Jeanette Early
Gold Star Wives of America
National President 2012-2013
Please join me in welcoming the Cheyenne MountainChapter to the national organization of Gold Star Wives of America. The officers of the Cheyenne Mountain Chapter wereinstalled March 5, 2013 at Fort Carson, Colorado in a lovely inaugural ceremony consisting of seven charter members. Support and participation was rendered by Fort Carson’s Battalion Chaplain CPT Dell Harlow-Curtis, and the Casualty Assistance Officer. Several representatives from related service and support organizations enhanced the ceremony, which included: Gold Star Mothers from Pikes Peak Chapter –President Marylin Stites, Angelika McShan and Scoti Domeij; Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors
(TAPS)Representative, Paul McShan; Survivor Outreach Services (SOS)-Program Manager, Angela Gun; Gold Star Wives includedDenver Chapter President, Patti Sampers;National & Southwest Region Treasurer, Betty Crawford (Phoenix, AZ);Southwest Region President, Patti Termini (Phoenix, AZ);and friends and children of the new chapter members.
The following officers were installed by National President Jeanette Early and pinned by SW Region President Patti Termini: Adrienn Loughmiller, President; Jocelyn Serrano, Vice President; Nannette Byrne-Haupt, Secretary; Abigail Lane, Treasurer/Chaplain; Stephanie Swisher, Historian; andLeeSandra Thibodeau, Parliamentarian. Irene Merrill was included in the charter members. Tasteful refreshments and camaraderie followed the ceremony. I wish to encourage the GSW members-at-large in Colorado Springs to unite with the Cheyenne Mountain Chapter to add strength and diversity to the chapter. To transfer to the new chapter, please contact the GSW Management Office in Birmingham, Alabama by phone at 1-888-751-6350 or by email at info@goldstarwives.org.
On March 6, 2013, Vivianne Wersel (Arlington Chapter President) testified for Gold Star Wives at the Joint Hearing of the Senate and House Veterans Affairs Committee in Washington, D.C. The top three issues were: DIC Increase, SBP/DIC offset, and improved Education benefits. We thank Vivianne for testifying on behalf of Gold Star Wives, and many more thanks and appreciation to Vivianne and Jody Nyalko, GSW Washington Liaison, for braving the harsh weather to attend the Hearing.
I have been fortunate to attend the Northwest Region Conference in Tacoma, WA. March 15,16 (hosted by the Tahoma Chapter),
and the South Central Region Conference in Oklahoma City, OK. March 22,23 (hosted by the Oklahoma City Chapter).I wish to thankthe GSW’s in both Regions for inviting me to their conference and for the outstanding and memorable hospitality. I was delighted to see our Founder, Marie Speer in attendance at the OKC Conference. Both conferences were well coordinated with productive business meetings, enjoyable installation banquets, interesting guest speakers and delicious meals. I hope the remaining region conferences are also productive and well-attended.
On behalf of Gold Star Wives of America, I wish to extend good wishes to Mickey Lovell (Denver Chapter member), who recently celebrated her 95th birthday. Mickey dedicated many of those years to Gold Star Wives inactive service at national, regional and local levels. Audrey Emmons and I attended thecelebration of her 95thbirthday with family and friends on February 23, 2013.
I hope everyone celebrated “Gold Star Wives Day” April 5, 2013.
Jeanette B. Early
GSW - National President
20701 E. Dartmouth Dr.
Aurora, CO 80013-8446
Phone: 303-617-7937
Email: jbearly-gsw@q.com
SUPPORTERS
Gold Star Wives of America, Inc. is a non-profit 501(C)4 national military widows service organization chartered by the United States Congress. Donations are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes but may be deductible as trade or business expenses.
charter members. Support and participation was rendered by Fort Carson’s Battalion Chaplain CPT Dell Harlow-Curtis, and the Casualty Assistance Officer. Several representatives from related service and support organizations enhanced the ceremony, which included: Gold Star Mothers from Pikes Peak Chapter –President Marylin Stites, Angelika McShan and Scoti Domeij; Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors 
The following officers were installed by National President Jeanette Early and pinned by SW Region President Patti Termini: Adrienn Loughmiller, President; Jocelyn Serrano, Vice President; Nannette Byrne-Haupt, Secretary; Abigail Lane, Treasurer/Chaplain; Stephanie Swisher, Historian; andLeeSandra Thibodeau, Parliamentarian. Irene Merrill was included in the charter members. Tasteful refreshments and camaraderie followed the ceremony. I wish to encourage the GSW members-at-large in Colorado Springs to unite with the Cheyenne Mountain Chapter to add strength and diversity to the chapter. To transfer to the new chapter, please contact the GSW Management Office in Birmingham, Alabama by phone at 1-888-751-6350 or by email at 
WA. March 15,16 (hosted by the Tahoma Chapter),
friends on February 23, 2013.
