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Featured Person-Larry Past and Al Julson

1/4/2014

 
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Larry and Al are being featured for several reasons. For starters they have a new CD (second one). They are also a couple of genuine down to earth guys who are very involved with their community. We love these guys and we love their music.

We first met Larry and Al when they performed at our Annual Vietnam Veteran's gathering in 2009. Their music is from the Era of the Vietnam Veterans and they have also written their own music. 

The Veterans and their families truly appreciated their music and them taking the time to play for all of us that day. Our event also lead to getting another gig for another all Veteran get together. So as you can see, these guys definitely support their Veterans.


For our first Official Vietnam Veteran's Day celebration for WI, Larry and Al also hooked us up with another artist who happened to write a song about his brother and close friend that served in Vietnam.

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Larry and Al's music is very soothing. I shared with them one day before interviewing them that I was a little stressed out. However, as soon as they started playing their music, song from their new CD called Calling, I just sat back and took it all in. It calmed my spirit and I was no longer stressed. This is what their music does for me. Watching them perform live is very evident they are simply just having a good time. 

Please check out them out at their 
Website


Featured Person- Beverly Lane

1/4/2014

 
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I’ve been serving for others for about 35 years.  In 1998, I started serving for Binky Patrol which is an organization out of Los Angeles, California. I broke away from them and decided to just sew on my own thinking I wouldn’t be so busy. Instead, my ministry mushroomed even when I moved from Wisconsin to Illinois.

I’ve been asked why I do this…truthfully; I ask myself that question from  time to time. The best answer is God has given me the grace to sew for others and it seems I can’t stop. I have received many thank you notes, but the one I tucked in my heart was from a girl at Hands of Hope – “Thanks for sending us blankets and let us know someone cares for us even though we make some mistakes.” So I guess this thank you from year 2000 has kept me going.

Since 1998, I have made over 5,000 “HUGS” in the form of security blankets, twin size blankets, tote bags for ages 0 – 100. In all of this, I only have personally given one “HUG” to a recipient and it was to a blind boy. The rest have been taken by missionaries. Right now, in between making baby blankets, I am taking blue jeans apart so I can make 40 blue jean blankets for the beds at Bible Witness Camp in St. Anne, Illinois. That’s a lot of blue jeans.
Some of the places Beverly has sewn for:
Thuy Smith International (Vietnam & Local) ,Dr. Patch Adams (All over the World), Honduras, Philippines, Guatemela, Peru, Mexico, Israel, and all over the midwest. Children Hospitals, Orphanages, Foster Care, Hospice, and other Missions.

Featured Person-Michael Muller

1/4/2014

 
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MACV CORDS Operations Advisor, Binh Chanh District, 1970.  Briefing officer for DEPCORDS Ambassador Funkhouser to CG & staff, III Corps Vietnam, 1971.  In addition to briefing the staff I briefed visiting officials such as the Secretary of the Army.  He was in Vietnam for one tour.
Author, Vietnam Veteran, Retired Psychologist / Counselor

This month I wanted to highlight someone who is a part of our organization. I've known Mike now for at least 10 years. Mike is a genuine soul. I know many others who also truly admire Mike.  He is a retired professional counselor / psychologist for many years which includes counseling combat veterans. Mike served in Vietnam as well.

We choose Mike this month because we appreciate all that he has contributed and added to our organization and me personally as a friend through out the years. He has a compassionate heart. This is the thing I admire most about him.


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Recently, after twenty-seven years since I wrote the first draft, I published my novel on Kindle.  It is A Dream of Heaven, written under my pen name, Michael FitzGordon.  I hope that people will read it and enjoy it.  Bob Kerrey read an earlier draft and wrote that it was “a compelling portrait of the destructive force of hatred, the ravaged psyches of those who have experienced war, and the enduring power of faith and love.”  I hope that people will gain a greater understanding of how one can develop PTSD.  The main characters are both American and Vietnamese, and I hope that readers will see war from both sides, see the folly of war, and work harder to avoid war.

Here are some links:

The book, A Dream of Heaven

The Michael FitzGordon author page on Amazon

Mikes Blogs for our Veteran Common Bond Page


Featured Person- Harold (Diz) Kronenberg

1/4/2014

 
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"Diz"- Back Row, Second from the Right
Our Interview with "Diz" (video will return soon)
Harold, better known as "Diz" by EVERYONE, is a retired teacher, coach, golf pro, and baseball player. He also wrote several books and helped start an Annual ALL Veteran Golf Outing. He keeps himself busy always doing things to reach out in his community. Diz has also contributed items for our Annual Vietnam Veteran's Day event. He has taken the time to do a real nice job in honoring Veterans and their families by documenting their service information and some of their experiences.

Diz also took the time to reach out to the Hmong in our area. He actually went to the local airport when a Hmong son was reunited with his mother for the first time in many years and filmed them. He gave them a copy of the DVD. If it wasn't for Diz, that moment would not have been captured in such a way.

Thanks Diz for all that you do! We the community love you! TSIO is honored to know you and have you as a friend. We also induct you into the Number One G.I. Club!


To see Diz on our Veteran Tribute page, please go here.

Featured Person- Joe Vondrachek

1/4/2014

 
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Joe Vondracheck is a licensed Substance Abuse Counselor and has worked in the field and in Recovery support for over 20 years. Joe has a big heart and is always giving of his time to help others. In fact, his life is all about helping others. Whatever he does, whoever he helps, you can feel the sincerity from him in the wanting for others to do well.

Joe has helped load past medical containers for Thuy Smith International and has been supportive of all of our work including with honoring Vietnam Veterans and their families.

Within the last couple of years, Joe has volunteered to be a part of a theater group. He first started out behind the scenes and then pursued a couple of acting parts. It was something he never thought he would pursue or be able to do, but he went for it! The thing we love the most about Joe is his humility, and the continuation of wanting and always being ready to learn.

Thanks Joe for all that you do and thanks for supporting TSIO all of these years!

    People Making a Difference

    Too many times there are people who do great things (big or small), but never get recognized. Sometimes its because people don't give proper credit to where credit  is due and so other people's ideas, accomplishments, or other acts of Greatness never become known.

    ​I admire those who do things without any thought except to do the right thing and to help someone in need. However, I feel it's important to acknowledge "Greatness" when we see it.

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  • Home
    • Announcement
  • Outreach And Advocacy
    • BIO / Speaking Engagements
    • TS Journal: covering various stories, topics, and issues
    • Voices of War, Veteran Website
    • Past Events and Activities
  • Highlights
    • Thuy' Story
    • People making a difference
    • Veteran highlights
    • September is Recovery Month
    • Announcement
  • Contact
  • Blogs
    • Health & Wellness
    • Veterans, War, and Peace
    • World Outreach and Diversity