May 12, 2011

The New Year started with the President making a serious mistake in his "From the President" message in the January - February Graybeards. I was reminded by a member of Chapter 160 from the Rapid City area in South Dakota that I need to stop trying to change where Fargo is located and to apologize for even mentioning Fargo, since they did not ask to hold the 2012 Annual Membership Meeting. (Fargo is in North Dakota, as anyone who has seen the movie of the same name knows). I hereby apologize to all those in Chapter 160 who spent a lot of time, in preparing their bid, to host that meeting in Rapid City, SD, for my serious lack of fact-checking. I hope the member who called me, Marvin Knapp, will accept my apology now that I have corrected this screw up on my part.

This issue of your magazine presents the resumes of the candidates for the four Directors positions for a three year term and Second Vice President for a one year term. We did not have a candidate for the Second Vice Presidents position in the 2010 election, and the Board of Directors voted to fill that vacancy for the remaining one year term during this election. The Second Vice President position will then be opened again in the election of 2012 for the usual two year term.

As the President, I have never shown a preference as to whom I would support, since I believe that is strictly a decision to be made by the membership. I again will work with all those elected. My only comment is that the membership should look at the resumes and ask questions of the candidates directly if they have one.

I will be calling for a Board of Directors Meeting in Washington, D.C. during the Gathering that takes place each year in July. We need to have a presence in Washington, D.C. to support the ceremony that takes place at our Monument and also at the National Cemetery on Armistice Day, July 27, where we will remember those who have never returned home. We will also be there during the Korean War Veterans Recognition Act passed into law in 2009, and during this 1951 60th Anniversary Year. As a Congressionally chartered veterans association, we also need to be available for any recognition that might be scheduled during this time period.

I normally do not call attention to individuals in my message, but I do want to commend our editor of The Graybeards, Art G. Sharp, for his continued ability to make this magazine one that we all can be very proud of. Also, I have been informed that our Publisher, Gerald W. Wadley, has contracted with the printing company to save us approximately $6,000.00 in printing costs during the 2011 year of six issues. Both of these gentlemen should be recognized for their outstanding dedication to their assigned task.

I will attend the National Memorial Day Ceremony in May at the National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. along with our Ceremonies Chairman Thomas McHugh and the Color Guard from Chapter 299. A wreath will be presented at the Tomb of the Unknown where an unknown Korean War veteran lie's in the tomb with an unknown World War II veteran and an unknown Vietnam veteran. This is in memory of those Korean War MIA's & POW's still not found or being looked for at this time in North Korea. It is a great honor to just be able to stand and salute the Tomb as a representative of the Korean War Veterans Association, Inc.

Our Korea Revisit Program has an added feature this year. For you veterans who fought in the Chorwon Valley Area, a pre-trip to the area has been added by the Military Historical Tours Group to take place before each of the three periods approved for a Korea Revisit Trip. It is an additional cost since none of the Hotels, Busses, Food or Guide costs are taken care of by the Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (MPVA).

The cost has to be paid for by the individuals who sign up. It is the same with the other two side trips after the Korea Revisit to China or Vietnam. The 50% cost of the domestic flight to and from the central US airports and the flight to and from Korea are taken care of by the MPVA. Thus you save on the flight from your home airport over to Korea. I believe this will be a great addition if you were in the Iron Triangle/Punch Bowl/Pork Chop Hill Areas. See additional information in this Issue.

This issue has many important notifications in it. Look for a flyer for our 2011 Fund Raising project. Each member will receive a letter telling you about the Fund Raiser. As you know, the dues we collect are not enough to operate and still allow for all the necessary Liability and Multimedia insurance, travel by our Directors and Officers, Financial Audits and all other budgeted items necessary to meet corporate requirements, as well as payments to our contract workers for our database, website, CPA and the publication of our fine magazine.

I again want to personally "Thank all" the Chapters and individuals who donate funds for The Graybeards. Without these donations, your magazine would not be as great as it is. Also, registration information for our Annual Membership Meeting in the Boston area in October and the Korea Revisit Program are included.

William F. Mac Swain
National President, KWVA/US