Thursday, September 6, 2012

VP2H Needs your Help - PASS THIS ON

As some of you know, a few of the members of the Denver society, along with a number of very talented volunteers have been working hard over the last six months to pull together a huge project in support of wounded veterans.  Veteran’s  Passport to Hope (VP2H) primary mission is to raise awareness about the issues today’s veterans are facing along with raising money to support their transition back to civilian life.

Why are we involved?  Some of us are from the Vietnam generation.  That generation of brave Americans were treated terribly upon their return and were soon forgotten.  Thank God that we are wiser today and can separate politics from our warriors.  However, as we have exited Iraq and will soon exit Afghanistan, the American people will go on with their lives and quickly forget about the sacrifice these brave men and women have made.  We have very short memories. It is already starting to happen. VP2H is committed to not letting that happen.

What can you do to help? We need you to buy a ticket (or two) to our event on 10/4.  Even if you are out of state and can’t attend, buy a ticket anyway and we will find a veteran to fill the seat in your name (just inform us in the Comment Section to this blog).  The ticket price of $78 includes food, drinks, entertainment, silent and live auctions and an incredible key note speaker that will move all attendees as he recounts his tragic loss of both legs to an IED and his incredible journey of recovery. 

Please check out our website to learn more and purchase tickets at www.vp2h.org

Friday, July 13, 2012

First Annual Family Picnic






The West Point Society of Denver

invites you to the

First Annual Family Picnic

Sunday, August 26th, 2012
11am – 3pm

Stapleton Central Park Pavilion & Playground
8801 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Denver, CO 80238

With great food and drinks, a large playground, games and socializing with other Denver-area West Pointers and their family, there will be fun for all ages!

 Cost will be $18/adult and $12/child (under 2 yrs is free)

20% DISCOUNT IF PAYMENT RECEIVED BY July 23rd


RSVP to Mark Frank at markdfrank@gmail.com


Wednesday, July 4, 2012

WHEN IN THE COURSE OF HUMAN EVENTS

 it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Passport to Hope Ticket Available

The sale of tickets for individual, groups and companies at the October 4th, 2012 Veterans Passport to Hope, in support of the Wounded Warrior Project™ event (being held at the Wings over the Rockies Air & Space Museum in Denver) ARE NOW Available. They can be found on-line at: http://www.veteranspassport2hope.org/donation/

The same website will provide you details regarding the event and its organization. We hope to raise significant funding via live and silent auctions that night. Come join the fun & help this needing class of warriors.



Veteran’s Passport to Hope (VP2H) is a non-partisan, non-paid, all volunteer group of individuals who have both military and civilian backgrounds. Our Society is helping the new organization by assisting in the area of Financial Management with our Non-Profit status.

VP2H’s mission consists of three main focus areas: Awareness, Fund-Raising, and Cooperation:

AWARENESS: VP2H’s Primary mission is to raise awareness within the Colorado area about the issues Veterans face: Multiple tours in combat zones, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), high unemployment rate, high homelessness rate, high divorce rate, and a record high suicide rate. As the military mission winds down in Iraq and Afghanistan and veterans reintegrate themselves into civilian society, we believe that this awareness will foster an understanding of their efforts and compassion for their struggle.

FUND-RAISING: VP2H’s secondary mission is to raise money for Veteran friendly non-profits. Through due diligence and research, we organize fund raising events which support local, Veteran friendly non-profits. We only support high quality charities that maximize their accountability to veteran’s causes and are transparent in their fund raising and giving practices.

COOPERATION: VP2H’s tertiary mission is to act as a rallying point for other Veteran friendly non-profits. Our goal is to organize and conduct meetings with the leadership teams of these groups within the Colorado area with the goal of finding ways for us to work together more efficiently. We believe that by working together and by sharing ideas, we can reduce competition between non-profit groups and more efficiently and more effectively help Veterans.

Friday, May 11, 2012

Tri-Service Academy Annual Golf Tournament

 Tri-Service Academy Annual Golf Tournament

Save Monday, June 18th as an open date on your calender!
Kickoff time will be at 0800 hrs, for a shotgun format golf outing.  This year, were having it at the Eisenhower Golf Club

  • members are $50
  • Active Duty Military/DoD Civilians/Reserve are $75
  • Civilians are $100
Lunch is an additional $15.

Sign-up and Mail-in Forms , along with the Prizes and Rules can be found by clicking here.


Any questions on the event can be answered by contacting Joel Martin: 912-222-9250,joel.thomas.martin@gmail.com

Thursday, May 10, 2012

2 Grads taking on Colorado Trail

Anyone In Colorado willing to support and encourage 2 grads?

West Point Class of 1970 has a continuing campaign to donate to the National Conference on Ethics in America. Two Grads, (USMA 1970 Cadet Company E2) Whit Wise and Dave Schroeder have decided to hike the Colorado Trail (from June 17 through July 26, 2012), which runs from Waterton Canyon just west of Denver across the mountains and ends in Southwest Colorado at the town of Durango. It is almost 486 miles long and runs as high as 13300 feet in elevation. They also plan to hike to the top of one or two 14000 foot peaks which lie near the trail. 4 Grads  (E-2 members) have pledged up to a dollar per mile for the total miles completed by Whit and Dave, meaning a commitment of up to $1000 if (actually, when) they both complete the hike. Injuries, accidents, illness, weather problems, lack of commitment and possibly wild animals are the only things standing in their way. 

Please consider signing this pledge form to contribute to the ongoing USMA 1970 NCEA Fund Raising Campaign:

2012 NCEA Colorado Trail Hike Pledge Form

Thursday, March 8, 2012

WPS Denver Support for the Wounded Warrior Project™

A member of our Society, Shane Schmutz, '01 is hosting a large fundraising event (500+ attendees) to support Wounded Warrior Project™ (WWP). The event will be on October 4, 2012 at the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum. Our Society is a Supporting Sponsor for the event and is helping the project collect donations.  

 Shane has set up a website where you can find more information, http://www.veteranspassport2hope.org/ One item that Shane needs is an Event Sponsor. This sponsor will be the "Title Sponsor" for the event, meaning they'll receive a large amount of recognition. If your company wants to associate itself with helping the WWP, please contact Shane thru the above website. Or, if you simple desire to DONATE any amount to the project, click here.  Note that the donation IS tax deductible, as it goes through our 501 (c ) (3) organization. 

Please pass this on to all your contacts!  Consider "Tweeting" this, by clicking on the Twitter button below this article
.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

A Poem - by Richard

This poem is published with verbal permission of Richard Adams, USMA 1967.  For more of Richard's work, visit his website: http://richardbarlowadams.com/

The following was penned against the backdrop of fall and spring reunion weekends at West Point when returning members of the Long Gray Line venture out in the early morning hours onto the Plain and Trophy Point before the Alumni Review, and in that time remember… 

                                       In Their Eyes
                            Richard B. Adams, USMA 1967 

                Ere cloaking Hudson mist gave birth to pensive early dawn
                And warming sun imbued the day with color’s magic wand
                Some walked the quiet of that time recalling what had been
                When younger then, they too were called, a country to defend

                So much the same, the sight and sound and scent upon the wind
                Roused memory of former times, sweet chapters deep within
                When first the Corps assembled there uncertain what to be
                Til men of worth and men of faith saw clear its destiny

                Three hallowed words would cross their lips, a motto ever be
                The first was DUTY, selfless love, to serve a nation free
                Then HONOR next, a guarding shield against the tempter’s sting
                And COUNTRY followed, sacred trust, of which they’d often sing

                The river’s might, the circling hills, beneath God’s brilliant arch
                Called forth to mind those harried times when they, too, formed to march
                When shoes and brass were made to shine and belts the purest white
                Were donned on black trimmed coats of gray, beneath a dress hat bright

                Behind them lay so much of life since first they wore the gray
                When light their step and clear their eye, they savored each new day
                Those happy times of West Point years, when bonds for life were made
                Til oaths were sworn and forth they went their mettle to be weighed

                Still on they walk on legs grown old, with eyes that strain to see
                But gaining strength with every step infused by history
                By classmates gone whose deeds on earth live on in mind and heart
                Remembered friends in marbled stone who bravely did their part

                What’s that they hear upon the Plain, but sound of fife and drum
                As turn they all to join a class whose time to march has come
                And march they do with heads held high before the grateful throng
                And with them wait for freedom’s band to call the new guard on

                The granite walls release their hold and free the waiting Corps
                Young men and women marching forth to martial music score   
                They pass the Line, their span of years, as eyes look right to see
                And in their eyes catch full a glimpse of who they’ll one day be

                All sense a spirit in the air, a bond across the stage
                As eyes grow moist and hearts beat fast uniting all in age
                The young march off and leave the plain, the stirring music dies
                But those who stay, inspired so, renew their lifelong ties

                God grant them mercy in your will, the Black and Gold and Gray
                To find a servant’s resting place when comes the final day
                With family, friends, The Long Gray Line, eternity to share
                Immortal life by heaven’s grace with all who gather there


Tuesday, January 24, 2012

USMA Superintendant to Speak at Denver Founders Day

It has recently been announced that Lieutenant General David H. Huntoon, Jr., the current Superintendent at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, will be the Speaker at the West Point Society of Denver Founders Day this year, on March 3, 2012

from the West Point site:

Lt. Gen. David H. Huntoon, Jr. is the 58th Superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy.
Lt. Gen. Huntoon was commissioned in 1973 from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. From 1973-1986, Lt. Gen. Huntoon served as an Infantry Officer in a series of command and staff assignments with the 3rd Infantry Regiment at Fort Myer, Virginia, the 9th Infantry Division at Fort Lewis, Washington, the 7th Army Training Command at Vilseck, Germany, and with the 3rd Infantry Division in Aschaffenburg, Germany.
From 1986-1988, Lt. Gen. Huntoon attended the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and the School for Advanced Military Studies. He then served in the Directorate of Plans, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, as Senior War Plans Officer (Operation Just Cause), Deputy Director of Plans (Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm) and Director of Plans.
From 1992-1994, he commanded 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry (Mechanized) at Camp Casey, Korea, and served as Chief of Plans, CJ3, Combined Forces Command and United Nations Command, Yongsan. In 1994-95, he was the Army's National Security Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He then took command of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), Fort Myer, Virginia. From 1997-1999, Lt. Gen. Huntoon served as the Executive Officer to the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army. He was the Assistant Division Commander of the 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas, 1999-2000, and from 2000-2002, the Deputy Commandant of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. His next assignment was as the Director of Strategy, Plans and Policy, Army G3, the Pentagon. In August 2003, Lt. Gen. Huntoon was assigned as the 46th Commandant, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. In his last assignment he served as the Director of the Army Staff in the Pentagon.
Lt. Gen. Huntoon's awards include the Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit (with five oak leaf clusters), Bronze Star, Expert Infantryman's Badge, Parachute Qualification Badge and the Ranger Tab. He has a Masters of Arts in International Relations from Georgetown University and a Masters in Military Arts and Sciences from the CGSC Advanced Military Studies Program.