Jeannette Curtis 777 S. Peralta Hills Drive Anaheim, CA 92807 · October 27, 2018 Youth/Membership Luncheon Trinity Lutheran Church 4101 Nohl Ranch Road, Anaheim, CA 92807 November

Jeannette Curtis

777 S. Peralta Hills Drive

Anaheim, CA 92807

ORANGE COUNTY CHAPTER

EDUCATE

HONOR

CHALLENGE

ORANGE COUNTY CHAPTER

Martha Washington Courier

President Ora Easley Website: ffvf-occ.org 2018 Fall Edition

OUR MISSION

We Educate about American rights and responsibilities, honor acts of civic

virtue, and challenge all to reject apathy and get involved

AMERICAN HERO

On February 10, 2018, at our annual Freedoms Foundation Awards Luncheon, we were proud and honored to have as our speaker retired U.S. Marine Gunnery Sgt. Damaso H. Sutis, a veteran of the Battle of Iwo Jima.

Sgt. Sutis, a veteran of 4 wars (WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Cold War) recounted how he left high school early to join the Marines at 17 against his parent’s wishes. He was in the 5th regiment sent to the 9- square mile Japanese island of Iwo Jima. Sutis recounted how he was part of the “Beach Party” a small group of men present on each landing craft whose job it was to organize the beach working under a beach master and clearing the way for vehicles, bull dozers, and the injured—all while under heavy enemy fire. Sgt. Sutis and his fellow marines successfully captured the island from the Japanese Imperial Army after 5 weeks of battle. The Battle of Iwo Jima is considered the fiercest and bloodiest fight of WWII.

CALENDAR 2018/2019

October 27, 2018

Youth/Membership Luncheon

Trinity Lutheran Church

4101 Nohl Ranch Road, Anaheim, CA 92807

November 17, 2018

Board Meeting 11:00am

Field of Valor Display, Handy Park, Orange, CA

2143 E. Oakmont, Orange, CA 92867

All Members Welcome

December 2018

Board Member Pot Luck

Date/Location to be Determined

January 5, 2019

Board Meeting 10:00am

Covenant Presbyterian

All Members Welcome

February 2, 2019

Board Meeting 10:00am

Covenant Presbyterian

All Members Welcome

March 2, 2019

Board Meeting 10:00am

Covenant Presbyterian

All Members Welcome

April 6, 2019

Board Meeting 10:00am

Covenant Presbyterian

All Members Welcome

May 4, 2019

Board Meeting 10:00am

Covenant Presbyterian

All Members Welcome

June 1, 2019

Board Meeting 10:00am

Covenant Presbyterian

All Members Welcome

*Covenant Presbyterian

1855 N. Orange Olive Rd,

Orange, CA 92865

2018 EXECUTIVE BOARD

Ora Easley

President

Jordan Williams

First Vice President Programs

Vacant

Vice President/Ways and Means

Jeannette Curtis

Membership

Viva Palumbo

Vice President/Education

Lane Curtis

Vice President Awards

Gil Nelsen

Vice President/Youth Education

Francesca Klos

Chaplain

Jeannette Curtis

Recording Secretary

Tom Klos

Treasurer

Tom Klos

Budget and Finance

Vacant

Parliamentarian

Jordan Williams

Veterans Liaison

Jeannette Curtis

Newsletter

Jeannette Curtis

Corresponding Secretary/Hospitality

Jordan Williams/Rob Nelsen

Facebook

Sgt. Sutis (Continued from Cover Page) After Iwo

Jima, Sgt. Sutis fought in the Northern China

Campaign from 1945-1947. He was stationed in Guam

and redeployed in support of an occupational effort in

Northern China with the newly formed 6th Marine

Division, guarding the Great Wall from Japanese

invasion and to ensure that all Japanese Nationals

were sent back to Japan. During this campaign, he

was promoted to Corporal. Sgt. Sutis was active in the

Korean Conflict of 1953. He was in the 1st Anti-Aircraft

Gun Battalion in support of the end of the Korean

Conflict as well as Vietnam. In 1964, Sgt. Sutis was

assigned to Engineer Maintenance Company 3rd

Service Battalion in Sukiran, Okinawa, and went into

Vietnam over 20 times. In 1965, Sgt. Sutis was

promoted to Gunnery Sergeant and tx’d to Marine

Aircraft Group 15, 3rd Marine aircraft wing where he

was deployed multiple times as the S-4 Chief in

support of the Vietnam Conflict. From 1967 to 1977

after receiving his AA from Orange Coast College, he

taught the metal trades to adult students. He taught

concurrently at Orange Coast and Fullerton Colleges.

He has a BA in vocational education and an MA in

School Administration. He was elected the Industrial

Arts Dept Chair at El Rancho High School and them

appointed Instructional Manager for the departments

of Industrial Arts, Business and Home Economics, a

position he held until 1989. From 1990- 2003, he was

the District Work Experience Coordinator for the

school district. From 1995 to 2015, Sgt Sutis joined

the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, a volunteer

organization. He advances from Ensign to

Commander. He retired in 2015.

LAURA DIETZ-IWO JIMA MONUMENT WEST

We were honored to have former Newport Beach Assemblywoman Laura Dietz as a speaker at our Awards Ceremony last February 10 at the Costa Mesa Country Club. Ms. Dietz has, for the last 5 years, diligently worked to

fulfil her dream of installing a copy of Felix de

Weldon's iconic "Raising of the Flag on Mt.

Suribachi" at Camp Pendleton. The replica

would be a smaller, glass enclosed replica of the

original and visible to motorists on the 5 freeway. The

cost is an estimated $10 million and Ms. Dietz's

organization has so far collected 400,000.

The raising of the American flag was a turning point in the battle of Iwo Jima that resulted in 7,000 American Casualties and 22,000 injured.

2017 GEORGE WASHINGTON HONOR MEDAL WINNER-JOE FAGUNDES, FAVA DAY

KIDS

Joseph Fagundes of Turlock, CA exemplifies the qualities that FFVF promotes—individuals who through

their own incentive improve their communities by their grass roots actions. A Vietnam Veteran and 2nd

generation Azorean, Mr. Fagundes joked to a local farmer friend about an international Fava Day every

May 9th. The gullible friend believed him and one year later reminded him about the fictionous International

Fava Day. To keep up with the joke, Mr. Fagundes had a Fava Day celebration in his back-yard beginning

with cooking a big pot of the large, meaty legumes. Over the years, word grew locally about the

International Fava Day Festival and soon locals were flocking to Mr. Fagundes’s home every May 9 for a

free feast. In a few years, the backyard feast had so many people, it had to be moved to the Stanislaus

County Convention Center. Along the way, Mr. Fagundes realized that the festival could satisfy a local

need--the need of families whose children were stricken with cancer to cover the associated costs of

cancer care and also to make the childrens’ and families’ lives less stressful. So far, since1994 over

$300,000 has been raised which is remarkable considering the Fava Day Festival is free to everybody, no

admission for the feast has ever been charged. The funds have been raised solely through auction with

auction items in the small San Joaquin farming town ranging from bird cages, to cows, to muscle cars.

There is no stipulation how the families utilize the funds. Most families use the money to cover the costs

associated with cancer care i.e. medical travel, extra bills—and often on granting their child’s last wishes.

We were honored to bestow the 2017 George Washington Medal of Honor to Mr. Fagundes and Fava Day

Kids.

FREEDOMS FOUNDATION AT VALLEY FORGE ORANGE COUNTY CHAPTER

SCHOLARSHIP DONATION FORM

*Please return this form with your donation

I WISH TO MAKE A DONATION TO THE SCHOLARSHIP FUND OF $__________ FOR EITHER

The Youth Education Leadership Conference __________

The Continuing Education, Teacher Graduate Program ___________

In Memory of ________________ In Honor of ____________________Donors name _____________

Address__________________________ Phone Email____________________

Please mail donations to: Viva Palumbo

11661 Poes Street, Anaheim, CA 92804

Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge is a national, non-profit 501 (c)(3) All volunteer, educational, non-partisan, non-

sectarian, patriotic organization. Your contribution is tax deductible.

Fed ID# 23-7375456

2017 STUDENT ESSAY WINNERS

The 2017 National FFVF Student Essay Awards winners were Michael Grace (above left) and William Klos

(above right) of the Orange County, CA Chapter. These two students’ essays were chosen out of

nationwide submissions.

Both Michael and William attended the 2017 Student Leadership Conference at Valley Forge. They were

both awarded the FFVF National Award of the George Washington Honor Medal on the Neck Ribbon. We

are very proud of them!!

SPIRIT OF ’76 NATIONAL AWARD- VOLUNTEER SERVICE

On February 10, 2018, FFVF Orange County Chapter honored Ginger Cullen with the Spirit of '76 National

Award. Ginger has volunteered for our chapter for the last 15 years and served in all positions including President,

Vice President, Awards, and ultimately technology wizard. While she was a volunteer with us, she furthered the

goals of Freedoms Foundation, went beyond the call of her responsibilities, never let a detail go unnoticed, was a

great leader, and a good organizer and listener, among other things. Her presence will be sorely missed. Ginger

received her award personally from Louise Savarese of our National office, and in the presence of her supportive

family. Good luck Ginger in all of your future endeavors!!

OUR STUDENTS……

The four students from Orange County who were selected for the 2018 Spirit of America Youth Leadership

Conference were (left to right below at the Liberty Bell) Danial Hashemi, Lauren Gergens, Jennifer Pfeiler, and

Niloo Ebranimi.

Valley Forge Campus-National FFVF headquarters

Orange County Chapter Chaperone, Francisca Klos with students (left to right) Lauren Gergens, Danial

Hashemi, Jennifer Pfeiler, and Niloo Ebranimi

Students dressed-up for formal night

Historical Actors recreate the lively Jefferson/Adams debate

Danial participating in Leadership Seminar group challenge

OUR TEACHERS….

One of the best things about Freedoms Foundation is that we offer Continuing Education

Scholarships for Teachers (Kindergarten thru College) each Summer at our national campus just

outside of Valley Forge.

This year, two of our teachers attended different seminars in different months. Cindy Shaw Bowers

attended “Building the Nation: Entrepreneurs and American History” in July 2018. Judy Richonne

attended “Civil War Central” in June 2018.

Below is Cindy’s account of her Summer Seminar:

”The Seminar this Summer at FFVF on Entrepreneurship and American History was wonderful! I

enjoyed seeing the historical sites, listening to amazing professors, and meeting dedicated teachers

from different areas of the U.S.

Seeing Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and the actual stone house where President Washington

and his troops stayed during the Winter at Valley Forge was thrilling.

After years of reading about and seeing pictures, I was so appreciative to finally see these American

historical sites in person. I am truly grateful to the Orange County chapter of FFVF for sponsoring

and providing this opportunity for me.

Independence Hall, Philadelphia Cindy at Valley Forge House

where George Washington stayed

during the Winter

Below is Judy’s account of the highlights of her travelling seminar:

”On June 23rd, I embarked on a new adventure under the sponsorship of the Freedom Foundation.

With teachers from around the country, I followed part of General Sherman's path through the South

from Nashville to Atlanta. Exploring sites that are often only read about brings history alive. As

teachers, we can now share our experiences with our students who may never have the opportunities

to travel and see where history happened. The support we gave each other as well as those who

acted as docents throughout the trip was an integral part of understanding the where and why of the

various places we visited. The perspective was Union focused, as we were following a Union general,

but the counterpoint was often addressed of those brave souls who were also fighting for what they

believed in on the Confederate side of the conflict. As historians, it is the causes, events, and

outcomes that are the narrative. As teachers, it is our purpose to share the narrative and allow our

students to interpret, question, and evaluate, critically thinking about our nation's history. This trip was

a most pleasurable professional development experience!”

Judy at Stone Mountain Slaughter pen at Stones River Burial site of Andrew Jackson at the

Hermitage

Chickamauga Battlefield Visitors Center Pearl Harbor Survivors Monument at Civil War

Battlefield

Civil War Cemetery Fort Negly Nashville

IN MEMORY

LEE FRODSHAM

We will greatly miss our own longtime

volunteer Lee Frodsham (born Leatrice

Rapp Frodsham). Lee was born in 1925

and passed away on April 9, 2018. She

was a world traveler who enjoyed

immersing herself in other cultures. An

enthusiastic and dedicated volunteer

who was compassionate, thoughtful,

and always a great and caring listener.

Over the years, she took many roles in

our chapter from membership to

parliamentarian to Ways and Means.

She was active up until the end. She

loved her large family and many friends.

We will miss her beautiful smile,

enthusiasm, and patriotism.

FREEDOMS FOUNDATION AT VALLEY FORGE ORANGE COUNTY CHAPTER

SCHOLARSHIP DONATION FORM

*Please return this form with your donation

I WISH TO MAKE A DONATION TO THE SCHOLARSHIP FUND OF $__________

FOR EITHER

The Youth Education Leadership Conference __________

The Continuing Education, Teacher Graduate Program ___________

In Memory of ________________ In Honor of ____________________Donors

name _____________ Address__________________________ Phone

Email____________________

Please mail donation check to: Viva Palumbo

11661 Poes Street, Anaheim, CA 92804

Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge is a national, non-profit 501 (c)(3) All volunteer, educational,

non-partisan, non-sectarian, patriotic organization. Your contribution is tax deductible.

Fed ID# 23-7375456

IN MEMORY

Verona E. Weeks

The Orange County Chapter of FFVF

will greatly miss Verona Weeks. Mrs.

Weeks was born in Bentonville,

Arkansas in 1916. She passed away on

August 29, 2018. She was a long-time

member and supporter of our chapter.

Mrs. Weeks together with her husband

O.L. (Ollie) Weeks developed a

wholesale rose business that went from

mom-and-pop to a nationwide distributor

of roses based on 1,000 acres in

Wasco, CA. In 2014, Mrs. Weeks

donated Lincoln Roses, a rose that her

husband and a business partner had

developed in 1964 to the national

campus of Freedoms Foundation at

Valley Forge. The Lincoln Roses were

planted in the O.L. Weeks

Independence Rose Garden (outside

the Martha Washington Building, where

the 13 original colony flags fly) during a

dedication ceremony in 2005.

A Rose is just a Rose,

And yet don’t you agree,

A Rose can be so many things that just

the heart can see.

By Verona E. Weeks

CONTINUING EDUCATION, Viva Palumbo, VP Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge conducts American History Graduate Seminars and Workshops for educators annually during the summer months. This program allows teachers to visit historical sites and experience events that shaped and built America. The 2019 Summer classes were just announced and teachers can apply now: The Orange County Chapter offers $200 Grants to teachers selected to receive a scholarship from National. Scholarships are available for all accepted teachers from National to enrich their learning experiences for their students and to share information with other teachers. Last year, two teachers applied and were given a $200 grant from OCC. Judy Richonne attended the Civil War Seminar, Cynthia Bowers attended the Building the Nation Seminar. Our sources of funding have been Chapter Events and individual donations. National has grant writers. We need contacts for businesses in our area that provide grants. If you know of any such business, please call President, Ora Easley, Jr., or me, Viva Palumbo. There is a Scholarship Donation Form in the newsletter that helps our chapter sponsor teachers or high school students to attend a Youth Conference. If you know of an educator who might benefit from the Continuing Education Seminars, please contact me with their mailing information for the 2019 Summer Program. Viva Palumbo, email [email protected], phone 714-539-0490. Viva Palumbo Below are the just announced 2019 Graduate Classes:

REGIONAL SEMINAR June 23-28: Medal of Honor Legacy: Vietnam

Center for American Values, Pueblo, CO

VALLEY FORGE SEMINARS SUMMER 2019

June 16-21: Medal of Honor Legacy: Cold War June 23-28: Medal of Honor Legacy: War on Terror

July 7-12: The 19th Amendment July 14-19: Innovative Entrepreneurs, Dynamic Economy

July 21-26: Abraham Lincoln’s Constitution July 28-Aug 2: Medal of Honor Legacy: World War II

TRAVELING WORKSHOPS June 21-26: Virginia Presidents and Their Families

July 5-10: Revolution and Rebellion, 1756 – 1794

UPCOMING EVENTS….HISTORY BUFFS…..NOVEMBER START DATE

So, you recently passed American History in high school or early college or maybe even quite a while ago--

but somehow forgot what your teachers taught you back in the day. Well, have no fear! The Orange

County Freedoms Foundation Chapter will begin reading James W. Loewen’s 1995 National Bestseller

book Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbooks Got Wrong beginning

monthly in November (copies are available).

Come and join us as we get together monthly and discuss each chapter from the book and relate it to our

past as well as the way American high school history books have traditionally taught history. There are

many interesting facts in this book that will make history more exciting! Updates and postings of time and

location will be posted on Freedoms Foundation OC Chapter website and social media. Please contact

Jordan Williams - Veterans Liaison – for more information regarding date and location at

[email protected]

Let us begin to “learn from the past, live in the present, and hope for the future” as one of our students

wrote in our newsletter reflecting on their time visiting the Valley Forge campus during the 2016 Youth

Leadership Conference.

Orange County Chapter

Orange County Chapter

Membership Application June 2018 – June 2019

Membership Status: New_____ Renewal _____Life______

Name: _________________________ Spouse Name: _________________________

Address: _____________________________ City: ____________________________________

State: ______________________ Zip Code: _____________________________________

Phone: Home: _____________________________Cell: ________________________________

DUES

_______ Regular Membership $30.00

______ Family Membership $45.00

_____ _ Patron Membership $60.00 _______Teacher Membership $10.00

______ Establish a Chapter Life Membership, $1,000.

_______Additional Donations (please state your usage preference)

YEARLY DUES ARE DUE JUNE 1ST Please make checks payable to FFVF/OCC and mail to

FFVF/OCC, 2532 Park Lake, Santa Ana, CA 92705

Thank you!

FED. TAX ID 23-7375456 WEBSITE: www.ffvf-occ.org CA TX ID #0462510

I’M INTERESTED IN THE FOLLOWING COMMITTEES:

_____AS NEEDED ____ _MEMBERSHIP _____NEWSLETTER _____CONTINUING EDUCATION _____HOSPITALITY

_____YOUTH EDUCATION _____ WAYS & MEANS ____ _TELEPHONE _____PUBLICITY

FOR MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE ONLY

Date Received________________ Year Joined_______________

Fiscal Year ___________________ Cash/Check ______________ Bank__________________.

FALL 2018 YOUTH MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON

The 2018 Fall Youth and Membership luncheon was held on October 27th at Trinity Lutheran

Church in Anaheim. Featured speaker, Dr. Patricia Adelekan, Ph.D., in a speech titled, “From

Appomattox to Princeton” spoke on the necessity of education to achieve one’s goals,

understand the world, and enhance one’s life.

Dr. Adelekan gave each of our students a copy of the book, A Teenager’s Handbook for

Success, volume 1, which Dr. Adelekan authored. Dr. Adelekan, the CEO and founder of

Youth-On-The-Move and the International Educators’ Hall of Fame also emphasized the value

of teachers and of teaching history and civics to younger generations. Two of our own

teacher seminar scholarship winners-Cindy Shaw Bowers and Judy Richonne offered power

point presentations of their 2018 experiences at last Summer’s seminars.

The luncheon was highlighted with a visit by George Washington himself—Nixon Library

historical recreator, Gary Beard, who brought historical artifacts including an authentic

revolutionary war cannonball to pass around while he took questions and answers and

presented an account of Washington crossing the Delaware.

SAVE THE DATE

The Freedoms Foundation 2019 Annual

Awards Luncheon will be held on

Saturday, February 23, 2019 at the Costa

Mesa Country Club. An afternoon of

patriotism, information, and

entertainment!