Arizona’s First Chapter The Arizona Chapter 13819 N. 51st Street Scottsdale, AZ 85254 FEBRUARY 2014 CHARTERED 1956 57 YEARS OF SERVICE TO COUNTRY EDITOR: JIM CULLISON Captain George Burk Arizona Chapter was the sole survivor Calendar President’s among 14 in a plane Board of Directors Perspective crash in 1970. He meets at 1030 hours by Jim Cullison suffered extensive the first Thursday of the month. injuries but overcame Location: National The Gavel Is Passed isn’t gone from the them and has become a chapter by any means. Guard Distance I’ve been editor of this sought-after motivational Learning Center, 5636 He’s still our top notch newsletter for more than speaker. Don’t miss E. McDowell Rd. webmaster and five years, and at the start hearing his story at our Show ID for entry. scholarship chairman. February 15 luncheon. Members welcome. I never expected to be By the way, did you writing the chapter Read more about Upcoming meetings: know that eight of our Captain Burk on page 2. February 6 president’s column. But past chapter presidents March 6 here I am. Get Ready for Golf have been inducted into Member Meetings/ We had another Does the beautiful the Arizona Veterans Luncheons are held on successful transition to a Arizona weather we’ve the third Saturday of the Hall of Fame since its new slate of officers and been having make you month, Social Hour at inception in 2001? More 1100, Luncheon at 1200, directors at the January think of golf? Well, evidence of the strength at McCormick Ranch luncheon, and the chapter whether it does or not, Golf Club unless noted of our leadership, not otherwise.. now continues to move start thinking about this: only to the chapter but to forward. our annual scholarship Upcoming meetings: the veterans’ community February 15 golf tournament is not far Thanks, Rob as a whole. March 15 Before we move any off, so get your clubs One Fine Program In this Issue ready. farther, however, I want to Rear Admiral James extend a big thank you on Pat Dale has another Page 2 Symonds gave a superb Important Notice! behalf of the chapter to my p r i z e - filled event retelling at our January February Program predecessor, COL Rob planned at a different Dues Renewal luncheon of what surely Welch, who led us in 2013 course this time. It will Page 3 ranks as a highlight of USS Ronald Reagan through a year of growth, tee off Thursday, May 1, his 35-year Navy career, new endeavors and at Rio Verde Golf Page 4 commanding the Spotlight Speaker national recognition. He Course near Fountain supercarrier USS Ronald Past President continued the chapter’s Hills. Look for complete 2014 Chapter Officers Reagan on its initial long line of leaders who details soon by e-mail operational cruise after Page 5 have made us proud to and in next month’s Arizona StandDown the ship’s launch in say we are Arizona’s First Sentinel. Chapter in the News 2003. If you missed the Presidents Who Served Chapter. We live in the golf presentation, there’s a Agent Orange Map Thanks for all you have capitol of the world, Donations recap on page 3. done for us, Rob, and best right? Well, if it’s not, it Page 6 Legislative Update wishes in your new Followed by Another should be. And we must challenge as chairman of The program lined up have a lot of golfers in Page 7 New Member United Arizona Veterans. by John Ady for this our chapter. Problem is, month is equally Page 8 Rob is gone from the Chapter Leadership president’s podium, but he engrossing. Air Force Continued on page 2 Page 2 February Program President’s Perspective…continued Air Crash Changed His Life; we get heavily outnumbered on a regular basis Now It’s Changing Others Lives at our own tournament by non-chapter members, all of whom are certainly always Capt. George Burk, USAF (Ret), probably welcome. But it would make the tournament thought he was on a routine flight on May 4, even greater if more of our members were in the 1970, when he boarded a military aircraft with field. As I said, get your clubs ready. Don’t be 13 others for a flight to Spokane, Washington. shy. But that plane experienced structural failure and rapid decompression and crashed enroute. Important! Important! Important! Captain Burk, a Vietnam veteran, was the sole survivor, suffering multiple internal injuries and Did that headline get your attention? Good. burns. He was hospitalized for months and not Read on, because this is really important if you expected to walk again. He overcame that plan to register for lunch, pay dues or make a adversity and has devoted his life to inspiring donation to the chapter. others by his example. Our treasurer, Bill Roscher, will be He will be our guest speaker at the February unavailable for the next couple of months, so 15 luncheon. Captain Burk is now a Scottsdale don’t send your checks to him until notified resident, author, speaker and authority on otherwise. Marie Fredricks has graciously agreed to overcoming adversity to lead accept luncheon reservations and donations a productive life. He has until Bill is available again. Send those checks spoken extensively, including to her at the address on the reservation and at West Point and the U.S. donation form on page 7. Naval Academy. If you still have to pay dues for 2014, send His is a message you will that check to our membership chairman, Dave long remember. Fleming, at the address shown below. Time’s Running Out; Don’t Forget to Renew for 2014 If you haven’t renewed your 2014 chapter membership, there’s still time. Just fill out the form below and send it with your check — $20 for Regular members or $10 for Auxiliary members — to Dave Fleming at the address shown. If you have renewed already, thank you. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - CUT HERE AND MAIL RENEWAL FORM WITH YOUR CHECK - -- - - - - - - - - - - Arizona Chapter 2014 Membership Renewal Form Member Full Name: Membership Renewal: $20 Regular member Membership Renewal: $10 Auxiliary member (surviving spouse) Any Changes in your address, phone number, e-mail, etc: ___________________________________________________________ Make check payable to: AZ Chapter MOAA Mail renewal application and check to: AZ Chapter MOAA C/O Dave Fleming 7550 E. Camino Salida Del Sol Scottsdale, AZ 86266 Page 3 Taking a Supercarrier to Sea; Not Your Everyday Mission Rear Admiral James Symonds received the assignment of a lifetime when he took command of the USS Ronald Reagan on the ship’s commissioning in 2003. Taking the supercarrier to sea would seem memorable enough, but an event that occurred back in the states during the cruise made it even more historic. The Reagan was a leap in technology, with a redesigned superstructure for greater speed, fiber optics for communications and navigation, larger landing area and more efficient landing system. Admiral Symonds and his wife, Ann, attended Admiral Symonds the ship’s commissioning in Norfolk, a presents the ceremonial ceremony he called awe inspiring. Mrs. Reagan flag to Nancy Reagan at was there, too. The Admiral’s task was to take the president’s funeral. the carrier to a home berth in Bremerton, Admiral Symonds Washington. However, Mrs. Reagan wanted As the crew neared the southern tip of its home to be closer to the ailing president’s Argentina, Admiral Symonds made the ranch in California, so the destination became decision to traverse the Strait of Magellan, an San Diego, by way of the southern tip of South inland route that saved time, rather than going America. around Cape Horn. The strait was narrow and As the ship was off the coast of Brazil, word more challenging, but the weather, a was received that President Reagan had died, determining factor, was right, so the Reagan and the family wanted the admiral to attend the became the first nuclear carrier to take that funeral as the representative of the president’s route. namesake supercarrier. He made a whirlwind After that, it was up the west coast of South trip back to the states, where he presented the American and safely into port at North Island. American flag to Mrs. Reagan after the folding Admiral Symonds commanded the Ronald ceremony. Then it was back to the ship for Reagan until 2005 and retired in 2010 after 35 completion of the cruise. years of service. The Importance of Family An Aircraft Carrier Flight Deck, To a Military Career Where Young Sailors Grow Up During his presentation to chapter members, Admiral Symonds recalled an observation Admiral Symonds spoke of the importance of he made on the Reagan’s first cruise. family to a person pursuing a military career. It involved the crew that maintains order on He complimented his wife of 40 years, Ann, the flight deck. Their jersey color designates for her support during the years, and said, their job, with the plane director in yellow “She is the main reason I am standing here.” being “the cock of the walk.” “One day I saw He said she never complained and “liked the one of them take his helmet off and he was adventure of it,” praising her as a true patriot. transformed from the cock of the walk to a A military career is a team game, he said, baby-faced kid. I realized how early in their and the family is the team. careers they get a heck a lot of responsibility.” Page 4 Spotlight Speaker Meet Our Presidents Life Starts Anew at Boot Camp Ira Easley, Normandy Veteran Basic training is an eye-opening and life The Arizona Chapter’s 11th president was changing experience for any person entering CDR Ira Easley, USN, who led the chapter in the military.