THE PURPLE HEART

WITH  RIBBON STAMP

• Unveiling at San Diego, CA

•  Issuance aboard USS Midway

•  May 4th and May 5th, 2011
  

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NATIONAL POSTAL FORUM

San Diego Convention Ctr.  May 4, 2011

     The week of May 1, 2011 turned out to be a pretty patriotic week beginning with the cornering and killing of Osama Bin Ladin by a Special Operation team and the arrival of the National Postal Forum into town to celebrate the release of the "Purple Heart Forever Stamp."  The National Postal Forum ("NPF") chose as its "key note" speaker, a retired Navy Commander by the name of Kirk S. Lippold.  For those of you who are newshounds or historians, you will associate the name with the Navy Destroyer, USS Cole, which was highly damaged in the suicide bombing in the port of Aden, Yemen.

     Cdm. Lippold took the audience of several hundred postal customers and Purple Heart holders on a point-by-point analysis of the dreaded October 12, 2000  attack on the Cole.  His analysis was both stirring and detailed as the presentation moved between rear-screen projections of images and his riveting descriptions of events.  The audience, at times, were so mesmerized  by the imagery that the whir of the air-conditioning units could be heard in the hall.

     Cmdr. Lippold's presentation was also wrapped in a message of managerial theory.  The emphasis being that if managers were to prepare their charges with attention to detail, then when adverse situations or calamities strike, workers will know what to do without detailed directions from managers.

Cmdr. Kirk Lippold giving key note address to NPF

USS Cole shown with gapping hole after terrorist attack

Stroman and Lippold oversee unveiling of Forever Stamp

     Following the stirring speech, the luncheon, and the unveiling of the "Forever Stamp," Chapter 0049 conducted a tour of Point Loma (San Diego) for those guest who were willing and able.  The tour began at: 

• Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery;
• Cabrillo National Monument;
• The Old Point Loma Lighthouse; and
• The Tidepools at Cabrillo Point.

A view from the South of the Old Point Loma Lighthouse

Tour members at Point Loma.  L-R: Mrs. Charlotte Miller, Unit 49; Cmdr. Cruz Cuellar, Chap. 106; Adjutant Richard Rey, Chap. 106; Cmdr. Joseph Petrini, Chap. 0049; President Diane Petrini, Unit 49; Sr. Vice Cmdr. Jack Harkins, Chap. 0049.  Adjutant U. Miller, Chap. 49 (behind the camera)

THE FIRST DAY OF ISSUANCE: "PURPLE HEART FOREVER STAMP"

 May 5, 2011

     May 5, 2011, was another brilliant, blue-sky morning as Chapter 0049 prepared for the auspicious first day of issuance.  The ceremony would begin at 11:00 a.m., but chapter members began arriving as early as 08:30.  I arrived at 09:00 a.m. only to be greeted by Chaplain Bobby Holloway crying out: "You are late!!"  Bob never lets a good dig go by.

Chaplain Bobby Holloway

 Cmdr. Petrini & Sr. Vice Cmdr. Harkins at work on display.

L-R: Alvin Wagner, NSO; Carroll Sweet, CA Sr. Vice Cmdr.; and Jon Williams, CA Commander

Patriot Richard Rey reminisces about riding "shotgun" on UH-1 helicopters (back in the day).

National Jr. Vice Cmd. Bruce McKenty and Al Silvano, MOPH Service Foundation

     And, so the Purple Heart Forever Stamp ceremony began at  11:00 on May 5, 2011.  The activity was opened by the United States Marine Corps, 1st Marine Division Band of Camp Pendleton, CA.  The Master of Ceremonies was Rear Admiral Mac McLaughlin, USN (ret) and President/Chief Executive Officer, USS Midway Museum.  (See adjacent panel for biography of each presenter).

      Following the Presentation of Colors and a rendition of the Star Spangled Banner, Ms. Sharra Kliebenstein gave an uplifting rendition of  God Bless America.

      Then, the current mayor of San Diego, CA, the Honorable Jerry Sanders gave brief remarks of the day on America's military and the positive role the military plays here in San Diego.

     Following Mayor Sanders was Deputy Postmaster General, Ronald A. Stroman of the U. S. Postal Service.  Mr. Stroman made it clear that we were on the USS Midway to do more than dedicate a mere stamp.  No, he was here to pay tribute and recognize the sacrifices of patriots from the founding of our country up to and including today.

     "Now, we have the chance to honor all the members of our nation's Armed Forces who have demonstrated what General George Washington called '...singularly meritorius action...'."  This recognition was followed by asking all Purple Heart recipients to stand and be recognized.

     Final remarks were made by MOPH National Commander Clayton Jones.  This concluded the 90-minute ceremony on board the USS Midway.

 SOUVENIRS OF THE DAY

1.  Purple Heart with Ribbon, First-Day-of-Issue Ceremony, USS Midway Museum, San Diego, CA,               May 5, 2011  11:00 a.m.

2.  First Day of Issue, Envelop w/ Stamp

3.  A local news story appearing in San Diego, CA 

4.  A list of attendees at the Ceremonies

** Images are capable of being opened and enlarged in a separate window by moving your cursor to the bottom right of the image and then clicking on the + image that appears.

 2011 POWAY PATRIOTIC PARADE: "Honoring Those Who Served... Yesterday ... Today... and Tomorrow"

     On August 4, 2011, Chapter 0049 Adjutant Ulysses Miller, received an invitation from the Chair of the 2011 Poway Patriotic Parade.  The question posed by Chair H. Dugdale was whether our Purple Heart Chapter would participate in its 47th parade which would honor the 10th  anniversary of the "... events that changed American lives."

      My response was instantaneous.  In an email back to Chairperson Dugdale, I accepted the invitation and told her we would have 10 Purple Heart recipients available to ride on the Purple Heart float.  Thus began our journey to Poway on Saturday, September 10, 2011, to carry out a patriotic mission to honor all who have and will serve America in our mission to forge freedom throughout the land.

     Team members would meet at the Poway Library at 07:00 a.m. for a VIP breakfast and early registration for the start of the parade.  The official start time was 09:00 a.m.  By 08:00 a.m., all Purple Heart members were loaded aboard the buses headed to Pomerado Road and Poway Road for a 09:00 a.m. kickoff.  The parade would have more that 109 entries and was scheduled to finish at 11:00 a.m.

     The parade Grand Chairman was Medal of Honor recipient, Colonel Joe Vargas (ret.), along with Assembly- man Nathan Flether and Congressman Duncan Hunter.  The parade kicked off at 09:05 and all 109 entries crossed the finish line at 11:00 a.m.  All toll, this was a very successful endeavor and the organization was outstanding.

** Images are capable of being opened and enlarged in a separate window by moving your cursor to the bottom right of the image and then clicking on the + image that appears.

 Patriot A. Aviles and Commander Joe Petrini of Chapter 0049 enjoy morning eggs and sausages before the parade.

 Chaplain Bob and Steve Marquart share views over eggs.

 Aboard the Purple Heart Float, Chapter members L-R: Angel Aviles; Jamal Boubetana; Andre LeCault and Stephen Marquart in the rear nearest the Chapter banner.

 Photo taken from the "reviewing stand" as the P. H. float salutes the crowd.

Full view of Purple Heart Float.  Patriot Robert Hernandez on rear; Associate Member Torin Merrill; Cmdr. Joe Petrini seated up front; Angel Aviles; Jamal Boubetana; Andre LeCault; and Patriot Stephen Marquart in rear.

In the second row: Adjutant Ulysses Miller (seated); and Bob Holloway (standing).

                 Uncle Sam wants You.

 U. S. Air Force Recruitment

               High School Cheer Leaders

A McCormick Farmall Tractor

                     U. S. Navy Southwest Band

        A high school band passes in review

 Whatchalookingat??  Haven't you seen a dog on his bike before??

       " Now some dogs get all the luck."

   Patriots Aviles and LeCault in from of Chapter banner.

                   Poway Marching Band

                                 Carlsbad Queens

                      Chapter 49 Purple Heart Float

   Purple Heart Stamp with Ribbon

     In 2011, the U.S. Postal Service honors the sacrifices of the men and women who serve in the U. S. military with the issuance of the Purple Heart with Ribbon stamp.

     This new stamp features a photograph taken by Ira Wexler of Braddock Heights, Maryland, of the Purple Heart medal awarded during WWII to 1st Lieutenant Arthur J. Rubin (1917 - 1978), a native of Bronx, New York, who enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1941.  Rubin was injured twice in 1944 - on July 6 and July 10 - during military operations near Sainteny, a village in the Normandy region of France, and was awarded a Purple Heart and an Oak Leaf Cluster to the Purple Heart.

     On July 8, 1944, for gallantry in action during a fierce German counter-attack, he received a Silver Star.  Rubin returned to civilian life in February 1946.  Upon his death in December 1978, he was buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.

** The Purple Heart with Ribbon stamp is being issued as a Forever stamp.  Forever stamps are always equal in value the current First Class Mail one-ounce rate. **

    Following the key note speech of Cmdr. Lippold, Deputy Postmaster General, Ronald Stroman and the Commander were on stage to introduce the "Forever Stamp."  Stroman was named the 20th Deputy Postmaster General (DPMG) in March 2011.  He is the second highest ranking postal executive and serves on the Postal Service Board of Governors and on Postmaster General Patrick R. Donahoe's Executive Leadership Team.

R-L:  Dep. Postmaster Ronald Stroman and Cmdr. Lippold

 NPF Luncheon crowd at Convention Center, San Diego

Cmdr. Lippold and the Ladies Auxiliary members

Cmdr. W. Martin and President Anita Martin, Chap. 1898

A view of San Diego Harbor entrance (overlooking Coronado, CA)

Basic operation of a Lighthouse.

Along came a tourist ... and voila

The money shot.

FIRST DAY OF ISSUE: "FOREVER STAMP"

May 5, 2011

     Secondly, I was met at the gangplank by Sr. Vice Cmdr. Jack R. Harkins.  Jack and I met at the agreed upon time but that did not stop Chaplain Bob.

The Four Horsemen: Sergeant-at-Arms, George Waller; Chaplain, Bobby Holloway, Sr. Vice Cmdr. Jack Harkins; and Commander Joe Petrini of Chapter 0049.

Patriot Geo. Waller

Presentation area.

Patriots Cuellar and Rey of Chap. 106 and Mrs. Charlotte Miller of Unit 49.

L-R: Mrs. Alice Barrett and Patriot Rodney Barrett arrive for ceremony.

L-R: Patriots Bill Wroolie, PNC; Angelo Wider, Ch. 353, VA; Jack Leonard, National Adjutant; Al Wagner, Regional Fld. Supv. MOPH 

Chapter 106, Patriots Cruz Cuellar and Richard Rey

 Click here for biography of Admiral McLaughlin.

     Click here for the biography of Mayor Jerry Sanders.

     Click here for the biography of Deputy Postmaster General Ronald A. Stroman of the U.S. Postal Service.

     Click here for the biography of MOPH National Commander Clayton Jones. 

 SOUVENIRS

1.  Click here for ceremony program

2.  Click here for Envelop w/Stamp 

3.  Click here  for news story

4.  Click here for attendees

** Images are capable of being opened and enlarged in a separate window by moving your cursor to the bottom right of the image and then clicking on the + image that appears.

2011 POWAY PATRIOTIC PARADE

** Images are capable of being opened and enlarged in a separate window by moving your cursor to the bottom right of the image and then clicking on the + image that appears.

 Patriot Andre LeCault, Mrs. Doreen LeCault and Bobby Holloway arrive for registration.

 Patriot Angel Aviles arrives for registration.

 Andre and Chaplain Bob discuss the finer points of "float riding" before sitting down to breakfast.

        Patriot Stephen Marquart

 Ladies Aux. Member, Mrs. Charlotte Miller w/ Racari and Summer Stone as supporters of Chap. 0049

 With the Parade underway, this shot has Assoc. Member Torin Merrill on the rear left; Commander Joe Petrini; Angel Aviles; and Chaplain Bob in the very rear left.  Patriot Jamal Boubetana is sitting, center; Andre LeCault to his right; and "Steven Marquart nearest the Chapter banner.

 The Poway Parade Committee pays tribute to Vietnam Veterans.

 Racari and Summer enjoy the Grand Stand view.

 Navy Seal Display unit.

 Seal recruitment trailer/office

Assemblyman  Nathan Fletcher

U. S. Army Recruitment

         U. S. Marine Corps

 Chapter members reviewing units as they prepare to take-off.

 Jamal meets the Princesses

    The Pom-Pom Girls in review

 The Flag Squad passes in review.

     Wells Fargo Stagecoach

 Looking through the underside of the Well Fargo coach to other side of street.

 Man, I am just "dog-tired?" Did you say there are 109 units in this parade??

 Say Toots, are your tootsie hot??

       Cow Girls on parade.

        Poway Princesses

        Suzanne Kropf

       Shetland Pony

   End of Parade at Poway Library

 Racari Stone; Charlotte Miller; Summer Stone; Ulysses Miller; Cmdr. Joe Petrini; and Torin Merrill