ANNOUNCEMENTS
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Rebels With A Cause
Where your journey of a lifetime begins.....

Kathleen Renee' DeSpain-Moore
Executive Director/Founder
3801 Duckhorn Drive #914
Sacramento, CA 95834
916-628-3180
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www.rebelswithacause.us - www.holidaymiracles.org 

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CA VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL UPDATE

Funds have been collected from a recent rally at the Memorial, contributions from members of the California State Council of VVA and submitted to the CSU fund for the Memorial.  These funds will be used to purchase a replacement of the BT Collins Bench.  (the standard required by the State.)  Bench has been ordered and possibly will be installed by Veterans Day.  The drainage repairs are due to start soon.  Additional lights have been replaced.

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"A Continuing Tradition"

   Rebecca Lee                  916-501-8788
  Call Rebecca for the Special Discounts available for Veterans
Many East Lawn locations in the Sacramento area
Pre-Arrangement Plans are also available.

43rd & Folsom Blvd., P.O. Box 19334, Sacramento, CA 95819
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HELP YOUR BUSINESS AND SUPPORT THE VVA

Advertise in the Capitol Veteran.  Reasonable Rates!!!
One issue, business card size is $5.00.  Get one month free by advertising for 6 months at $25.00.  Call the office for more information or submit your copy with a check to VVA by mail.

                            COMMUNITY ISSUES

      SACRAMENTO NEEDS A CHILDREN'S MUSEUM!
                                                Assemblymember Dave Jones
     One of the reasons why people choose to live here in Sacramento is that it is a great place to raise a family.  But, unlike many cities and towns across America, Sacramento does not have a children's museum.  With two young kids of my own, I've had a chance to visit children's museums on family vacations throughout the United States.  Children's museums provide fun and interesting hands-on learning opportunities for young children, with plenty of parental interaction.  They are also a destination for local families and visitors.  A city the size of Sacramento, with its focus on making this a great place for families, should have a children's museum.
     The good news is that a determined group of local community members are in the beginning stages of organizing a top rate children's museum in Sacramento.  The Sacramento Children's Museum will be non-profit and completely hands-on for children from birth to eight years old.  The museum will house hands-on exhibits, both indoors and outdoors, as well as an amphitheater, garden, parent resource room/classroom, party room, retail store, and cafe.  The Sacramento Children's Museum will be a place for local families to visit often and a destination for visitors to our area.
     When people hear the word "museum" they often think of a place where you view artifacts or admire beautiful works of art.  However, at a children's museum you might dig up artifacts in a large sand pit to learn about fossils and archeology or float small plastic boats in a flowing water exhibit that allows you to open and close channels, create water falls, and raise and lower water levels, to see how water flows around, over and under objects.  Children's museums are places for children to test, touch, listen, build, explore, laugh, learn, and more!
      In a children's museum, children get to do what they do best -- play!  In fact, play is the work of a child.  The late Fred Rodgers of Mr. Rodgers Neighborhood said it best, "Some people talk about play as if it were a relief from serious learning or even worse; a waste of time.  But for children, play is exceedingly serious...and important!  Play is a way for children to learn who they are, how the world works, solve problems, and to express feelings"
     The Sacramento Children's Museum will rely on a wide range of volunteers, from senior citizens to middle school students.  The museum represents a community-wide investment in our children.  Children's museums often operate like the town squares of old, where individuals and families come together to share their talents and cultures.  According to Harvard University, Sacramento is the most integrated and diverse city in the nation.  The Sacramento Children's Museum will incorporate this diversity throughout its exhibits and programs.
     The Sacramento Children's Museum will provide a safe, non-threatening environment to ensure that the museum experience is accessible to those of differing abilities and backgrounds.
                              Cont. next column     ►►►

                           AFTER ACTION REPORT
9/6 - VVA500 held the regular Board Meeting
9/12 -  E.D. McNeill attended the last Stand Down Task Force Meeting before the Sacramento Stand Down.
9/14 - The Veterans Affiliated Council meeting was attended by VVA delegates and Commanders.
9/16-18 - Sacramento Stand Down.  Many VVA500 members volunteered their services.  E.D. McNeill served as Volunteer Coordinator. 2nd Vice President of the VVA California State Council, Dick Southern and his wife Carol visited the Stand Down on Sunday and were given a tour or the project.
9/20 - VVA500 held their regular General Meeting.  We had the pleasure of having Stan Atkinson as our guest, who is a representative of the Senior Freedom Corp, who gave a great presentation on Reverse Mortgages.
9/24-25 - CSC State Delegate Gregory McNeill attended the quarterly CSC meeting.
9/26 - E.D. McNeill attended the debriefing meeting for the Stand Down Board.
10/3 - E.D. McNeill attended the debriefing meeting for the Stand Down Task Force.
10/4 - VVA500 held their regular Board Meeting.
10/5 - Volunteers for the Stand Down attended the Appreciation Dinner provided by AMVETS Post #1.
10/7-9 - VVA500 members enjoyed their annual Get-A-Way at Scotts Flat.
10/12 - VVA500 delegates and Commanders attended the monthly VAC meeting.
10/15 - VVA500 delegates and Commanders attended the annual VAC Honor Guard Dinner.
10/17 - Secretary McNeill attended the monthly Marine Corps League Meeting.

                      CHILDREN'S MUSEUM, CONT.
    
     Children's museums are physical spaces providing authentic, hands-on experiences that are often missing from children's lives in this age of technology.  Children and adults will be able to spend quality time together and will be able to experience the luxury of becoming lost in the present moment as they play.
     With research showing that 80% of mental development occurs before the age of eight, the Sacramento Children's Museum is dedicated to providing an environment to enrich this important developmental state.  Sacramento has almost 120,000 children under the age of five, and is one of only our capital cities in the nation that does not have a dedicated children's museum.
     More than 30 million children and families visited children's museums around the country last year.  The Sacramento Children's Museum organizers are looking to locate this important community asset in the City of Sacramento.  For example, a children's museum could be an anchor development in the new waterfront development planned by the City along the Sacramento River.  Children's museums are sought-after destinations.  Over 30% of the children's museums in the country were built as catalyst projects in downtown revitalization efforts.  The Sacramento Children's Museum will help bring families back into the heart of the city.  I look forward to working closely with the organizers of this effort to establish a Sacramento Children's Museum.  There is no question that Sacramento should have a children's museum and that developing a children's museum should be one of our highest priorities.  As local leaders and community members learn about the benefits of a children's museum support continues to grow.  The Sacramento Children's Museum Board is looking for more volunteers and support to help make this dream a reality. 
     To learn more about the Sacramento Children's Museum go to www.sacramentochildrensmuseum.org, call: 916-952-6852. Get involved! With your help, we will develop a wonderful children's museum for Sacramento!

PTSD.....continued

                                    GUILT
  Ever feel Guilt for surviving the war when others (who
     may have had more to live for) did not?
  Feel guilt that perhaps if you had stayed a little longer,
     you could have "made a difference?"
  Feel guilt for acts committed, or acts observed without
     making an effort to stop them?
  Feel guilt for returning to the relative safety of home
     and leaving friends behind that were still engaged in
     combat?
                                  INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS
  Ever have "flashback" episodes?
  Intense thoughts of "what might have been?"
  Ever experience strong reaction to certain sights,
     sounds, or smells?
  Have feelings of being somewhere other than where
     you really are?
  Memories of traumatic events ever interrupt your
     routine thought patterns?
                           FEAR AND CONTROL ISSUES
  Try to control everything that happens around you?
  Fear of people around you trying to control you?
  Fear of dying and afraid to go on living?
  Fear of surprises or situations over which you have
     no control?
  Fear what might happen if you ever lost control of
     yourself?
                                       DEPRESSION
  Ever feel worthless?
  Substance abuse?  Self medication?
  Difficulty concentrating?  Easily distracted?
  Feel a sense of helplessness or futility about your
     condition?
                   DEVELOPMENTAL DISCONTINUITIES
  Feel that there are "holes" in your developmental
     stages?
  Feel like you "lost something" when you were
     growing up?
  Feel that you will never be able to regain what you
     have lost?
                 DEATH IMPRINT & CONTAMINATION
  Think about death a lot?
  Feel that you will never, ever get close to anybody
     again?
  Feel that everyone that you get close to is somehow
     "contaminated" by you, and dies?
                                         DENIAL
  Unwilling to seek help, don't trust anyone?
  Ever feel like "It's no big deal, I can handle it."
  Do you ever deny that "your experience" could have
     anything to do with your attitude?
  Are you unable to admit that you have any of the above
     symptoms or that you may have post traumatic stress
     disorder. (PTSD)?
  Do you deny even the possibility that there may be
     spiritual solutions to the problem of Post Traumatic
    Stress?     THESE ARE ALL SYMPTOMS OF P.T.S.D.

RE:  PTSD - OVERWHELMING PAIN

     The human body has been designed with protective means to automatically cope with severe, overwhelming pain.  When a person experiences overwhelming physical pain, the body automatically goes into a state of "shock", and in life threatening situations, may ultimately go into a "comatose" condition.  All non-essential physical functions shut down in order for the body to focus on dealing with the physical trauma is has experienced.  The body does this automatically without being told to.  If the body were not to react automatically in this way, the pain would be so intense that the body would succumb to it and die.  Interestingly enough, the mind usually continues to function even when the body is in a coma.
     God has also instilled in the human mind a way to cope with severe, intense mental stress.  When a person experiences overwhelming mental trauma or distress, he suffers a "nervous breakdown," which may even lead to a "catatonic" state.  The body is awake, the eyes are open, but the mind shuts down as it tries to deal with the extreme mental trauma it has experienced.  This natural way of insulating the mind from overwhelming mental anguish protects it from the mental strain which would otherwise reach unbearable levels.  It is not unusual for people to die from overwhelming emotional trauma.
     The spirit of man, his emotions (soul) and his conscience also have a way of dealing with the horror of moral pain or spiritual trauma.  The body continues to function, and the mind also is able to function, but man's spirit is "deadened," his conscience becomes "callused," and his heart becomes "hardened."  In the absence of these key aspects of humanity, behavior is typified by a lack of any evidence that these important human elements are functioning.  This is one view of what might be happening to someone experience Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

"WELCOME HOME VIETNAM VETERANS DAY" 

     Senator Barbara Boxer introduced the Senate Resolution 269 on October 6, 2005.  This resolution would establish March 30, 2006 as a national "Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day".
     Representative Linda Sanchez has previously introduced a House of Representatives Resolution for the same.
     In her address to the Senate while introducing the Resolution, she stated:  Those who did return home from Vietnam did not have the traditional welcome home ceremonies.  And they continue to face many problems...........Veterans of the Vietnam War, and all veterans, are entitled to the best care and treatment the U.S. Government can provide.  It is important that we honor and respect their service.  It is especially important to do so now, at a time when we have so many new veterans returning home from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan........
     Note:  We will post the entire language of SR269 and Senator Boxer's statement on the VVA website.  It is important that we thank Senator Boxer for introducing the SR269 and contact Senator Feinstein and ask for her support of the Resolution.  Senator Boxer's local office can be reached at:  916-448-2787.  Senator Feinstein's local office can be reached at:  415-393-0707.

VVA500 MEMBERS DALE KEHOE, GREGORY McNEILL AND OTHER VOLUNTEERS AT THE STAND DOWN 2005

VVA500 MEMBERS GRACE CALLES, JOE FEIRL, FRAN KEHOE AND VOLUNTEER LEONARD COUSINS AT THE STAND DOWN 2005

VVA500 PRESIDENT TED ADAMS PRESENTS STAN ATKINSON WITH AN AWARD FOR HIS SERVICE TO VETERANS AT THE SEPTEMBER MEETING.

CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER!...VVA AND AVVA UNITE...GERARD FIELDS AND CHRIS MILLER ARE NOW ONE.  THEY WERE MARRIED OCTOBER 1ST

LEFT - GET-A-WAY 2005 - HANK DAVIS WAS OUT FISHING WHEN THE GROUP PICTURE WAS TAKEN - RIGHT AND BELOW- ROCKY TREJO TREATED MEMBERS TO A MAGIC SHOW


DOC WANTS TO KNOW "HOW DID HE DO THAT?  I WAS RIGHT THERE AND COULDN'T TELL"

CHAPTER INFORMATION
OFFICERS:  President:  Ted Adams
    Vice President:  Robert Jordan
     Secretary:  Gregory McNeill
       Treasurer:  Dennis "Doc" Kauffman
CHAPTER ADDRESS:  Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc.
      Chapter 500
              P.O. Box 255484
                         Sacramento, CA 95865
TELEPHONE:  916-481-6020
E-MAIL:  vva500@sbcglobal.net
CHAPTER WEBSITE:  www.norcaltrav.com/vva500.htm
FOR INFORMATION:  Call or e-mail, Executive Director,
             Mary Lou McNeill

NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS:  Mail to Chapter address or e-mail information.  Please send pictures in jpeg form.
VVA Chapter 500 is a non-profit organization, #68-0208305, CT#75945, United Way #12583.  All donations to support our projects such as our Scholarship Fund, Helping Hands Fund, Events for Veterans, and Honor Guard will be gratefully appreciated.  You may earmark your donation to the project you wish to support.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 
OCTOBER'S BIRTHDAY'S             
     Chet Fong - Navy♫♫♫Johnny Kinder - Army♫♫♫Robert Jordan - Army♫♫♫Lorna Griess - Army♫♫♫Michael Kunda - Air Force♫♫♫Lemuel Murray - Marines♫♫♫Bill Wagner - Army♫♫♫Chris Miller - AVVA♫♫♫Karen Anne Winnett - Marines♫♫♫Marlaena Herbert - AVVA♫♫♫Jim Morris - Army♫♫♫  And...November's Birthdays - ♫♫♫Pete Conaty - Army♫♫♫Jimmie Walker - Army♫♫♫Henry Davis - Marines♫♫♫Patricia Terry - AVVA♫♫♫Eugene Cirillo - Air Force♫♫♫

 If your birthday is in October or November, and you don't see your name here, the Chapter does not have a copy of your DD214.  National VVA has it.  If you have a copy, send us one for our files and we can wish you Happy Birthday too!  AVVA members we also need your Birthday Dates !!!

WELCOME HOME!

 NEW MEMBERS AND TRANSFERS
Lorna Perrigo, Ron Hutson