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	The Ypsilanti Courier A Heritage Newspaper Weekly Publication

A Lasting Legacy

Arvin Awards dinner honors students, war hero

By Austen Smith, Editor

PUBLISHED: July 3, 2008

Photos by Austen Smith There were 10 students awarded scholarships through the C. Robert Arvin Foundation this year (not pictured in order): Stephen Brown, Lincoln High School; Rose Butchart, Ypsilanti High School; Kyra Caldwell, Ypsilanti High School; Paul Chvykov, Washtenaw Technical Middle College; Kayla Claxton, Ypsilanti High School; Annie Dosey, Lincoln; Stephanie Liederbach, Ypsilanti; Alyson Romero, Calvary Christian; Kwame Searcy, Ypsilanti; and Ryan Stevens, Ypsilanti. All were honored at a banquet on Friday night. Pictured in the middle is keynote speaker Lt. Gen. Daniel Christman and Art Hester. Purchase a copy of this photo

It was a solemn yet joyous night on Friday as friends and family of Ypsilanti-born Vietnam war hero Captain C. Robert Arvin celebrated his memory at the annual Awards for Excellence dinner held at the Washtenaw Country Club.

There were 10 students selected out of 35 applicants for scholarships offered annually from the Capt. C. Robert Arvin Foundation and Ypsilanti's VFW Post No. 2408. Through the fund-raising efforts of local volunteers, the Foundation was able to award $10,000 in scholarship funds to 10 graduating seniors from throughout Ypsilanti-area schools. Since its inception in 2002, the Foundation has awarded $44,200 in scholarship monies to 49 students.

Those students were Stephen Brown, Lincoln High School; Rose Butchart, Ypsilanti High School; Kyra Caldwell, Ypsilanti High School; Paul Chvykov, Washtenaw Technical Middle College; Kayla Claxton, Ypsilanti High School; Annie Dosey, Lincoln; Stephanie Liederbach, Ypsilanti; Alyson Romero, Calvary Christian; Kwame Searcy, Ypsilanti; and Ryan Stevens, Ypsilanti.

While C. Robert Arvin is best remembered for his war-time heroics and tragic death in 1964, Friday night's speakers - which included teammates and friends from Ypsilanti High School, and classmates from the distinguished West Point Academy - made it very clear that he was much more to the friends and family who knew him best.

"I saw right away that Bob Arvin was as complete a leader at 19 years old as I had ever seen. He was much like the leaders we knew and emulated during that time," said Lt. Gen. Daniel W. Christman who was a classmate and friend of Arvin's from West Point Academy and keynote speaker for the evening.

Christman's long and distinguished military career speaks for itself, and he currently serves as Senior Vie President for International Affairs at the United States Chamber of Commerce. Christman, who retired from active military duty in 2001, served for five years as the Superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point. He also served for two years as assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Christman, like the other speakers, spoke fondly of Arvin and the memories that he cherished. He said he was thrilled that his legacy could serve the young men and women of today who represent our future leaders.

He advised the scholarship winners to learn from the stellar example of leadership that Capt. Arvin set forth.

"Bob was a person who knew how to regain faith, when there was little cause for faith," Christman said in his remarks.

Other speakers included Emcee Tino Lambros, who organizes the C. Robert Arvin Foundation's annual golf outing and awards banquet. Lambros called his work with the Foundation, a "labor of love."

In addition, Deacon David Dietz from Calvary Christian led an invocation before dinner, resident and classmate of Arvin's Raymond Mullins led the group in a toast and Art Hester presented the scholarship awards to the students along with Christman.

For more information on the VFW Post No. 2408 or the C. Robert Foundation, visit the Web site www.vfw2408.org

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