AFVOA Newletter August 2020

Section 7- From the Archives CV 2 No. 02 / 2020 Page 225 of 237 for the stringent measures that he adopted in spending the funds of the Association. As the Secretary cum Treasurer, in order to save postage, he would do hand delivery. He would use his own Scooter to transport the liquor collected from the CSD canteen for the picnic and believe it or not, he would insist members to deposit the used beer bottles from the picnic site, the same in the crate that was used for bringing them. He then sold the 50 empty bottles which would fetch Rs 75/ for the EXSOA. Such was his devotion to the organization. During the singsong sessions, one could not miss his musical talent. On a lighter note, I want to narrate a humorous incident. My wife and I were in the rear seat of Narayanan’s Maruti car while returning from the EXSOA Meeting and his wife was sitting in the front seat. Narayanan stepped on the accelerator and zoomed past many slow running autos and scooters. Both of us in the back seat were on pins and remained silent. Narayanan craned his neck back and asked “Why are you so silent”. My wife replied “I am saying my prayers so that you will reach us home safely” Our Patron had to resolve a very piquant and pitiable situation. An elderly veteran had not conveyed any financial particulars regarding his pension and other investments to his wife. On his demise, the lady was in dire straits and was in tears when the patron went to condole her. He had to intervene and check with the Higher HQs to find out details and liaise with the Banks to resolve the matter. Similarly, during his interaction with the ladies of bereaved families, there was gross inadequacy in the essential knowledge required to be known by them for follow up actions of claiming family pension and the authorized other monetary grants from the State and Central governments. This situation had to addressed on priority and he desired that a special seminar be organised for ladies in particular to clarify their doubts. The Patron also suggested the introduction of a system in the AFVOA for honouring the elderly officers who are 85 years and above in the station. Efforts to trace them and if need be visit them to honour them with a memento. The President appointed a committee (Col AKS) to trace out such elderly officers, invite them over and if need be bring them in a car/taxi to attend the regular meetings for being introduced and later honoured. The committee was tasked to identify a utility item for presentation as a memento. A Key Chain holder with the appropriate colours of the Inter Services Crest etched on a brass plate and fixed on a highly polished wood that could be hung anywhere in the house was proposed and accepted. The supplier was identified as M/S VV METAGRAPHY managed by the family of a Police Martyr. This memento served the AFVOA for several years and was utilized for presentation to our Members/Spouses also, on their attaining the Octogenarian status. (Sample available) Initially, we were successful in locating four super senior veterans for being honoured. Col RD Ayyar AMC Padma Bhushan, Col S. Ramalingam AMC, Lt Col NT Rajan ASC and