Veterans Receive Gift Of Face Masks

By Chuck N. Baker

(Las Vegas) — When the history of the year 2020 is viewed in future years, certainly the awesome presence of the pandemic will headline the story. And in all likelihood the story will be punctuated with comments about the ubiquitous face mask. Is it possible to think about the dreaded virus without seeing a face mask in the mind’s eye?

Veterans make up a large part of the nation’s population, and locally most veterans are responsible enough to wear face masks in order to do their part in keeping the disease from spreading. To assist in that, the Southern Nevada chapter of the Taiwan Chamber of Commerce has embarked on a mission to supply free masks to veterans organizations and other non-profit groups.

The parent organization — the Taiwan Chamber of Commerce of North America — reports it has earmarked more than $1 million to obtain surgical/procedural masks to be given away.

The masks were distributed to local Taiwanese chambers. In Southern Nevada, the Taiwan Chapter of Greater Las Vegas is headed by Su Phelps, a member of the national board and the local secretary. She recently made the rounds of numerous veterans organizations to hand out the masks, and was warmly welcomed. A few of the groups she visited included VFW Post 3848, the Scottish American Military Association, the Marine Corps Detachment 186, Vietnam Veterans Chapter 17, American Legion China Post 1, American Legion Post 149 and the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 711.

At the Purple Heart ceremony, Chapter President Dick Moyer expressed his gratitude on behalf of the members. “We appreciate the generosity of the Taiwan Chamber and graciously accept the gift of masks,” he said. Phelps took the time to explain the overall mission of the chamber, and said she was honored to be able to present the masks to the many veterans organizations she has been visiting. The chamber’s national parent organization was established in 1988, at the beginning of a huge economic expansion in Las Vegas. New casinos, hundreds of new homes and thousands of individuals — including veterans — moved to Southern Nevada throughout the 1990s and beyond. During that period, many Taiwanese families saw Las Vegas as an excellent opportunity, and moved to the city to take jobs or start businesses. It was during this expansion that the local Taiwanese community began to organize, and later initiate a formal chamber. And as the veterans population grew and established posts and chapters representing various military services, the two factions promoted a cordial relationship.

“The chamber is a non-profit organization, with many objectives,” Phelps said. Among other topics in its mission, she explained that “We promote networking and friendship between members, as well as promote cooperation between members and the community.” And in her daytime role as a newspaper publisher reporting on veterans topics, she often bridges activities of the local chamber through reporting and events concerning veterans issues. It was in that role that she offered face masks to local veterans organizations, which accepted them with grateful thanks.

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