These are strange times… and none of us need to be told to Remember our Brothers. It’s Memorial Day Weekend, a time for our Country to remember… we Remember every day. And always Remember their Families…
Do what you can, do what you want, I know our Brothers and Sisters will always Remember…
Semper Fidelis, God Bless America.Jon Warmeling, Chairman
Beirut Veterans of America, Inc.
A 501(c)3 Not for Profit Corporation
"The First Duty is to Remember"
Join BVA at: https://beirutveterans.
Donate at: https://beirutveterans.
Scholarship awards have been tallied and will be annoucened in the next Root Scoop II. Thank you to everyone who applied and contratulations to all 2020 graduates!
For All Reservations everyone MUST call the Hotels DIRECTLY!!!! DO NOT try to reserve your rooms ONLINE!!! You will not get the Group Rates that I have set up.
These rooms are Blocked under Beirut Veterans of America, the Dates of the Block are 10/21/2020 - 10/25/2020, CUTOFF DATE IS 09/28/2020.
1) Candlewood Inn & Suites 119 Penny Ln, Jacksonville NC - 15 rooms Dbl $82 Single $79 (910)-333-0494 ask for Nadia or Lisa
2) Comfort Inn & Suites 130 Workshop Ln Jacksonville NC - 30 rooms - $65 +tax (910)-346-8900
3) Extended Stay America 20 McDaniel Dr Jacksonville NC - 25 rooms - Call ask for Manager Stacy Demps (910)-347-7684
4) Main Stay Inn & Suites 2201 N Marine Blvd Jacksonville NC - 20 rooms $70+tax (910)-219-1238 ask for Tom Kiser
5) Microtel 2411 Commerce Rd Jacksonville NC - 20 rooms $60+tax (910)-333-9232
6) Quality Inn & Suites 2139 N Marine Blvd Jacksonville NC - 20 rooms $69+tax (910)-938-0800 Ask for Rusty
7) Rodeway Inn 2149 N Marine Blvd Jacksonville NC - $67.12 (tax included) (910)-455-6888
8) Sure Stay Plus 2115 N Marine Blvd Jacksonville NC - 25 rooms $65+tax (910)-347-1900 Ask for Bobby (This is the old Holiday Inn Express)
Again, Call the Hotels DIRECTLY!!!!!!
IF there is the need for More rooms at any of these Hotels or if we need to add 2-3 more Hotels by August 1st 2020 I will take care of that.
Dave Seelye
Five board positions will be opening up this year. This is a 5 year commitment. Nominations can be done via the contact button on the BVA website or can be mailed to:
PO Box 1011
Fairport Harbor, OH 44077-1011
Nominations must be postmarked by 23 September 2020. The bylaws are in the member portal and cover the process and voting procedure. The vote will take place at the annual meeting on 22 October 2020. All members will be required to show their membership card in ordre to vote
The following ammedment was unanimously approved on 5/13/2020:
Article III, Section 2, Page 4:
Formerly read:
All Regular Members have voting privileges.
Amended to:
All Members in good standing have voting privileges. A member in good standing is defined as a life member, or a member whose dues are current.
Reason:
To better define “good standing.”
Article III, Section 6, Page 6
Formerly read:
Section 6 – Voting
Regular Members in good standing shall be eligible to vote for board members, officers if not in contravention to other directives of these Bylaws, and on matters properly before the membership for vote. Voting rights are limited to living persons.
Amended to:
Section 6 – Voting
Nominations will open on 1 July in those years elections will be held and close 30 September.
Nominations may be mailed to the address listed in Article 1, Section 2 - Principal Office, and must be postmarked by 23 September.
Nominations may be presented electronically utilizing the contact email on the Official BVA website.
Members in good standing may self-nominate pursuant to the same procedures.
Nominees will be contacted via email or telecommunications to verify acceptance of the nomination. Acceptance of a nomination via email using the same procedures will be deemed valid if received using the contact email described above by 30 September. A self-nomination will automatically be deemed accepted.
Ballots will be dispersed to Members in good standing at the Annual Membership Meeting and voting procedures established by the Board or President will be utilized.
Regular Members in good standing shall be eligible to vote for board members and on other matters properly before the membership for vote. Voting is limited to living persons.
Reason:
To establish a better, more delineated nomination process.
To establish that a procedure established by the Board or President will be adhered to.
To remove any ambiguity about Officers – they are appointed, not elected.
On 23 October a candlelight vigil was held with approximately 150 in attendance.
At 10:30 hours the main memorial service was conducted and ( I have been informed the day after by the Jacksonville Beirut Memorial advisory board that they had run out of the Pamphlets and only had 1,200 made up).
As the year comes to end, you, the Members, have been busy, always keeping in your thoughts and prayers those young men whose lives were taken so long ago from 1958 to those in the mid-1990s.
To those who were not able to attend the Membership meeting on the 22nd of October, I'll provide you with a brief overview.
Michael Gaines presented a 15-minute presentation on a Memorial being erected in Port Charlotte Florida that will hopefully be done in 2020.
The BVA Scholarship was finalized and 7 Members volunteered to be on the Scholarship Committee to oversee those applications submitted.
Mr. Combs from Wellington Arms did a 15-minute presentation on the Beirut Veterans Commemorative Pistol. Two were purchased/ordered that day.
Amazon smiles can be used for donations to the BVA. In 2019, we took in a little over 50 dollars from the program.
There are currently 3 Banners that can be utilized for activities that you, the members, can set up through your local veteran's groups. Use the contact button on the BVA Website to provide the board with the mailing address you want the banner sent to; once you send it back you can be reimbursed for your postage.
While at these functions you are representing those we honor every day by your actions (I know this goes without saying but it was brought up at the USO Meeting).
People are playing Pokemon Go on the memorial grounds and we've contacted the base and the company to make that a closed out zone on the Geotags.
The 2020 Octoberfest will also be held in Jacksonville starting the 22nd of October so hotels may go quick. Information on hotels will be out in early summer.
The Inaugural Beirut Ruck was a great success for the first year with over 50 people participating in the 10.23 mile hike. Canned goods were collected and donated to the local women's center.
New people (members and associates) joined while at the USO. We have been informed this was the largest turnout to an off-year memorial. The Jacksonville Advisory Committee ran out of the 1,300 pamphlets on the 23rd's service.
Alan Opra and Jack MacDonald helped run the raffle, and it was a huge success.
If you hear of one of our Brothers or Gold Star Family members passing, please use the contact button on the BVA Website so the appropriate actions can be taken.
If you sponsor or assist in Memorial services and have pictures or know of Memorial services coming up, once again use the website's contact button, as far out as you can, and send pictures after so we can get the information into the RSII.
I hope everyone has a wonderful 2020.
"The First Duty is to Remember"
Semper Fi.
Myron Kyle
President, BVA
On 18 October 2019 over 20 Beirut Veterans and Gold Star Family Members went to Parris Island, South Carolina to attend a Graduation of over 550 new Marines.
The Beirut Veterans and Gold Star Family Members were recognized at the 0800 morning colors and prior to the graduation.
After the graduation, a brief tour was conducted of the recruits' barracks and the Museum followed by a small buffet luncheon.
The Beirut Veterans and Gold Star Family Members were recognized at the 0800 morning colors and prior to the graduation.
After the graduation, a brief tour was conducted of the recruits' barracks and the Museum followed by a small buffet luncheon.
The BVA Board of Directors would like to wish everyone a happy, safe, and prosperous New Year. We thank each of our members for continuing to support the organization and each other. Our first duty is to remember. Semper Fi.