He served through the chairs from the board to sr. vice commander. Now David Wilson will be commander of VFW Post 4848 for the 2000-2001 term. He will take the helm from outgoing Commander Bill Tickle.

Bill, after serving three consecutive terms as commander, said he would not run again. But he did get 14 write-in votes.

With none of the offices contested by nominations, voting was light with only 48 cast.

Others elected are sr. vice commander—Oscar Farrow, jr. vice commander—Larry McBryar, quartermaster—Maurice (Mac) McGuffey, judge advocate—Ted Bedoit,

chaplain—Tommy Duckworth, surgeon—James Tollett, trustee—Fred Kizer (three years) and executive board (three years) Richard Buquo and Ken Combs.

Mac was reelected to his position. Oscar moves from jr. to sr. vice, and Larry has previously served as jr. vice.

Ted and James were reelected to their positions.

With no nominations for chaplain from the membership meeting, Tommy ran and was elected by write-ins.

Fred moves from the board to trustee with a three-year term. David D. Wilson chose not to rerun.

Richard and Ken, serving their first terms as officers, hold three-year positions.

Jack Thomas declined to seek reelection to the board.

At the membership meeting, nominations were David by Bill Tickle, Oscar by David, Larry by Andy Calvanese, Mac by Bill Bordwine, Ted by Pete Chaney, James by Pete, Fred by David, Richard by John Scott and Ken by John.

Bill Bordwine served as chairman of the election committee.

David Wilson, 37

Bill Tickle, 14 written

Sr. Vice Commander

Oscar Farrow, 49

Jr. Vice Commander

Larry McBryar, 47

Quartermaster

Mac McGuffey, 48

Judge Advocate

Ted Bedoit, 47

Chaplain

Tommy Duckworth,

48 write-ins

Surgeon

James Tollett, 41

Trustee

Fred Kizer, 42

E-Board (2 posts)

Richard Buquo, 47

Kenneth Combs, 45

Post 4848’s membership drive is within 17 of reaching the goal. There are now 851 members with the goal of 868 within reach, according to Membership Chairman David Wilson.

He urged everyone to contact some member who hasn’t renewed, and to reach out to new qualified veterans who should join the post.

Deadline for reaching the goal to be 100 percent is June 15.

It will begin with a music prelude by the Legionnaires from American Legion Post 95.

Auxiliary at 10:30 AM with services to begin at 11 AM.

Names of comrades who have died in the past year will be read.

VFW Post 1289 is the host organizations. Preliminary plans call for Lt. Col. Wayne Shearer to be master of ceremonies with Rep. Zach Wamp as the main speaker.

The Chattanooga Area Veterans Council will coordinate the event. Dan Lovin is CAVC chairman.

Cooperation from the city was promised Post 4848 in the development of the Riverwalk at the rear of the post home bordering the Tennessee River.

Plans will include inclusion of the post’s Veterans Boat Dock. A footing for the steps atop the bank and a lower landing have been constructed.

Jerry Mitchell, chief of Chattanooga’s Parks and Recreation Department, arranged the meeting. Presenting the plans were Jerry’s Deputy Administrator Larry Zehnder and David Payne of Ross/Fowler, the Knoxville architects planning the Riverwalk.

They explained plans were preliminary. Construction is planned to begin next January.

The blueprint for the walk was shown the dock committee. Quartermaster Mac McGuffey was given assurances no heavy plants would be used to avoid taking parking spaces.

Efforts continue for funds.

New president of the Ladies Auxiliary for the 2000-2001 term will be Alice Scott. She takes the gavel from outgoing President Gail Anderson .

Other officers elected are Sr. Vice Polly Copeland, Jr. Vice Barbara Rickett, Chaplain Barbara Myers, Conductress Alice Davis, Treasurer Anna Kizer, Guard Rita Medford and three-year Trustee Geraldine Tickle.

Appointed officers are Secretary Mary Anne Wilson, Historian Dot Stewart and Patriotic Officer Polly Copeland.

The Appreciation and Awards Banquet will be held Saturday, May 27, at 6 PM in Wally’s Restaurant in East Ridge.

It is a dutch treat and reservations should be made my May 25. Information may be obtained by calling 870-

Seam Squirrel Bill Bordwine said he was proud of Pup Tent 21, MOC, for a successful year. Membership goals have been exceeded by six percent and programs for hospital, funeral and the national home have been 100 percent. They expect State Commander Jack Thomas to receive the All American MOC Commander Award.

Dance change defeated in membership voting

An e-board motion made by Oscar Farrow and seconded by Jack Thomas to prevent beverages being brought in to the dance was defeated at the membership meeting. Bill Bordwine made the motion to block it, seconded by Tommy McDowell.

The e-board discussed ways to improve income and cut expenses. And attention was given on dance participation.

Of all the holidays observed and all the ceremonies set forth to honor veterans, none is more solemn and important than Memorial Day. It’s that one day each year where we take a few minutes to remember those comrades who have gone before us.

No matter in what capacity or what branch they served, they were the bulwarks against aggression to protect our country’s way of life, our freedom.

Memorial Day is that day when we look out over the graves of those deceased members of the military and remember them. Some died on the front line. Some, from ailments contracted at war. Others died of age.

Whatever the cause, we honor them for what they have done for us.

The last "war" officially classified was World War II. Others have been so-called police actions or some such mundane title.

Americans died in Korea, in Vietnam, in the Arabian desert, in Serbia and a thousand other places, some maybe not even on the map.

Everyone at Post 4848 is proud of JOHN SCOTT’s campaign to become the first state commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars from Post 4848. He will reach for the top post in June. His support has been greatly aided by JOE MURPHY and CHARLES "SPEEDY" BEARDEN from VFW Post 1289.

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A familiar face has been back at the post. LINDA TICKLE has been helping out part-time as a bartender.

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It’s good to have new participation as officers. RICHARD BUQUO, KEN COMBS and TOMMY DUCKWORTH will take the oath to serve.

Membership meeting Thursday, May 4, 7 PM, with food and refreshments to follow.

Ladies Auxiliary meeting, Thursday, May 4, 7 PM.

MOC meeting Sunday, May 14, 6 PM.

MOCA meeting Sunday, May 14, 6 PM.

Armed Forces Day Parade Friday, May 19, at 10:30 AM.

Ladies Auxiliary Appreciation-Awards Banquet at Wally’s Restaurant in East Ridge Saturday, May 27, 7 PM.

Post Monthly Family Dinner Sunday, May 28, 4-6 PM.

Memorial Day at National Cemetery Monday, May 29, beginning with music prelude at 10:30 AM.

Friday’s 9 PM to 1 AM; Saturdays, 9 PM to 1 AM.

Officers who will head the future of Post 4848 during the 2000-01 term will be decided during April.

CSM Bobby Davis provided the program which featured visuals and explanations on today’s contributions by the National Guard.

VFW member Ken Combs arranged the program.

The meeting began after the presentation and the members approved the e-board’s vote to increase the price of beverages by 25 cents. A motion by Pete Chaney, seconded by Ted Bedoit, to leave prices the same was defeated.

Happy hour prices remained the same.

At the e-board meeting, Pete read a letter from Paul Woolwine on the 75th anniversary of the National Home. Motion made by Ben Crabtree and seconded by David Wilson was to buy a $50 ad in their program.

Pete made the motion with a second by David Farris to buy one table for the annual Chattanooga Area Veterans Council banquet.

A motion was made by Mac McGuffey to repair or replace exhaust fans in the ball room.

Bill Bordwine made the motion for anyone working the door on dance nights to be admitted free with a guest to the dances for a month. It was seconded by David Farris and passed.

John Scott gave a report on progress for improvements of a bar in the lounge. He presented a drawing and welcomed suggestions.

Sr. Vice Commander David Wilson, who is also membership chairman, stated he is working up a contest for making the final drive to reach the membership quota for Post 4848.

He is expected to have his plans formulated for the Apr. 6 membership meeting.

With volunteer work by members and friends, Post 4848’s boat dock is beginning to take shape.

The footing for steps to reach down the bank toward the boat has been poured. A form has been set up and a form constructed for the platform.

Commander Bill Tickle along with members and auxiliary attended the annual meeting of the Chattanooga Area Veterans Council in March where Dan Lovin was installed as new chairman. Other officers taking positions with the CAVC were 1st Vice Steve Stewart, 2nd Vice Cloyd Smith, Treasurer Charles Levine and Secretary Sherry Kimbrow.

The Golden Knights will take part in the air show at Lovell Field to benefit T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital. It will be held Apr. 15 and 16.

The famed Thunderbirds will also be a feature of the show. Tickets are $10 for adults and $4 for children.

A question for radio-movies trivia buffs: wasn’t LES TREMAYNE once the voice of the voice of the LONE RANGER? And wasn’t HUGH JAMES at one time the announcer?

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Next time the OPEC countries have trouble from Iraq, maybe Americans ought to remind them how they cut their oil production.

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It’s working. The post internet site can be reached from anywhere in the world. When he stopped by the post to transfer his VFW membership, BENNY BROWN said he found us on the Internet.

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Veterans are giving high marks to CANDICE UNDERWOOD, director of the National Cemetery. Everyone says she’s cooperative and doing a great job.

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It’s a shame no one was even nominated for the CAVC Veteran of the Year. There was no recipient for the prestigious award. CHARLOTTE VANDERGRIFF was named auxiliary member of the year

The most somber and moving ceremony you will ever witness is an Honor Guard ceremony at a veteran’s funeral. The honor guard standing at attention. The firing of the 21-gun salute. The sad, slow moan of a trumpet signaling taps over a lonely cemetery.

It means a lot to a veterans family. And it’s a rite the veteran and relatives assume is automatic.

It’s not. It doesn’t come automatically without a lot of work, a lot of volunteer hours.

The armed forces normally provides the Honor Guard for an active or retired military person. The rest depend on volunteers, tireless men and women forming Honor Guards through American Legion, VFW and other such organizations. In the Chattanooga area, much of the work falls to the Chattanooga Area Veterans Council headed by Ralph Wilson.

Two years ago the CAVC provided the National Cemetery and funeral home directors a protocol for service. They asked all requests go through the funeral home handling the service. This avoids confusion of different relatives having varied wishes. And the CAVC asked for two days notice.

Other organizations have offered to help. The JROTC is one. But veterans prefer their peers to be there.

Ralph does the best he can, sometimes almost singlehandedly putting the program together. He has to call regular volunteers and try to fill in when someone’s unavailable.

They travel a wide area around Chattanooga, in all kinds of weather.

Many of the team are up in years, many from World War II. Ralph was a D-Day paratrooper.

A mainstay for the detail was Etycle Raines. Despite age and infirmity, he came to the cemetery and used a walker to get to position, putting it aside to pick up a rifle almost as heavy as he. His death is mourned by the team.

In recent years, many o the team have succumbed to age and sometimes death. Ralph badly needs new volunteers.

Anyone who can give a few hours, even on an occasional basis, would help. And it’s a spiritually rewarding experience.

If you or anyone can assist Ralph, please call him at

E-Board meeting Tuesday, Apr. 4, 6:30 PM.

Membership meeting Thursday, Apr. 6, 7 PM, with food and refreshments to follow. Nominations for election of post offices will be held.

Ladies Auxiliary meeting, Thursday, Apr. 6, 7 PM.

MOC meeting Sunday, Apr. 9, 6 PM.

MOCA meeting Sunday, Apr. 9, 6 PM.

Post Election Thursday, Apr. 27, Noon to 8 PM

Post Monthly Family Dinner Sunday, Apr. 30, 4-6 PM.

DANCE NIGHTS
Friday’s 9 PM to 1 AM; Saturdays, 9 PM to 1 AM.