Deadline for Spring Quarter MidWatch:
All input must be in to Chris Gahan, communications@perch-base.org, to be included in next MidWatch Newsletter. Chris emphasizes that input to the MidWatch is welcome from ALL members, including articles, jokes, etc.

Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day 50th Anniversary:
What is Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day? More than 8 million U.S. Troops served in Vietnam. The last combat troops were withdrawn from Vietnam at the end of March, 1973. These veterans came home to a country divided on their feelings about the war and many who returned home did not receive recognition for their service.
Mountain View Funeral Home & Cemetery
7900 E Main St. Mesa, AZ 85207
(Left-click address, above, for a Google map.)
is hosting the event on Saturday, March 25th, on the 50th Anniversary. They ask you to join them to give these veterans the proper warm welcome home that they deserve.
They have a whole day planned to honor all of these veterans. They are honored to have Major General Peter Alyward and his staff coming from Washington D.C. plus other speakers. They will have a pinning ceremony for our Vietnam veterans, presentation of colors, Native American Blessing, and so much more. The ceremony will go from 10:00 AM until 11:30 AM. After the ceremony they will have food trucks for people to purchase food, free hair cuts for veterans, music, and so much more is being planned.
View the event FLYER.
Although this is not a Perch Base event, our members are invited to attend.

Annual Lunch Picnic Meeting at the Paloma Community Park in Peoria, Arizona:
NOTE the new location from previous Annual Lunch Picnics!
NO MEETING AT DILLON'S!
This year all Arizona-based USSVI members from all AZ bases are invited to join Perch Base for our annual picnic festivities at the Paloma Community Park in Peoria, Arizona. For Perch-base members, this event is going to serve as a concurrent monthly meeting, in lieu of meeting at Dillon’s Arrowhead. We have reserved ramadas #9, #10, & #11 at the park. The base officers will be hosting/cranking and there will be steak burgers, hot dogs, and hot brats grilled to order. Each participating member/family is asked to provide a single picnic appropriate side dish for the mutual enjoyment of all to partake. Dessert will be a submarine galley style, sheet cake with an appropriate artistic and nautical frosting design. We will be having a competitive corn-hole event with a prize and some other entertainment for your enjoyment.
Paloma Community Park
29799 N. Lake Pleasant Pkwy, Peoria, AZ 85383
Located at Lake Pleasant Parkway and Dixileta Dr., just south of Loop 303 freeway.
(Left-click address, above, for a Google map to the Paloma Community Park.)
Soda-Pop, water, and utensils will be provided by the base. We have secured an alcohol permit to consume beer only, cans only, and you must provide your own if you wish to enjoy a brew with your meal. This facility accommodates handicapped personnel and elderly folks with a modern design that easily permits travel from vehicles to shelters on solid pathways without obstacles. The facility accommodates dogs and has adjacent dog park areas to permit your pouch to expend some energy and enjoy the day with you. Please bring portable kennel/crate to place your dog at rest, as lead staking is not feasible. You must have an appropriate AZG&F Fishing License if you wish to fish. Please note, there are no entrance or attendance fees to enter the park. Parking is free and there are abundant spaces close to the ramadas.
Be sure to check out all the accommodations, and the rules, this beautiful recreational park has to offer HERE.
(No meeting at Dillon's)
If you are going to attend the Perch-Base Annual Picnic, or you have any special requirements and questions, please RSVP with a head and tail count to COB@perch-base.org by Saturday, 01 April 2023. Let the COB know how many there are in your shore party, your pot-luck item, and if you are bringing any dogs or young children.
Here's some photos from last year's Annual Lunch Picnic Meeting.

USS Phoenix (SSN-702) Cold War Museum Monument Project:
You are cordially invited to attend a BIG SIGN media reveal in Steele Indian School Park!!
We have permission to hang a very large (two City busses long!) sign in Steele Indian School Park downtown as part of a promotion to build a Cold War Museum Monument in Steele Indian School Park. The monument will use as its centerpiece 65 tons of salvaged parts from the nuclear-powered USS Phoenix (SSN-702), a Los Angeles Class fast attack submarine. This is a promotional event to help us raise awareness and funding for building the monument in honor and recognition of Cold War veterans from all military services, as well as their civilian and defense industry counterparts.
Our guest speakers for this event are District 4 City Councilwoman Laura Pastor and former Arizona Department of Veteran Services’ Director Colonel Wanda Wright, USAF(ret).
Please come and help us support this worthy project and feel free to bring along your interested friends and family. There will be special catering by Port of Subs (naturally (!)). Free parking in Steele Indian School Park.
See the map on page 2 of this FLYER to access the parking and the event.
Sponsored by the USS Phoenix Cold War Monument Foundation, a non-profit organization. All donations are tax deductible.
Please RSVP to Pete Lumianski at prom65@cox.net
Numerous companies and individuals contributed to make this reveal event possible. See the contributor page HERE.

Western Region Roundup:
The Western Region Roundup will be held in Sacramento, CA from Thursday, April 27, 2023, thru Saturday, April 29, 2023, at the DoubleTree Hotel
2001 Point West Way, Sacramento, California, 95815
(Left-click address, above, for a Google map.)
Visit the Roundup website for more details.
This 2023 Western Region Roundup is hosted by the USSVI Gold Country Base.
Registration and sponsorship forms are available on the Roundup website and a link to get the discount hotel rate ($149 vs. $185) is HERE.
Here's some photos from last year's Roundup.

Memorial Day:
Perch Base will attend the Memorial Day ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona:
This is one of the two most important events of our yearly calendar.
Because of the large crowds at this event, and the scarcity of available seating, it is strongly urged that everyone get there no later than 7 a.m.
As in previous years, we will follow with the Tolling of the Boats in the Circle of Remembrance at the World War II Submarine Torpedo monument.
23029 N. Cave Creek Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85024
(Left-click address, above, for a Google map to the cemetery.)
Here's some pictures from the last Memorial Day ceremonies at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in 2022.

2023 USSVI National Convention:
The Tucson and Perch Bases are working together to bring you the 2023 National Convention in Tucson, Arizona. The Convention will be held from Monday, August 28 through Saturday, September 2, 2023.
Registration and the hotel room block is available on the convention website: https://www.ussvi.org/2023-ch.
Check the website out for many of the details. As more information is received the web site will be updated.
The host hotel is the El Conquistador Tucson, A Hilton Resort.
10000 North Oracle Road Tucson, Arizona 85704
(Left-click address, above, for a Google map.)
As co-sponsors of the 2023 USSVI National Convention in Tucson with the Tucson Base, we are not only encouraging attendance, but also participation in a number of volunteer support activities.
The volunteer activities are listed HERE. To volunteer, contact Joe Trotter, our base liaison at treasurer@perch-base.org
The 2024 Convention will be in Cleveland, Ohio.