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The Parade will be on the 11th of November, 2011 and start in Palmetto at 10 AM from 13th St.( by the Fairgrounds) and end at Sutton Park. The service will begin at 11 AM. Applications and site map can be found on this web site. Were are proud to announce the following sponsors:

5 Star Sponsor

Tropicana

4 Star Sponsor

Bradenton Herald

Wast Management

FPL

Blake Hospital

1 Star Sponsor

VFW Post 2488

Chairman: Don Courtney

Vice Chairman: Gill Ruderman

Treasurer: Stan Weyman

Secretary Fred Graves

Chaplain Robert Eldridge

Veterans Service Office: (941) 749-3030

CALL TO ORDER: DON COURTNEY AT 1100.

PLEDGE: DON COURTNEY.

INVOCATION: BOB ELDRIDGE

A MOMENT OF SILENCE:HONORING BILL HEPBURN.......LONG-TIME TREASURER OF THE SARASOTA/MANATEE CHAPTER OF MERCHANT MARINES.

OLD BUSINESS:

1.MINUTES OF 9/15/11: PASSED.

2.FINANCIAL REPORT OF 9/15/11: PASSED.

3.VETERANS PARK FLAGPOLE: MEMORIAL FUND NOW ABOUT $10,639. UPDATES: ADDITIONAL MONIES NOW TOTAL $15,500.. POLE INSTALLED ABOUT 1200 HRS, 10/27/11; WITNESSED BY DON COURTNEY, FRED GRAVES, LEN AND MARILYN SIROTSKI; FLAG PATRIOTICALLY HOISTED BY WORKERS AROUND 1215 HRS TO TEST LINES....WONDERFUL SIGHT!!! OFFICIAL DEDICATION PLANNED FOR 1000 HRS ON 12 NOVEMBER 2011.(LETS HAVE A GREAT SHOWING THEN!!) DON INTERVIEWED BY BAY NEWS 9. SEE BRADENTON.COM FOR PHOTOS.

4.VETERANS' DAY: OUR COMMITTEES CONTINUE TO MEET WITH THE PALMETTO OFFICIALS.

SEVERAL PORTABLE COMFORT STATIONS IN VIEWING AREAS AT BOTH SUTTON AND LAMB PARKS. MAJOR SPONSORS: TROPICANA, BRADENTON HERALD, WASTE MANAGEMENT, FPL, BLAKE HOSPITAL, AND VFW POST 2888. BOB GREENE IS DEALING DIRECTLY WITH PARADE APPLICANTS.

5. STAND-DOWN: PALMETTO FAIRGROUNDS.......5 NOVEMBER 2011.........0800-1200. “ONE STOP” FOLKS WILL BE THERE. THEY ARE LOOKING FOR GOOD USED BICYCLES TO GIVE AWAY.

6. RELOCATING BUS STOP AT EAST BRADENTON VA CLINIC: NO CHANGE.

7. VETERAN AND AUXILLIARY MEMBER OF THE YEAR SELECTIONS AFTER SECRET BALLOT: CONGRATULATIONS TO RALPH HAGER, COMMANDER, ISLAND 3 SEABEES & KOREAN VET; AND ANDREA WALDEN, LEGION POST 24, RESPECTIVELY.

8. METV CONTINUES TO WORK WITH LOCAL VET ORGANIZATIONS TO EDUCATE COUNTY CITIZENS ABOUT THE VETS' RESPECTIVE MISSIONS/PURPOSES, ETC. A THEME MIGHT BE, “MORE THAN SOCIAL CLUBS.” NO CHANGE.

9. WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA: DON COURTNEY DISTRIBUTED BLANK FORMS TO ALL REGARDING WREATH PURCHASES. WREATH PLACEMENT BEGINS 10 DECEMBER. HOWEVER, NO FORMAL CEREMONY AT THE SARASOTA NATIONAL CEMETERY THIS YEAR DUE TO ON-GOING CONSTRUCTION. NEW THIS YEAR: OFFICIALS WILL ACCEPT GRAVE SPECIFIC REQUESTS.

“VETS” PROGRAM(VETS EDUCATE TODAY'S STUDENTS): CONTACT GILL IF YOU CAN HELP.

NEW BUSINESS:

FINANCIAL REPORT: MEMORIAL FUND(FLAG POLE) $10,639 AND GROWING..........OPERATIONS FUND, $2,683.83 ( INCREASE FROM SEPTEMBER INCLUDES PARADE PARTICIPANT MONIES)

GUEST SPEAKERS................IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER:

NANCY JAYME, MANAGER OF THE U.S. COAST GUARD STATION CORTEZ REMINDED ALL THAT THE STORE IS OPEN 0900 – 1500 MONDAY THRU SATURDAY AND ANXIOUS TO SERVE ELIGIBLE PERSONS. REMEMBER, NO SALES TAX!!

SUSAN CHANDLER....IS PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL BLUE STAR MOTHERS OF AMERICA, INC, A 501(C3) ORGANIZATION FOUNDED IN 1942 DURING WWII. THE LOCAL GROUP WAS STARTED/CHARTERED IN MARCH 2009. THEY SEEK TO CONNECT WITH MOTHERS OF ACTIVE MILITARY AND VETERANS RESIDING IN MANATEE COUNTY. CURRENTLY, ONLY 3 MEMBERS ARE FROM THE COUNTY. (RATHER STRANGE CONSIDERING WE ESTIMATE 40,000 VETERANS RESIDE HERE!!) ASSISTING WOUNDED WARRIOR CAREGIVERS IS ALSO A MAJOR GOAL. THEIR WEBSITE IS USER FRIENDLY: WWW.FLORIDABLUESTARMOMS.ORG . PLEASE PASS TO YOUR MEMBERSHIP FOR THE SAKE OF ALL LIVING MOMS AND THE TROOPS IN HARMS WAY.

COL JOSEPH DOUGHERTY, USAF (RET)....IS VP OF THE ARMED SERVICES MUTUAL BENEFIT ASSOCIATION STAR FOUNDATION, A 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION. IT STRIVES TO SERVE ACTIVE DUTY, WOUNDED WARRIORS, ALL CATEGORIES OF VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES.......INCLUDING EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE TO ALL THE AFOREMENTIONED. THEY ALSO SUPPORT OTHER 501(C) (3) ORGANIZATIONS WITH LIKE-MINDED GOALS. OF SPECIAL NOTE: 100% OF DONATIONS IS DIRECTED TO THEIR SERVICE GOALS. GO TO WEB SITE: WWW.ASMBASTAR.COM FOR INFORMATIVE DETAILS.

PATRIOTICALLY,

FRED GRAVES

SECRETARY

Due to the uniqueness of this year's date 11/11/11, we intend to supplement the annual parade and ceremonies with additional programs such as children's activities, musical entertainment, and a classic car show.

Rules and Applications on on the upper left of this web page.