2015 REFLECTIONS
2016 GOALS
January is traditionally a time to reflect on the past year and set goals for the
year to come. A number of our American Veterans Heritage Center members were
invited to send in their thoughts and we thank them for their submissions…
Dennis Samic, AVHC, Executive Vice
President and Chief Operating Officer
"AVHC continues to benefit from the
momentum we gained when the Dayton
VAMC was named a National Historic
Landmark in 2012. In 2015 we made progress
in each of our Mission Areas - preservation,
inspiration and education. The campus Grotto
and Garden restoration was nearly completed
and is already gaining recognition from State
and Federal historic preservation
organizations. Our two-day Patriot's Freedom
Festival was hugely successful
with attendance up yet again. This festival
allows AVHC and all our supporting participants to inspire and educate citizens
about Veterans' contributions to our nation. Finally, we initiated planning for a
Veteran's Walk of Honor to be started in 2016. We look for further success this year
by: (1) obtaining SEC/VA designation of the Dayton VAMC as the site for the
National VA Archives, (2) finalizing the Grotto and Gardens and its supporting
sustainment plan, (3) beginning sales of commemorative pavers and construction of
the Walk of Honor, and (4) updating the AVHC Strategic Plan. These are ambitious
goals, but we have a great group of dedicated
volunteers to achieve them"
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Tara Browne, AVHC Assistant Events
Coordinator
“The end of 2015 saw the completion of my
first year volunteering as Assistant Events Coordinator at the American
Veterans Heritage Center. The more I get to know the AVHC members, the
more I love their hearts for the work they do for our center and our veterans.
My goal for 2016 is to create a better local and social media presence for the
AVHC. I want to find new opportunities to network and collaborate with likeminded veteran organizations both in the Dayton area and at the national
level.”
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Charles W. Dickerson, VA Grotto and Gardens Master Gardener
“The Lewis B. Gunckel Memorial Fountain was funded, installed and
dedicated this year along with the addition of four new gardens. A grant
provided a handicap ramp and it was built by staff and 25 Home Depot
volunteers. The walkway from the ramp to the boulder stairway was
replaced and electrical outlets installed. The 2016 plans include replacing
remaining lower grotto walkways and repairing the WWI wall. New
planting includes the boulder wall, ramp area, boathouse area and the lake
shore adjacent to the ramp landing. Obtaining designation as an
arboretum is also a 2016 goal.”
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Margaret I. Kruckemeyer, Lt Col (ret) USAR/ANC RN, MSN, ARNP-C,
AVHC President Emeritus
“I have had the honor in serving soldiers, veterans and their family members for
the past forty years, but putting words into action is best witnessed by the dedicated,
passionate, caring volunteers working for the American Veterans Heritage Center.
During AVHC’s fifteen year history, I have seen our Dayton VA Medical Center
campus, (a National Landmark), being restored to its past glory where Civil War
Soldiers proudly shared their campus to over a half million visitors a year back in the
1880’s. My wish is to have more youth and caring compassionate citizens rediscover
their patriotic roots where honor, duty, country have helped to preserve Americans’
freedom for all.”
************************
Michael Turner, Events Committee Secretary and Meeting Facilitator
“AVHC and the Events Committee had many things to be proud of in 2015. Several of our Trustees were
recognized for all they have done for the community and their military service. Judge Walter Rice, (AVHC
Board of Trustees President), was honored by the legal profession for all his hard work. We also lost one of our
Honorary Trustees, Dale Huffman, who was one of the forces behind restoring the Protestant Chapel. The
AVHC Events Committee had a busy year planning for the Patriot Freedom Festival at which we were able to
increase our attendance to 10,000 for the first time. We also changed our May 5K Run/Walk/Roll to the
weekend prior to the Festival, on Armed Forces Day.
The theme for our 2016 Patriot Freedom Festival is special recognition of our
Women Veterans at our Opening Ceremony. We also hope to expand our events
this year with a garden party in the Grotto.
AVHC will kick off another project called the “Walk of Honor.” Sales of
engraved pavers lining both sides of the sidewalk to the flag pole by building 320
are planned with the goal of raising funds to restore the historical electric pipe
organ located in the old Protestant Chapel on the VA Campus. Again this year,
we will support our local PBS Station, ThinkTV, with our contribution of a set of
20 Louis L’Amour books and 10 lighted ceramic replicas of the Historic
Protestant Chapel for their annual GreatTV Auction in April
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100 years ago…
Pancho Villa (5 June 1878-20 July 1923),
a Mexican Revolutionary commander of the
Constitutionalist Army’s “Division of the
North,” was wreaking havoc against the
Mexican Government. Villa is credited with
decisive military victories in Mexica, leading to
the ousting of Victoriano Huerta from the
Presidency in July 1914. Villa’s Army
however, upon engaging the Mexican military
forces of General Álvaro Obregón, was
defeated in the 1915 Battle of Celaya. Villa’s
army then collapsed as a significant military
Force
From the left: Generals Obregón, Villa, and Pershing, August 27,
1914. Exactly a year later, Pershing's wife and three of his children
died in a fire, and Villa sent him a condolence message. Six months
later in 1916, Pershing was chasing Villa in Mexico.
Villa subsequently led a raid against the
U.S.–Mexican border town of Columbus New
(Gen. Obregón on the left, was a general in the Mexican Revolution,
Mexico in 1916. Francisco "Pancho" Villa was
who became President of Mexico from 1920 to 1924)
wanted "dead or alive" by American troops after
and other hindrances, such as the lack of aid from the
Villa's army of bandits murdered 16 Americans in a
former Mexican government, and their refusal to allow
raid on Columbus, New Mexico on March 10, 1916.
American troops to transport troops and supplies over
Known at first as a "Robin Hood" in Mexico, the
American press later portrayed Villa as a brutal villain their railroads, Pershing organized and commanded the
Mexican Punitive Expedition, a combined armed force
"thirsting for blood" as war raged along the Mexican
of 10,000 men that penetrated 350 miles into Mexico.
border.
They routed Villa's revolutionaries, but failed to
On March 15, 1916, Pershing led an expedition
capture him.
into Mexico to capture Pancho Villa. This expedition
At the end of the Mexican Revolution, after his
was ill-equipped and hampered by a lack of supplies
army had dwindled, Villa negotiated an amnesty with
due to the breakdown of the Quartermaster Corps.
Although there had been talk of war on the border for the Mexican government and retired his military
pursuits in 1920, only to be assassinated in an ambush
years, no steps had been taken to provide for the
three years later in 1923.
handling of supplies for an expedition. Despite this
Our Events Calendar
Saturday, May 21, 2016 – Armed Forces Day 5K at the Dayton VA
Saturday/Sunday, May 28-29, 2016 – 12th Annual Patriot Freedom Festival at the Dayton VA – 11 AM –
6 PM daily – Free Entry – Free Parking! MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
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YOUR DONATIONS are gratefully accepted –
Help us preserve the best of our past! The American
Veterans Heritage Center works to preserve the best of our
past... by improving the present...to create a better future.
Together, with your donation and support, we will realize
this vision to honor our nation’s veterans. Please send
donations to
American Veterans Heritage Center, P.O. Box 1366,
Fairborn, OH 45324-1366 or go to our website:
www.AmericanVeteransHeritage.org to make your donation through PayPal
American Veterans Heritage Center is a 501c3 Charitable Organization, Tax ID 31-1745649
American Veterans Heritage Center
P.O. Box 28098
Dayton OH 45428-0098
Address Label Here
© 2016 Published by:
American Veterans Heritage Center
P.O. Box 28098
Dayton OH 45428-0098
Office: (937) 267-7628 / Fax: (937) 267-7629
http://www.AmericanVeteransHeritage.org
Find us on Facebook and Twitter (@The AVHC)
C. LaPointe-Dafler, Editor
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