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Chapter Meeting Minutes
21 March, 2026
Garibaldi’s Mexican Restaurant and Cantina
1151 Lancaster Drive, NE
Salem, OR. 97301
Call to Order: 1230
Attendance (16): Steve Walker, Mike Ward, Danny Deitz, Dennis Klein, Geno Williams, Tony Tycer, Joe Vering, Don Hasse, Jerry Powell, Steve Cornacchia, Bill Gritzbaugh, David Brock, Sid Macken, Jeff Cuiper, Ivan Davis, Joe Smith.
Ladies Table: Barbara Walker, Cheri Williams, Aleta Macken, Pam Owens, Carolyn Vering, Janice Dietz.
Honors: Geno Williams, Sgt. At Arms, led the Pledge of Allegiance. Geno also presented the Special Forces Prayer. Tony Tycer, Chaplain, presented a short homily on the “Essentials of the Bible”.
Introductions: Dispensed.
Sick Call: Paul Henderson has be diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer associated with agent orange. He is currently taking treatments. Check on your Brothers!
Minutes: A motion to accept the February 2026 minutes: Accepted.
Financial Report: Mike Ward reported a Checking Account balance of $12,231.92 and the Benevolent Account balance of $1,100.00. In addition, Steve Cornacchia reported that he received a $1,000.00 check from the Oregon Bottle Drop Program and he will forward the check to Weldon for deposit.
Danny Deitz reported that the bottle drop has a balance of $230.16. Motion to accept the financial report: Accepted.
President’s Comments: Steve Walker reported that on March 27, 2026 a new Military Recruiting Center will be dedicated in Kaiser at 5442 River Road N. The center will be home to recruiters from the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps.
On June 26, 2026, there will be a Change of Command for LTC John Scott, Commander of the Portland Recruiting Battalion. More information to follow.
Steve Cornacchia has completed the SFA Chapter 47 Bylaws. The two major changes include; defining a quorum of 25% of the voting members or 15 voting members, whichever is fewer and allowing associate members to hold an elected office.
A motion to have the SFA Chapter 47 President and Secretary sign the Bylaws. Accepted
Guest Speaker: Sid Macken attended the recent B-17 Alliance meeting in Salem. He shared the story of Miki Nguyen and his family’s escape from Vietnam. Miki was about six years old when his father commandeered a CH-47 Chinook helicopter and loaded his family and his crew members families and flew out to sea. By sheer luck, they found the USS Kirk, a Knox class destroyer escort. Unable to land on the ship, they still managed to safely offload the crew and passengers. His father then ditched the Chinook in the Sea and was picked up by the ship’s launch.
The story is recorded in a documentary produced by the U.S. Navy and in Miki’s book The Last Flight Out. The links below are to the documentary and to the book.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RidWEJpyZd0
https://www.amazon.com/Last-Flight-Out-English-Version/dp/B0DMF35Z33
Old Business: Scholarship applications are due no later than 05/31/2026.
National Medal of Honor Day is Wednesday March 25, 2026. Members are planning events in Eugene, Salem, Portland and Vancouver.
University of Portland ROTC Awards ceremony is April, 7, 2026.
JROTC Awards ceremonies will be held on April 9, 2026 at both Oregon City HS and Reynolds HS.
The Oregon Military Hall of Fame Induction ceremony will be held April 18, 2026. Chapter 47 Brother Riley Lott is being inducted. The chapter has reserved 2 tables. If you plan on attending, send a check to Weldon for $50.00. The check should be made out to SFA Chapter 47 and note that it is for the Hall of Fame event.
Both the U of O and OSU ROTC Awards ceremony will be held on May 28, 2026. The U of O ceremony will be held in Eugene and the OSU ceremony will be held in Monmouth, OR.
Chapter Picnic – After discussion on the date of the 2026 picnic, a motion to select September 19. Accepted.
50/50 Drawing: Sid Macken won the drawing and donated his share of the $153.00 back to the chapter. The chapter donated $20.00 for Sid’s lunch.
New Business: Chapter 47 officer elections were discussed. Nominations are in May and elections are in June. A motion to nominate the current officers. Accepted
Good of the Order: SFA Chapter 47 clothing that was obtained by Hono, has been donated to the chapter by Sarah Yacapin. You should have all received a list of the items via email from Steve Walker. The items will be available at the picnic. All proceeds will go the chapter scholarship fund.
Steve Cornacchia encouraged members to check out Nate’s Podcast on YouTube – Valhalla VFT
Adjournment: 1325.
Chapter 47 Events for 2026
March 25 – Medal of Honor Day – Various Locations
April 7 – University of Portland ROTC Award Ceremony
April 9 – JROTC Award Ceremonies (Oregon City HS and Reynolds HS)
April 18 – Oregon Military Hall of Fame
April 25 - Chapter 47 Meeting, Portland
May 16 - Chapter 47 Meeting, Salem
May 28 – U of O and OSU ROTC Award Ceremonies
June 7 – 12 – SFA National Convention, Fort Walton Beach (Eglin AFB), Florida
June 20 - Chapter 47 Meeting, Portland
July 18 - Chapter 47 Meeting, Salem
August 15 - Chapter 47 Meeting, Portland
September 19 – Chapter Annual Picnic
October 17 - Chapter 47 Meeting, Portland
Mike Ward
Secretary
SFA Chapter 47