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VOL. 4/ISSUE 35
THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 2016
Independence VVA 566 celebrates 25th anniversary Day! Patrick McCallister FOR VETERAN VOICE
pmccallister@veteranvoiceweekly.com
Veterans will run and parade this Independence Day as local celebrations light up the Space and Treasure Coasts. John Adams predicted that America would forever celebrate Independence Day with fireworks and merrymaking every July 2. Wait. What? July 2? Yep. The Continental Congress passed the Resolution for Independence on July 2, 1776. That’s the forerunner to a better known document we celebrate today: the Declaration of Independence. The Resolution for Independence — the one Adams thought we’d celebrate — was passed on July 2, 1776. Oh, and it didn’t start the Revolutionary War. That was already well underway. The Revolutionary War pretty well started with the battles of Lexington and Concord, April 19, 1775. The Congress made it more or less official by passing the Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking up Arms on July 6, 1775. So, where do we get July 4 for Independence Day? Is that the day all those continental congressmen signed the Declaration of Independence? Nah. Most of them signed it on Aug. 2, 1776. July 4 is the day Congress adopted the Declaration, and John Hancock, President of the Congress, signed it. Within hours of the Declaration’s adoption, a fella named John Dunlap printed numerous copies. They’re called the Dunlap Broadsides. If you’ve got one in the attic, put it on eBay. It’d be the 25th known surviving copy. Of the 24 extant copies, the Library of Congress has two. Hancock dispatched copies of the Declaration to state legislatures on July 5. The Pennsylvania Evening Post printed the first newspaper copy the next day. On July 8, 1776, Philadelphians arguably started the tradition of Independence Day celebrating. Many gathered that day to hear the first public
See JULY 4 page 3
Photo courtesy of Neil Nappi The late Michael Bradley, Vietnam veteran, is the namesake of VVA Chapter 566, Port St. Lucie.
Mary Kemper STAFF WRITER
mkemper@veteranvoiceweekly.com
In 1991, the Michael Bradley Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 566 was begun in Port St. Lucie. On June 21, members of the chapter gathered at Veterans Memorial Park, Port St. Lucie, to commemorate the event. Afterward, members of the chapter, members of the Gold Star Mothers and family and friends gathered at the Corner Grill restaurant. It was also the 13th anniversary of the emplacement of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Monument at the park. Fifteen members observed the chapter’s anniversary. “We’ve got two of the charter members here,” said member Neil Nappi — George Bokes and Jim LaPointe, both of Port St. Lucie. Michael Bradley, the namesake of the chapter, was one of its founding members. He passed away July 22, 2015. Bradley served in the Army 199th light infantry brigade Military Police from 1966-1969, serving in Bien Hoa, Vietnam.
Upon moving to Port St. Lucie in 1986, be became a member of VVA Chapter 127, Jensen Beach, before founding Chapter 566. Bradley was also instrumental in establishing the Vietnam veterans’ memorial. At his funeral, VVA Chapter 566 performed a military salute to their fallen comrade, and also Military Honors were presented by the U.S. Army Honor Guards. He was survived by his wife of 45 years, Lu, son Ryan and daughter-in-law Erica Bradley, and sister Eleanor Lawlor. He was a loving grandfather to granddaughter Emma Joy. “He is greatly missed,” Nappi said. In addition to helping their fellow veterans in need with basic necessities, VVA Chapter 566 is active in raising funds each year to buy school supplies and backpacks for schoolchildren. Also, after having successfully raised the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Veterans Park, the chapter has been busy raising funds for a Gold Star Family Memorial to be dedicated Sept. 26 at the park. To learn more about VVA Chapter 566, visit www.facebook.com/vietvets566.