Isaac Bailey Steps Up To Help Veterans Trip to D.C.

Thanks to Isaac Bailey from the Sun News for giving us some much needed ink to help fill up our 2nd bus for the Veterans Trip to Washington, D.C. on November 8th and 9th on Coast To Coast Transportation.

Because of the addition of members from the VFW and American Legion in Florence, we have extended the cut-off date until SEPTEMBER 29TH....

Since Isaac Baileys column, we have generated 12 more passengers and received over $800 in donations for the trip.

We have veterans and their spouses from WWII, Korea, Vietnam and Desert Storm going, wives of deceased veterans and supportive "non-military" citizens going along also.

This will be the FINAL CALL!

$200 person double occupancy $250 Single

Includes:
Round Trip Transportation from Coast to Coast
Donuts in the morning upon departure
Room accomodations at the Comfort Inn and Suites at the Pentagon
Dinner Saturday Evening
All American breakfast Sunday Morning
Ticket to Tram Tour at Arlington National Cemetery (3 hours)
Lunch following Tour
Service Caps for Everyone
Services at WWII Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial and Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Iwo Jima Memorial Saturday evening with candlelight procession from one to another. We will also have a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington

CALL PATRICK T O D A Y TO RESERVE YOUR SPACE 2 9 3 - 8 4 3 1

MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA CHAPTER 925
C/O PATRICK BURKE
100 FREEDOM CIRCLE
MYRTLE BEACH, SC 29588

DONATIONS CAN BE MADE TO THE SAME ADDRESS, WE ARE A TAX EXEMPT ORGANIZATION......THIS TRIP IS "NOT FOR PROFIT" ANY LEFTOVER FUNDS WILL BE DONATED TO THE "PERPETUAL CARE FUND" FOR THE WASHINGTON, D.C. MEMORIALS AND MAYBE SOME FREE TRIPS RAFFLED OFF!


PLEASE READ ISAACS ARTICLE!


ISSAC J. BAILEY A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE

Vets offered 2nd chance at closure!

L ou Krieger, formerly of WSYN-FM, 106.5, and Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 925, Myrtle Beach, want to do it again.
Last year they spearheaded a fundraising effort that allowed 120 World War II veterans to fly to Washington, D.C., to visit the WWII war memorial.
This year, they want to take two bus loads of veterans, the spouses who didn't get to go last year and others interested on a similar trip.
The first bus is full. Krieger wants to fill up the second, too.
"I was just inspired by that trip last year," he said. "The memorials bring a lot of closure, and it brings a lot of camaraderie."
This time, Frank Dunlap, a Bataan Death March survivor, will lay a wreath at the WWII memorial.
Paul Thompkins, a prisoner of war during the Korean War - he lost fingers from frostbite while surviving that hell - is going to honor vets from that war. Jennifer Debock, who helped lead St. James High School students in raising thousands of dollars to pay for the first trip, will be going with her husband, a Vietnam vet.
A member of the underappreciated Merchant Marines, who were invaluable to the WWII effort, will also be there.
They will place a wreath at the "Tomb of the Unknowns" and visit the Iwo Jima memorial to celebrate the birth of the U.S. Marine Corps. They will run their fingers across the names emblazoned on the Vietnam Wall and pay homage to those resting in Arlington Cemetery.
They might cry, might reminiscence, might take heart that they survived even while vowing never to forget those who didn't.
"We are going to have some pretty solemn ceremonies. I'm going to try to give them something to remember for the rest of their lives," Krieger said. "Until you've been in combat ... when people are shooting at you and your life is on the line, everybody's your buddy. There's nothing like sharing a hole with each other."
Now he wants those veterans - and others who love or appreciate them - to share a bus, to never forget their sacrifice.
The trip is scheduled for Nov. 8 and 9 and costs $200 per double occupancy and $250 for a single room.
Reservations must be made by Sept. 29TH.
For more information on how to attend, call Patrick Burke at 293-8431. Or you can send donations to:
Care of Patrick Burke/100 Freedom Circle/Myrtle Beach, SC 29588. Make checks payable to The Myrtle Beach Vietnam Veterans Chapter 925.


ONLINE For past columns and to read Bailey's blog, go to MyrtleBeachOnline.com.
Contact ISSAC J. BAILEY at ibailey@thesunnews.com or 626-0357

Many thanks again Isaac!

Lou