August 1, 2014

Oroville Mercury Register
April 7, 1964
(Captions of Pictures) Board Meeting
Mr. and Mrs. Loyal A Couch and Mrs. John L. Beckman, attended the banquet Saturday evening that was a finale to the Administrative Board of Veterans Administrative Board of Veterans of WWI meeting. Couch is the department commander and Mrs. Beckman is the state president of the auxiliary. Mr. and Mrs. Edward Neron of San Diego also attended the meeting and banquet. Neron is the past national commander of the Veterans Organization.
(Stu- Wow, up to 1964- wives had no 1st name in the newspaper only Mrs.)

Oroville Mercury Register
April 7, 1964
World War I Veterans Hold Statewide Convention Here Oroville hosted a statewide joint meeting of the Administrative Board of the Veterans of World War I and its auxiliary Friday and Saturday. Loyal A. Couch of Vallejo, department commander, and Mrs. John L. Beckman of Pajar Valley, state auxiliary president presided at the meetings. The first meeting of the two day convention opened Friday evening. First order of business was discussion of a pension plan for WWI veterans and their widows. This was the major item of business during Saturday’s sessions. All veterans of the area are urged to contact the local barracks for information. Each veteran is urged to write his congressman about this pension. National officers, other than Neron, who attended were Herb Ziefle, inspector and Claude L. Kemp, veteran’s legal representative to the Department of Labor. All commanders of the eight department districts were present. Saturday evening the group met for a banquet in Memorial Hall. A radio was brought in so the group could hear Mrs. Armour of Turlock speak on the aims and objects of the Veterans of World War I. Inc. Mrs. Armour had recorded the speech earlier in the day. The evening ended with community singing and the “doughboys” reminisced about the “good old days”. Feather River Barracks 441 was the official host. Next meeting of the barracks and the auxiliary will be Thursday evening in Memorial Hall.
(Stu- I wonder if they got those pensions?)

Stu’s Notes:
As I wrote in the past, WWI started 100 years ago. In Europe, but soon it various ways, American Men got involved “Over There” as it was sometimes called. Some Americans slipped into Canada, illegally of course as our country was neutral, so to speak. Some Americans joined up with the British and flew against the Germans. Americans loved to fly, if any died which they probably did, I wonder who they were. On our Web site we have quite a few names of Men who did die “over there”. Many died from various illnesses. A few died in California guarding strategic places like railroad bridges etc. You can read this on our at www.orovilleveteransmemorialpark.org. Our Oroville Veteran Memorial Park for All of Butte County includes the names of those who died in Butte County, while training. I got the committee to vote to do that years ago. I would like to see more tiles bought for the Men who died as more could be said about them. So if you have any spare change and want to get a tile for one of these Heroes that “gave all” just call me. WWI, The Great War, The War to End All Wars (yeah right). So many Millions died all over the world just to buy less then 20 years of peace. I am surprised The World War I men had their convention in Oroville 50 years ago as there are many bigger towns in California. They had just been here in Oroville, I think in 1939. Sadly all WWI men are gone now. The last few died just a few years ago.

Come and support the Oroville Veterans Memorial for all of Butte County August 9, at the Oroville Veteran’s Hall 2374 Montgomery ST. Oroville, CA Presented by the Oroville American Legion Post 95 Music from Chuck Berry to Katy Perry, Raffles, Door Prizes, Silent Auctions, Full No Host Bar, Dinner & Dance Tickets $15 pp in advance $17 pp at the door, Dinner Only $10pp, Dinner Served 1-7pm Live Music by DECADES, performance starts at 7:30pm Spaghetti and Meatballs Bread, & Salad, Catered by Sons of Italy. Tickets outlets Diamond W. 181 E. 2nd Street, Modern Dry Cleaners 730 Montgomery ST. Oroville, Marcozzi Jewelers, 1531 Myers ST. Oroville, Huntington’s Sporting Goods 601 Oro Dam Blvd. Oroville, Paradise Coin & Gift 6848 Skyway Rd. Paradise, Oroville Chamber of Commerce 1789 Montgomery St. Oroville. For more information & tickets Ron Scharbor of the American Legion Oroville 534-9889, Sons of Italy in Chico 682-5641. Thank you Oroville Chamber of Commerce for supporting our event.