“I don’t want to say anything to steal anyone’s thunder, so I’ll keep my remarks short,” the Missouri State Council president for the Vietnam Veterans of America Charles Stapleton said. “But this is a big deal. I mean... it’s really a big deal.”
Stapleton was speaking about the fact that at Thursday afternoon’s VVA meeting, the first Missouri chapter of Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America was officially installed.
The local VVA group is Chapter 1056, and the chapter President Larry Kimbrow said he is excited and proud to see the new chapter of associates added.
“There is no other chapter in the entire state of Missouri that has one,” Kimbrow noted. “We are the first ones.”
Kay Sneathern, treasurer of the AVVA, publicly credited AVVA President Jeanette Cox with “working endless hours to help make this possible.”
Barbara Coan, the national director of the AVVA, swore in all officers of the new chapter and presented them with their own flag to be put on display with the VVA flag. It was later explained that other locations in the state have various members of the AVVA, but there are no other chartered groups.
“Of all the VVA chapters in the state, I can honestly say I haven’t seen another one as well attended as this one here in Poplar Bluff,” Stapleton told the crowd. “It’s a testament to everyone’s dedication, and I hope this will help open the door for other chapters to notice and walk through by doing the same thing.”
During the meeting, Mike Schoelhamer, district representative for Rep. Jason Smith (R) presented Gary Melton with a medal recognizing the 49 missions Melton flew as a chief warrant officer during the Vietnam War.
“Guys, when you’re at home, go through your records,” Melton encouraged his fellow members. “Make sure you have received all the medals that you earned.”
Melton went on to explain to everyone that he had brought the discrepancy in his awards to the attention of Schoelhamer and it was resolved quickly.
“I told Mike, and he told Jason Smith immediately,” Melton said. “It was taken care of officially within two weeks.”
The last presentation of the day was from Coan to Vietnam Veteran Bobbi Crawford.
“I just wanted to give you this,” Coan said, as she handed Crawford a commemorative coin. “And I wanted to say thank you and welcome home.”