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THE SILVER STAR FAMILIES OF AMERICA
Steve Newton is a 25-year law enforcement veteran and a former Marine/Navy veteran. He served with the 3rd Battalion, 24th Marines, 4th Marine Division. With the Navy, he was with NAVACTS-UK-318 and was called back to active
duty for the first Desert Storm.
Now retired and afflicted with Parkinson’s Disease, he continues to write articles for various law enforcement, military and veteran publications. He is also the author of the "Old Sergeant, the “Old Sergeant and Friends,” and is working on his third book, “The Old Sergeant Rides Again.”
Steve still serves as 3rd Vice President of the National Association of Chiefs of Police and serves as Director of the Law Enforcement Equipment Program and is founder of the Silver Star Families of America. He has been honored with several awards from the American Police Hall of Fame, including the Legion of the Purple Heart and has been nominated as Police Officer of the year by the National American Legion. He has also been awarded the Department of Defense Exceptional Public Service Award by the Secretary of Defense and the Gold Presidential Volunteer Service Award.and Lifetime Call to Service Award.
Read more of Steve's bio at: http://www.stevenewtonbestofthebest.com/Steve-Newton-Author-Bio.html
Janie Orman resides in southern Indiana and is President of the Silver Star Families of America. She has served as the organization’s Vice President, Chaplain and Indiana State Coordinator for two years prior. She is dedicated to furthering the SSFOA's mission to remember, honor and assist the wounded of our armed forces by presenting Silver Star Banners and Certificates and helping find resources for Veterans issues. She has visited Walter Reed and Bethesda and presented Banners to wounded and also met with the American Legion’s National Commanders in DC and Dept of Veteran Affairs in behalf of the organization and is the SSFOA representative for the V.A. Volunteer Service. Janie has been honored with the Hoosier Heroine Award, the Distinguished Hoosier Award, the Presidential Lifetime Volunteer Service Award, and several awards for the SSFOA website design. Her father is a Veteran of the Korean war, father-in-law a Veteran of WW2, and has family that has served in the current war on terrorism and a dear family member KIA. Janie also works with wounded and families through Cornerstone Church, who are the Guardians of the Silver Star Flag, and the Prayer Blanket Ministry by sending blankets to the wounded and troops in Germany, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Diana Newton is Co-Founder and Treasurer of The Silver Star Families of America and a full-time supporter of our wounded service members. She has volunteered for many organizations that support the Armed Forces of the United States, including the Law Enforcement Equipment Program, The Purple Hearts and the Silver Star Families of America. She is a graduate of Southwest Missouri State University majoring in geography. Her volunteer efforts have been recognized with awards consisting of the Gold Presidential Volunteer Service Award, Daily Point of Light Award, Conspicuous Service Medal, and was nominated by SSFOA members for the Above and Beyond Award for her care of our wounded. Diana has also been nominated for the CNN Hero of the Year.
Diana is an SSFOA Representative for the VAVS board and works diligently to offer helpful resources on VA issues.
Along with the hundreds of Banner packages she has shipped, Diana has personally presented many Silver Star Banners to wounded from all wars, including a presentation to a Purple Hearts Chapter in Missouri. Diana was instrumental and participated in the signing ceremony at her state’s capital with Governor Blunt which gave endorsement to the Silver Star Flag as the Official symbol for the wounded of Missouri. In addition, she actively supports veterans by delivering books and supplies to Veteran Homes and V.A. Hospitals and Clinics. She also oversees the Christmas project that reaches a VA in all 50 states, Landsthul and a point in Iraq. Diana spearheaded the Silver Star Day event at Hammons Ball Park which treated the Veterans of Mt. Vernon Home with free tickets to the Springfield Cardinals game.
Diana has a family background of United States supporters. Her father was a Navy veteran and her brother is an Air Force/Army veteran. She welcomes you to join with her as she honors and assist the wounded of our country.
OFFICERS
President
Janie Orman
Vice President
Trish Benefield
Secretary
Sunshine Roth
Treasurer
Diana Creed-Newton
DIRECTORS
Historian and Public Affairs Officer
Cathy Storey
V.A. Executive Director
and Tribal Liaison
Kathy Landess
Executive State Rep Directors
Sunshine Roth and
Trish Benefield
Advisory Board Liaison
Sunshine Roth
CHAPLAIN
Chaplain Micheal Orman
STANDING COMMITTEES
Fundraising Committee
Patty Stapleton and Sounya Stokes
VA Committee and Tribal Liaison
Kathy Landess
Silver Star Banner Day Comittee
Sunshine Roth
Assistant Janie Sullins
Silver Star Families Writing Team
Kathy Landess
Silver Star Families Financial Committee
Trish Benefield
~SSFOA OFFICERS~
SILVER STAR FLAG ®
SILVER STAR BANNER TM
THE NAME "SILVER STAR SERVICE BANNER" IS TM
Copyright 2005-2009
All Rights Reserved
Disclaimer:
The Silver Star Banner and Flag is in no way connected to the Silver Star Medal
The Silver Star Families of America is a non-partisan, not-for-profit charitable organization committed to supporting the United States Wounded Military Members and Veterans from all wars, past and present, and honoring their sacrifice with Silver Star Banners.Content within this web site is the sole property of The Silver Star Families of America"All photos and letters sent to the SSFOA become the property of the organization to be used in any way we deem appropriate." SSFOA reserves the right to conduct the day to day business of the organization as they deem appropriate. State Coordinators and Reps will be chosen at the discretion of SSFOA National Headquarters. SSFOA is an all volunteer 501(c)(3) tax exempt nonprofit public charity organization. See your tax advisor.Questions/Comments Pertaining To This Web site CONTACT US
FOUNDERS
Steven J. Newton
Diana Creed-Newton
I am a native of Rome, Georgia, and have been supporting our Military and 'all' Veterans: Past, Present and Future since 2003. Since becoming a member of Silver Star Families of America, I have been honored to become the Program Coordinator for the Law Enforcement Equipment Program, Secretary of the Board, and State Coordinator for the state of Georgia. To enhance my involvement with the Veterans, I attended a summit presented by America Supports You and led by Allison Barbe and Camille Hart in Atlanta in 2006. I was blessed to recently attend the Grand Opening of a 'new' VA Clinic in my hometown of Rome, and presented the Clinic with our Silver Star Flag and a Certificate which they are displaying in their lobby.
Along with having Veterans in Group Homes as penpals for several years, I've also been involved with a Prison Ministry to Veterans by having several penpals at Units in Texas along with friends of mine - we call ourselves 'Ambassadors' for these Veterans. We want to thank them for what they did 'for' our great country - and show them they 'can' have a second chance in this world to prove their worth.
On a personal note, I am the 'very' proud Mom of John and Shaunna, and have 6 beautiful Grandchildren (2 girls, 4 boys). I love to write, and began writing as a teenager while doing correspondence for my Grandmother whose eyesight was too dim for her to read or write. Along with writing, I am a 'voracious' reader!! I've played the piano since the age of eleven, and have played in many Churches in which my late Father was the Minister. I also played for a Gospel Quartet at one time, and traveled the Southeastern states with the group. One of my biggest joys has been playing the piano for my daughter, Granddaughter, and Mother to sing, along with various other members of the family who have sung for years!!
My Faith in God has sustained me over the years, for which I am truly grateful - and though I may not have 'worldly' goods to give away, I 'do' want to give of myself - the love from my heart, and hopefully allow others to see God in my life. I want the Wounded and all Veterans to realize we 'do' truly care for them!!
Chaplain Michael resides in southern Indiana with his wife Stephanie, sons, and grandchildren. Shortly after receiving his degree, Micheal received his Draft Notice and enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard and then on to Viet Nam. He was wounded while honorable serving our country and is a Silver Star Banner recipient. Chaplain's family has a military background, with several uncles who served, and his father, Paul, who served in the US Navy and fought in WW2; he also is a Silver Star Banner recipient. Micheal's oldest son, Shanon, served in the U.S. Coast Guard and was in the Presidential Honor Guard for Bush 1
Micheal is a Master Electrician by trade and has spent most of his career in the Coal Mining Industry.He has traveled in the United States as well as foreign countries working and building large earth moving equipment capable of picking up 220 yards of dirt and rock.
Chaplain Micheal is an ordained minister and attends Cornerstone Church in Switz City, Indiana and takes great pride in being one of the Guardians of the Silver Star Flag and is honored to do so. Chaplain Micheal is here to serve this organization, it's members, and our wounded as well as all of our Military men and women.
Cathy Storey lives in Hoover, Alabama, a suburb of Birmingham. She is a graduate of Samford University's Ida V. Moffatt School of Nursing. During her career as a Registered Nurse, she has worked in MICU, Cardiac Care, and the Emergency Room, and has been Director of Hospice and Assistant Director of Home Care Services. Pursuing a long time passion, she recently embarked on a new career as an artist and does acrylic and oil paintings on commission. Cathy is the daughter of a WWII Army veteran, the wife of a former sergeant in the USMC, the mother of one daughter and two sons, and the grandmother of Nick and Emily.
Cathy became a member of the SSFOA after her youngest son, Jamie, now a USMC veteran, was wounded in Iraq. She currently serves as Historian, a member of the Letter Writing Team, a volunteer on the Hear4You hotline, author of the SSFOA Newsletter, and is currently working on putting together a SSFOA Cookbook as a fundraiser.
Kathy serves as SSFOA Rep for California and also as Executive Veteran Affairs Director. She has worked with Veteran Affairs and assists with VA issues as they arise. Kathy complies a listing of helps and resources to benefit our wounded Veterans.
She has been involved with military support activities for over 26 years. Her support of our troops began as a way to honor her fiance who was KIA in Vietnam. She has had 100s of penpals over the years, ranging from raw recruits up to Colonels, in nearly every service branch.
Besides SSFOA, Kathy belongs to and is associated with: StarSupportMilitary Group, Adopt-a-Soldier/Adopt-a-Platoon, Operation Military Pride, Soldier's Angels and co-coordinate of Operation: Mail Support, a penpal program. She happened to find SSFoA's website by accident and very soon realized that she had to belong to this organization. Supporting our military is important, but supporting/honoring our wounded/our vets is even more so. Kathy feels very privileged to be part of the SSFOA cause and all the wonderful people in the group. Contact Kathy to join Silver Star Families in California.
Sunshine Roth lives in the NW suburbs of Chicagoland. and is the proud wife of 36 years. Her husband is one of our wounded Vietnam Veterans. They have 3 children and 8 grandchildren.
As a result of her husband's service in Vietnam, he suffers from extreme PTSD,
as well as a host of physical ailments which we believe to be caused by Agent
Orange exposure.He served in the United States Army Security Agency as a Intelligence Communications Specialist in the bush. He served in Quang Tri, Hue, Phu Bai and all jungles in between.
Sunshine suffers from Parkinsons but has managed to turn it into a positive experience.
Sunshine got involved with SSFOA by being introduced to it by a very good friend. Sunshine also is involved in a PTS support group that she moderates with two others. She also has her own prayer group and virtual candle lighting sight. Sunshine is the daughter of a Holocaust Survivor from WWII. Sunshine's goal is for people to recognize and understand PTS. That it is an invisible wound, and that our wounded cannot be forgotten and must be taken care of and know how much
they are cared for. Sunshine's goal is to honor wounded veterans of our country and that there should never be another Vietnam where our veterans were forgotten.
Sunshine is a member on the Letter Writing Team, and fundraising team for SSFOA, and is alsom a member of Silver Star Banner Day sending out proclamations to various states. Sunshine considers it an honor to be a part of such a fine organization like Silver Star Families of America. According to Sunshine, they are her family.
Souyna joined SSFOA and is Co-Chair of the Fundraising Committee. Her grandfather was in the Navy during WWII, both of his brothers were also in the military during WWII. Sounya's two uncles served in the Army during WWII, one injured twice and received the Purple Heart, another uncle in the Air Force during the Korean War, and an uncle that was Army National Guard during the Vietnam Era. There were several in her family also in WWI and the civil war. Soounya states, "The only reason I'm not an Army brat is because my father couldn't pass the physical to get into the Army, he had some health issues. I can remember lots of stories when I was growing up about military life and the wars. So, I basically come from a patriotic military minded family. I've always been a supporter of our troops and of course I am a VERY PROUD ARMY MOM of a soldier currently deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom."
Sounya Stokes
Fundraising Co-Chair
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Silver Star shining for sacrifice, honoring wounded and ill members of our Armed Forces, and bringing remembrance to those so deserving of our thanks.
We will never forget . . . WELCOME HOME!
