WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2022  –  7:15 a.m.

Our guest is Dr. James Smither. He heads up Grand Valley’s Veteran’s History Project. This has garnered more than 800 oral history interviews, including those of Comm. (ret) Paul Chardoul. Dr. Smither has also served as consultant for the Johnson Center for Philanthropy on the creation of an oral history program on Michigan philanthropy. This work has led to his giving presentations with retirement communities, schools, museums, veteran’s organizations and libraries across West Michigan. While this Project gets some financial and in-kind support from Grand Valley, it relies on community volunteers and donations. Anyone interested in supporting the Project whether as a volunteer or with a donation should contact Dr. Smither.

Bring a guest – it could be worth a $10 gift certificate if you are the successful winner (if only one guest – automatic winner; more than one – draw for the lucky winner).

We have also invited Harriet Sturim, BC member Rick’s much better half to give us a very short reminder of her excellent presentation of the Four Chaplains who sacrificed their lives that others might survive the war.

Invocator:   Mr. Eric Nelson

Introducer:   James Booth Burr, Jr., Esq.

War: “I have given two cousins to war, and I stand ready to sacrifice my wife’s brother.”
(Gen.) Artemus Ward (American major general in the American Revolutionary War and a Congressman from Massachusetts.)

War: “Wars teach us not to love our enemies, but to hate our allies.” 
W. L. George