CALENDAR OF UNIT 1 RIDES/EVENTS 2011-2012

Unit members are welcome to write articles and send pictures to the webmaster at joan.ashland@yahoo.com for posting. This information will be used for our After Action Reports (AAR) and Community Service Reports. This way members of Unit 1 and Post 12024 will be kept informed of our actions and service to the community and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

March 11, 2012
Pasadena Post 4395
7407 Spencer Hwy Pasadena, TX 77505
Click here for directions

April 15, 2012
Missouri City VFW Post 4010
2200 Staffordshire Rd.
Missouri City, TX 77459 Directions

May 6, 2012 (date change due to Mother's day)
Huntsville State Park
Directions to be added later

June 10, 2012
Judy & Norm Brawner
16655 Interstate 45 North
Willis, TX 77318
(map to be provided)


Previous Events

February 12, 2012
Papa's on the Lake (936-447-2500) --Papas is located at 14632 West Highway 105 in Montgomery Texas, about 7.4 miles west of Interstate 45 North. Look for the Exxon and the Jack in the box.

January 8, 2012
Pearland VFW Post 7109   Directions
4202 W. Walnut St.
Pearland, TX 77581
281/412-0853

December 11, 2011
Jen & Robert Simard    Directions
34 Bowie Bend Ct.
The Woodlands, TX 77385

November 28, 2011
Santa Chuck had the honor to be part of the service for PFC Michael Travis Pring (25) U.S. Army who died while on active duty. The funeral service was held at Compean Funeral Home in Houston with internment at HUC in the rotunda.
Time was: 5.5 hrs

Mileage was: 113 miles

Santa Chuck plays Santa Claus!
On November 27, Santa Chuck played Santa Claus for his 15th year at the Dickinson Festival of Lights -- approximately 500 people came to see Santa. He spent 3.5 hours and logged 7 miles.

Santa Chuck spent Friday, November 25 as the Galveston Santa for approximately 500 - 600 children at the Galvez Hotel. He logged 4 hours and 46 miles.

November 21, 2011
PFC Cody Norris was buried today. Santa Chuck participated in the ride that escorted Cody and his family to the cemetary on Spencer Highway in LaPorte from the First Methodist Church on Fairmont Parkway in LaPorte. Time was 7.75 hours; mileage was 57 miles.

November 20, 2011
Santa Chuck, Dana (Energizer Monkey), Johnny Bonds and Larry Lane met in Kingwood for the family/friends Welcome Home gathering for USMC Wesly Cunningham. PGR members David and Linda Cunningham were very pleased that we (as representatives of the PGR) were able to make this gathering and honor their son as he had just returned home from boot camp yesterday.

November 19, 2011
Santa Chuck and Nancy conducted the service for Jorge Sonora (58), U.S. Army, in Dickinson, TX. Jorge was the younger brother of one of Santa Chuck's VFW members (Jack). Time was 2 hours; mileage was 6 miles.

Also on this day over 200 PGR members and other riders escorted the body of PFC Cody Norris, U.S. Army. His internment will be on November 21, 2011. Time was 7.5 hours; mileage was 73 miles. The below link is the you-tube video shot by one of the members.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iW0rcuuZIUU&feature=youtu.be

November 18, 2011
Santa Chuck participated in two VFW services today:

(1) John Louis Biondo (80) Korean War, USAF. Crowder Funeral Home with the burial at Mt. Olivet, Dickinson. Mileage was 8 miles and time was 3 hours.

(2) Robert Kirkland, Jr. (90) WWII, US Navy. Crowder Funeral Home with burial at Forest Park East, Houston. Mileage was 14 miles and Time was 3 hrs.

November 12, 2011
Santa Chuck and Bones had the honor of leading the City of Dickinson's Veterans' Day Parade. They proudly wore their VFWMG colors as they and other vets did "donuts" in the front of the parade from the staging area over to the Dickinson VFW. This was the first year the Parade included motorcycles. The event lasted 2 hours and was comprised of 7 miles.

Additionally on this date, Santa Chuck had the honor to be the Honor Guard Commander for the service of WWII (85) vet B.B. Miller, Sr., at Barbour's Chapel Baptist Church in Texas City. B.B. was in teh European Theater and served with General Patton's Division. Santa Chuck logged 2 hours and 20 miles.

November 11, 2011
Santa Chuck had the honor to be part of the church service (Spring Baptist Church, Spring, TX) for LTC David Cabrera who was killed in Afghanistan by an IED last week. Members of the church heard that Westboro Baptist Church was supposed to be there to pickett so Harris County sent 10 sherrif's cars. Westleco did not show up. Santa Chuck logges 6 hours and 144 miles.

November 4-6, 2011
Classic Fall Conroe Swap Meet at Montgomery County Fairgrounds
Once again, Norm and Judy will work to raise funds for Unit 1. It would be nice if the members got together to make a ride up and support the efforts. If you can help out and spot them to leave the booth for awhile, that would be great too! You can e-mail Norm at vfwnorm@consolidated.net.

October 21-23, 2011
The State Commander Run being hosted by Unit 20 in New Braunfels
It would be nice if Unit 1 members made the run to help support this fundraising effort for the Voice of Democracy Scholarship Program. Plus, it's a nice run! Please contact Norm if you would like to head up the ride and/or show support by participating. Additionally, Unit 1 has been invited to participate by having a booth to raise funds for our Unit.

October 16, 2011
During Unit 1's monthly meeting in Montgomery (before a fantastic ride north through the National Forest!), information was shared about the VA's Operation S.A.V.E. program to help save lives through suicide prevention.

Signs of suicidal thinking
Ask Questions
Validate the veteran's experience
Encourage treatment and
expedite a referral

It takes the courage and strength of a warrior to ask for help...
1-800-273-TALK (8255) Press 1 for Veterans www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org


October 15, 2011

Santa Chuck, VFWMG Unit 1 Chaplain, had the honor to stand with other PGR members for the service of Navy WWII Pearl Harbor survivor KD McDougald (92) in Magnolia.

October 1, 2011
Norm and Judy participated in the Unit 21 - Bryan program to benefit Battered Women and Children. There were about 200 in attendance and $4,637 was collected to help the shelter.

September 16-18
The Unit was represented at the OTT (Oldest Town in Texas) Rally in Nacogdoches, a Cancer Aid & Research Fundraiser

"Bring 'em Home 2011" Raffle
Unit 1 helped with raffle ticket sales to support MIA Charities' (better known as Moore's Marauders) efforts to bring home America's MIA's from WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam and the Cold War. Overall, there was a little more than $15,500 collected.

Any man who fought to secure America's freedom should neither be left behind nor forgotten.

9/11 Ten Year Commemorative

The program of this community event, hosted by VFWMG Unit 1 and Missouri City Post 4010 & Ladies Auxiliary, included Dulles H.S. JROTC, Missouri City Mayor Allen Owen and Police and Fire Chiefs, Ret USMC Lt Colonel, Congressman Pete Olson, and Boy Scout Troop 1410.

Hamburgers and hot dogs were served following the official U.S. Flag retirement and JROTC gun drill.
This was a solemn ceremony in honor of those brave fire fighters, police officers, and military personnel who sacrifice their lives to protect the nation and recognize first responders and military personnel who have selflessly defended the country since 9/11 in the War on Terror.

Let us never forget!

 

August 13, 2011

Unit 1 members attended the Iron Cuff Rally in LaGrange to support our Wounded Warriors at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio.



August 6, 2011
Benefit for Unit 1 member Frank Murphy

Frank was severely injured in a motorcycle accident and the benefit raised funds to help with medical expenses.


July 30, 2011
Olivia's Benefit and Ride
Bike Ride, BBQ, Live Music, Silent Auction
VFW Post 4010 in Missouri City

Unit 1 of the VFW Motorcycle Group supported the family of Olivia. We normally support veteran only benefits as an official event. However, when we joined the Armed Forces of the United States of America it was to protect people like little Olivia and her family. They are the ones who still need our help, and we will not turn our eyes and look the other way. Olivia was diagnosed with a rare disease named Moya Moya. This disease narrows the blood vessels and causes strokes. It is a very debilitating disease and causes damage to the brain. Young Olivia has had to go through various surgeries and her family has mounted up insurmountable medical costs.