ROLLING THUNDER®, INC.
CHAPTER 4 TENNESSEE
PO Box 220
Mountain Home, TN 37684
423-329-3151
www.rollingthundertn4.com
“When one American is not worth the effort to be found, we as Americans have lost!”
November 1, 2014
RTTN-4 Officers
Pres: Alan Sipe 423-329-3151, VP: Vacant, Sec: Kay Nave 423-342-1498, Treas: Traci Fisher 423-483-4947
Board Members
Chairman: Bob Rambo(2016) 423-276-8368, John Andes(2015) 423-282-2515, Susan Andrews(2015) 423-282-6020, Tom
Correll(2016) 423-483-2341, Angie Grissom(2015) 423-676-1628, Will Hardy(2016) 423-440-1870
Spencer Nave(2015) 423-213-7919, Chuck Richardson(2016) 423-342-6162, Charlie Smith(2016) 423-543-7218,
alt(2): Bill Hunt 423-928-4928(2015), alt(1): Tom Hill 423-946-0270(2015)
VOLUME 12, ISSUE 11
November 2014, NEWSLETTER
Chairmans Report: The month of October was a very busy month for our chapter, with
sixteen events. I want to thank everyone who was involved in making each and every
event extremely well attended. Our poppy donations at the Greeneville, Tenn. Walmart
was a super success, our welcome home ride to welcome our troops back up in Marion,
Va. was appreciated by all, and our empty chair dedication in Lebanon, Va. was a great
event. The month of November will be no different, as we have many upcoming events.
Several of us will be leaving for our national conference in Washington and I know things
are well covered here at home. Thank each of you in advance for stepping up and
representing your chapter. I also want to make a report to the chapter about our new
partnership with Wreaths Across America, in the last two weeks we have ordered over
200 wreaths for our VA cemetery in Mountain Home,Tenn. We have until Thanksgiving to
complete this year's orders, let's keep up the good work. I wish each of you a wonderful
and happy Thanksgiving, enjoy the turkey and trimmings. The COB
From the President
As you can see on the schedule below, a very busy November awaits us. Please join us at any event
you are able to attend. Thanks to those filling in for the regulars ... especially during the National
Conference.
Our mission at the Community Living Center, CLC (previous called the VA Nursing Home) will slowly
be closed. Their function has been changed to a short-term care facility. Rehab only. Poker nights will
cease after December and it has yet to be determined what will happen with the ice cream/pizza
socials. The remaining long term care clients will stay until they complete their time at the facility.
Please notice that our December meeting will be on Saturday evening the 6th at 6 pm. An
abbreviated meeting will be followed by a pot luck dinner with turkey and ham provided. Please sign
up at the next meeting or by email/phone to Gail Hughes, [email protected] or 423-6386122.
Warm Regards, Alan
NOVEMBER Birthdays (and may you have many more)
1-Angela Johnson
8-Jane Hensley
14-Terry Evans
26-Earl Leonard
2-John Abe Teague 4-Blake Brooks 5-Donna Adams 4-Roy Fisher
9-Roy Livingston
10-Jeff Kilbourn 11-Jay Grubb
12-Chuck Elrod
14-Bill Horn
17-Danny Johnson 22-Michael Strickland 23-Lisa Hall
MISSION STATEMENT: “THE MAJOR FUNCTION OF ROLLING THUNDER®, INC. IS TO PUBLICIZE
THE POW-MIA ISSUE; TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC THAT MANY AMERICAN PRISONERS OF WAR
WERE LEFT BEHIND AFTER ALL PREVIOUS WARS, AND TO HELP CORRECT THE PAST, AS WELL AS
TO PROTECT FUTURE VETERANS FROM BEING LEFT BEHIND, SHOULD THEY BECOME
PRISONERS OF WAR OR MISSING IN ACTION. WE ARE ALSO COMMITTED TO HELPING AMERICAN
VETERANS FROM ALL WARS.”
UPCOMNG 2014 RTTN4 EVENTS:
PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW !
NOVEMBER
1---(SATURDAY) Ex-POW Luncheon at noon at Shoney's JC. Be there NLT 11:45. (The exPOW's have decided to continue their luncheon with RTTN4 on a month by month basis.)
2---(SUNDAY) Day Light Savings Time ends.
2---(SUNDAY) Keystone FW Baptist Church in JC, Veteran's Day Service. 11-noon svc, with
Table Ceremony, Roll Call, TAPS and a complimentary meal afterwards. Ceremonial dress.
Stage at Bojangle's, State of Franklin Rd. in JC, next to ETSU at 9:45 am. Depart at 10:15.
3---(MONDAY) November Board Meeting at Perkins in JC at 6:30 pm.
6-8---(THURSDAY-SATURDAY) Rolling Thunder National Conference, Washington, DC
6---(THURSDAY) POKER NIGHT at the V.A. CLC at 7:00-8:30 pm. Be there NLT 6:45 pm.
8---(SATURDAY) Bristol Veterans' Day Parade. Start time 10 am. Line-up on Morrison Blvd.
Stage at McDonald's in Piney Flats. Stage NLT 8 am, depart at 8:15. Casual Dress. Weather
permitting.
9---(SUNDAY) Doe River Baptist Church, Eliza, past drive-in on Avon Dr. off of US 321. 9 Nov
2014, 11 am for Veterans Day. Table Ceremony/Roll Call/TAPS. Ceremonial dress please.
Stage at Bojangles in Elizabethton at 10 am. Depart at 10:30. POC: Juanita 423-647-1727.
9---(SUNDAY) Victory Baptist Church Veterans' Day service. 11 am. Stage at McDonald's in
Piney Flats at 9:45 am, depart at 10 am. Table/Roll Call/TAPS. Ceremonial dress please.
Fabulous meal to follow. POC: Danny Damron 423-538-5062.
10---(MONDAY) CLC PIZZA SOCIAL at 2 pm. Be there NLT 1:45 pm.
10---(MONDAY) Veterans Day Ceremony at the ETSU Quadrangle at 10 am. Stage at Bojangles
in JC, near ETSU at 9 am with departure at 9:30 am. Table Ceremony only and the speaker
system is required. Ceremonial dress is requested. Motorcycles only due to parking
restrictions.
10---(MONDAY) Roan Highlands Nursing Center, Veterans Day, Table, Roll Call, TAPS at 10:45
am. Stage at Bojangles in Elizabethton at 9:30 am with departure at 10 am. Replacement flag
if necessary. Ceremonial dress is requested. POC: Jodi Howald 423-772-0161
10—(MONDAY) CHAPTER MEETING at the American Legion on Watauga and G St. Eliza.
7 pm.
11---(TUESDAY) Veterans' Day. Flag raising and Table/Roll Call/TAPS at 10 am. Monte Vista
Burial Park on Oakland Ave. in JC. Stage at McDonald's on Browns Mill Rd at 9 am with
departure at 9:30. Ceremonial dress requested. Monte Vista has their POW/MIA flag to raise,
may need lanyard clips. POC: Brenda 423-833-5235
11---(TUESDAY) Lakebridge Health Care Center. Table/Roll Call/TAPS at 2 pm. 115 Woodlawn
Dr. Stage at McDonald's on W. Market St. in JC at 1 pm. Depart at 1:30 pm. Ceremonial dress
requested. POC: Pandora Abbott 423-975-0095 x: 308.
12---(WEDNESDAY) John M. Reed Health and Rehab, Limestone, .5 miles behind Johnny's Mkt.
Table/Roll Call/TAPS at 10:30 am. Stage at Hardee's in Jonesborough at 9:30 am and depart
at 9:50. POC: Annette at 257-6122.
13---(THURSDAY) POKER NIGHT at the V.A. CLC at 7:00-8:30 pm. Be there NLT 6:45 pm.
15---(SATURDAY) VETERAN'S DAY ceremony at Black Wolf HD. Table, Roll Call and TAPS.
Ceremonial dress for those participating in the ceremony. Staging to follow...
16---(SUNDAY) Empty Chair dedication at Damascus VA at 2 pm. Table, Roll Call, TAPS.
Ceremonial dress please. Details to follow.
18---(TUESDAY) Thunder Night at 6:30 pm at the Eliza. AL. Menu TBA.
20---(THURSDAY) POKER NIGHT at the V.A. CLC at 7:00-8:30 pm. Be there NLT 6:45 pm.
27---(THURSDAY) Thanksgiving!!!
DECEMBER
4---(THURSDAY) POKER NIGHT at the V.A. CLC at 7:00-8:30 pm. Be there NLT 6:45 pm.
6---(SATURDAY) Ex-POW luncheon at Shoney's in JC at noon. Be there NLT 11:45.
6---(SATURDAY) Junior Members Christmas Party at 2 pm at Chuck E. Cheese in JC. Please
call Charlie Smith at 423-512-2176 if you plan on having your youngsters there.
6—(SATURDAY) Abbreviated CHAPTER MEETING and Christmas Party at the American Legion
on Watauga and G St. Eliza. at 6 pm. Chinese Gift Exchange. Bring gift for a value up to $20.
Also bring a side dish to go with the turkey and ham being provided. Sign up at the next
meeting or contact Gail Hughes at [email protected] or 423-638-6122.
7---(SUNDAY) Toys for Tots ride at Freedom Hall. Stage at 1 pm and depart at 2 pm. $10
donation or one new toy per rider. Ride is to the Gray Fairgrounds.
8---(MONDAY) Christmas Party in lieu of the CLC PIZZA SOCIAL at 2 pm. Be there NLT 1:45
pm. An expanded selection of food/goodies will be served. Presents will be handed out.
10---(WEDNESDAY) Wreaths Across America at the Walmart Distribution Center in Midway, TN
at 8 am. Stage at Hardee's in Jonesborough with departure at 6:45 am. Table Ceremony and
TAPS. Black and whites requested.
11---(THURSDAY) POKER NIGHT at the V.A. CLC at 7:00-8:30 pm. Be there NLT 6:45 pm.
13---(SATURDAY) Wreaths Across America ceremony at noon at the VA Cemetery entrance.
14---(SUNDAY) MANNA HOUSE Christmas Party at 4:30 pm. Be there NLT 4:15 pm.
18---(THURSDAY) POKER NIGHT at the V.A. CLC at 7:00-8:30 pm. Be there NLT 6:45 pm.
24---(WEDNESDAY) Christmas Eve at the Melting Pot at Munsey Methodist Church around
3:30/4 pm. Help feed the homeless of which many are Vets. Contact Alan via
email/text/phone at [email protected] or 423-329-3151. Deadline is 31 Oct to let me know
25---(THURSDAY) Merry Christmas!!!
Left, Alan and Jeff receive a certificate of appreciation from Mayor Helms of Marion and the VFW Commander. We stop
and perform ceremonies on the courthouse steps on our way to D.C. each Memorial Day.
Right, our newest member, former Junior Member Catelyn Matthews, receives her Boot, Eagle/Rocker, from VP Tom Lowe
as COB Bob Rambo looks on.
Another Missing Man Chair was installed at the Veterans Memorial in Lebanon, Virginia. It is
appropriately centered in the new memorial and was dedicated with a Table and Roll Call Ceremony
as well as TAPS. All were performed by RTTN4 members.
New member Danny Jordan receives a shadow box for the American Flag his family received at a
recent burial of a loved one at the VA. These boxes are handmade by member Tom Lowe.
The 760th Engineering Co. arrived in Marion Virginia on 24 Oct to a hero's welcome. They were
escorted by RTTN4. After having seen them off last year to Afghanistan, it was great to see them all
come home. Please see additional pictures on our Facebook site.
PFC Cecil Harris died during WWII in Jan. 1945 during the Battle of the Bulge. His remains were repatriated with his
family this past summer in Mountain City, TN and was finally laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery on 22 Oct 2014.
RIP
Committee Chairpersons 10/26/14
Ceremony & Event Participation Comm. Color Guard CaptainCommittal Flag CommitteeEducation Committee Event Scheduling CoordinatorFlag CoordinatorEx-POW Co-ChairEx-POW Co-ChairFundraising CommitteeFundraising CommitteeFundraising CommitteeFuneral Honor Guard CaptainGold Star Mothers CommitteeGold Star Mothers CommitteeHomeless Veterans CommitteeHomeless Veterans CommitteeJunior Membership CommitteeManna House CommitteeManna House CommitteeMedia Relations CommitteeMissing Man Chair CommitteeMissing Man Chair CommitteeMonetary Assistance CommitteeMonetary Assistance CommitteeMonetary Assistance CommitteeNew Membership Co-ChairNew Membership Co-ChairVA Community Living Center Committee-
Alan Sipe
Will Hardy
Kay Nave
Carl McCutcheon
Alan Sipe
Frankie Andrews
Open
Chuck Richardson
Chuck Shelton
Bill Hunt
Bob Rambo
Bob Rambo
Susan Andrews
Rocky Skelton
Will Hardy
Laurie Norris
Charlie Smith
Tom Lowe
Vicky Lowe
Kay Nave
Open
Frankie Andrews
John Andes
Traci Fisher
Chuck Richardson
Bob Rambo
Angela Johnson
Dave Willis
423-329-3151
423-440-1870
423-342-1498
423-647-7653
423-329-3151
423-791-4053
423-297-1330
423-741-6288
423-928-4929
423-276-8368
423-276-8368
423-282-6020
423-782-9542
423-480-1870
423-483-5421
423-512-2176
423-388-9160
423-388-8257
423-342-1498
423-791-4053
423-282-2515
423-483-4947
423-297-1330
423-276-8368
423-327-7881
423-429-5170
Project Leaders 9/26/14
Amber Project (co)Amber Project (co)Card CorrespondenceCo- ChaplainCo- ChaplainFlag InventoryGrant WriterGrant WriterNewsletter DistributorP.A. System/Speaker TransporterP.A. System/Speaker Transporter-Alt
ParliamentarianProgressive DinnerRTTN4 Facebook Site Moderator“Run to the Wall” CoordinatorSales Table (co)
Sales Table (co)
Thunder Night Dinner CoordinatorThunder RunVA CLC SocialsVeterans Council RepresentativeVeterans Council RepresentativeWebmaster/Group EmailWebmaster/Group Email AssistantWebmaster/Group Updates
Women’s Clothing ProjectWreaths Across America
Beth Begley
Laurie Norris
P K Richardson
Tom Lowe
Jim Hughes
Frankie Andrews
Greg Battles
Diane Cannon
P.K. Richardson
Tom Lowe
Frankie Andrews
Bob Rambo
Alan Sipe
Doug Grissom
Kay Nave
Terry/Jan Evans
Steve/Lisa
Gail Hughes
Chuck Richardson
Tom Correll
Vacant
Earl Leonard
Dean Nash
Kevin Dison
Terry Evans
P. K. Richardson
Bob Rambo
423-914-3494
423-483-5421
423-297-1330
423-388-9160
423-638-6122
423-791-4053
423-747-8734
423-474-2138
423-297-1330
423-388-9160
423-791-4053
423-276-8368
423-329-3151
423-676-9028
423-342-1498
423-573-6439
423-794-7181
423-638-6122
423-297-1330
423-483-2341
423-341-5371
423-477-4014
423-612-6991
423-573-6439
423-297-1330
423-276-8368