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As we approach the sacred day of Memorial Day in America where we honor our men and women who died in military service, Denise and I, on behalf of our VII Corps Desert Storm Veterans Association, are reaching out to you and your Families. Each year at our VII Corps Reunion Chaplain Col (ret) Wayne Lehrer conducts a military Memorial Service where our past Association President MG (ret) John Altenburg reads each of the 111 names of our VII Corps Desert Storm Soldiers who in Lincoln’s words, “gave that last full measure of devotion.” One of our former commanders gives commander remarks as is appropriate at these ceremonies.

We said at the end of Desert Storm nearly 25 years ago that “we will never forget” and we have not forgotten our VII Corps comrades nor as a Nation all those who have fallen in military service.

May we all pause in our own way this Memorial Day 2015 in deep remembrance to honor those Soldiers who gave it all in military service–and their Families.

We look forward to seeing many of you at our 25th Reunion the weekend of 26-28 February 2016 in Washington DC.

Fred Franks
Gen, US Army (ret.)
Chairman VII Corps DSVA Board

2014 CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM GENERAL FRANKS

Greetings fellow VII Corps Desert Storm Veterans and Families,

On behalf of our VII Corps DSVA Board, Denise and I want to wish all of you our very best for Christmas, for this holiday time, and for all of 2015. Our first thoughts are also to those serving our Nation today in our Armed Forces, many deployed in new and old combat mission areas, to include many of you, and many of your own sons and daughters as well as grandchildren. Merry Christmas to all of them and all the best as well to all of them and their Families for all of 2015.

We well remember that Christmas and holiday season 24 years ago in 1990 when our Corps was being assembled in Saudi Arabia with some units already completely deployed, others deploying at this time, and others remaining to be deployed, while our Families were at the same time organizing themselves in our communities. We remain honored and proud to have served with all of you and recall with great clarity your boundless courage, sharply trained skills, and selfless leadership and teamwork. Our Families in Germany, the USA, and from the UK served then as now with their own brand of courage.

All our very best this December 2014, with a reminder also of our 24th Anniversary Reunion on 28 February 2015 as well as asking you to save the date for our 25th Reunion on 27 February 2016.

Fred and Denise Franks

Dear Fellow JAYHAWKS and your Families,

My wife Denise and I and on behalf of our VII Corps Desert Storm Association Board want to wish all our VII Corps Desert Storm Veterans and Families all the very best this Veterans Day and every day. Thank you for your courageous and selfless service to our Nation in VII Corps during Desert Storm as well as your Families who served with their own brand of courage. You made a difference when it counted, as VII Corps Veterans who continue to serve are doing during current operations. We also honor and remember those of VII Corps who in Lincoln’s words, ‘gave that last full measure of devotion’ and their Families who endure the pain of their loss this Veterans Day as we do at our annual Reunion Memorial Service each year. I value our wartime service together with all of you and remain honored to have been your commander as Denise values the invaluable Family contributions at home. We both continue to treasure the friendships over these 24 years.

We hope to see many of you at our Reunion on 28 February 2015 at Ft. Myer, VA.

JAYHAWK!

Fred M. Franks
General, US Army (retired)