Sacrifices Made For Our Freedom
Patriotism flies high each year as a small Texas town provides a hero’s welcome to U.S. Medal of Honor recipients.
National President
Jon Walker, F268778
jwalker@fmca.com
By now, most of us will be getting ready to celebrate the Fourth of July, or, for our Canadian friends, Canada Day on July 1. The extended Walker family usually gets together at our lake cottage for the holiday week. We always have enough homemade food — barbecue, baked beans, casseroles, salads, and hand-churned ice cream — to serve anyone who shows up . . . at any time. We float, kayak, swim, water-ski, and have campfires every night. It’s almost like RVing, only we’re at home rather than on the road.
This is the first summer our new full-hookup RV sites have been ready to use, so we also will be able to sleep more family members than in the past. One highlight of the celebration is watching the Washington, D.C., fireworks display on TV while listening to the military bands playing Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture.” As soon as that is over, we enjoy a local fireworks show sponsored by our area lake associations.
Our Fourth of July celebration will have a much deeper meaning for Sondra and me this year. The Arkansas Travelers chapter asked us to attend their Medal of Honor rally in Gainesville, Texas, this past April. Since 2001, this small town of 16,000 residents has been inviting all living U.S. Medal of Honor recipients to annual events to recognize and thank them for their service and their sacrifices for their country.
The Medal of Honor is the nation’s highest military award for valor. It is presented by the U.S. president, in the name of Congress. By law, only U.S. service members who distinguish themselves “through conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty” can receive the medal.
Only about 70 Medal of Honor recipients are still living today. Please check out the video of this year’s celebration in Gainesville: https://youtu.be/Gt1pP1h5r-M
FMCA president Jon Walker (left) met U.S. Medal of Honor recipient Allen J. Lynch.
I had the privilege of meeting one of the recipients, Allen J. Lynch, while attending a reception and book-signing event there. I bought Allen’s book Zero to Hero and had him sign it. Allen happens to be from my home state, Illinois. I was talking with a neighbor of ours who grew up on the south side of Chicago and telling him of our plans to attend the celebration week in Texas. He told me he had heard of Allen Lynch, because he grew up near him.
I highly recommend Allen’s book. It is a great true story of how a young man who was bullied from an early age and had no direction in life joined the military and became a hero by doing what he felt he had to do to save some of his comrades during the Vietnam War.
His Medal of Honor citation reads: “For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sgt. Lynch (then Sp4c.) distinguished himself while serving as a radio telephone operator with Company D. While serving in the forward element on an operation near the village of My An, his unit became heavily engaged with a numerically superior enemy force. Quickly and accurately assessing the situation, Sgt. Lynch provided his commander with information which subsequently proved essential to the unit’s successful actions. Observing three wounded comrades lying exposed to enemy fire, Sgt. Lynch dashed across 50 meters of open ground through a withering hail of enemy fire to administer aid. Reconnoitering a nearby trench for a covered position to protect the wounded from intense hostile fire, he killed two enemy soldiers at point-blank range. With the trench cleared, he unhesitatingly returned to the fire-swept area three times to carry the wounded men to safety. When his company was forced to withdraw by the superior firepower of the enemy, Sgt. Lynch remained to aid his comrades at the risk of his life rather than abandon them. Alone, he defended his isolated position for two hours against the advancing enemy. Using only his rifle and a grenade he stopped them just short of his trench, killing five. Again, disregarding his safety in the face of withering hostile fire, he crossed 70 meters of exposed terrain five times to carry his wounded comrades to a more secure area. Once he had assured their comfort and safety, Sgt. Lynch located the counterattacking friendly company to assist in directing the attack and evacuating the three casualties. His gallantry at the risk of his life is in the highest traditions of the military service. Sgt. Lynch has reflected great credit on himself, the 12th Cavalry, and the U.S. Army.”
Left to right: Charlie Adcock, Darrell Gilliland, and Jon Walker.
Another part of attending the Arkansas Travelers rally was that I met and became friends with one of the South Central Area’s former national vice presidents, Darrell Gilliland, F153488, who lives in Gainesville. I became aware of Darrell when I was involved in forming the Great Lakes Area Association. Darrell and Jim Ammenheuser, A157201, supplied me with information that proved valuable to me in laying the foundation of our new FMCA area. I had met Jim, but not Darrell.
During this Medal of Honor rally, FMCA immediate past national president Charlie Adcock, L311374, introduced me to Darrell. We ended up having breakfast together almost every day during the rally, and Sondra and I met Darrell’s daughter and son, and their families. It was an honor for us to get to know Darrell. A side note to this is that the restaurant where we ate each day had the best fried pies we ever have eaten!
The Arkansas Travelers hosted a rally during Medal of Honor events in Texas.
Another highlight of the rally was meeting so many members of the Arkansas Travelers chapter. In speaking to their chapter members, I told them about our national effort to revitalize FMCA chapters and what we were doing to help chapters gain new members. I can proudly say that this chapter is growing and prospering. Many thanks to chapter president Gary Tharp, F433025, and co-rally hosts Mark and Joana Garro, F313380; Charlie and Gloria Adcock; and Lowell and Peggy Reeves, F331120, for allowing us to attend their rally.
Sondra and I had a great time. Please visit https://bit.ly/2HMNzVp to check out the Arkansas Travelers chapter newsletter about the Medal of Honor week. Jeannie Carey, F384182, does a wonderful job as the newsletter editor for this thriving chapter!
Member Engagement. On another note, Ken Carpenter, F312233, and the Member Engagement Committee are working hard to make it possible for all of our members to let us know what your life skills are. It is very important for us to know what skills and talents we all possess in order to create a pool to draw from in selecting committees that help run your association. Please don’t forget to visit join.fmca.com/member-engagement and give us information about your talents and skills.
Until next month, remember, it still is all about having fun!
Member Engagement Mission
FMCA will become a member-driven organization when all members have a voice and have opportunities to participate in ways that enhance their RV lifestyle and experience. FMCA will achieve this vision when our culture, policies, programs, and services keep pace with the ever-changing landscape of the industry and our members. To learn more or volunteer your services and expertise, please visit join.fmca.com/member-engagement.
Exciting Announcements
News about the latest member benefits and upcoming FMCA conventions.
Chris Smith
Chris Smith
FMCA Executive Director
csmith@fmca.com
The Fourth of July is just around the corner, and this easily is one of my favorite times of the year. Fireworks, warm days, and patriotism abound, and summer truly is in full swing!
I have fond memories of being a kid, running through the grass barefoot, sparkler in hand, waiting for the sun to set and the fireworks show finally to begin. Now, as a husband and father of three, I appreciate these special times spent with my own family. I am both excited and blessed to be able to think back on my childhood memories and to create new memories with my loved ones.
As a father, however, it’s not all fun and games for me like it was in my youth. I am responsible for the well-being of three beautiful children, and their safety is always at the forefront of my mind — not just during the festive times, but throughout the entire year.
Having spent time with many of you, I know the safety and well-being of your family stays top of mind for you as well, year-round. For this reason, I’m excited to share information about one of our recently added benefit partners, Proteng Distribution.
Proteng has engineered a fully automatic and self-contained fire suppression device known as THIA: Tube + Heat = Instant Action.
THIA is available in two versions, standard and heavy duty, and is intended to be custom-installed in mostly enclosed areas at the highest risk of fire. The device consists of a polyamide (synthetic polymer) tube filled with FM-200, a clean agent, nontoxic gas. When exposed to potentially threatening temperatures, the tube ruptures and automatically expels the gas at the hottest spot. The gas leaves no residue and is noncorrosive.
The tubes are unique, because the compact size allows them to protect areas such as fuse panels that could not be protected before. In an RV, THIA can be installed in locations ranging from the diesel-pusher (or gas) engine compartment to the dashboard, and in spots along the way. Because the system is not water-based, it functions even in below-freezing temperatures. It also can be used for your towed or towing vehicle, mobility scooter, or golf cart — anywhere that may be at a higher risk of fire.
The system can mean the difference between minimal damage and a total loss. Most importantly, it can save lives. FMCA members are eligible to receive up to a 20 percent discount on Proteng products and services. To learn more, visit www.fmca.com/proteng or call (561) PROTENG — (561) 776-8364.
Speaking of exciting new partnerships, I’m happy to announce we have a new relationship with a Cincinnati-based technology company by the name of Togo (pronounced like “logo”). Togo, a mobile app developer, has created what the company refers to as “the clever camping companion,” which offers users an innovative way to keep their RV travel needs in one place. From your mobile device or tablet, you can track your RV’s maintenance requirements, keep service information at your fingertips, set custom notifications, and reference helpful checklists for RV trips. The best part? It’s free to use!
Part of TH2, a joint venture between Thor Industries and Tourism Holdings Ltd. (THL), Togo brings along another notable RV-centric “family member.” FMCA members who download the FMCA-branded mobile app also gain access to Roadtrippers, a leader in road trip planning and tourism services.
Our hope is to have the app available for downloading by the time folks start arriving at FMCA’s 100th International Convention and RV Expo, “Minot Magic — 100 Times the Fun,” in Minot, North Dakota, August 14-17, making an exciting event even more exciting. FMCA staff will be available on-site to assist members with any questions. Keep a watch for more information to come.
Registrations are still being accepted for FMCA’s Minot convention. We’ll be taking them online at FMCA.com, by phone, or via postal mail (using a check) until August 6. After that date, registrations will be accepted only on-site.
This issue of the magazine includes a plethora of information about Minot convention activities, including entertainment, seminars, and exhibits. Also in this issue, be sure to check out the article about the International Peace Garden, which straddles the U.S.-Canadian border and is a couple hours north of Minot. Also included is a story that details places in North Dakota related to explorers Lewis and Clark, who spent time in the state while mapping out the Louisiana Purchase.
Future convention dates and locations. We are pleased to announce that FMCA will be hosting its 102nd International Convention and RV Expo at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, New York, July 29 through August 1, 2020. So, mark your calendars now and make plans to join us.
A fun fact: FMCA’s first convention took place in New York, in July 1964, at Fort Ticonderoga. The last time FMCA visited New York for a convention was in 2003 in Buffalo, so this will be a long overdue visit to the Empire State.
FMCA also hosted a convention at the New York State Fairgrounds in July 1977. Much has changed since then, including the recent addition of the 110,000-square-foot Expo Center at the fairgrounds, which FMCA will use for exhibits, seminars, and food concessions.
We’re happy to be returning to the Northeast Area for a convention. Registration for the Syracuse event will open on January 29, 2020.
Also, don’t forget to mark your calendars for FMCA’s 101st International Convention and RV Expo, March 26 through 29, 2020, at the Pima County Fairgrounds in Tucson, Arizona. Many of you already will be “snowbirding” in the area. Others may be looking for a warm spot by then. We invite all of you to come join the fun. Registration for the Tucson event opens on September 26, 2019.
Exciting times ahead! Hope to see you in Minot. Until then, enjoy the journey!