Post Events
- April Staff Meeting: Tuesday, April 5, 09:00
- April Post Meeting: Tuesday, April 12, Dinner at 17:15, Meeting Starts at 18:00
All Meetings at the Edmonds American Legion Hall on 6th Ave.
Congratulations to Nancy Thompson!
Nancy Thompson
VFW Department of Washington Elementary Teacher of the Year
Nancy Thompson, Post 8870’s Elementary Teacher of the year, who teaches music at Serene Lake Elementary School in Mukilteo, has been named Teacher of the Year in that category for the State of Washington. Her nomination will now be forwarded to National. She will be honored at the June convention in Pasco.
Post 8870 Teachers of the year
Commander Jim Blossey presenting certificates of recognition to our three teachers of the year.
Three local teachers were recognized by the Post for their efforts to promote American history, traditions and institutions through teaching of citizenship education topics. The teacher recognition program is sponsored by the National VFW Citizenship Education Teacher Awards Program.
Post 8870 and Washington State Elementary Teacher of the Year Nancy Thompson joins Post member Buck Weaver in singing God Bless American to open our March Post meeting.
Nancy Thompson, a music teacher at Serene Lake Elementary School is Elementary Teacher of the Year; the Middle School Teacher of the Year is Lori Kutrich of Terrace Park School and High School Teacher of the year is Chris Brown, of Scriber Lake High School.
How to be a part of our Edmonds Veterans Plaza Plaza Project Approaching Fundraising Goal
Edmonds Veterans Plaza funding tops $ 400,000!
For the past 241 years men and women have served our nation in uniform; in peace and in conflict, assuring that our freedom, declared in 1776, would continue.
Our City of Edmonds has not had a place to so honor & remember those who have served. Thanks to VFW Post 8870, American Legion Post 66, The City of Edmonds and a group of dedicated individuals, Edmonds will finally have such a place of honor, to be prominently located at 5th and Bell, right in front of the City Council Chambers Building.
The total budget for the new plaza is $420,000. To date the organizing
committee has raised $ 400,000 and there is $20,000 yet to raise. The Hazel Miller Foundation, prominant among our major supporters, was an early donor committing $180,000 toward this project during the fall of 2015. We are very grateful for this support.
The time has come for the fundraising effort to look to the public. All Edmonds citizens are invited to contribute toward the campaign to raise the last $20,000.
Please consider a contribution of $50, $100, $250 or more so that the project can be completed. You can send your contribution to Edmonds Veterans Plaza, c/o Edmonds VFW Post 8870, PO Box 701, Edmonds, WA 98020 (make checks payable to Edmonds Veterans Plaza); or go online to http://
edmondsveteransplaza.com.
You may wish to honor a particular friend, relative or comrade in arms. We have the following opportunities to do so:
- Pavers to honor a Veteran – $500 minimum donation
- Bench Plaques to honor a Veteran – $1,500 minimum donation
- Seating Cubes to honor a Veteran – $2,500 per side
(Illustrations of these features are available on the web site referred to above.)
Fundraising is to be completed by the end of May with construction beginning in June and the new Plaza to be dedicated on Veteran’s Day, November 11th, 2016.
The financial support of all of our citizens and particularly all veterans is
important so please send your contribution now.
New colors to fly over Edmonds School District stadium Courtesy of VFW Post 8870
School officials and student athletes join the VFW contingent to accept the gift of the new athletic field flag. Back row, from left: Geoff Bennett, EWHS Assistant Principal; Angie McGuire, EWHS Athletic Director; Jim Blossey, VFW Post 8870 Commander; Fred Apgar, VFW; Rich Petek, Athletic Field Manager; Grant Whitcutt, student; Jacob Henricksen, student; Binian Tesfaghaber, student; Grady Okeson, student; Yonas Tesfatsion, student; Terrance Crabtree, VFW; Ian Vincent, student. Kneeling from left: Students Benjamin Yang, Alexia Ballard, Sterling Mahan and Anindo Kahn.
After more than 20 years of service, the Edmonds School District Athletic Department’s American flag had definitely seen better days. Frayed and faded, it was a shadow of its former self and ready to be retired.
When officials from Edmonds VFW Post 8870 heard about this, they immediately contacted the school and offered to donate a brand new flag to fly over athletic and other events at Edmonds District stadium.
In a short ceremony on a recent Wednesday afternoon, VFW officials met with a group of teachers, students and district staff to formally present the new flag.
Athletic Field Mgr Petek demonstrates the worn condition of the old flag
“It’s very meaningful for us to be able to do this,” said Jim Blossey, VFW Post Commander. “Honoring the flag and those who have died for it is a big part of what we stand for, and it’s a privilege to help promote this within our community.”
The VFW is arranging to have the old flag officially retired in the traditional manner, “probably by burning it in a wood fire” according to Blossey.
Story and photos by Larry Vogel, courtesy My Edmonds News.com
Raffle to Help Fund Edmonds Veterans Plaza
Post 8870 will conduct a raffle beginning in April as part of our contribution to the funding of the Edmonds Veterans Plaza. The raffle is expected to raise a total of $5,000 for the cause and will be conducted in part as an addition to our “Buddy Poppy” distribution efforts, as well as some special ticket selling events and the efforts of individual members and VFW supporters. Images of the raffle ticket and a promotional flyer are below.
Tickets and flyers will be available for distribution at the April Post Meeting.
Raffle drawing to be held at the Independence Day picnic, July 4, 2016
The winners need not be present to claim their prize.
Edmonds Veterans Plaza Raffle!
Help build a lasting tribute to Veterans; past, present & future
Donation $5.00 per ticket
See any VFW Post 8870 member for your chance to win these one-of-a-kind images.
First Prize:
Signed & Framed Original Seahawks Poster!
Second Prize:
A Smaller unframed original Seahawks Poster
Both pieces by Famed Edmonds Artist Michael Reagan, USMC Vietnam Combat Veteran, founder Fallen Heroes Project
Drawing at VFW/Aerican Legion Picnic, July 4, 2016
Need not be present to win
Artist’s rendition of north wall area of the proposed plaza, honoring each of the five branches of service
Memorial Day
Mark your calendar for two special Memorial Day events coming up in May.
Edmonds Community College will have a program at 10:30 AM on Wednesday
May 25, at the college’s Black Box Theater. This year they will be remembering WWII veterans and urge all our WWII veterans to attend and be honored. Other members of our post will also be playing a role in the various ceremonies. Commander Blossey has agreed to be the master of ceremonies.
The Edmonds Memorial Cemetery will be having their 34th annual Memorial
Day Ceremony on Memorial Day itself, Monday, May 30, at 11:00 AM. This
year—as in years past—Post 8870 will be presenting the colors, raising the flag, narrating the White Table Ceremony and other prominent duties. Our Voice of Democracy winner will read her winning essay. All post members are asked to attend.
We will have further details about both events in future newsletters, but for now, please mark your calendars and set the time aside to attend them both.
Community Songwriting Workshop
April 7 & 8, 2016 | 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location: Edmonds Senior Center
$15/person or $25/couple for 2-day admission
$2/day for seniors with limited disposable incomes
Individuals living with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, their families and care partners are invited to join Songwriting Works’ professional songwriters in a 2-day workshop at Edmonds Senior Center.
Farewell to our Comrade, Rodney Lam
Rodney Kwock Mon Lam passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, January 19, 2016, with the love and aloha of his ohana (family) and friends. Born January 8, 1928, in Honolulu, Hawaii, he enlisted in the Army at age 17 in 1946 and was sent overseas to Germany. Rod served on active duty from 1946 to 1949 and was part of the Army Boxing Team in Bremerhaven. Upon his return he married his sweetheart, Rose Ing and started a family.
After leaving the Regular Army, Rod served in the Army Reserve and was a clerk at Schofield Barracks. He advanced through the ranks to First Sergeant at Fort DeRussy.
Rod spent most of his working life in real estate and was Vice-President of Preferred Properties in Honolulu for many years. In 1974, the family moved to Edmonds to pursue new opportunities in real estate, working for Century 21 McPhersons Realty, Pacific Land and Lake Tapps Realty and later was the broker for Chelan Hills and Lake Chelan Shores resort.
Upon his retirement, Rod enjoyed boxing events, outrigger paddling, travel, walking in the mall, dining out, magic and photography. He paddled for Hui wa’a O Puget Sound for 10 years. Although he started paddling late in life at age 70, as part of a six person team he earned first place in the Golden Masters PNW-ORCA championship race! One of his fondest memories was said by his son, Rocky to be a recent trip to Washington DC in October of 2015, as part of the “Puget Sound Honor Flight” that honored WWII Veterans.
Visit our Post 8870 Facebook Page!
Our post Facebook page is up and running, with some new photos and recently posted articles. Make it a habit to visit the page now and then at:
https://www.facebook.com/VFW-Post-8870-Edmonds-WA-436757345077/timeline
Members are encouraged to post photos and articles of interest to Veterans. We are discouraging the posting of purely political items, unless the subject is specifically focused on veterans issues. Your editor will be policing the page and will delete materials deemed inappropriate. Feel free to post photos of you and your comrades from your time in the service and share memories you feel are pertinent, or report on veterans activities in which you participate.
The Facebook page is a great way to publicize 8870 and our activities and the easiest way to make that happen is to invite all of your own Facebook “Friends” to visit and “like” the page. The more we do that, the more we will increase our Post’s visibility among our families, friends and the rest of our community.
VFW Auxiliary #8870 St Pat’s Tea
RSVP 425-481-9208
Bring your friends and guests
Alan Bridgeford, Accordionist
Will be our entertainment.