The Order of the Silver Rose

2005-05-28T12:59:00.000-04:00

Table of Posts' Contents

1 - The Order of the Silver Rose ("OSR") Web Site...

2 - The Silver Rose...

3 - A Silver Rose Memorial...

4 - Why a Silver Rose Monument For Your Community...

5 - How To Go About "Getting" A Silver Rose Memorial...

6 - The OSR Mission Statement...

7 - Application For OSR Award...

8 - Origin of the Silver Rose...

9 - In Memory Monuent In D.C....

9 - “In Memory” Monument in D.C....

2005-05-27T08:57:00.000-04:00

The In Memory Plaque Project is very important to those of us here at The Order of the Silver Rose

The In Memory Plaque is to be set into an extension of the perimeter of the plaza where the Three Servicemen statue stands. Visitors will have views toward The Wall and the Women's Memorial.

Plaque Dimensions: 2 feet x 3 feet

Material: Gray granite, set cathedral-style into the plaza surface

Inscription: As shown, in the Optima typeface inscribed on The Wall

The “In Memory” Monument in D.C., its location and inscription can be found on their website here.

8 - Origin of the Silver Rose...

2005-05-26T17:34:00.000-04:00

THE ORIGIN OF THE SILVER ROSE - Written by Mary Elizabeth Davis Marchand

On December 7, 1941, my father's first war began. It was also my mother's 21st birthday, but I don't think the two were related. Daddy was under-age and in a protected profession as a Virginia coal miner, but he went in the Navy anyway.

My father retired from active duty early in 1969, after service as a Chief Hospital Corpsman with the Third Marines in Chu Lai, Vietnam. His first tour there had been aboard the LSD, USS Point Defiance, but Chu Lai was enough for him. He moved his family to Virginia, which was his birthplace as well as mine, and registered with the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Salem, Virginia (VAMCS), where he had his yearly physical every August, and every other medical need he required for the rest of his life.

He finished his 30 years in the Navy Reserve and was Honorably Retired. Then came the VFW, the Fleet Reserve ... you name it, he joined it. Inevitably he was a Commander, a President, a Governor, or whatever High-Mucky-Muck ran all the vet's clubs. Be grateful Chief Davis wasn't a resident of St. Louis. He was Hell on Wheels, and I adored him.

Then came 1996. A healthy 75-year-old Chief showed a clean chest film, as usual, in August. That's when the time line for the nightmare began. November I - preparatory to roto-cup surgery on an arthritic shoulder, Chief Davis was administered another chest film. It showed a non-small-cell cancerous tumor the size of a grapefruit perched so high up on the superior vena cava that neither surgery nor chemotherapy was possible. Diagnosis: Terminal, 6 months to two years, if 33 radical radiation treatments began at once. They were.

November 27 - the US Navy telephoned Chief Davis and informed him that his cancer had been caused by exposure to Agent Orange in Chu Lai, Vietnam 27 years earlier, qualifying him for benefits under the 1991 Agent Orange Act (91AOA). I was notified in Utah by my brother, Frank, Jr., and something in me went white-hot. It wasn't the cancer so much. Seventy-five year old men get cancer, although Daddy's 97 year-old mother and her two brothers thought he was much too young for it. My family is very long lived. It was the speed of it, the certainty of it, the out-and-out smugness of the Navy. They hadn't moved that fast since Pearl Harbor. They know. They had known all along.

I was aware of the 91AOA, but unfamiliar with it, so this naive Lifer's brat wrote to her Senator, the Honorable Orrin Hatch, to apply for Daddy's Purple Heart. That was December 2, 1996, the day we now call the date that The Order of the Silver Rose was born.

It never occurred to me that, in creating such a landmark piece of legislation, the Congress of the United States would leave out the ONE THING these heroes needed the most ... their self-respect. I thought the Purple Heart would be automatic, and it would have pleased Daddy to think that his life had been lost in service to the nation he loved so well. God, was I naive!

His final radiation treatment was two weeks before Christmas. I went home to find my father half the weight he had been in July. My family clung desperately to the 2-year prognosis, but I could see with the new eyes of distance. The Chief signed 7 waiver's of the Privacy Act for me, one for the Commander in Chief, one for my Congressman and one for his, two for his Senators and two for mine, although he thought my quest hopeless.

January 7, 1997, Chief Frank Davis, his wife (my mother), and my grandmother, Ida Pearl Ketron Davis, qualified for pensions under the 91AOA.

The VA was great. They did their best for him. February 19, he "Crashed". I got on the red-eye for Virginia, although the doctors said I would never make it in time. Doctors don't know Davis's. We're stubborn. Brother Frankie's open arms awaited me at the end of the airport runway, saying, "He's waiting for you," while Brother Charlie must have crawled up that carousel for my bag, and ten minutes later I was in Daddy's room. That stubborn old salt had every marble he was born with, and he clung to life without a lung to breathe with or even a respirator.

I stayed three weeks with him, while the doctors stood agog, but the time came for me to return to my Utah home. The day before, my dear friend and jeweler Ginger Mumpower visited him with me. You can't take flowers to ICU, but Ginger solved THAT problem. From her store's silver display case, she removed a plastic rose coated with mylar silver ... a beautiful Silver Rose. The Chief was tickled to death. I can still see it. He held it up so that it twinkled in the early spring sunlight, and laughed out loud saying, 'The Order of the Silver Rose! I'd rather have this than all the Purple Hearts in the Pentagon!' I was aghast! After all my work!

But Daddy explained it. 'Ginger's a hundred times prettier than the Commander in Chief.' He had me on that one. He was seventy-five and dying, but he was a man and he was a sailor. I'll never forget how he laughed, how WE laughed that day. The next morning I went to see him before my plane left. The doctor said that he could last another six months. So I looked into his huge brown eyes and said good-bye, and he made me promise to bring my husband Jay back next time. I promised.

Back in Utah, I continued my fight. I hold the distinction of having been turned down by all of the very best people in Washington. On March 13, I filed my first DD149, in spite of all the people who had told me that a Purple Heart for Agent Orange was illegal. But beware the Ides of March. Sometime before 700 hours, Chief Davis answered his Pilot's call in his sleep. Five days, and I was on another red-eye, gripping Jay's hand for 2400 miles, so that I could brace myself for the sound of gunfire over the finest man I ever knew.

Three weeks later, Senator Hatch wrote to me and told me not to give up, that if Agent Orange vets were ever to receive the Purple Hearts they deserved, it would be because I didn't give up. I cried, and something twinkled through the mist of my tears. It was Daddy's Rose.

I tried so HARD. I hadn't asked for any benefits, I was willing to settle for the Agent Orange Act as it was. All I wanted was $7.50 worth of silk and brass to say that he had died for his country. Just a line on his DD 214 to show his great-grandchildren what a quiet hero is, that there is gallantry in healing the wounds of war, and in dying with a twinkle of silver and a tinkle of laughter.

He wasn't good enough for the Purple Heart, but he was good enough for a Silver Rose. So I made my own medal."

Mary Elizabeth Davis Marchand died April 15, 1999. Her death was devastating for me. Her ideas and recognition of our beloved Vietnam Vets, I felt, had to continue. I contacted her husband Prof. Jay Marchand in May 1999. Only through his total cooperation have I been able to continue Mary's "baby".

Jay generously mailed me all of Mary's Agent Orange materials and, as you note, also wrote me a beautiful letter giving my efforts his blessing. The Silver Rose lives and only with your support will it be able to recognize and honor our brother and sister Vietnam Veterans.

Gary J. Chenett, National Director

The Origin of The Silver Rose can be found on their website here.

7 - Application for OSR Award...

2005-05-26T16:58:00.000-04:00

Application for the Order of Silver Rose Award

- Please Note: All the following information is final as written!!!
- Print Clearly, and feel free to use additional pages if needed.
- This application must be Totally Completed and mailed with all requested information for consideration included!

Name:___
(Print the first, middle name or initial and last as you want it written on the award and The Rank (I.E. Specialist E-4 etc.) as you want it on the award.)

Address:___

City, State and Zip Code:___

Email Address:___

Evening Phone number:___

Day number if available:___

Branch of Service:___

If the person is deceased please list your name, relationship to applicant and your full address and phone number.

Your Name:___

Relationship:___

Address:___

City & State with Zip Code:___

Area Code & Phone Number:___

You must enclose copies of form DD214 and Medical Records showing Agent Orange related sickness or cancer and this application. This information is critical in preparing this award. The award will Not Be Prepared without it, Nor Will You Be Contacted if a Application is sent In Lacking the Required Information

Mail To!

NANCY REKOWSKI
Assistant National Director
120 Erie Avenue
Johnsonburg, PA 15859

PH: 814-965-5760 - Email: nancyrekowski@hotmail.com

The Order of the Silver Rose Award Application can be found on their website here.

6 - The OSR Mission Statement...

2005-05-26T15:51:00.000-04:00

Agent Orange, a chemical defoliant, is and was a weapon of war deployed by American Forces against the enemy during the Vietnam War. Over 22 and 1/2 Million Gallons were sprayed during the war and that does not take into consideration what was sprayed by hand, helicopter or by the South Vietnamese, More than 300,000 of our own servicemen and women have also been wounded and killed by AO Dioxins since the end of the war.

The Veterans Administration and the Government recognizes 43 cancers and sicknesses, including Diabetes II as Agent Orange related and Service Connected, but offer no Honors or Recognition to these Heroes. This is a grave injustice we intend to correct.

We the members of The Order of the Silver Rose believe that the people of the United States need Heroes, and we have been overlooking too many of them.

It is the Mission of this organization to recognize the Courage, Heroism, and contributions of American service personnel found to have been exposed to Agent Orange Dioxins, chemicals and biological exposures and bring it to the attention of the Veterans and civilian community in America with the presentation of the Prestigious Silver Rose Award to all whom are eligible...

Personal sacrifices have gone neglected by the very nation for whom those sacrifices were made. These Heroes who have been sickened or in far to many cases have given their lives for our Freedoms due to these Dioxins and other chemicals deserve this recognition. We intend to offer our award until the Government changes its policy on honoring these Heroes.

We have 2 primary goals, The First is to Warn Every Vietnam Veteran that a simple yearly physical with cat scans could easily save their lives or at the very least lengthen many, hopefully by one or more of these Heroes receiving a early diagnosis of their illness in time for treatment before one of these appalling cancers is found to be in a Terminal State.

Sadly so few Veterans know of these dangers from Dioxin exposure and other biological chemicals that is one reason the death toll is so high. Thank goodness for the help of the VVA National Newsletter and the VVA National Agent Orange Committee the only Veterans group in America helping us with this horrible yet simple to solve problem.

Our second and final goal is to see that every Vietnam Veteran is brought Honors and Recognition for their sacrifices, regardless of whether they are living or deceased due to these exposures. Until the day arrives that our own Government decides to Honor these victims we will continue to offer the Prestigious Silver Rose Award Gratis to all eligible Vietnam Veterans or their families.

We are only asking for Simple Justice for these Victims.

At this time we are the only group in America who is seeking to bring the Silver Rose Certificate and Medal along with Honors and Remembrances to every one of these Heroes who qualifies. We are very proud to have presented thousands gratis awards in just 4 short years. We will dissolve the Silver Rose the moment the Government finally recognizes this Injustice and recognizes the victims of Dioxin, Chemical and Biological illnesses and deaths with the awarding of the Silver Rose or a Medal of similar distinction, until then we shall continue on our Mission.

The Order of the Silver Rose Mission Statement text can be found on their website here.

5 - How To Go About "Gettng" A Silver Rose Memorial...

2005-05-25T16:29:00.000-04:00

Some Background...

As simple as it may seem, and for the most part, in order to get your own community Silver Rose Memorial all you have to do is ask.

Our community monument (see post 3 - A Silver Rose Memorial...) was donated to the Town of Oyster Bay Bay’s Veterans Services Division (“TOBay’s VSD”) as part of our exhibit of the “Dignity Memorial® Vietnam Wall Experience™” a traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. We had a separate Silver Rose memorial ceremony during the event, with the monument now permanently installed in one of our communities’ park. To get it, all we did was ask just once. Of course, we had done our homework.

The What...

TOBay’s VSD monument (again, see post 3 - A Silver Rose Memorial...) was engraved on a standard black-granite-slant-marker, 24” x 12” x 14”. This slant-marker is more or less an off the rack headstone so not expensive. You want the black-grant as when it is carved, the carved areas appear silver. Quite apropos for a Silver Rose monument.

A Suggested How...

Advance Document Preparation – put together a set of documents that include:
1) an example of the finished monument;
2) the monument’s specifications;
3) a copy of the Order of the Silver Rose Mission Statement;
4) a Silver Rose application;
5) a copy of the Origin of the Silver Rose, and;
6) a copy of the In Memory Monument in D.C..

Be Prepared to Explain – at the least:
a) the start of the Silver Rose from inception through today;
b) how important "In Memory" is to Agent Orange victims;
c) how profound is the monument in D.C.;
d) how profound your monument will be when dedicated at your location, and;
e) how your Silver Rose monument could help save lives as more Veterans ask about the dangers from Dioxin and other biological chemical exposure, and realize that a simple yearly physical could easily save their lives.

Then – find a possible existing location, or find an upcoming event – talk to those involved with the location or event, speak to your local politicians, speak with the owner of the largest funeral home in town. In other words, just go ask – and with your ability to answer their questions, you just might find it as easy as we did, to bring to your community its own Silver Rose Memorial.

4 - Why a Silver Rose Monument For Your Community...

2005-05-25T16:07:00.000-04:00

As is said at right, The Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”) recognizes over 40 cancers and sicknesses, including Diabetes II, as Agent Orange related and being “service connected.” Yet most of the Vietnam-Theatre veterans are unaware of this information.

The Town of Oyster Bay’s Veteran population approaches one veteran in every three households, with Vietnam veterans comprising almost a quarter of this veteran population – similar community demographics are common, with the national average one veteran in every four households.

Exposure to Agent Orange and other dioxin based chemical defoliants used in Vietnam continues to do damage to this day. But a far more insidious fact is that so many of our communities’ residents who were exposed and are themselves potential victims are just not aware of this.

By providing your community with a Silver Rose monument, you allow many residents to start asking the questions they might not otherwise ask – and if even just one gets the needed treatment they otherwise would not have known to seek…

3 - A Silver Rose Memorial...

2005-05-25T14:39:00.000-04:00

The Town of Oyster Bay ("TOBay") has established the Nation’s first visible legacy to the more than 300,000 Vietnam Veterans chemically wounded or killed by Agent Orange dioxins.

We did this by beginning with an idea.

From there we developed working specifications.

And using those specifications had a monument carved.

2 - The Silver Rose...

2005-05-25T14:05:00.000-04:00

Agent Orange, a chemical defoliant, was a weapon of war deployed by American Forces during the Vietnam War. Over 22 and 1/2 million gallons were sprayed. By most accounts, and since the end of the war, over 300,000 of our veteran service personnel have been affected by AO Dioxins, with more deaths than the 58,000-plus who lost their lives during the war.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (the “VA”) recognizes over 40 cancers and sicknesses, including Diabetes II, as Agent Orange related and being “service connected.” Yet most of the Vietnam-Theatre veterans are unaware of this information.

The Order of the Silver Rose hopes to see every Vietnam Veteran exposed to AO Dioxins given the Honors and Recognition they deserve. And, until the day arrives that our own Government decides to Honor these victims, The Order of the Silver Rose will continue to offer their Silver Rose Award to all eligible Vietnam Veterans or their surviving families.

In addition to presenting The Silver Rose award, The Order of the Silver Rose hopes to inform every surviving Vietnam Veteran that a yearly physical along with certain simple tests could easily lengthen or even save their lives through an early diagnosis of potential AO Dioxins related illnesses. Further, the surviving-spouse of a veteran who died of a “service connected” illness so diagnosed by the VA could be entitled to a significant, life-time, stipend.

1 - The Order of the Silver Rose ("OSR") Web Site...

2005-05-25T08:39:00.000-04:00

Most of what follows can be found in its original format in the

web site.