddy’s Valley Patriot of the Month Column
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MAKE A DIFFERENCE
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- Our friend and fellow legionnaire, John Cuddy, writes a regular piece for the Valley Patriot featuring local hero’s and veterans who’s stories deserve telling. - In a recent article, he diverges a bit on a theme about what we as veterans could do to help each other out. Simple actions like getting coffee or breakfast but let me quote his own words to drive the point home. - from his article in the Valley Patriot: - “Dracut American Legion members Bob Page, Roland Provencher, both Veterans of the US Air Force, and retired Dracut Veteran’s Services Officer Bill Zounes, a Veteran of the 82nd Airborne, for years have been the “tip of the spear” when it comes to helping Veterans locally. - Meeting with them over breakfast at Lowell’s Cameo Diner, they asked me to encourage Veterans to visit their fellow Veterans, at the Bedford VA, in local nursing homes or assisted living centers, or simply stopping by their house for a cup of coffee. All three understand young Veterans are correctly focused on family and careers, but all three believe in strength in large numbers of Veterans banding together for a common cause and ask all Veterans to join the American Legion.”
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UMass Lowell - Military Appreciation Night / 18 Jan 6pm
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- On Saturday, January 18th the River Hawks will host Military Appreciation Night during a Division-1 Hockey East game featuring Merrimack College and YOUR #14 UMass Lowell River Hawks. We will have 100+ future servicemen and women take the Oath of Enlistment right on the ice of the Tsongas Center during intermission! After the game, all past, present, and future service members are invited down onto the ice for an all veteran photo plus so much more!
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“On Track to the Wall”
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- A group of Massachusetts veterans is trying to do something to change that. Veterans Assisting Veterans (VAV), a Lowell-based nonprofit group founded by area veterans to help fellow veterans, wants to send local Vietnam veterans to see the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C.
- VAV is raising money to pay for 50 veterans to visit our nation’s capital for a weekend trip next fall to see the memorial, a massive wall of black granite slabs engraved with the names of more than 58,000 Americans who were killed or remain missing. The trip, called “On Track to the Wall,” will include a train ticket, lodging and food, so that each veteran can participate without having to pay a penny.
- The trek to Washington, D.C. is designed to serve as a healing experience for the vets who deserved but didn’t get a proper welcome home back then, according the VAV Spokesman John MacDonald.
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Jan 12 Battle of the Bulge 75th Anniversary Lecture
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- Patton Homestead
- 650 Asbury Street, Hamilton, Massachusetts 01982
- See Flyer on our FB page
In this episode we talk with John MacDonald from Veterans Assisting Veterans about their fundraising effort to create a healing experience for local Vietnam Veterans interesting in travel to visit "The Wall" in Washington DC. During the three day trip, these veterans will travel by train, visiting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and other locations in our nation's capital, attend a reception dinner, and have hotel accommodations, all for no cost to those that attend.
For more information contact Veterans Assisting Veterans at their website or facebook page.. or John MacDonald directly.
EMAIL: Bigdecisionsllc@yahoo.com
PHONE: (978) 771-5596
Veterans Assisting Veterans (Facebook)
https://www.facebook.com/VeteransAssistingVeterans
http://www.vetsassistingvets.org/
Donate Here: Go Fund Me /
Send Our Vietnam Vets to the Vietnam Vets Memorial
https://bit.ly/2sq0GqK
In This Episode… * [01.10] Congresswoman Lori Trahan's "Holiday Cards for Heros" Cards for servicemen and women * [03.25] Northeast Veterans Outreach Center's Annual Holiday Dinner * [05.20]American Legion Post 221's Holiday Meat Raffle * [06.30] Veterans Assembly Hall Podcast Events Page * [07:00] Dirty Water (Cambridge American Legion Riders) Toy Drive for Boston Childrens Hospital * [08:22] WWII Welcome Home at Boston Logan Airport * [09:30]Dining for a Cause - Heart of the Traveling Soldier * [12:00] Clear Path New England's Holiday Open House, Food Boxes for Veterans * [13:10] Hidden Battles Podcast Hosts Art5 Therapy Program * [15:30] Nam Knights MC Annual Winter Fundraiser & Custom Bike Raffle * [18:40] Wreaths Across America: Dracut, Billerica, Chellmsford, Lowell
People and Companies We Mentioned in the Show * + Congresswoman Lori Trahan
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Hidden Battles Foundation
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Northeast Veterans Outreach Center
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Heart of the Traveling Soldier
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American Legion Post 221 Bedford MA
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American Legion Post 315 Dracut MA
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American Legion Riders “Dirty Water” Cambridge MA
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Wreaths Across America
Episode Length: [23:00] Thanks so much for tuning in. Join us again next week for another episode!
Download Options * PodBeam
Contact Us!
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Thanks for listening!
In this episode we talk about the great Veteran's Event going on in the Lowell & Merrimack Valley area this holiday season. All of these great events are being added to our Veterans Assembly Hall Podcast Facebook Page.
In today's episode we sit down with Jean, Kathy, and Bob from the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) Memorial Fund committee and talk about how this all came about and the road traveled to get to the dedication ceremony on June 08, 2019.
Dedication Ceremony: Saturday, June 08th at 10am
More info:
http://www.middlesexgwot.org/
https://www.facebook.com/MiddlesexGwot
Veterans #Pepperell #Massachusetts
Matt Elkins, Commander of the Greater Lowell Veterans Council sits down with and talks about some of the upcoming events and they history of the Greater Lowell Veterans Council.
In 2019, they will mark the centennial anniversary of the organization and Matt explains what they do within the community to honor and remember our veterans.
You can learn more about the Greater Lowell Veterans Council on their facebook page or by attending their meetings on the last Monday of every month (Sep-May) at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium.
https://www.facebook.com/lowellvets/
In this episode we sit down with Tom Mattox, a USN veteran, local Business owner, and trained Hypnotist. Tom provides us with the history and mechanics of hypnosis as well as the common applications and ideas for hypnosis in the clinical, forensic, and entertainment venues.
This was an engaging conversation from start to finish and we are proud to spotlight his success in this field.
Tom can be reached through the facebook messenger on his FB page or through his website and Dracut MA office to learn more.
Mattox Hypnosis 1565 Lakeview Ave. Suite 202 Dracut, MA 01826 978-758-4575 tom@mattoxhypnosis.com
http://mattoxhypnosis.com
https://www.gigmasters.com/comedy-hypnotist/mattoxhypnocomedy
https://www.facebook.com/tomhypnomattox/