Clear DayGood Evening Folks:

First I would like to thank everyone who made the Flag Raising and Watermelon Bust a  Huge Success at the State Veterans Home.

When SAMS found out 4 days ago that we would be doing the Flag Raising and Watermelon Bust plus the cooking, the SOS went out.  As in the past Post 48 of the Scottish-American Military Society came through with flying colors.....another streamer for the Post Colors.  Our Color Guard , Post and Family members are truly amazing and dedicated to the Veterans Community.  A special thanks to Lert Dawson for his reading of " I AM OLD GLORY.......The Flag of the United States of America.

Today the amount of Volunteers, from The "MM's" (the Military Moms, These ladies are the Mothers or Aunts of Service Personal now serving in Iraq and Afghanistan). We thank them for finding the time to be here with us on these cook-out. If someone knows how to contact them please forward this to them, Mas Inoshita, Nancie & Russell Tsubota from the Arizona Buddhist Temple, Dick Darnell from "Dick's Family Kitchen" spending some time with us. Pam Harvey, the wife of Ray Harvey(MOH) who the Veterans Home Out-Patient Clinic is named after, Sandy Sanderson from Clan Donald, and all of Post 48 and their family members.The list is to long, all I can say Is, THANK YOU on behalf of the Residents and myself for the hours you put in today. I know I was tired but very glad to see what happened and the smiles on faces of some of the Greatest Generation that have given us the freedoms that we have today. The smiles on the faces of all that were there is payment enough. As far as I'm concerned all that were there today and in the past are the greatest generation.

On a sadder note. I found out today at the cook-out that long time SAMS member and AZ. State Veterans Home resident, Bill Chambers died this morning at the Carl Hayden VA Medical Center. This message came to me Via fellow Korean War Veteran Association & Chaplain Don Milburn.  Bill Chambers will be remembered for his active participation in helping to lay the ground work for the AZ. State Veterans Home. Bill and many of the older Veterans put in untold hours fighting the State Legislature to make the Veterans Home, and what is now the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona a reality. Bill's health failed some years ago but he was a true veterans advocate until the end. I know our prayers and thoughts are with Bill's family tonight.

                                                                      THANK YOU.......and HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA.



Fred (semi-colon) C.