Vets’ Corner

October 2021

October!!  Wow, summer is over and cooler weather is ahead, we hope!  Time to get outside and enjoy CCC.  Walk, bike, ride your golf carts, just enjoy.  Most of our residents are back and the clubs have resumed their meetings, including ours.  If you are a Veteran, please consider joining us.  We meet the 3rd Monday of each month (Sep thru May) at 10:45 AM in the Magnolia Room.  Next meeting is Oct 18th.  New residents or old residents, doesn’t matter.  Come and meet your fellow Veterans.  We have more in common than we realize and new friends are great.  

     After much consideration and debate, we have decided to cancel our hotdog fundraiser for Oct.  We will miss mingling and laughing with all of the CCC residents (it’s always a fun time) but with all of the uncertainty and changing rules and the fact that there is a lot of “hands on” with food and condiments we felt it is in everyone’s best interest to just cancel this event.  We are hoping and praying that this situation will be over by spring and we can resume our hot dog feeds.  

      We will have our Veteran’s Day Ceremony on  Thursday November 11th @11AM. The ceremony will be held at the CCC Veteran’s Memorial.  There is plenty of space to social distance, so please plan on joining us as we honor our Veteran’s, past and present.  We will be adding a new item to our ceremony this year, thanks to Billy and Linda Schools, called “The Bell of Remembrance”.  I think it will be very special.   And while I’m on that subject, a very special thank you is due to our Woodcrafters Club, and especially Joe Sucharda, for their help with this project. 

     But I’m not done, I need all of CCC’s help in putting together a list of our resident Veterans that we have lost in the last few years.  I’m looking for Name and Branch of Service.   Please help, email info to rlwhitmer@cfl.rr.com.  I don’t want to miss anyone.  Thank You.

     There is one important military event in October.  The U.S. Navy will celebrate it’s birthday on October 13th.  The U.S. Navy was established on October 13, 1775, 246 years ago.  So, Happy Birthday Navy and to all of it’s proud Veteran’s.  

     As always, our association has US Flags (3X5) for sale at $23, and Memorial Bricks to honor our CCC Veterans at our Memorial site.  Please visit our CCC website for more Veteran’s information.  Included on the website is a list of our current officers with phone numbers, and a form to order Memorial Bricks.

For God and Country,

Rick Whitmer  

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September 2021

September already, with Labor Day the unofficial end of summer. But Florida residents know better as this is normally the most active time of the hurricane season. Please stay aware, up-to-date and prepared.

September is also when our Veterans Association resumes its monthly meetings. We meet in the Magnolia Room at 10:45AM on the 3rd Monday of each month. So, mark your calendar for September 20th at 10:45AM. All Veterans are invited to attend. You served your country faithfully and with honor; now we’re asking you to help serve our community.

In addition to Labor Day, there are a couple of days this month that are important to all Americans. The first, Sept 11th, better known as Patriot Day. This day is set aside as a national day of mourning each year in memory of the citizens we lost in the terrorist attacks on 9-11-2001. Fly your flag, say a prayer, observe a moment of silence in memory of those lost. The second, September 17th, Americans celebrate Constitution Day and Citizenship Day. You are encouraged to remember the importance of our Constitution, and reflect on the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and what it means to be a U.S. Citizen.

September 17th is National POW/MIA Recognition Day. This is truly a day of mourning for all Veterans and Veteran’s families. Across the Nation, there will be many ceremonies and events to recognize POWs, MIA and their families to show honor and support for their sacrifice. According to the Department of Defense, there are almost 82,000 American Military members still listed as missing. As you travel around you will see the Black and White POW/MIA Flag flying under the American Flag. This is a powerful symbol of America’s determination to account for US personnel still missing and unaccounted for. Please honor this flag and what it represents. And again, say a prayer and observe a moment of silence for all POW/MIA and their families.

As always, our association has US Flags (3X5) for sale at $23, and Memorial Bricks to honor our
CCC Veterans at our Memorial site. Please visit our CCC website for more Veterans information. Included on the website is a list of our current officers with phone numbers, and a form to order Memorial
Bricks.

See you on Sep 20th!
For God and Country,
Rick Whitmer

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August, 2021

Here we are in August already, well into Hurricane Season. We know it will be hot, muggy and most likely, wet. We urge all of you to be extra cautious during this unpredictable time of year. Please stay aware and prepared. Anyone needing help can contact any of our Veterans or our CCC Administration. We have some really great residents here who will always lend a helping hand.

Even though we don’t meet during the Summer months, we are still looking for new members. We are pleased to tell you that we have 2 new female Veterans in our organization who have been very active with our events. We are looking for more Veterans (Male or Female) who want to join us and help make a difference in our Community. We are also looking for a talented individual (you don’t have to be a Veteran) who would be willing to provide a marching beat on a Snare Drum (provided) during our special events on Memorial and Veterans Days. Please join us at our next meeting on Monday, September 20th @10:45AM. In the meantime, please visit the Veterans section of the CCC Website.

August 7th is National Purple Heart Day. The Purple Heart was first created on August 7th, 1782 by the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, General George Washington. Then known as the Badge of Military Merit, it was awarded to only 3 Revolutionary soldiers in 1783. After the end of the American War of Independence, no medals were awarded until 1932, when the medal was revived on the bicentennial anniversary of George Washington’s birth. According to a circular dated February 22, 1932, Purple Heart Medals were to be awarded to those wounded or killed while serving in the United States Armed Forces as a result of enemy action on or after April 5, 1917. (The United States officially joined the First World War on April 6, 1917) Since then, it is estimated that over 1.8 Million Purple Hearts have been awarded for bravery under fire. If you know any Veterans who have been awarded the Purple Heart, please tell them thank you.

As always, we have US Flags (3X5) for sale, as well as memorial bricks to honor our CCC Veterans. Please visit our CCC website for more Veterans information. Included on the website is a list of our Current officers with phone numbers, and a form to order Memorial Bricks.

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June, 2021
As you are reading this, our Memorial Day Ceremony is behind us. As a group, our Association extends a huge THANK YOU to all of the residents of CCC. Your support is very important to us, I also want to take a moment to say THANK YOU to our Honor Guard and Color Guard for their hard work in conducting this ceremony. It’s an important day in the lives of all Veterans and your dedication is really appreciated. A special thanks to Billy Schools who coordinated this entire event.

With Summer upon us, our Veterans Association will be taking our normal summer break. Our next meeting will be Monday, September 20th, 2021. Please keep in mind, even though we will not be meeting, many of us will still be around if we are needed. I encourage everyone to visit the CCC website, Veterans section, often. We are trying to keep this updated with articles and information to help Veterans and their families. Also, for your convenience, our officers phone numbers are listed.

Monday, June 14th, is Flag Day in the United States. Even though it is not a National Holiday, we celebrate this day each year to honor the United States Flag and commemorate its adoption. On June 14th, 1777, the Continental Congress replaced the British Grand Union Flag with a new design that we know today as the National Symbol of the United States of America. However, Flag Day did not become official until August 1949, when President Harry Truman signed the legislation and proclaimed each June 14th as Flag Day.

Now would be a good time to check your US Flag. If it is faded, ripped or torn, please replace it. If you
need assistance, ask any of our Veterans for help. We have new 3X5 Flags you can purchase for $23.
And please, dispose of the old flags properly. There is a collection box inside the Exercise Room.
Again, we hope all of you have a great summer. We look forward to seeing you in the Fall.

For GOD and country,
Rick Whitmer

April, 2021

Mark your calendars, Monday May 31st @ 11AM. We will be conducting our Memorial Day Ceremony at the CCC Veterans Memorial. The safety and well-being of all of our residents is very important to us so we will be following whatever Covid protocols are in place at the time.

If you have attended our ceremonies in the past, the first thing you probably noticed was our Color Guard, made up of some very patriotic and dedicated ladies who reside here in CCC. We couldn’t do what we do without them. They are looking for some new members.

You don’t have to be a Veteran or the spouse of a Veteran, just have the willingness to serve. If you are interested, please contact Bonnie Andersohn at 399-2812, she is the Color Guard Captain and will be happy to give you all the details. We are also looking for a talented individual who can play a snare drum. This will be to provide a marching drum beat to accompany our Color Guard and Honor Guard at special events. Again, you do not have to be a Veteran or the spouse of a Veteran; just have the willingness to help us. If interested call Rick Whitmer at 399-2019 or Billy Schools at 352-748-4427.

 There are two Military events that occurred in the month of April that are meaningful to all Veterans, and signify Duty, Honor and Country, especially as we approach Memorial Day.

The first, April 16 and 17. The battle for Hill 255 in 1953, later made world famous in a 1959 movie, known as Pork Chop Hill. This was the site of 2 of the bloodiest battles of the Korean War, claiming the lives of 347 American Soldiers and Marines and 1,036 wounded. The battles for this hill were later deemed to have no strategic or tactical value.

The second is April 29 and 30. On these two days in 1975, Operation Frequent Wind took place in South Viet Nam. In just less than 20 hours, 81 helicopters evacuated more than 1,000 Americans and 6,000 South Vietnamese to Aircraft Carriers waiting offshore as NVA tanks were surrounding the Presidential Palace in Saigon. This marked the unofficial end to US Military involvement in the Viet Nam War. Please remember our Veterans on these days. Freedom comes with a price.

 If you are a Military Veteran, WE WANT YOU to be a part of us and help us support CCC. We meet on the 3rd Monday of each month in the Magnolia Room at 10:45AM. Please consider joining us.

 As always, we have American Flags (3X5) and Memorial Bricks for purchase. I encourage you to visit the Veterans section of the CCC Website. New material is being added each month.

 Any questions or concerns on Veterans Affairs or if you know of any Veterans who may need assistance, visit the CCC website or notify one of our members. If you know of any resident Veterans who are ill or hospitalized, please contact our Chaplain, Susan Horsman at 352-399-25590.

For God and Country

Rick Whitmer

March 2021

Our hotdog fundraiser for March 2021 is cancelled. Because of the
way this Covid is still spreading, and the fact that we have to handle and
distribute food in close quarters, we decided that it would be better for our
Veterans and our residents to cancel. We look forward to resuming our
fundraiser in the fall.

There are two dates in March that are significant to our Veterans.
The first, March 25th is National Medal of Honor Day. Established in 1861, the Medal of Honor is the Nation’s highest and most prestigious medal for valor in combat that can be awarded to members of the armed forces. To date, 3,473 MOH have been awarded, 261 during the Viet Nam war.

The second date, March 29th, is National Viet Nam War Veterans Day. Our involvement in Viet Nam started officially on Aug 5th, 1964 when 2 NVA gunboats attacked 2 US Navy Destroyers. It ended on May 7th, 1975 by a proclamation from President Ford. Please remember our Veterans on these days.

I am pleased to announce that one of our members, Susan Horsman, has agreed to be the acting Chaplain for our association. One of her duties is to keep track of our members and other resident Veterans who may be sick and/or hospitalized. You can help by letting Susan know when this happens. She can be reached at 352-399-2590.

If you are a military veteran, WE WANT YOU to be a part of us and help us support our community. We meet on the 3rd Monday of each month in the Magnolia Room at 10:45AM. Please consider joining us. We are only as strong as our membership.

As always, we have Memorial Bricks and American flags available for purchase. Any questions or concerns on Veterans Affairs or if you know of any Veterans who might need assistance, visit us on the CCC Website or notify one of our members.

For God and Country
Rick Whitmer

February 2021

Sad news: On January 15th, 2021 we lost another of our CCC Veterans. William “Bill” Gray passed away at a family residence in Pennsylvania. Bill and his wife Rita moved back to PA due to health issues and to be with family. Bill was one of our founders and a driving force in planning and forming the CCC Veterans Association. As our first Commander he was
instrumental in the planning and building of the Memorial that we enjoy today. On the morning of January 18th,
2021, Ernie Meyers, our current Vice-Commander and good friend, passed away due to an illness. Ernie was
also a member of our current CCC Board of Directors. As I am sure that these two great men and veterans will be
welcomed in Heaven with open arms; they will be truly missed here by all who knew them.
As you drive around our community you can’t help but notice the American Flag flying in so many front
yards. It’s a heart warming site and a true sign of the patriotism of our residents. This really is a wonderful place
to live and play in our retirement years. I encourage all of you to visit our Memorial at the front of CCC. The Memorial was designed to honor and remember the Veterans who have lived here and all Veterans who have
served this great country. It’s a wonderful and quiet place to walk around and enjoy the outdoors, or just sit on
one of the benches and meditate.
If you are a Military Veteran, WE WANT YOU to be a part of us to help support our community. We meet on
the 3rd Monday of each month in the Magnolia Room at 10:45 AM. If you are not a Veteran and would like to
help, there are ways to do this also. For instance, helping hands at our Hot Dog Fund Raisers, special events
and Memorial Services. If you are interested, talk to or call any of our members. Please consider joining us. There
are many ways we can continue to help and serve our community.
As always, we have Memorial Bricks and American Flags available for purchase.
Any questions or concerns on Veterans affairs or if you know of any Veterans who might need assistance, visit
the CCC Web site or call me at 399-2019.
For GOD and Country
Rick Whitmer

January 2021

By the time you read this we will be into the new year. So, HAPPY NEW YEAR and welcome to 2021. We would like to thank all of our residents for their support of our Veterans Association and the events that we sponsor. With 2020 behind us our hope is to once again hold our Hot Dog Nights and the special events for Memorial Day and Veterans Day. However, all safety measures for the health and well-being of our members and residents will be considered before hosting any events. A huge Thank You to all participants and sponsors of our golf tournament held on Dec 5th. It was a great success and it appeared that everyone had a good time. The funds raised will help us with our mission of supporting Veterans issues and concerns here in CCC. In the near future (it may already be in place) our Veterans Association will have a presence on the CCC website. It will start small with a few pictures and some important information, but our hope is to build it into an important site for all residents and veterans to be able to access for issues about Veterans concerns. Our mission is to provide a forum for fellowship and support for all CCC resident military veterans and their families. To provide unity, well being and compassion. If you are a military veteran, WE WANT YOU to be a part of us and help us support our community. We meet on the 3rd Monday of each month in the Magnolia Room at 10:45AM. Our Honor Guard is the most visible part of our Association and we are looking for new participants to help with our special events and memorial services, but there are also other ways to help us continue to serve. Please consider joining us. We are only as strong as our membership. As always, we have Memorial Bricks and American Flags available for purchase. Any questions or concerns on Veterans Affairs or if you know of any Veterans who might need assistance, visit the CCC Website or call 399-2019. For God and Country

Rick Whitmer, Vice Commander

December 2020

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. We are looking forward to our December 5th golf outing. 50/50 tickets were on sale at the pro shop the week of Nov. 22nd and the week of Nov. 29th. The cost of the outing is golf members $13.00 and non members $27.00, starting time is 1:00pm. There will be a putting contest prior to the outing. We will meet at the Ball Diamond after for golf prizes and refreshments. Please furnish your own snacks. The sign up sheet is at the pro shop. For more information you may call Ray Strand, 414-587-1386 or Rick Whitmer at 352-399-2019.

Our next meeting is Dec. 21st in the Magnolia Room at 10:45am. We will have nominations, elections, and installation of officers. Please attend!!!

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. God Bless our veterans. Veterans helping Veterans, Commander Roger Baker