News from our Chapter
The Chapter Chaplain for the Fort Sherman Chapter #9 Robert D. "Dale" Stamper has been selected by the Hayden Chamber of Commerce as its 2011 Distinguished Community Service recipient.
Dale Stamper, a Vietnam Army veteran who lost his eyesight in combat was selected because of his outstanding significant community service. As a blinded veteran advocate he has been responsible for coordinating the efforts of the Blinded Veterans Association in eleven western states requiring extensive travel to fulfill the duties of his office.
A recent success of his years of advocacy for blinded veterans resulted in Verizon in making and marketing a cell phone that is adaptable for the visually impaired. It has large and raised numbers. It speaks the numbers as they are dialed. In the past, only after a person answered could the blind user learn he had dialed a wrong number. The number 5 has a raised dot which serves as an anchor for the user in finding other numbers.
As a member of the DAV, he has acted as the Chaplain and served as a State Convention Delegate. He participates in the Forget Me Not Drive, wraps presents for veteran's children at Christmas and packs and wraps care packages for the troops in combat zones.
Stamper has served, along with his wife Cora, as a Marriage Mentor to couples learning to be Marriage Mentors. He has counseled residents in faith based women's shelters and taught Discipleship seminars and served as a youth pastor in the past. He and his wife recently returned from a six week trip to the Philippines on a combination visit home and a missionary project.
Chaplain Stamper will be honored by the Hayden Chamber of Commerce at an awards banquet Saturday at the Hayden Country Club.
Submitted:
Robert B. Hunt, QMC, USN, Ret.