Medenbach Memorial Foundation

Medenbach Foundation Important Message from Doug Davis - May 19, 2021 Please view the following Medenbach Foundation Message from Doug Davis, Recorded on May 19th, 2021 May 19, 2021...Continue reading

Great night with Lee N. Scheele Jr, Franz Hahn and Brian. Thanks for being a great host Lee.

It is critical as we burst out of the gates at a full sprint, having formed a foundation that will always be open and transparent, that everyone in our community knows our stated purpose and core principles. - Purpose: To fill the void created when the VFMA&C Alumni AABOD was disbanded by creating an independent, non-profit alumni- and family-led organization that is dedicated to:... -- Raising funds for programs that support the continued development of cadets as citizen leaders above and beyond what the school is responsible for providing. -- Preserving the deep history and spirit of the Forge by providing opportunities for alumni to connect, network, and engage in transparent, welcoming, and inclusive environments. Core Principles: - Be Respectful. We will remain positive and be mindful of our words and actions. - Be Transparent. We will be clear with our intentions and open in our communications. - Be Responsible. We will operate with integrity and hold ourselves accountable to good governance practices. We ask all who engage here to follow the spirit of that purpose and those core principles. Be positive. Be respectful. Be a part of the solution in all matters concerning our Alma Mater.

https://youtu.be/7_HKvSnpDDI

What a great way to culminate an 8-day road trip and a 12-hour drive home...a fine Tennessee beverage in a beautiful Medenbach Memorial Foundation glass (courte...sy of Hayden Lutterloh, Valley Forge Military Academy Class of 1969) in an awesome NYPD sweatshirt (courtesy of Pete (Dutch Doyle), Valley Forge Military College Class of 1995)! Thanks so very much, Brothers...you are way too good to us! The Valley Forge Brotherhood/Sisterhood is stronger than ever!

It was a nice turnout to the Town Hall Meeting this evening. There was over 50 participants at one point. This screenshot is from the after-party happy hour. Thank you for joining, and the recording will be posted on the website soon.

If you still need the link to the Town Hall meeting in about 30 min, the information is posted here: http://medenbachfoundation.org//44-town-hall-meeting-detai

We are so incredibly proud of this product of the Army ROTC program at our beloved Alma Mater. There is no better way to pay it forward than to be a shield for and mentor to young people at risk. This is exactly why so many are so passionate about ensuring that the Forge has the leadership and governance that will enable it to survive for the long haul and produce generations of Alumni who are willing to dedicate themselves to making a difference. Well done, Sister Noreeza...very, very well done!

Members, please check your email for a link to tonight’s Town Hall Meeting. We will go live at 7:00 PM (eastern). If you don’t see the message in your inbox, please check your spam or junk mail folder as your provider might have diverted the message there. We look forward to seeing you all this evening!

While the Medenbach Foundation does not hold a position on this initiative, we do believe it’s important to share this information with our members and supporters. https://youtu.be/nfUZhAVBX9M

The magic of the Valley Forge bond manifested itself once again tonight. Prior to this evening, I had met Bryan Stewart one time, briefly, during Alumni Weekend... of 2018. Bryan is a 1993 VFMA Alumnus and member of E Battery. He and his lovely bride, Cindy, are on a motorcycle trip to Middle Tennessee and Grace and I had a great time with them over dinner at one of our favorite Clarksville spots. As they always do, our shared VF roots made it seem as though we’d known each other for a lifetime! ...and yes, Hector, Bryan said all of the obligatory good things about the Battery!!

Last week, during our monthly Medenbach Foundation Board of Directors conference call, I glanced over at the Google Nest Hub on the corner of my desk and this picture from three or four years ago appeared as the Hub scrolled through photos from my "family and friends" folder. The timing could not have been better, as it reminded me of why we established the foundation in the first place. It's for guys like these...my Plebe Brothers of the College Class of 1984. Earlier tha...t day, I had the honor of officiating Colonel (Retired) Manny DeGuzman's retirement ceremony and recognizing his 30 years of honorable service and his family's unwavering support. That evening, Grace and I hosted this wacky bunch in our quarters on Fort Belvoir where Manny concluded his career. They came in from all over the country to share our Brother's celebration. Though most hadn't seen each other in more than 30 years, the conversations picked up as if we had just been together in Lafayette Hall, on College Hill, or on the Main Area the day before. This is why so many of us find it critically important - at a time when the survival of our beloved Alma Mater has never been more in doubt- to ensure that we've got a channel through which we can all remain connected. The funny thing is that I believe our Alumni bonds have never been stronger, despite the decline of the institution. We continue to see Facebook posts of small, informal, sometimes completely unplanned gatherings of our Brothers and Sisters. I pray that the bonds continue to solidify and to grow and that we never forget what makes VF such a special place...WE do!!

VF gathering in philly. Thanks Tom Tom A. Aston for putting this together. Many classes represented.

The ranks of the Valley Forge family have grown by one! The Medenbach Foundation welcomes Oliver Aidan Picone to our world and to our Forge Family. Oliver is the son of Carrie and Taylor Picone. Both are VF Alumni and Carrie serves as our foundation's Treasurer. Congratulations, Carrie and Taylor!!

Please join us in writing, calling, and/or emailing your federal legislators to educate them on our Valley Forge Brother’s valor. If you’re willing to lend your support, please be very specific in what you ask of your Member of Congress. Don’t merely ask for their support. Ask them specifically to co-sponsor this measure as part of the fiscal year 2022 Defense Bill. Brother Hector, if I’ve missed anything, please do me the favor of filling in the blanks. Thank you!... https://www.warhistoryonline.com/news/ardennes.html

Recently, we were informed that a VFMAC staff member’s home suffered major storm damage and that one of our young Alumni initiated a GoFundMe campaign to assist him and his loved ones. The home is neither on campus nor owned by the school. In the spirit of fulfilling our pledge to serve as a support network for our Forge Family, we’ve decided to step up to help. While we are a new organization and just beginning to gain momentum, the Medenbach Foundation has made a modest f...inancial contribution to the cause. The Alumnus who initiated the fundraiser did so because the staff member made a significant, positive impact on him as a cadet. We have all known staff and faculty members who have done the same for us and we believe that this is an appropriate way to leverage our foundation to offer thanks and support. This gesture would not be possible without the generosity of our loyal members and we thank all of you who have contributed so that we can do our part in supporting the Forge Family. www.medenbachfoundation.org

Happy Medenbach Monday! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10_iH6C1r2Y&t=0s

https://www.inquirer.com//vfma-valley-forge-military-acade

Happy Medenbach Monday! Please join our Vice President, Doug Davis, as he helps you get to know a key member of our foundation’s leadership; fondly reminds us all of why Valley Forge holds such a special place in all of the hearts of the Davis Clan; reviews why we thought it was important to establish this foundation; shares his memories of LTG Medenbach and explains why we’ve named the foundation in his honor; and issues a Call to Arms for Alumni, VF families, friends, supporters, and former faculty and staff to join us and spread the word! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4xFfcdVFYM

Happy Medenbach Monday! Touch the Sword; Salute the Star! https://www.youtube.com/watch

A quick Medenbach Foundation update: Happy Sunday and thank you! Response to the establishment of the Medenbach Foundation has been overwhelming and universally positive.... Thank you to all who have joined us and thank you as well for your patience as we’ve worked through some technical glitches on our end. Every startup is bound to find hiccups as they come out of the gates and our technical team is working tirelessly to fix them. Please continue to keep us posted if you have any difficulty joining or signing in after you join. Remember to check your spam or junk folders for the verification email if one doesn’t arrive promptly in your inbox. Thank you to all who have already contributed. A considerable number of our new members have informed us that checks are in the mail. As we move forward, our board will be discussing options for online charitable giving. We recognize that some of our supporters are not PayPal users and have no desire to create PayPal accounts. We fully understand that and expect to offer you additional options in the near future. We’ve received questions regarding eligibility for membership. Some have asked, Can I join if I’m not a graduate? The answer is an unequivocal YES! We welcome Alumni, Honorary Alumni, family members, former staff and faculty, supporters, and anyone in whose heart Valley Forge holds a special place. So, yes, please join us! Finally, please keep your questions and suggestions coming! We really do intend to operate in a spirit of good governance. That includes openness and full transparency. We want to hear from you and will use your feedback to strive for continuous improvement. www.medenbachfoundation.org

Party at Franz Hahn

Happy Independence Day