On Saturday March 14th 2009 the first Disabled Veterans Air Rifle Sectional Championship was conducted at the Brockton VA. There were over 25 Disabled Veterans shooting and 20 volunteers to make there day one of the best they have had in a while, after the shoot they had a prim rib dinner and then awards.
NRA's Manager of Disabled Shooting Vanessa Warner said this is one of the largest shoots she has had, and looks forward to more of these championships in the future.

This event could not have happened if it were not for our sponsors: Quality Beverage (Div. of Budweiser) (Taunton, Ma.) Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 818(RI) & Disabled Veterans Shooting Sports (Bellingham, Ma.) A special thanks to the Bellingham Police Assoc. offering to make sure all equipment needed was on hand for the Championship Shoot for the Disabled Vets.



Note: All photos may be printed; permission to use has been obtained by Mickey Emery and VA, all pictures taken by Liz Emery

Pic. 5259 Winner of the event John Powell (Vietnam Vet) of TX. and his shooting coach Pat Waldrip also from TX.

Pic. 5264 Rick Leeman (Recreation Director VA), Vanessa Warner (NRA National Rifle Assoc.) Mick Emery (VVA Vietnam Veterans of America Ch. 818 , Ralph March, VA Director Rec.)

Pic. 5113 Vanessa Warner NRA explains to volunteers the operation of the Air Rifle

Pic. 5092 Vet line up to shoot

Pic. 5138 Oldest vet shooting WW II 90 yrs. old

Owen (Mickey) Emery is shown here picking up a Remington 870 Shotgun from
Jon Green of GOAL( Gun Owners Action League) Director of Education and
Mike's Gun Shop. Jon in showing support for our Disabled Veterans has
wavered the transfer fees on all the Rifles and pistols that DVSS (Disabled
Veterans Shooting Sports) has acquired from various gun Co.

REMINGTON along with Companies such as RUGER, HENRY, KAHR ARMS and many others
in showing there support to our Nations Disabled Veterans have given DVSS
great prices on there rifles, and pistols and equipment so that the veterans
can enjoy the time they spend at the range, in some cases they donate
product.

Mickey a Vietnam Veteran (67-68), is Vice President State Council and member
of Chapter 818 RI.
He started having events over five years ago and three years ago added the
shooting range with the help of the Bellingham Police Dept. Two years ago he
established (Disabled Veterans Shooting Sports) with one of his close
friends Dennis Auger, also a Vietnam Veteran (67-68). Mick is founder and
President and Dennis is the Vice President.
The Co. has NO paid employee's it is all volunteer, and every cent go to the
Disabled Veteran events they depended on donations and function to purchase
the equipment for these veterans to enjoy a day of Fishing or range
shooting.

At present Mickey has been working with a group called HAVA (Honored American
Veterans A field) a Non-Profit Company that does the same kind of work, but
on a larger scale. honoredveterans.org.

If you would like to help or donate please call Mick at 1-508-966-9024 or
e-mail him at mickey2910@comcast.net]

Picture  DSC06194   Left - Right
  (Picture) James Michael Ray
   Charles(Chuck) Ray (Brother of James Michael Ray)
   Fr, Phil Salois (President, Chapter 818 RI & National Chaplain)
   Eugene (Joe) Gamache (Vice-President, Chapter 818 RI)
   Richard A. Guerin (Treasurer, Chapter 818 RI)
   Owen (Mickey) Emery ( Secretary, Chapter 818 RI) & RI State Council Vice President VVA

The Second Annual NRA Disabled Indoor Air Rifle Sectional Championship was held in Brockton Campus on March 20th 2010.
The 2010 Sectional Championships were exceptionally special due to the fact that the match winner will receive an invitation to Colorado Springs, Colorado for the Paralympics training at the Olympic training center.
The incentive brought people out from across the country at other matches. Brockton being no exception hosting shooters from upstate NY and Atlanta,GA.

The SH1 class was won by Yelena Leszczynsky with a score of 431, second went to Tammy Delano of NY with 404 and Deb Freed (NEPVA) finished in third place with a score 362. All three are first time competitors.

The SH2 class was much tighter with first time competitor and junior Kyle Otto of NY edging out Greg Reynolds (MA) with a score of 482 to Greg's 481. Wayne Ross finished in third with a 465 (NEPVA)

Once again the VA put on a spectacular top notch event and special thanks goes to event organizer Rick Leeman and the Boston Healthcare system & sponsors:

BELLINGHAM POLICE ASSOC.,
VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA CHAPTER 818,
VIETNAMVETERANS RHODE ISLAND STATE COUNCIL,

VVA #818 CHAPTER EVENTS for the month of July ---- CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEWLY ELECTION OFFICERS FOR VVA #818:
We elected our new officers for VVA #818 during the May meeting. All the incumbents were re-elected: President - Father Phil Salois, M.S.; Vice-President - Joe Gamache; Secretary - Mickey Owen, Jr.; Treasurer - Richard A. Guerin. We thank you for the vote of confidence to lead this great Chapter into the next year. The delegates to the State Council are Mickey Emery, Joe Gamache and Fred Short. The delegates to the National Convention are Father Phil, Mickey Emery and Fred Short. We also held elections of officers for the Rhode Island VVA State Council and the results were: President - John Weiss; Vice-President - Mickey Emery, Jr.; Secretary/Treasurer - Mark S. Spangler, Esq. Congratulations to our newly elected State Officers.
VVA #818 HELD SUCCESSFUL AGENT ORANGE POPPY DRIVES:
We had two successful Agent Orange/POW-MIA Poppy Drives in May on two consecutive Saturdays in May. The two drives combined brought us donations approaching $1,500.00 which was for our annual Scholarship Fund. This year in May we presented a $1,000.00 check to Mount Saint Charles Academy for the Raymond A. Mailloux, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund. The Mailloux family added $500.00 raising the total contribution to $1,500.00. This was the fifth anniversary of Ray's death and the fund. We had some publicity in the “Woonsocket Call.” Thank you for all of you who volunteered some time manning the tables at these events.
PARADES : We had a good turnout of members to march in the North Smithfield parade and we thank you all for showing up and making the community aware of our presence in Northern Rhode Island. We thank those who marched in the Lincoln parade as well. Several members attended the annual Memorial Day Service at the Rhode Island State Veterans Cemetery in Exeter at the Vietnam Veteran Memorial.
Many members of VVA #818 marched in the Annual Fourth of July Parade in Arnolds Mills, Rhode Island and we thank all those who took time to join us on the 234th birthday of our Nation.
ARMED FORCES DAY AT THE PAWSOX GAME - Several members attended the annual Armed Forces Night at McCoy Stadium for the PawSox game. This is an annual event and it fell on our usual meeting night so the June meeting was canceled in favor of attending the game. VVA #818 joined other Veterans Organizations along with Active Duty and Reserve and National Guard members to march out onto the field - the March of Heroes. Thank you Jim Wright for organizing this event for us again!
MEMBERSHIP NEWS - We have one new member to #818. We welcome Oscar R. Tassone , of Pawtucket, Rhode Island. We now number 139 members and 13 AVVA members - so keep it up guys - bring them in!!!!!! WELCOME HOME OSCAR TO VVA #818!

GOOD OF THE ORDER - Please continue to remember in your prayers, Larry Goucher who is still hospitalized in VA Boston Healthcare System but is in the Brockton Campus in the Transitional Care Unit and is doing much better and getting stronger. Keep up the great work, Larry! Rick Guerin's Mother is now at Oakland Nursing Home and is suffering from dementia and will not return home. We pray for Mrs. Guerin and for Rick and his family and we continue to request prayers for Charles Ray, Sr. in Mississippi (Jimmy Ray's Father). Also, we received word that Ed Frechette had total knee replacement surgery and is recuperating with physical therapy. Please let Father Phil know of anyone or family member in need of our prayers.
On another note we want to acknowledge our member Frank Casey for his fund-raising initiative began for VVA #818. He has taken upon himself to write on our letterhead letters to local businesses requesting a donation to the Chapter in order that we might continue the good work we do for Veterans and our local community. Even in this tough economy, it has brought us three $100.00 donations from various businesses - money we did not have before. Frank continues to solicit donations from various businesses. Thank you Frank for taking this initiative! Anyone who has an idea to help us grow in membership and financially, we encourage all ideas.

MOSSBERG joins forces with the New EnglandParalyzed Veterans Trap shooters.
July 4-9 2010 in Denver, Colorado the 30th National Veterans Wheelchair
Games was held. Mossberg this year provided outer ware for the Trap shooters
and there coach. New England Paralyzed Veterans is hoping to establish a
permanent trap team to compete with other states, in the past there has not
been a team to travel to the different shoot that are held.

L-R Jim Wallack, Michael Gubault, Peter Moore
(Back Row) L-R Brockton VA Worker and Coach Mickey Emery