Vol. XXI, No. 39 Mount Vernon’s Hometown Newspaper • A Connection Newspaper September 30, 2010 No to ABC Liquor Store Privatization Puller, Surovell More Outlets, discuss Governor’s Less Revenue? Currently, the Virginia State ABC proposal. Liquor Stores return $320 million in profits to the General Fund for education, mental health, substance By Gerald A. Fill abuse, and prisons. In the past 10 The Gazette years the ABC liquor store program has contributed an estimated $2.5 billion to the Commonwealth. tate Sen. Toddy Puller and The Governor’s privatization Del. Scott Surovell held a proposal would triple the number of Town Hall Meeting on outlets selling liquor from the present S 332 ABC stores by auctioning licenses Monday, Sept. 27, at the to 600 big box and grocery stores, 150 Mount Vernon Governmental Cen- small liquor stores, and 250 conve- ter to outline the Governor’s pro- nience stores and pharmacies. Add to posal to privatize the ABC stores, that the sale of the ABC warehouse and other assets and the Governor’s listen to the views of local resi- proposal is projected to yield $458 The Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber presents a check for $4,500 to Good Shepherd dents, and answer questions about million in one-time revenue that Housing, UCM, and New Hope Housing. Above: Michael Guillot, Hilltop Golf Club; the proposal. Puller chairs the would be dedicated to transportation Shannon Steene, Good Shepherd Housing; Cynthia Hull, UCM; Pam Michell, New State Senate Committee that over- projects. On the other hand, the net Hope Housing; Dan Rinzel, Redmon, Peyton, & Brazwell, LLP, and Holly Dougherty, revenue projection for the Governor’s sees the ABC liquor stores. proposal is about $20 million less Mt Vernon-Lee Chamber. annually than profits under the See Privatization, Page 22 existing state-operated program. ‘Taste’ Supports Non-Profits Time To Put on ore than 100 people attended “A Taste,” Your Cookie; and Union Street Public House. Ma Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber event, At the same time, they supported a good cause. that was held at Woodlawn Plantation A total of $4,500 was given to the Help the Home- Those Walking Shoes on Wednesday, Sept. 22. less funds for Good Shepherd Housing & Family Guests enjoyed delicious food and drink from Services, New Hope Housing, Inc., and United Occasionally Cake; Red, Hot & Blue BBQ; Dishes Community Ministries. Help UCM recruit 3,000 walkers of India; Moe’s Southwest Grill; Spring Hills of Also in attendance were: Chris Van Dyke, harp- Mount Vernon; Celestial Cheesecakes; Chevy’s ist; Richard Miller, guitarist; All Seasons Floral and raise $140,000 for homeless. Fresh Mex Restaurant; Matter’s of Taste; Mamma’s Preservation; Frost Lighting Company; Dawn Ber- Kitchen; Capitol Caterers; Mindy’s Catering; Choose nard Photography; LoveStruck Images with Katie By Gale Curcio walks done on UCM’s behalf go to Norwood; and Rene Abella Photography. The Gazette UCM and UCM will get a $50,000 bonus if it gets 3,000 walkers. — Gale Curcio et ready to put on those UCM staff is working hard to or- Photos by La Shawn Avery-Simons/The Gazette Gwalking shoes and join ganize walks at schools and other UCM as they take steps to places. end homelessness and raise funds Last weekend, the Mount for UCM through Fannie Mae’s Vernon Chapter of AAUW, led by 2010 Help the Homeless Program. Elaine Kolish, sponsored a walk in Mini-walks are underway in the Waynewood. Participants enjoyed community and UCM would like a walk around the neighborhood. everybody join a walk to take steps Joni Koons and Maureen forward to end poverty. Registra- McGuire-Kuletz are putting a dif tion is $25 for adults and $15 for children. All registration fees for See Help, Page 22 10/1/10 Requested in home in Requested material. Time-sensitive Amanda Sellman serves Postmaster: guests wine to promote Attention Permit #482 Permit the new Holiday Inn Guests mingle at The Taste at Woodlawn Plantation on VA Alexandria, PAID Express in Alexandria. Wednesday, Sept.22. Postage U.S. PRSRT STD PRSRT www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ September 30 - October 6, 2010 ❖ 1 2 ❖ Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ September 30 - October 6, 2010 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Mount Vernon Gazette Editor Steven Mauren News 703-778-9415 or [email protected] 65 Years Later Mount Vernon resident receives Distinguished Flying Cross. By Gerald A. Fill The Gazette olonel Claude M. Schonberger (USAFR,Ret.) received the Distin- C guished Flying Cross (DFC) Award because of his heroism on his second to last combat mission in which he returned to his base safely. On his last combat mission, his plane was shot down over Bulzano, Italy, and that is when the story of his long odyssey to receive the DFC be- gan. During his last mission, the plane was blown apart The Gala Host Committee Leslie Ariail, Sandra Ad- in mid-air. His face was burned, and his collarbone dress, Henrietta Burke and Dallas Reeve welcome was broken, but miraculously the explosion blew Honorary Gala Guest White House Chief Floral De- him clear of the plane and, because he remained signer Laura Dowling. conscious, he was able to parachute safely to the ground. Only one other member of the crew sur- Gifts of the Garden vived the mid-air destruction of his B-24 bomber. The American Horticulture Society’s 17th Annual Gala was held on Sat- Once on the ground he was found and cared for by Colonel Claude M. Schonberger (USAFR, urday, Sept. 25, at River Farm, its national headquarters on a historic 25-acre Ret.) site on the banks of the Potomac River. Once part of one of George a local Italian farm family. They treated his facial Washington’s original five farms, River Farm has been the home of AHS since burns and broken collarbone, but he was eventu- 1973. For more information visit www.ahs.org ally captured by the occupying Nazis who moved Profile him and others by train, truck, and forced marches Colonel Claude M. Schonberger to Nuremburg, Germany for interrogation. There (USAFR, Ret.) he stayed as a prisoner at Stalag Luft 13 until the Age: 88 end of the war. Schonberger was awarded a Purple Place of Birth: North Dakota Education: Bachelor’s degree, political science, Heart for injuries sustained in his last bombing George Washington University; Master’s degree, mission. aviation safety, University of California (UCLA) The circumstances and timing of his final two mis- Married to the late Kay Schonberger sions shortly before the end of the War in Europe Children: Eric, Kara (twins) contributed to the difficulty in verifying his accom- plishments for which he was to eventually receive Schonberger and his wife Kay, who he met during the DFC. On his last fateful flying mission no one the Berlin airlift, raised two children. He was em- saw him parachute to safety. Therefore, the U.S. Air ployed as an air safety investigator for the Civil Aero- Force classified him as missing in action. His per- nautics Board (CAB). During his tenure with the CAB sonal effects, including an unsigned copy of the DFC he was sent throughout the world to investigate air- citation proposal, were shipped to his parents. Com- line accidents. In the years that followed he served AHS Executive Director plicating verification, his squadron commander, who in the D.C. National Guard, volunteered as a Fairfax AHS award winners Tom Underwood and prepared the papers for his citation, was transferred County Court-appointed special advocate for abused Shawn Akard (2009 Jane chair of the AHS Board of to another assignment. Then, months later the end and neglected children (CASA), and volunteered as L. Taylor Award) and Directors Harry Rissetto of the war came and, although he eventually returned a mentor for children attending Hollin Meadows el- Betty Smalley (2010 greet guests arriving for home to the U.S., his unsigned citation papers lan- ementary school. Meritorious Service the 17th annual gala at guished in his personal effects and a lost military His two grown children, Kara and Eric, in com- Award). River Farm. file. menting on their father’s long effort to obtain the Many years later, with the support of U.S. Sen. Distinguished Flying Cross, said: “If our mom was Byron Dorgan (North Dakota), the assistance of Lt. alive today she would be extremely proud of this well- Col. Laura Ryan, and Lt. General David Deptula, deserved honor for him, and they would celebrate Schonberger’s squadron commander, who was 93 at by dancing the Balboa hop to Big Band music.” the time, was located, and he verified the DFC cita- Despite finally achieving recognition for his brav tion papers. The Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records then approved the award. See Resident Recognized, Page 5 Distinguished Flying Cross The U.S. Air Force, Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) group, fifteenth Air Force on 16 February 1945. On that was awarded to Colonel Claude M. Schonberger date, Lt. Schonberger demonstrated extraordinary flying (USAFR,Ret.) in a special ceremony at the Pentagon, skills and courage against the Obertraubling Airdrome July 19, 2010, in the Pentagon’s Hall of Heroes. in Regensburg, Germany. During the final bomb run of The DFC is awarded to an individual “For Heroism or this mission, his bomb-loaded B-24 aircraft was struck Extraordinary Achievement While Participating in an by enemy fire, resulting in an uncontrollable propeller Aerial Flight.” The inscription on Schonberger’s award of the number four engine and a fire near the number reads, in part, “Distinguished himself by extraordinary three engine. Despite this hazardous situation, Lt.