American Gold Star Mothers - Dept of KS, NE Kansas Chapter

Officers

Recording Secretary:
    Shirley Hemenway
Chaplain:
    Virginia Harris
Treasurer:
    Diana Pitts
Corresponding Secretary:
    Charlotte Myers-Dick
Historian:
    Deb Austin
Sergeant at Arms:
    Deb Murchison-Perri
Volunteer Chairperson:
    Deb Austin
VAVS Chairperson:
    Shirley Hemenway
Wreaths Across America:
    Deb Austin
Fisher House Captain:
    Deb Murchison-Perri

We are now represented on the board of the Homeless Veterans Funeral Program in the greater Kansas City area.

Members of our chapter also participate in end of month honors for unattended Veterans Burials at Leavenworth National Cemetery the last Thursday of each month.

We have members as VAVS Representatives on the board of the Dwight D. Eisenhower VA Medical Center in Leavenworth Kansas and the board of the Kansas City MO VA Medical Center in Kansas City Missouri.

Northeast Kansas Chapter

Welcome to the NE Kansas chapter of American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. We currently have 28 members and associate members. We welcome mothers within close proximity to our chapter towns to join us. Even though we are listed as a KS chapter, we currently have (and love) four mothers from NW Missouri who are in our chapter because we are the closest chapter and are very active too!!

From left to right Charlotte Myers-Dick, Virginia Harris, Cindy Butler, Deb Austin, Rhonda Bradbury, Shirley Hemenway, Diana Pitts, Maria Barry, Deb Drexler, not pictured Deann Farnan, Pam Mulvihill, Lisa LaBlance-Willis, Deb Shanahan.

Upcoming Events

Monday Feb 15 - Aaron Tippin concert, The Cotillion Ballroom, 11120 West Kellogg Street, Wichita, KS 67209, 316-722-4201 (Contact Anita Dixon for more details and RSVP).
Friday Feb 19 - Dept of KS, AGSM Official meeting, VFW Post #56 8:00 p.m.
Saturday Feb 20 - VFW Post #56, 519 Cherokee, Leavenworth Rummage sale with proceeds to benefit the "Walk to Remember"; 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
March ? - Chapter meeting, (time/place/date TBA)

April ? - Chapter meeting, (time/place/date TBA).
Saturday May 1 - 5th Annual "Walk to Remember" Weston MO. Registration starts at 9 a.m. Walk begins at 10 a.m. Contact Diana or Patrick Farnam for more information.

Right after the "Walk to Remember" there will be a Dept. of KS, AGSM meeting at Pastimes Bar and Grill in Weston MO with individual chapter meetings to follow.

We will be voting for positions at this meeting. If you would like to change/hold a position in the Dept. of KS AGSM please let Diana know via email as soon as possible. If you'd like information on how to serve on the NEB please see Diana.
Monday May 31, Memorial Day - Leavenworth National and Ft. Leavenworth National Cemeteries will be hosting Memorial Day Events. More information to follow as it becomes available.

June 12 - Army's 235th Birthday Celebration (Time and Place TBA).
June 26-27 - AGSM National Convention in Pennsylvania. Please email Diana for specifics and watch upcoming newsletters for information. If you are AGSM or an associate/friend of AGSM please consider attending this convention.
July ? - Motorcycle Ride to benefit "Wreaths Across America".
July 24 - (Time to Be Announced) T-Bones (KC's Minor League Baseball Team) Military Appreciation Night. We will be helping promote this event and a portion of their earnings will benefit "Wreaths Across America". Call Diana with questions.
August ? - Chapter Meeting, (time/date/location TBA).
November 11 - Veterans Day Parades and events. More information to follow as it becomes available.
December 11 - "Wreaths Across America" 11:00 a.m. We will be sponsoring two different locations this year. We'll be obtaining wreath sponsorships and attending the ceremony at Leavenworth National Cemetery. We'll be hosting the Wreath Laying Ceremony and obtaining sponsorships for wreaths at Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery. Please call Diana for information. We are also working on a Wreath Laying Ceremony in the Topeka area (more info. to follow).

The last Thursday of each month at 2:30 p.m. Leavenworth National Cemetery hosts an "end of month honors" for veterans who have passed during the month and not had family present or honors presented. AGSM, Patriot Guard and others are represented at this event.

Past Events

Several of our members attended the Lee Greenwood concert in Kansas City. Mr. Greenwood was kind enough to take a picture with us.

Front row Bob and Shirley Hemenway, Charlotte Myers-Dick. Back row Debbie Austin-Lamberd. Not pictured Clayton Lamberd & Thomas Dick.

Bob and Shirley Hemenway, Lee Greenwood, Charlotte(Myers) & Thomsa Dick. Not pictured Debbie (Austin) & Clayton Lamberd.

Christmas Gifts our chapter purchased for a military family on Ft. Leavenworth. The family's father is currently deployed to Afghanistan. We were able to purchase everything on their list and received a card thanking us for helping complete strangers.

Nov 22, 2009, Shirley Hemenway and Charlotte Myers-Dick attend the KC Chief's game against the Steelers with their family. This is one of the games the Chiefs won!

Moms from the Wichita and NE Kansas chapters participated in several Veterans Day 2009 events around the area.

Veterans Day Parade in Wichita Ks. November 7, 2009. Kneeling L to R, Diana Pitts (NE KS Chapt.), Conner Parker and Blake Parker (grandsons of Anita Dixon, sons of SGT Evan S. Parker. Back row, Kathie Echols (Diana Pitts mother), Shirley Hemenway (NE KS CHAPT.), Charlotte Myers-Dick (NE KS Chapt.), Betty Pulliam, Andrea Schmidt, Anita Dixon, Denise Lange, Angela Cabrel, and Maria Lane.

Several Gold Star Moms were the invited guests of the Kansas City Chiefs on Oct 25, 2009.

Anita Dixon, Diana Pitts, Deb Murchison-Perri and Deb Austin pose for the camera at the Military Appreciation Day at the KC Chiefs game. We were invited guests of the Chiefs. Setting around us and in attendance were many retired and active military. The Chiefs lost 37-7 but we had a great time watching the great half time show and thanking our veterans and military.

Approx. 140 uniformed active military from the "Big Red One" out of Ft. Riley KS watched the Chiefs game Oct. 25th at field level.

Half time display of a 40X60 American Flag. Forty men and women took their military oath to protect and serve our nation on the field during the half time events.

Country Gold Star Picnic, Sept 20, 2009

Dept of KS members met Sept. 20th at Diana Pitts house for a "Country Gold Star Picnic". We invited Patriot Guard, American Legion and VFW friends to attend as well. We took up a collection of items for our local Veterans Hospitals.

Pictured are: Back row L to R Maria Barry, Cindy Butler, Maria Lane, Charlotte Myers-Dick, Anita Dixon, Deb Murchison-Perri, and Virginia Harris. Front row L to R Deb Austin, Deb Drexler, Diana Pitts.

Grinter Applefest Booth, Sept 12, 2009

We obtained several sponsorships for the Wreaths Across America Project and invited individuals to join us on the event date. We also raised funds for the Dept Acct. to go towards the "Walk to Remember" event. We most enjoyed just spending the day with each other in a beautiful 1800's setting.

Front row (L to R) Gold Star Dad Jim Butler, Cindy Butler, GS Sister Sadie Pitts, Deb Drexler
Back row Gold Star G'ma Lou Baswell, Deb Austin, Gold Star G'ma Kathie Echols, Diana Pitts, Gold Star Brother Joe Butler.

Those in attendance but unfortunately not in the picture; Deb Murchison-Perri and Shirley Hemenway.

Wounded Soldiers Benefit Ride 3/21/2009. In attendance (left to right) Kathie Ecols, Diana Pitts, Rhonda Bradbury, Scott Stephensons, D.C. Big Dog Hannah, Shirley Hemenway, Charlotte Myers-Dick. Along with friends of Scott Stephensons in the back

Battlefield Cross print presentation, Leavenworth VFW Post #56, March 12th, 2009. In attendance from left to right, GS sister Joani Unger, Melissa Miller, GS sister Sadie Pitts, VFW #56 Commander Elect Lynn Rolf III, GS Grandma Kathie Echols, GS brother Shane Unger, Diana Pitts, LEW (presenter of Battlefield Cross Print) Charlotte Myers-Dick, Shirley Hemenway.