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]
Rhode Island and its over 130 members are from a variety of communities
in Northern Rhode Island and parts of Massachusetts in towns that border
the Rhode Island Stateline. Our chapter is named after one of Rhode
Island's unaccounted for from the Vietnam War and was from Woonsocket,
Rhode Island. Ray was a Staff Sergeant and captured by the North
Vietnamese and escaped once and was recaptured. His Father, Charles
Ray, Sr. and Stepmother, Jean Ray spent the better part of their lives
working with the League of Families and other POW/MIA organizations to
get a full accounting of their son as well as all POW/MIA's. The Rays
are elderly now and in failing health. They decided to bequeath the
Chapter with Jimmy Ray's military memorabilia and have charged us to be
the official custodians of these priceless and historical awards. The
Rays live in Diberville, Mississippi now and were not able to bring this
collection to us. That honor was bestowed on Jimmy Ray's younger
brother, Charles Ray, Jr. who served in the United States Marine Corps
and is also a member of the Chapter. He presented the collection to us
on Thursday, November 19, 2009. The Rays are also members of AVVA #818.
The Chapter is proud and honored to receive this precious collection and
it will be proudly displayed in our new meeting space when it opens next
year.
Fr. Phil
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
Medals preented to James Michael Ray (posthumously)
Certificate's of presentation of medals
VVA #818 CHAPTER EVENTS for the month of March ----
In last month's News Notes I reprinted a rather extensive article from the Valley Breeze about the new proposed monument to be dedicated to the Vietnam Veterans which will be prominently placed in front of the new Lincoln Senior Center at the base of a flagpole. We continue trying to raise funds for this $10,000 project headed my VVA 818 members, Joe Buss and Eddie Fox. Many of you in this mailing will be receiving three raffle tickets with a self-addressed stamped envelope to remit to Eddie Fox. We did not have enough tickets printed to send to everyone in our Chapter membership list but surely all you residing in Lincoln, Cumberland and Woonsocket are included except those of you who took tickets at our last meeting. The prizes are great and we hope you will either sell the tickets or purchase them yourselves to help us meet our goal of $10,000.
MEMBERSHIP NEWS - We have one new member to #818. We welcome Robert F. Landry, Jr. of Central Falls, Rhode Island. Robert is a younger member and joins us as an Associate Member. Our Chapter membership now numbers 136 and 13 AVVA members - so keep it up guys - bring them in!!!!!! WELCOME HOME TO VVA #818!
GOOD OF THE ORDER - As our Chapter Membership continues to grow, we have increased participation in the number of members who attend our meeting and this is great and a real confirmation of our brotherhood and willingness to pull together and work together for the betterment of all Veterans who need our support and guidance in the area of health care and veterans benefits. It is with this caveat in mind that I encourage everyone who attends our meetings to be sensitive to each other and that any and all suggestions and/or reports be to the point and succinct. Let us care for each other even if we disagree. We need to remember the “Golden Rule” - “do or say unto others as you would want others to do or say unto you.”