Blue to Gold: Sgt. Patrick Stewart & CW3 John Flynn

The Group photos were taken by Paula at the Blue to Gold Presentation for Sgt. Patrick Stewart & CW3 John Flynn. The ceremony conducted by Marge and Paula took place on Friday March 10th, 2006 at the Stewart's family home. Paula and Marge visited the veterans Cemetery in Fernley which is were they took the photo of CW3 John Flynn's memorial plaque. Both Sgt. Patrick Stewart & CW3 John Flynn fought together and died together on September 25, 2005.
Let us not forget those who have given their lives in the name of freedom.

February 28th Meeting Notes

· MEMBERS Present (at Carson Plaza Retirement): Carol Birchill, Jeanne Bishop-Parise, Barbara Clark, Joyce Howell, Leslie Evans, Paula Fleming, Cheryl Gray, Marge Greenfield
· DIRECTORY Updates given. Revised listing to be emailed monthly to membership.
· MINUTES: NOTES from meetings to be posted as Blogger Update for review. January approved as posted.
· TREAS. REPORT: given by Marge Greenfield. Balance 2/11/06 $856.35. Detail attached.
· UPDATES ON SONS/DAUGHTERS:
o Joy Howell’s son Christopher was home for two weeks from Hawaii.
o Leslie Evan’s son Henry’s hand is recovering and being evaluated following a Ranger training injury.
o Cheryl Gray’s son Matt in Germany received preliminary orders to deploy to Iraq in 2-3 months for one year tour.
o Carol Birchill’s son Joe arrived in the Persian Gulf – ship address on directory. Deployment Support Committee will be sending donations from the group in care package to carry him through personal challenges on the homefront.
o Marge Greenfield’s son Stuart will finish out in May with plans to attend UNR in fall.
o Paula Fleming’s son Josh is working nights in Afghanistan in urgent care setting receiving his first wounded to work on. His birthday is in March and birthday box will be sent by DS Committee.
o Barbara Clark’s son Patrick met someone special on the Price is Right and continues to excel in his sonar training.

· NEW BUSINESS:
o Length of Meetings voted to run from 6:00 pm – no later than 8:15 pm.
o Operation-Quiet-Comfort: it was decided to focus on existing committee projects and not take on anything new when evaluating participation in new ones such as this. However, one of the components of this operation is sending notes to wounded soldiers and so we will do this as a part of Operation Postcard each Christmas and July 4th.
o Committee Formulation: Blue to Gold as is with Marge/Paula co-chairs; Deployment Support will be chaired by Leslie with members Cheryl and Carol – duties will include return parties for sons and daughters, checking in on Mom’s of deployed, care packages/notes to deployed, TLC situations, and remembering Birthdays when in combat areas; Welcome/Goodwill as is with Joy as chair to focus on prospects for membership, member orientation (A Parents Guide info from Paula attached), TLC when hospitalizations or new babies, and send birthday cards.Op Postcard will have Leslie/Barb chair the administrative and hopefully Sally other. Xmas TBA.

· COMMITTEE REPORTS:
o Op Postcard needs everyone to bring stickers, cards and supplies to the March meeting so we can divide up and take instruction kits out to schools and community organizations to do up for the troops. Cheryl will place order with Oriental Trading, Joy will bring existing supplies and Paula’s instruction kit to the schools from last time will be used going forward. Jeanne to do up Thank You letter for newspapers and prior supporters.
o Blue to Gold: Co-chairs Marge and Paula brought us up to date with services thus far. Siekert was our first. Channel 4 covered Morris graveside birthday memorial with balloon launch. Photos posted to www.bluestarmoms.blogspot.com. We have 5 remaining to “catch up” with 3 of those scheduled prior to our next meeting. One additional casualty was receiving media attention. BSM’s voted to continue support to fallen soldier moms/families with a quarterly note for the first year. There is no distinction being made when a casualty results from training exercises versus combat maneuvers.

· OLD BUSINESS:
o BSM Scrapbook – meetings now listed in online calendars for RGJ, Record Courier and Nv. Appeal.
o Calendar 2006: Next meetings will be Wed., Mar. 15th , and Thurs. Apr. 13th at 6pm. Members tentatively scheduled the first Saturday in May to do a social brunch at Marge’s in Reno.
o March Agenda: Update P.J. Dahling’s Web of Support
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned following our closing prayer.

THESE NOTES WERE FORMULATED BY Jeanne, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, CONTACT her at: jeanne1bp@aol.com

Blue Star Mothers of America Sierra Nevada Chapter
c/o Cheryl Gray, P.O. Box 714, Minden, NV. 89423
www.bluestarmoms.blogspot.com

Dear Northern Nevada Children and Patriots,

We would like to extend our most sincere thanks for your participation in Operation Postcard throughout the Christmas and Valentine seasons. The outpouring of support resulted in our sending several thousand postcards to our defenders of freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as wounded soldiers recovering at Walter Reed Hospital.

Just a few of the personal thanks received from the troops: “Support from American mothers, fathers and children alike provide the motivation for our efforts, thank you for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers”, Lt. Col. Kelley; (The postcards) made our special holiday just a little merrier”, Jennifer; “Thank you for thinking about the soldiers. It really means a lot to us”, SGT Anderson; Thank you for reminding me of what our country stands for”, CPT Winkelman; “Thanks for the letter(s) of encouragement and we all appreciate the blessings and support you have given us”, SFC Turner.

Your handwritten notes continue to be read again and again and are held close to the hearts of our very bravest and best. We look forward to your continued support as we prepare postcards for July 4th.

We are mothers whose sons or daughters are serving in the military. It is our mission to actively support the troops and their families. We meet midmonth, 6:00 PM in Carson City. If you are a military mom or know of a family member in need of support, please visit us at www.bluestarmoms.blogspot.com or call 775.232.3379 for more information.


Honored to Serve,

Barbara L. Clark
Chapter President

Sierra Nevada Chapter
Blue Star Moms