Summer Travels

BY BISHOP NEAL J. BUCKON

MCCW LEADERSHIP DURING IN-PERSON MEETING IN TAMPA. FRONT ROW: L-R MADELINE STOCKMAN, ELEANOR GENTILINI, ERIN VELASCO, KIM MILLER, BISHOP NEAL BUCKON, ALY TUGAOEN, REBECCA LOCKHART, MUFFY PATTERSON BACK ROW: L-R JOAN LAPORE, DENISE HUMMEL, JAMIE SIMPSON-SMITH, PATTI RAMOS, PAULA MOYER, BERNADETTE KOVALSICK, KRISTEN FOSS.

At the beginning of summer, I journeyed to Tampa, FL, to join the reconstituted Executive Board of the Military Council of Catholic Women (MCCW) Worldwide. Mrs. Kim Miller, the President, discerned to remain in office, as did Mrs. Aly Tugaoen, the board member responsible for planning the biennial Forum. They met with 12 other board members primarily to discuss new business and prepare for the next Forum in Tampa during the Octave of Easter, 21-24 April 2022. The celebration of Mass at beautiful Sacred Heart Church and dining at the classic Columbian Restaurant in historic Ybor City were excursions the Board enjoyed from the Hilton Hotel in Tampa’s banking district, the Forum’s site. CH (COL) Eric Albertson, USA, is assigned to a Command

located on MacDill AFB. He accepted the invitation to serve as the Spiritual Moderator for the MCCW Worldwide. You can read more about the organization’s activities on their website: www.mccw.org

Mr. Roger Meehan invited me to dine with Father Felix J. Penna, Knights of Columbus, 4th Degree Assembly #80. I drove to the Casa Blanca Mexican Restaurant in Hacienda Heights east of the city of Los Angeles for a fine dinner attended by the Most Reverend David G. O’Connell, the Episcopal Vicar of the San Gabriel Pastoral Region. The Assembly presented me with a check for the AMS’ Co-Sponsored Seminarian Program, and I presented them with the “Armed with the Faith” DVD from the Knights of Columbus. The film inspires a greater appreciation for military chaplains and highlights the commitment of Knights in the military to charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism.

I am a life member of the Catholic War Veterans (CWV), so I traveled to Queens, New York, to attend the 86th National CWV Convention. National Commander David Crum and I spoke of establishing a Post in the San Diego area.

During the Convention, Leo P. Mount and I drove into Manhattan to visit the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum. Leo and I are life-long friends, and we remembered with 3D vivid clarity the terrible terrorist attacks on 9/11. I was with Bishop F. Richard Spencer and Bishop Bill Muhm on 9/11; we attended the AMS Convocation for priests in Washington, D.C. Two weeks later, I was in Riyadh serving as the ARCENT (U.S. Army Central) – Saudi Arabian Chaplain. I consider myself blessed to have visited the National 9/11 Memorial during the 20th Anniversary. Along with countless visitors, we walked about the beautifully designed grounds in a solemn reverential frame of mind. We must remain firm in our purpose to defend our Country while always striving for peace and unity among all peoples.

Next Stop: Albuquerque. The Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (EANGUS) held their 50th Convention in New Mexico. I enjoyed meeting Guardsmen, listening to the keynote speakers,

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and speaking to the vendors in the Exhibition Hall. Many vendors were universities with online studies. Mr. Keith Purnell, Director of Military Aligned Student Support and Recruitment, represented Viterbo University in La Crosse, WI. He explained how Father Conrad Targonski, OFM, initiated this program for veterans after he retired as a chaplain (Captain) from the United States Navy and arrived at Viterbo to serve as the University’s Chaplain for campus ministry. EANGUS is committed to keeping the 54 NG/ANG’s fit, trained, equipped, disciplined, and competent. Several commented on how hard it is to find Catholic priests to serve as chaplains in the National Guard.

Fort Chadbourne hosted its annual “Evening With A Hero” on the Old Forts Trail in West Texas, featuring Clinton Romesha. Mr. Romesha was awarded the Medal of Honor on 11 February 2013 for his actions as a staff sergeant / platoon leader during the Battle of Kamesh on 3 October 2009. Fort Chadbourne is situated between Goodfellow AFB and Dyess AFB. The active-duty contingent from the bases proudly wore their uniforms. I sat with MG Patrick H. Brady, USA-ret and a Medal of Honor recipient, and Air Force officers and their spouses.

The food was delectable, and the company was convivial. Clint was the guest speaker, and two things stood out. First, he said that 32 of the 34 Afghan National Soldiers laid down their weapons and walked away when the shooting first started. Second, he concluded by saying that the fraternal love shared among the 54 members allowed the platoon to remain intact and, after painful losses, fight back to reclaim the base and win the day. I spoke with Clint during his book signing after dinner. I told him that I had read his book, Red Platoon, and appreciated both his book and message that evening. I also shared with him that I had been an Infantry rifle platoon leader and a weapons platoon leader before I saw the light and became a co-sponsored seminarian and a chaplain. We are blessed to have great Americans like Garland and Lana Richards, Ann Pate, and other members of the Fort Chadbourne Foundation host a prestigious annual event. This

event allows the citizens of our great nation to meet our military heroes and listen to stories of service and sacrifice that deserved to be heard. I then drove up the road to visit the Catholic faithful at Dyess AFB.

One month of summer remains as I send this article forward for publication. I plan to attend another AMS Convocation here in sunny San Diego. It starts tomorrow! Next weekend I begin my pastoral visits when I visit Fairchild AFB in the vicinity of Spokane, Washington. Father Rory Pitstick is an Air National Guard chaplain, and as the contract priest, he will host my visit and present the candidates for confirmation and first Holy Communion. More travels await this pilgrim. Hopefully, the summer allowed you to enjoy travel and recreation. May you remain grounded in the faith, nourished in God’s love, and looking forward to the future in hope. V

BISHOP BUCKON AND MR. CLINTON ROMESHA.