It has been almost
three years to the day
that I wrote my first
President’s Newsletter
(May-June 2013). In a way it seems like a
long time ago. In reality, so much has happened
during that time that it seems like
just a few days ago.
I have been truly blessed at the age of 87
to have had the opportunity to serve as the
president of the KWVA. I thank all our
members for their patience and support
over this time. The KWVA Board has been
especially cooperative and helpful in making
some significant changes in our bylaws
that will make the future of our organization
more efficient and stronger.
Tom Stevens is our new president. I am
pleased. He is well suited for the job, with
both his business background and experience
in serving on the KWVA Board. He is
very enthusiastic about the next two years
and will provide strong leadership to keep
us moving forward.
Like many other veterans organizations,
our biggest challenge continues to be
recruiting members, those who served in
the war and those who have served since.
The future of our legacy and our organization
is the Defense Veterans. Every chapter
has to realize that we must bring in the
younger generation to continue to exist.
(See Warren Wiedhahn’s article, p. 14).
One of the best things I have experienced
during the past three years is meeting
and communicating with so many of our
members. I have had the good fortune to
talk with many of you on the telephone and
visit with some at the national, department,
and chapter meetings.
Last month I was invited to speak at the
Department of Florida meeting in The
Villages, Florida, at the Waterfront Inn. I
appreciate that the members of Chapter 169
took up a collection to pay for my airfare
and hotel expenses. Thank you; I was
pleased to be invited.
This was an exceptional meeting with
very good attendance, presided over by
Maxine Parker, state department president.
Most of the Florida chapters were represented.
Generally, they had positive reports
on their activities.
Most of them have the same problems
all chapters are having with retaining old
members and gaining new ones. We had a
suggestion from the floor that National
may need to do more in reminding members
to pay dues. After a bit of discussion it
was concluded that chapters can also help
retention by calling or visiting with the
members and reminding them of their dues
payment and that they still want them as
members.
Tom Thiel, Secretary of Chapter 169,
reported their recruiting had been successful
in The Villages area and has attracted
fifty new members. His chapter in
Leesburg decided they would find a place
in The Villages about eleven miles away
where they could meet and hold a second
meeting each month for the members there.
Tom and his chapter have been very
active and are making a big impression on
veterans in their area. They have set an
example for what can be done with enthusiasm
and member involvement.
I had the pleasure of meeting Dale
Briggs, President of Chapter 155, who was
one of the founders of the National KWVA
organization in 1985 with membership
number (LC00009). Dale, who lives in Ft.
Myers, FL, is anxious to hear if any of the
founding members are still around. He
served as one of the first Directors of the
KWVA and gave me a copy of the first
issue of The Graybeards magazine, published
in November 1985. It will be placed
in our museum, if it does not already have
one.
One of my last duties will be to attend
the Memorial Day ceremonies in
Washington D.C. In remembrance of those
who made the ultimate sacrifice, we will
once again place a wreath at the Tomb of
the Unknowns and at our Memorial. Jim
Fisher has made exceptional plans this year
by inviting several organizations to take
part in the Memorial ceremonies at 5 p.m.
For the first time in several years Jim
has managed to obtain a spot for the
KWVA in the nationally publicized
Washington D.C. Memorial Day parade.
There will be several vintage vehicles
loaded with Korean veterans, Korean
Americans, and Korean ladies to remind all
who see the parade that there was a Korean
War and that we have a national association.
Our thanks to Jim Fisher, Lew Ewing,
Tom McHugh, Ralph Nazatka, Tim
Rickman, Bob Eader, Charles Mobley, and
the 40th ID Association for providing the
vehicles and drivers. Also, thanks to members
from chapters 33, 100, 142, 191, 312,
and 313 for coming to the city for this
event. I hope events like this will give us
some beneficial nationwide exposure.
It has been one of the highlights of my
life to serve as the President of the KWVA.
I thank you all for the support over the last
three years. We have made some changes
that have improved the organization and
made it stronger for the challenges ahead.
In particular, the addition of Executive
Director Jim Fisher continues to elevate the
prestige of the KWVA on the national
scene.
There will continue to be challenges, but
none that we cannot overcome. I have a
deep regard for this organization and what
it represents. We are the living representatives
of those who died in the war, and we
have a duty and an obligation to tell the
story of what we did in saving a nation and
its people. There are few among us today
who can claim the accomplishment. I pray
that you have similar feelings.
The chapters and membership are the
heart of the organization. It will be through
them that the legacy of the Korean War will
be carried forward. That is still our mission.
Larry Kinard, Former President
Korean War Veterans Association, Inc. (KWVA/US)