Author Archive: Editor

New Member: Nicholas Brower

NL0216_Nicholas-BrowerNick is originally from Boise, ID and joined the Marines there in 2001. He served until 2005. He completed two tours with the 1st Force Service Support Group during the initial invasion of Iraq and later was stationed at the MEK Compound in Fallujah. He received two Meritorious Promotions to Lance Corporal and Corporal. Awards include the Good Conduct Medal and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (2). Nick works as a mechanic and plans to attend Seattle Maritime Academy, QMED program. He is an active hiker, climber, skier and part time yoga instructor. His dream is to own a yacht. Nick and fiancé Paula reside in Edmonds.

Military Bases No Longer Accepting IDs from Five States

from an article “Military Times”

State-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards from Illinois, New Mexico, Missouri, Washington and Minnesota can no longer be used to obtain a visitor’s pass because those cards don’t comply with federal standards, officials said. DoD is expected to Issue Guidance ‘Soon’ for Blocked State IDs, EDLs to Be Accepted.

The changes impact visitors who are attempting to secure a visitor’s pass to the bases using one of the non-compliant state ID cards. (including WA State DL) Visitors who are accompanied in the vehicle by a Defense Department card holder can continue to access the installations using any state’s driver’s license, officials said.

Ed. Note: There is a bill in the legislature ( a revival of a 2015 Senate bill) which is intended to bring Washington into compliance with the Fed. 2005 Real ID act. In the meantime, it is likely that our Enhanced DL will be accepted. It would probably be prudent to carry your passport when attempting to visit military installations until this is sorted out.

Edmonds Veterans Plaza Raffle!

To Help build a lasting tribute to Veterans; past, present & future, We will be raffling off two original, signed Seahawk posters by our own Mike Reagan.

1,000 tickets will be sold @ $5.00 each to raise $5,000 toward the Post contribution to Veterans Plaza construction costs.

Stay tuned for details of timing and ticket distribution.

Other fund raising activities continue and recent reports put the total just north of $ 280,000.

Edmonds Veterans Plaza Raffle 1st prize

1st Prize

Edmonds Veterans Plaza Raffle 2nd Prize

2nd Prize

An Interactive Workshop with AXIS Dance Company

Presented by: Edmonds Center for the Arts & Operation Military Family Cares

Friday, February 5, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Free Admission with Pre Registration

 

This workshop is open to veterans, their families & friends, and will be followed by a complimentary lunch. All ages, levels and abilities welcome!

The workshop is 90-minutes long and will be held at American Legion Post 66, 117 6th Ave S, Edmonds, WA. Space s limited to 30 participants. RSVP to Gillian Jones, ECA Director of Programming, at 425-275-9483 or [email protected].

NL0216_Interactive-Workshop

Vietnam: Remembering the 1968 Tet Offensive

Jim Traner VFW 8870 Past Commanderby Past Commander Jim Traner, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, USA

I know that the WWII veterans who were there have a vivid memory of the Battle of the Bulge.  The Tet Offensive left similar memories  for anyone who was “in country” on January 31, 1968.  For those who are unfamiliar with the term, Tet is Vietnam’s New Year and there was to be a cease fire during the week of Tet.  Instead, virtually the entire county was  attacked by a well-coordinated offensive by the Vietcong.  It’s been 48 years since the Tet Offensive but for those of us “in county” at that time, it doesn’t seem that long ago.  My unit, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, was south of the Michelin Rubber Plantation in the north end of Iron Triangle at the outbreak of Tet Offensive. We had been in contact with enemy units on a fairly consistent basis in the preceding week with A Troop bearing the brunt of the casualties.  You’d have thought that someone somewhere in the intelligence branch could have smelled a push coming since I doubt we were the only ones making contact with the enemy.  When Tet Offensive did hit, we were ordered to move down to protect Long Bien and Bien Hoa, a road trip that took 12 hours and covered about 80 miles.  Armored vehicles in a column have a tendency to kick up a bit of dust, particularly in “dry season” and I always seemed to be at the end of the column.   We were low on water and didn’t have time to resupply so it was a very hot, dusty, and thirsty trip.  As I recall, on the way south we went through a small village in the dark and saw what I thought was a low rock wall in the road ahead.  When I got along side of the ”wall” it was bodies of what I believe were civilians  assassinated by the VC earlier that day.  Without going into any details, we got to our destination at II Field Force HQ, the area we were sent to protect, and accomplished that mission. Later we moved to either Bien Hoa or Long Bien and some of the areas we went through looked like pictures of cities bombed in WWII.  Total devastation.  In the long run, the Tet Offensive resulted in a total defeat of the Vietcong but also costing a lot of American lives as well.

On a side note, I was due to go on R&R when Tet broke out.  Three of us from my unit ended up flying to Hong Kong on the first flight leaving Vietnam following Tet.  When we arrived, an Army information officer came on board and warned us not to talk to the reporters on the tarmac.  We had no idea what he was talking about but when got off the airplane there was a gauntlet of reporters and television cameras waiting for us.  Apparently the military had shut down access to Vietnam and these guys were chomping to get a story.  We didn’t talk, but I think we should have.  Walter Cronkite, the CBS News Anchor,  was saying the war was lost, and we knew we had just kicked ass.  But orders were orders…..

Local Students Recognized in Patriot’s Pen & Voice of Democracy Competition

Commander Blossey Congratulates Student Winners

Commander Blossey Congratulates Student Winners

At the December 8, 2015 meeting we recognized area students who participated in the AnnualVFW Essay contest. The Post’s student essay competition is coordinated by Fred Apgar.

The theme for this year’s Youth Essay contest was “Why Is America My Favorite Country?” The winning essay for 5th grade was submitted by Chloe Lee of Mukilteo Elementary. Runners Up were Mohuwa Wahid, Ellie Choi, and Sabrina Windland, also from Mukilteo Elementary. Benjamin Hoang, of Terrace Park Elementary was also a runner-up. Chloe was presented with a $100 scholarship from the Post, and each Runner Up received a $25 scholarship.

Voice of Democracy Winner

Voice of Democracy Winner

For the second consecutive year, Olivia Olsen garnered first place honors and a $100 scholarship in the Voice of Democracy contest. This essay contest is open to high school students in grades 9-12. While the Youth Essay and Patriot’s Pen competition requires a written essay, the Voice of Democracy competition requires the submission of an audio essay. This year’s topic was, “My Vision for America”. Olivia is a 10th grade student at Edmonds-Woodway High School. Accompanying the Mukilteo Elementary School students were their teachers, Ms. Aina Green and Ms. Sue Idso. Supporting the students from Terrace Park School was their teacher, Ms. Lori Kutrich.

Prior to the presentation of awards and the reading of the winning entries, Olivia Olson led the Post members and guests in the Pledge of Allegiance. The winning entries have been forwarded to Washington State VFW for consideration at the district and state levels.

Farewell to our Comrade Al Starkenburg

Al Starkenburg

A funeral service was held for Al on Saturday, December 12 at Holy Rosary Church in Edmonds.  An “Honor Guard” of Post 8870 members was front and center to bid our comrade farewell.

At the December Post meeting Mike Reagan presented a portrait of Al to his wife and family.

Al lived his entire life in Washington, in Ellensburg, Shoreline and Carnaton. Al was a Marine, having served in Korea in 1954-55. Following discharge he returned home, and attended Everett Community College where he played football. He worked in sales in the food and beverage industry until his retirement. Al is surviced by his wife, four children, nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Santa Claus Arrived Early for Veterans Relief Fund

The Nine Yards Brewing community in Kenmore, Wa contributed $217.25 from their military trivia night to support the work we do.

Nine Yards hosts a weekly game/trivia night at which they collect money from participants to play. 50% of those proceeds go to a charity of their choosing.

They wanted us to know that while usually, 50% stays with the winners, all winners this month gave their half back to increase the amount of their donation for veterans. In addition, a gift basket was donated and raffled off to bring in more cash.

POST #8870 REMEMBERS VETERANS AT CHRISTMAS

Post member Don Stapleton presents gift cards to Ron Bergstrom, Director of Retsil Veterans Home.

Post member Don Stapleton presents gift cards to Ron Bergstrom, Director of Retsil Veterans Home.

In an effort to bring some Christmas spirit to local veterans residing in nursing homes and to active duty personnel in need, VFW Post #8870 recently delivered $3500 in gift cards to these deserving comrades. The Washington Veterans Home in Retsil and the Washington Soldier’s Home and Colony in Orting each received $1000 in gift cards for distribution to veterans and spouses.

Our Post also gave $500 in gift cards to the Chaplains’ officers at Everett Naval Station, Joint Base Lewis McChord, and District 13 United States Coast Guard. At the Chaplains’ discretion, these gift cards will be distributed to those active duty personnel who are struggling to make ends meet. In an effort to support all branches of our military services, a $500 donation was also made to the Semper Fi Fund.

Funding for this most worthwhile project comes from the Post’s distribution of poppies during the Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day weekends.