"The Order of the Silver Rose"

A Free Award Issued to Honor Agent Orange Victims of The Vietnam War

The Silver Rose was founded in 1997 by Mary Elizabeth Marchand after the loss of her father Navy Career man Chief Frank Davis to Agent Orange related lung cancer. Mary Elizabeth petitioned the President of The United States for her fathers Purple Heart after his death and was turned downed. Chief Davis died for his country as evidenced by the 100% disability rating he was given for his cancer. All Mary Elizabeth wanted was a line on his military record ( his DD214 ) showing that he was a hero and that his cancer was a sure a sign of gallantry as a wound of war, as sure as any injury he would have received on the battlefield. He wasn't good enough for a Purple Heart but he was good enough for the Silver Rose, a flower made of plastic and covered with Mylar silver that had been given to him while he was in intensive care by Mary Elizabeth's dear friend just a short time before his death. A healing medal of great Honor and Courage and Remembrance was born that day after the loss of Chief Davis.Agent Orange, a chemical defoliant is and was a weapon of war deployed by American Forces against the enemy during the Vietnam War. Accidentally many of our own servicemen and women were also wounded and killed by it. The death and sicknesses continue to this date.

For these wounds according to statutory law and military specifications and regulations, as well with all other wounds received in a combat zone our Agent Orange heroes qualify for The Military Order of the Purple Heart. However, no Military Order of the Purple Heart has ever been awarded to a Vietnam veteran for Agent Orange wounds. This is a grave injustice.

In our quest for the Purple Heart we have learned that ignorance is contagious and misery knows no fatherland. There is no copyright on pain and no statue of experience garnered through wading through miles of red tape, trying to find someone with the courage necessary to force the President to enforce existing law and give our armed forces all they ask for.....Simple Justice.

There can be no doubt that Vietnam combat veterans exposed to this deadly defoliant and identified under the Agent Orange Act of 1991 deserve Purple Hearts. There are currently 8 types of cancers currently recognized by the Veterans Administration as connected to Agent Orange Exposure. Plus Spinal Bifida that is affecting the Children of Veterans. To add more insult to injury there are 28 types of soft tissue Sarcoma's that are recognized by the VA and finally an additional 3 sicknesses with time limitations are recognized. Sadly no one has sounded an alarm to warm Veterans that over 18 Million Gallons of Agent Orange Dioxins were dumped on Vietnam over the duration of the war. Meanwhile sadly hundreds and who knows maybe thousands are sick and dying this very day.

The Order of the Silver Rose begins its history by predicting its own demise. It is necessary but, the Order of the Silver Rose is not intended to become a permanent addition to the list of medals currently awarded to military personnel. The Order of the Silver Rose is designed to call attention to the many heroes of Vietnam, personnel who have fought their battles in Vietnam, in courts of law and in Congress under the Agent Orange Act of 1991. The American Governments responsibility to combat veterans who are victims of Agent Orange has already been determined, The money has been allotted and the program is working. All that remains to make these heroes reward complete is their honor. The Purple Heart which will recognize them for their sacrifices and pain. The price for the medal is a small price to pay for Honor. Our prices as Vietnam Veterans were and are now much higher.

Our goal is a Purple Heart for every Combat Veteran identified under the 1991 Agent Orange Act. In the meantime we intend to offer The Silver Rose to all qualified veterans until the day the Purple Heart is issued. The Award is free and all that is necessary for a Veteran or the family of a veteran that has been lost to receive this award is to forward:

1.) A copy of a veterans DD214, showing that he or she served in a combat zone where Agent Orange was deployed as determined through Pentagon records by the Veterans Administration Ratings Ruling.

2.) A copy of that person's medical file showing treatment for Agent Orange related sicknesses or cancers.

3.) Fill out an application for The Order of the Silver Rose Award.

Let it never be forgotten that we do not wish to award Silver Roses. We want the Purple Heart for those Combat Vietnam Veterans who have earned them nothing more. Withholding Purple Hearts from these thousands of American heroes destroys morale among the troops and violates Public Law, Executive Orders and Military Regulations thereby necessitating the creation of this society. We shall continue our activities on behalf of Agent Orange victims until such time as the Purple Heart has been awarded to combat victims of Agent Orange. When that takes place no futher Silver Roses shall be awarded, because having done its job, The Order of The Silver Rose shall happily disband.

For further and much more detailed information regarding this

free award please feel free to contact me at any time.

The National Director of the Silver Rose

Gary J. Chenett

C/O Coble's Shady Oaks

1301 Jim's Smokehouse Road Rockport, Texas 78382

361-727-0445

ftizzyfrog@2fords.net

Gary Chenett is a Vietnam Combat Veteran who served proudly from February of 1967 until February of 1968 with the U.S. Army. He was with the First Infantry Division Ist Squadron 4th. U. S. Calvary. B Troop. Gary's tour of duty was as a machine gunner on an Armored Personnel Carrier ( APC). In June of 1993 he lost half of his left lung due to Agent Orange related lung cancer. He immediately was given service related disability for his sickness. In November of 1998 he was given the Prestigious Honor of receiving The Silver Rose. Mary Elizabeth Marchand the Founder of the Silver Rose sadly passed away at a young age in April of 1999 and Gary assumed the Directorship of the Silver Rose in July of 1999.

"If the lifespan of The Order of The Silver Rose is brief, It will have accomplished it's purpose, and thousands of service personnel and their families will have the small comfort of knowing that although their sacrifices have been great, The men and women they sent to Vietnam so long ago truly gave their lives for their country. We must thank them and Honor their memories."