11/15-18/09

Traveling to our 11th department was the easiest trip thus far. It was a 12:15 p.m. flight through Memphis to Little Rock arriving at about 3:30. We are met at the airport by one of my Facebook friends, Department Commander Gene McVay. We will be staying at the Wyndham in Little Rock for the next couple of nights, and we will use Little Rock as a hub and travel to a number of Posts during the day, then return to the Wyndham at night. Dinner was at North Little Rock Post 74. This is a small post that was revitalized about five years ago and was rededicated by Commander Rehbein last year. The menu includes ribs, greens, beans and cornbread. The governor’s assistant for legislative affairs, Nicole Hart, brings greetings from Governor Mike Beebe. She is also a member of the post and an Army veteran who served in Iraq. Impressive. I tailor my comments to reinforce what she tells the post about the legislative process, and then do an interview with a reporter from KHBS-TV Arkansas.

Today will be a lot of driving with a couple of visits at the end of each drive. We start at 6:50 a.m. and travel to Russelville Post 20 for breakfast. Deer season just began this past weekend and gets credited for the low turnout. PNVC Bob Legan is presented the Department Commander’s Gold Award for Service, which is kind of like a lifetime achievement award. Mayor Tyrone Williamson is present and gives a short welcoming speech. PDC Ross Rodgers of Scranton 358 has the most questions, as there are plenty for the Q & A session. I also relate my pitch on the social networks.

We move on to Riordan Hall in Bella Vista for a Community Covenant signing and a town hall meeting. We will be signing two Community Covenants, one for Bella Vista and one for Bentonville. Signers are: National Commander Hill, Col. Klemmer of the 142nd Field Artillery Brigade, Mayor Frank Anderson (Bella Vista), Troy Galloway (representing Mayor Ben McCoslin-Bentonville), Department Commander McVay, Commander Jake Greeling (Bella Vista 341), 1st District Commander Norvil Lantz (for Bentonville). Also present are Lincoln 171, Huntsville 137 and Pineville 392.

The town hall meeting is moderated by Departmentt Commander McVay. David Fletcher, the governor-appointed director of the Arkansas DVA, is present, as are representatives from the medical clinics. This is Arkansas’ first-ever town hall meeting for veterans and over 70 are present. Most of the questions deal with the VA, and some are too individual to be answered. But there are other questions on the health-care bill passed by the House, on license plate costs, on Afghanistan and other issues. This is a good start and was very productive. Gaynell Bellonie, a reporter from The Weekly Vista, took notes but left without talking to any of us. Angelica Duria from 40/29 ABCTV News 7 interviewed both Commander McVay and myself.

Ft. Smith Post 31 is Department Commander McVay’s home post, and tonight is his homecoming. Around 114 are in attendance. The evening starts with re-enactors portraying Judge Isaac Parker, a famous hanging judge from these here parts, and his marshals arresting Commander McVay for stealing a chicken. He is unceremoniously cuffed, brought before the entire body which has been deputized, promptly convicted and sentenced to hang. It was kind of like a Southern Bloc vote. They next arrested me and accused me of being a yellow-bellied Yankee from Ohio. I told them the department commander gave me a pink belly on the way to the dinner and I was from southern Ohio. They dutifully convicted me and sentenced me to hang. We were then granted pardons which were framed certificates. They were very good at the re-enacting, and remained for the brisket dinner. The meat was really tender and delicious. Commander McVay gave his remarks and passed out another gold achievement award. Mayor Ray Baker had signed a proclamation designating Nov. 16 as Clarence Hill day in Ft. Smith. It was read by Post Commander Marvin Mendenhall, as the mayor is in the hospital. After my remarks, State Rep. Terry Rice presents Governor Beebe’s commissioning proclamation designating me an Arkansas Traveler. On behalf of the Mayor, the Post Commander also presents me a Key to the Frontier. Representatives from Cabot 71, Baitville 114, Heber Springs 64 and Cave Springs 274 are also present. This was a really fun night.

Tuesday finds us traveling to Beebe Post 91 for breakfast. There are two district commanders present (6th Mike Westergrow and 8th Steve Garrison), and most of the town dignitaries. Mayor Mike Robertson reads the proclamation declaring Nov. 17 as Clarence Hill day in Beebe. How many people get two days? Police chief Wayne Ballew, City Alderman Lee Coffee, and City Clerk/Finance Officer Carol Westergrow (yes, 6th district commander’s wife) were also present. Representatives from Bradford 144 and Augusta 166 were also present. The post also gave me a plaque for my visit. I also met Gaync Schmidt of Augusta Unit 166, 6th district president.

Lunch was roast beef at Little Rock Post 1. Department Commander McVay gave NEC Weiss a gold service award. There were a lot of good questions from the attendees here. Post Commander Jerry Hobson introduced District 8 Executive Committeeman Wayne Womick, Department Finance Officer Dale Johnson, ANEC Vern Bynum and 64-year member and 85- year-old Jess “Woody” Woods. Two Past Department Presidents, Mary Grant and Dorothy Walker, were also present. Had representatives from Marshall 117, Brinkley 68 and Hardy 336.

After lunch, we went to the Capitol to meet with Governor Beebe. Met most of his Cabinet and Dave Fletcher, Director of the Arkansas DVA, as well as Nick Bacon, Arkansas’ only living MOH recipient. Nicole Hart was coordinating. She was a Sergeant in the Army and served one tour in Iraq. Good career choice Nicole. The governor came in and we took a group picture. Had very brief conversation with him about service in the military, and he left. I tried to talk Nicole into attending The American Legion College and told her how to get the application. She is real interested in attending.

Went to Hot Springs Village where Hot Springs Post 123 meets. We stopped at their war memorial which is really well planned and well maintained. Had a pork tenderloin dinner with about 65 in attendance. Post Commander Allen Harless introduced 14th District Commander Mary Erdman who did the POW/MIA ceremony. Also present were VFW Commander Scott Hronbuck and MOPH Commander Larry Sack, who are also Legionnaires. I was interviewed by Jeff Meek of the weekly publication called the Village Voice. They gave the three of us really neat little figures made out of a golf ball. Mine was in a boat called USS Recruit. They also gave me another governor-signed commission as an Arkansas Traveler. Department Commander McVay thinks that is a record: No one has gotten two commissions on the same trip. Still have one more day to get a 3rd. Representatives were there from Arkadelphia 57 and Malvern 11.

Wednesday is a leisurely start with breakfast at the hotel and a 9:00 a.m. departure. We travel to Jonesboro Post 21 for lunch of ham steaks and venison steaks. Laura Gunter of KAIT K8 ABC interviews me as soon as I walk in, and I’m told it aired at 5:00 p.m. There are five members of this post with the “I met T.H.E. Job Challenge” pins on, so we take a group picture. County Judge Dale Haas and the County VSO are present. Commander Phil Clairday reads the proclamation from Congress declaring Sept. 16 as Legion Day and gives me a copy of it. He also gives me a flag that was flown over the state capitol and the Craighead County Court-house. There were 55 present including representatives from Paragould 17 and Mt. Home 52. Good questions. One Rider, John Iahetos, 4th District Riders Coordinator, is present and escorts us to the next venue.

We travel to the Craighead County Courthouse to see the Craighead County Veterans Memorial. It is a World War I doughboy that was erected in 1921. Jerry Bowen (LCOL, USA-Ret.), chairman of the Craighead County Veterans Monument foundation, gave us the history of the additions they just recently finished. They now have four columns with each branch’s seal, as well as memorial bricks everywhere, and smaller columns for organizations that helped. The American Legion column has a black cover over it, as they apparently didn’t get permission to use the logo before mounting it. Should be an easy fix, but it appears there is some other problem that caused the post to drop out of the foundation. Commander Clairday tells me that will be fixed. Mayor Harold Perrin reads a proclamation declaring Nov. 18 Clarence Hill day in Jonesboro. Wow-three cities in three days all giving me a day. He also presented a really beautiful key to the city. There was a newspaper lady from The Sun who took pictures but didn’t ask any questions.

From downtown, we went to Arkansas State University to tour the Beck Pride Center. This is a treatment facility that is not intended to replace VA treatment, but rather to supplement and support it. Their slogan is to “Uplift the Fallen; Empower the Brave.” They have a lot of state-of-the-art equipment to aid veterans. I told them about the Family Support Network, Heroes to Hometown, and MyGiBill.org, as they knew of none of these and were giving them help as they could find it. Dr. Dennis White heads the program.

Last stop for this trip was a barbecue pork dinner at Blytheville 24. The town authorities are there in force. Mayor Barrett Harrison presents another beautiful key to the city. County Judge Steve McGuire (a Navy veteran and Legionnaire), Mississippi County Sheriff James Stanford, Assistant City Police Chief Martin Crawford and the fire chief are all there. The mayor really liked my remarks and also believes social networks will be great tool for membership recruiting.

We leave here and head to a Radisson in Memphis, as tomorrow will be another 0330 start for a flight to Salt Lake City.