Welcome
Established in 2016, we have a patriotic mission to support our veteran members as well as local veteran organizations
Memorial Day Flag Raising
Monday, May 26th @ 1145 am
Homosassa Distillery Event
May 1st, 2025
The GLVFA monthly meeting for May 2025 was held up at the Homosassa Distillery for a change of venue. Attendees were treated to a tour of the distillery as well as received special t-shirts (vets received a "DD-214 t-shirt while civilians received a special "we honor our vets" t-shirt". Light snacks were served, and everyone was treated to various samplings of the distillery's products!
Photos of the meeting are displayed below.
Photos of the meeting are displayed below.
Login.Gov and ID.me
Account Creation
Members will soon be faced with the need of creating new login user accounts for many government and commercial websites. Notibly, many government website members use for their typical needs such as the VA website, Social Security, Medicare, IRS, and more, all will require the use of either id.me or login.gov.
Below are two hot buttons that will enable members to download/view basic account creation instructions to assist them in getting their login.gov and id.me accounts created.
Below are two hot buttons that will enable members to download/view basic account creation instructions to assist them in getting their login.gov and id.me accounts created.
Vietnam War 50th Anniversary
Commemoration Pin
Vietnam Era Commemorative Pin: Eligibility and How To Request Pin
What is the commemorative pin all about?
Living U.S. veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces at any time during the period of November 1, 1955 to May 15, 1975, regardless of location, are eligible to receive one lapel pin.
There is no distinction between veterans who served in-country, in-theater, or who were stationed elsewhere during the Vietnam War period. All were called to serve, none could self-determine where they were stationed, and all were seen in the same way by a country that could not separate the war from the warrior, as we do today.
If any of our GLVFA members served on active duty during the dates outlined above, they can order a pin by either of the following options:
1.Direct email request. GLVFA members can directly email a request to have a pin sent to the members ‘ home address. Use the following link to initiate an email:
mailto:[email protected]?subject=Vietnam%20Veteran%20Lapel%20Pin
Or use the below email address using your email program:
[email protected]
Be sure to include the following information in the body of the email with the following information:
Name
Address
Dates of Service
Branch of Service
No other information in the email is needed
2. Call to Request Pin. GLVFA members can call the following number to submit a request to have a pin mailed to the member:
Florida: 305 453 8777
National: 877 387 9951
What is the commemorative pin all about?
Living U.S. veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces at any time during the period of November 1, 1955 to May 15, 1975, regardless of location, are eligible to receive one lapel pin.
There is no distinction between veterans who served in-country, in-theater, or who were stationed elsewhere during the Vietnam War period. All were called to serve, none could self-determine where they were stationed, and all were seen in the same way by a country that could not separate the war from the warrior, as we do today.
If any of our GLVFA members served on active duty during the dates outlined above, they can order a pin by either of the following options:
1.Direct email request. GLVFA members can directly email a request to have a pin sent to the members ‘ home address. Use the following link to initiate an email:
mailto:[email protected]?subject=Vietnam%20Veteran%20Lapel%20Pin
Or use the below email address using your email program:
[email protected]
Be sure to include the following information in the body of the email with the following information:
Name
Address
Dates of Service
Branch of Service
No other information in the email is needed
2. Call to Request Pin. GLVFA members can call the following number to submit a request to have a pin mailed to the member:
Florida: 305 453 8777
National: 877 387 9951
50th Anniversary Vietnam War Commemorative Pin
GLVFA Vietnam War 50th Anniversary Commemorative Web Page
Please visit out dedicated Vietnam War 50th Anniversary of the war's official end.
Florida Veteran Benefits Guide
2025 Publication
The Florida Department of Veteran Affairs (FDVA) has published their 2025 veteran benefits guide. Click on the button below to review a digital copy of the guide.
Kentucky All-State Choir
National Anthem - Feb 2025
Every night of the All-State Choir week-long conference at about 11pm, everyone comes out to the balconies of the 18 story Hyatt hotel to sing the National Anthem (You Tube video ©2025 Ben Vivona. Very patriotic and certainly inspirational!
Ballad of the Green Berets
performed by The U.S. Army Band
The U.S. Army Band "Country Roads" honors the legacy of the Special Forces with a heartfelt performance of "Ballad of the Green Berets." Originally written and performed by Green Beret Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler, the song became an enduring tribute to these elite soldiers. Filmed at the scenic Lake Accotink Park, the performance celebrates the courage and dedication of the Green Berets, whose lineage dates back to the activation of the 10th Special Forces Group in 1952. Source: The United States Army Band "Pershing's Own"
Message from
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Doug Collins
In a recent video message from his desk at VA Central Office, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins addressed media concerns that Veterans’ benefits might be targeted for cuts.
Secretary Collins quotes:
“I’m the Secretary of VA, and I’m telling you right now, that’s not happening… the reality is, Veterans benefits aren’t getting cut,” Collins said. “In fact, we are actually giving and improving services.”
Click on the YouTube video below to hear more about what Secretary Collins has to say regarding the recent DOGE efforts regarding the VA, and more specifically, his outlook and commentary regarding a VA staff reduction that has been widely reported on the news and social media sources.
April 3rd Membership Meeting: GLVFA will have Congressman Gus Bilirakis' Chief of Staff Summer Blevins as a guest presenter to highlight the recent news regarding veteran benefits provided by the VA and to provide our members with the straight story.
Secretary Collins quotes:
“I’m the Secretary of VA, and I’m telling you right now, that’s not happening… the reality is, Veterans benefits aren’t getting cut,” Collins said. “In fact, we are actually giving and improving services.”
Click on the YouTube video below to hear more about what Secretary Collins has to say regarding the recent DOGE efforts regarding the VA, and more specifically, his outlook and commentary regarding a VA staff reduction that has been widely reported on the news and social media sources.
April 3rd Membership Meeting: GLVFA will have Congressman Gus Bilirakis' Chief of Staff Summer Blevins as a guest presenter to highlight the recent news regarding veteran benefits provided by the VA and to provide our members with the straight story.
Appreciation Night Event
"Service Before Self"
On Saturday, Mar 8th, GLVFA thanked all its member volunteers and organizational sponsors for their contributions throughout 2024. GLVFA presented grant checks from our 2024 fund raising events and donations to deserving local veteran and civic organizations. Our membership, sponsors, and grant recipients enjoyed great conversation and camaraderie at this long-time GLVFA tradition started by the organizations' founding members. Military traditions run deep, and our traditional GLVFA Appreciation R&R event continues the proud military tradition of "Service before Self" through helping our tri-county area veterans through the grants given at this event.
To see all of the event's pictures, click on the button below. |
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Early Flying Film
Arthur Godfrey
Below is a fun YouTube video of a film made in 1953, hosted by Arthur Godfrey, that details early days of flying. Neat description of early Wright brother's flyer and WW1 flying (Remember Captain Eddie Rickenbaker?). For Naval and AF flying enthusiasts, as well as early commercial flying, this is a fun video to spend a few minutes viewing. This film was made 72 years ago! Wow, flying sure has changed since then!!
45 years before the making of the Arthur Godfrey film on early aviation, below is real footage of The Wright Flyer being demonstrated to the government in pursuit of a government contract....and so it began from that day onwards. Keep in mind, there were no bag fees back then. lol
The Wright Military Flyer Demonstration
Ft Meyers Virginia (1908)
Ft Meyers Virginia (1908)
Johnny Clem aka Johnny Shiloh
"the Littlest Drummer Boy"
In May 1851, John Lincoln “Johnny” Clem, a 9 year old boy from Newark, Ohio, ran away from home to join the Union army during the Civil War.
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However, the commander of the 3rd Ohio Regiment rejected him, saying he "didn't draft babies." The commander of the 22nd Michigan Regiment also told him the same thing. Determined, Johnny followed the regiment anyway, posing as a drummer boy, and was eventually accepted. Although not formally drafted, he performed camp duties and received a salary of $13 a month, collected and donated by the regiment's officers.
The following April, during the Battle of Shiloh, Clem's drum was destroyed by artillery fire, attracting the attention of the press, who nicknamed him "Johnny Shiloh, the Littlest Drummer Boy." A year later, at the Battle of Chickamauga, he was carried on a gun carriage in the front lines, carrying a musket that was adjusted to his size. During a retreat, a Confederate officer called out to him, shouting, "Surrender, you damned little Yankee!" Johnny responded by shooting and killing him. This brave act made him nationally known as the "Drum Boy of Chickamauga."
Clem remained in the Army throughout the war, serving as a courier and being wounded twice. Between Shiloh and Chickamauga, he was formally drafted, began to draw pay, and was promoted to sergeant at age 12. After the Civil War, he attempted to enter West Point but was rejected because of his poor education.
The following April, during the Battle of Shiloh, Clem's drum was destroyed by artillery fire, attracting the attention of the press, who nicknamed him "Johnny Shiloh, the Littlest Drummer Boy." A year later, at the Battle of Chickamauga, he was carried on a gun carriage in the front lines, carrying a musket that was adjusted to his size. During a retreat, a Confederate officer called out to him, shouting, "Surrender, you damned little Yankee!" Johnny responded by shooting and killing him. This brave act made him nationally known as the "Drum Boy of Chickamauga."
Clem remained in the Army throughout the war, serving as a courier and being wounded twice. Between Shiloh and Chickamauga, he was formally drafted, began to draw pay, and was promoted to sergeant at age 12. After the Civil War, he attempted to enter West Point but was rejected because of his poor education.
Through a personal appeal to President Ulysses S. Grant, his commander at Shiloh, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Regular Army on December 18, 1871. In 1903, he rose to the rank of colonel and served as assistant to the Quartermaster General. He retired in 1916 with the rank of major general, after an incredible 55 years of service.
General Clem died in San Antonio, Texas, on May 13, 1937, three months shy of his 86th birthday, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery
General Clem died in San Antonio, Texas, on May 13, 1937, three months shy of his 86th birthday, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery
Though Johnny Clem was the youngest soldier in the Civil War, there were many other young soldiers on the battlefield, on both sides. View the following YouTube videos to learn more about johnny Clem and also life as a soldier in the Civil War.
Hampton Roads Conference
Feb 1865
A bit of history that most members aren't aware of:
On February 3, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln (1809-65) and Secretary of State William H. Seward (1801-72) met with three Confederate officials, including Vice President Alexander H. Stephens (1812-83), to discuss the possibility of negotiating an end to the American Civil War, which had begun almost four years earlier in April 1861. The Hampton Roads Conference, which took place aboard a steamboat near Hampton, Virginia, was a failure, as Confederate officials were not authorized to accept any settlement other than Southern independence, which Lincoln refused to consider. The war continued for another two months.
On February 3, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln (1809-65) and Secretary of State William H. Seward (1801-72) met with three Confederate officials, including Vice President Alexander H. Stephens (1812-83), to discuss the possibility of negotiating an end to the American Civil War, which had begun almost four years earlier in April 1861. The Hampton Roads Conference, which took place aboard a steamboat near Hampton, Virginia, was a failure, as Confederate officials were not authorized to accept any settlement other than Southern independence, which Lincoln refused to consider. The war continued for another two months.
U.S.S. Monitor battles C.S.S. Virginia
Mar 1865
Did you know? The Battle of Hampton Roads, on March 9, 1862, was history’s first duel between ironclad warships, the Monitor and the Virginia. Though the battle itself was inconclusive, it began a new era in naval warfare.
On that day, one of the most famous naval battles in American history occurred as two ironclads, the U.S.S. Monitor and the C.S.S. Virginia, fight to a draw off Hampton Roads, Virginia. The ships pounded each other all morning but their armor plates easily deflected the cannon shots, signaling a new era of steam-powered iron ships.
The C.S.S. Virginia was originally the U.S.S. Merrimack, a 40-gun frigate launched in 1855. The Confederates captured it and covered it in heavy armor plating above the waterline. Outfitted with powerful guns, the Virginia was a formidable vessel when the Confederates launched her in February 1862. On March 8, the Virginia sunk two Union ships and ran one aground off Hampton Roads. Click on YouTube video below to watch an interesting presentation regarding the USS Monitor.
On that day, one of the most famous naval battles in American history occurred as two ironclads, the U.S.S. Monitor and the C.S.S. Virginia, fight to a draw off Hampton Roads, Virginia. The ships pounded each other all morning but their armor plates easily deflected the cannon shots, signaling a new era of steam-powered iron ships.
The C.S.S. Virginia was originally the U.S.S. Merrimack, a 40-gun frigate launched in 1855. The Confederates captured it and covered it in heavy armor plating above the waterline. Outfitted with powerful guns, the Virginia was a formidable vessel when the Confederates launched her in February 1862. On March 8, the Virginia sunk two Union ships and ran one aground off Hampton Roads. Click on YouTube video below to watch an interesting presentation regarding the USS Monitor.
Hail and Farewell
He recently moved back home to Michigan to be closer to his family. His commitment to GLVFA has made a real difference over the many years of our group's existence. We'll miss his presence and witty humor! We warmly wish Wayne all the best!
We will greatly miss Wayne Millington, dedicated GLVFA member, staunch advocate for veterans, and a cherished friend and golfing companion to many in our community.
The Star Spangled Banner
*** As You've Never Known or Heard It ***
*** As You've Never Known or Heard It ***
On Veterans Day, the nation reflects on the service of all veterans - past, present and future. Regardless of the nature of their service or the military branch in which they served, all veterans pledged their allegiance to protect and defend the flag of our country without prejudice of political views. Take a moment this Veterans Day to view the following You Tube video.
VA Crisis Line
Expanded PACT ACT
The VA announced that all veterans who have served in a combat zone since the Vietnam War, as well as those who participated in training or operations and came into contact with hazardous materials, will be able to enroll in VA healthcare starting March 5. 2024. Veterans are not required to have a service-connected disability or file a compensation claim to be eligible for VA care.
You are encouraged to apply for VA health care starting March 5, 2024, if any of these descriptions are true for you:
For many of out GLVFA members who served in Vietnam or other wars mentioned above, and/or worked around toxins in or outside of war zones, can qualify to enroll for VA Healthcare starting Mar 5th. Even if you are enrolled in Medicare, simultaneously being enrolled in VA Healthcare gives you options such as no co-pay prescriptions, including prescriptions mailed to your home from the VA, free mental health care, VA primary and specialty care in Brooksville, New Port Ritchy, Tampa and other VA healthcare facilities, and much more.
You are encouraged to apply for VA health care starting March 5, 2024, if any of these descriptions are true for you:
- You served in the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, or any other combat zone after 9/11, or
- You deployed in support of the Global War on Terror, or
- You were exposed to toxins or other hazards during military service
For many of out GLVFA members who served in Vietnam or other wars mentioned above, and/or worked around toxins in or outside of war zones, can qualify to enroll for VA Healthcare starting Mar 5th. Even if you are enrolled in Medicare, simultaneously being enrolled in VA Healthcare gives you options such as no co-pay prescriptions, including prescriptions mailed to your home from the VA, free mental health care, VA primary and specialty care in Brooksville, New Port Ritchy, Tampa and other VA healthcare facilities, and much more.
Pentagon Virtual Tour
Vietnam War 50th Anniversary Commemorative
To commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War, the Department of Defense and the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration created a permanent exhibit on the 3rd Floor, A-Ring, corridors 3-2 in the Pentagon as a way to thank and honor the service and sacrifice of Vietnam veterans and their families. This award-winning exhibit tells the story of the United States' involvement in the Vietnam War through a timeline of events, artifacts, historic photographs, and video footage.
Enjoy this interactive virtual tour of the Pentagon Vietnam War Exhibit!
Veterans Living Memorial
VLM is an online memorial that honors nearly 10 million Veterans interred in VA National Cemeteries, VA grant-funded cemeteries, DoD-managed cemeteries (including Arlington National Cemetery); U.S. Park Service National Cemeteries, and thousands of private cemeteries where Veterans have received a VA-provided gravesite marker since 1996.
On Nov 2, 2023, the VA announced that nearly 5 million Veterans and service members have been added to the Veterans Legacy Memorial (VLM) — the nation’s first digital platform dedicated to the memory of Veterans and service members.
With this expansion, nearly 10 million of the nation’s heroes now have individual pages on VLM — allowing family, friends, and others to post tributes, upload images and documents, and commemorate them. More than 72,000 tributes have been posted to Veterans’ profile pages since the site launched in 2019.
The VLM now honors the memory of Veterans interred in VA’s national cemeteries, VA-grant funded cemeteries, 27 Department of Defense-managed cemeteries, two National Park Service national cemeteries, and thousands of private and other non-VA cemeteries.
On Nov 2, 2023, the VA announced that nearly 5 million Veterans and service members have been added to the Veterans Legacy Memorial (VLM) — the nation’s first digital platform dedicated to the memory of Veterans and service members.
With this expansion, nearly 10 million of the nation’s heroes now have individual pages on VLM — allowing family, friends, and others to post tributes, upload images and documents, and commemorate them. More than 72,000 tributes have been posted to Veterans’ profile pages since the site launched in 2019.
The VLM now honors the memory of Veterans interred in VA’s national cemeteries, VA-grant funded cemeteries, 27 Department of Defense-managed cemeteries, two National Park Service national cemeteries, and thousands of private and other non-VA cemeteries.
For information about VA burial benefits, visit one of VA’s National Cemetery Locations in-person, visit online at VA burial benefits and memorial items, or call toll free at 800-827-1000. To plan ahead for you and your family, visit NCA’s pre-need eligibility website.
GLVFA Charities
Chairman Dick Rowland, President Curt Riley, and FW Springstead HS Jr ROTC Senior Instructor Renee Teague, Maj (ret) with cadets
Partner With Us
Be an integral part of these efforts to honor and aid veterans by making a gift on our DONATE page. Current fund-raising initiatives include GLVFA Veterans SAVES, maintenance for the new Veterans Memorial, and several sponsorship levels of our Veterans Day Nature Coast Golf Scramble.
GlenLakes Supports GLVFA
