One whole month!!!!!!

We've been at this a whole month today!  Can you believe it?  In some ways, it has flown and in some ways it feels like we were just sitting in Colorado yesterday.  

My hope is that as the NEB has started meeting with the committees and getting thousands of emails from me, that they are still as enthusiastic as they were a month ago.  I'll admit I'm tired at the end of most days, but it's a good tired.  Already, I've had some incredible opportunities to meet some amazing folks and interact with some of our members and others from across the country answering questions and sharing our mission. 

---

I want to tell you a little about what I've been doing. 
​​

On Monday of this week, I traveled to Spartanburg, SC.  Back in April, I attended the Veterans Last Patrol annual dinner.  I happened to sit at a table that night with a group of folks from Spartanburg with a group called Palmetto House Republican Women's Club.  They invited me to come speak about AGSM at their annual patriotic celebration dinner to be held on July 22.   The first thing I wanted to be sure, of course, was that it was NOT a campaign rally, no candidates would be speaking or anything like that and explained to them that we aren't allowed to endorse, speak on behalf of, etc., They assured me it wouldn't be, that it was just a patriotic celebration and they wanted to hear about the great work AGSM does.  (And they were true to their word!)
​

Claude Schmid, from Veterans Last Patrol, reached out to me last week to ask if since I was going to be in the area did I want to visit some other groups while I was in town and see some of the work they're doing for veterans in the area.  Well, yes, of course!!!!!!!!!  First, I got a tour of their operation - much more on that to come soon!

Claude was my tour guide for the day.  We first went to an organization called Upstate Warrior Solutions.  They connect our veterans and those still serving - and their family members - to resources and opportunities, provide them with the tools they need and lead the way for the community to support those local heroes.  They have a myriad of supportive services and programs for the entire family.  They are also assisting Tia Jones and the Department of SC with a birthday celebration for Ms. Louree Clardy, one of our founding members in SC.  (Those who were on the board last year will remember the video we did at Memorial Day.)  I met a Gold Star Sister who is currently serving in the Army Reserve and works with Survivor Outreach Services for the National Guard.  They have a wall where everyone who visits can put a pin where they served.  The sister and I placed a pin where our loved ones died.    

Next, we went to the American Legion Post 3 in Greenville, SC.  This Post has an amazing museum packed with old uniforms and memorabilia.  One of the items they have is an AGSM flag from the Palmetto Chapter (now disbanded).  I'm not sure how old the flag is, but it looks very old.

After that, our final stop was an organization called Warriors Once Again.  This program is run by a (former) Marine and is a transitional housing program for homeless veterans.  It is a GREAT program.  The house they live in is AMAZING!!  And most of these veterans are coming out of the Veterans Treatment Court system and the work they're doing to give these folks a new start in life brought me to tears!  The Marine who is the director and the chair of the board (a Vietnam veteran) are so passionate about their program.  

I ended the night speaking to about 60 folks about AGSM.  Jack McManus from VVA and Jeremiah and Linda Botkin from AMVETS traveled to Spartanburg to attend.  I was so surprised (and happy) to have "friends" there!  I left with a $200 donation for our 2025 Convention service project - our first official convention donation!!  Their theme was the Roaring 20s (as this is their 21st year holding the event), so we were asked to wear flapper dresses.  What fun!!!

I fly out tomorrow morning to go to Maine for Stem to Stone with Wreaths Across America.   I will be there until Sunday.  I leave Maine and fly to Oklahoma City and will be there all next week at the Blue Star Mothers national convention.  I served this year as their parliamentarian, so I will be deep in their meetings all week but will keep an eye on email and texts.  My responses may not be as prompt as you're used to, but I will get to things as quickly as I can.  They are totally rewriting all their governing documents, so it's going to be very interesting!!!!  Their convention is a week long and they put a lot of emphasis on training their members on how to run and operate their chapters.  I fly home very late Friday night, 8/2.

Hugs to everyone!!!!!  Have a great rest of your week and weekend!

Patti Elliott
National President
American Gold Star Mothers, Inc