I repeat, COMMITMENT AND DUTY! Those will be the words that I will focus on during the upcoming year to move our chapter forward. To fulfill our Mission to publicize the POW/MIA issue to educate the public that many American Prisoners of War were left behind after all previous wars, and to help correct the past and to protect future veterans from being left behind should they become Prisoners of War – Missing in Action. We are also committed to helping American veterans from all wars.
This scenario played out on the eve of our recent general membership meeting and election of officers and directors. Our chapter committed to escort the Dignified Transfer of the remains of U.S. Army Air Corps Private First Class John L. Ferguson, 20, of Flanagan, Illinois who was captured and died as a prisoner of war, missing in action during World War II to Duffy-Baier-Snedecor Funeral Home in Pontiac, Illinois. Pontiac, Illinois is approximately 120 miles southwest of Chicago and would normally be a two-hour ride. But there are always the unforeseen circumstances of late arrivals, and coordination problems which cause delays. The OPORD had us returning to Wauconda in time for the general membership meeting and the election of officers and directors. We rode hard in the early part of the evening in temperatures in the low 50’s. We made it back a little before 8:00 p.m. and the elections had already taken place. But the point is we fulfilled our commitment and duty in escorting the Dignified Transfer of remains home of Army Air Force PFC John L. Ferguson. What a way to start a presidency! Commitment and Duty!
I would like to acknowledge and congratulate our new officers and directors in stepping forward and taking on this leadership role. As well, I would like to thank our outgoing officers and directors in a job well done. But I would like to especially thank Rich Lanute, our outgoing president as my mentor working with him these past three years as vice president but more importantly, I consider him as a go to friend.
I had the pleasure of working with everyone these past three years in coordinating our Thunder Run and I believe we have a good team in place for the future. That team will be led by our new vice president Andy Haszlakiewicz who brings with him a lot of leadership experience in various veteran’s groups.
Finally, I would like to thank our Chairman of the Board, Wayne Kirkpatrick for being the glue that keeps all this together. Wayne puts in countless hours in making us look good!
We have a busy year ahead of us, so please remember Commitment and Duty and never forget our POW/MIA’s.
President

Rolling Thunder®, Inc. Illinois Chapter 2