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CSL 2003 DONATION STORY ATTACHMENT FOLLOWS
Submarine Veterans donate $8000 to submariners
for holidays
By JOC(SW/AW) Mark O. Piggott
"Sailors take care of their own"
is a saying that has lived throughout the Navy since its inception. This
is especially true for that special breed of Sailor known as submariners.
The United States Submarine Veterans
Inc. (USSVI) recently donated $8000 for the Naval Submarine Force for distribution
to the families of submariners in need during the upcoming holiday season.
USSVI lives up to their creed, "To
perpetuate the memory of our shipmates who gave their lives in the pursuit
of their duties while serving their country," by supporting the submariners
of today.
"USSVI and our Charitable Foundation
serve the needy families in our active submarine force worldwide through
this donation to the 'Caring and Sharing' program," said John D. Peters,
National Commander of USSVI and the United States Submarine Veterans Charitable
Foundation, Inc.
"When we found that some young
families or our junior troops were unable to provide a Christmas dinner
for their families, we stepped in to assist," he continued. "When
our young shipmates, particularly in the high cost areas, needed a hand
we try to help."
This donation is different from other
charitable activities the USSVI is involved in, in that it goes to active
duty submariners and their families. Other charitable activities of the
USSVI include college scholarships for children and grandchildren of submariners,
and a library of historic submarine books and similar material.
Peters, 67, a resident of Pearl Harbor,
Hawaii, served in the U.S. Navy for over 31 years, including 5 years as
commanding officer of USS John Adams (SSBN 620). Today, he leads the USSVI
down a very familiar path.
"We are merely continuing the very
old tradition in the submarine service of taking care of shipmates,"
he said. "We hope that our active duty submariners benefit by having
the holiday they deserve with their families while serving our great country."
"We want them to realize that they
are shipmates with every submariner who ever earned his dolphins,"
Peters continued. "We have members who qualified in the 1920 through
those just qualified and serving now. USSVI celebrates its 40th anniversary
in 2004 and we look forward to many more."
According to Force Master Chief, Atlantic
Fleet Submarine Force Master Chief Donald R. Kultti, the USSVI's generous
gift, accepted by Commander, Naval Submarine Forces on behalf of the Navy,
will be put to good use. "USSVI has been very generous to us all this
year," he said, "and I know I speak for us all when I say that
we appreciate their concern for our folks."
"We will put this money to good
use in accordance with its intended purpose," Kultti added.
The $8000 donation was divided in half,
$4000 each for the Atlantic and Pacific Submarine Force. From there, it
will be divided amongst the various submarine groups, squadrons, submarines
and the various commands that support them, and on to the submariners and
their families in need. All of this, just in time for the holidays.
"As long as we have shipmates in
need we expect to try to help. Every submariner is in the brotherhood,"
Peters said.
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