Newsletter Articles

Veterans Honored at Holy Rosary School Spring Concert

Veterans Honored at Holy Rosary School Spring Concert

A group of veterans including members of VFW Post 8870, MOPH Chapter 12 and serveral other veteran Parishioners were honored at the Holy Rosary School Spring Concert, in Edmonds, held on Thursday, May 26.

Student musicians, including a string orchestra, directed by noted local volinist and string instrument teacher, Fred Chu; the school band directed by Alex Dugdale and vocal groups from grades K-8 performed a set of songs focused on a patriotic theme, including a sung version of the Pledge of Allegiance, Yankee Doodle, You’re a Grand Old Flag and others. The students also performed several dance routines to musical accompanyment.

The veterans present were invited into a semi-circle front and center, whereupon, the student singers serenaded them with a piece entitled “Proud of Our Veterans”, under the baton of Susan Olmos, Holy Rosary Parish Music Director and teacher, who also produced and directed the entire program, along with an able staff of parents and teachers.

One of our group was heard to say that this was the “best reception he has had as a veteran since returning from Vietnam 50 years ago”. It was indeed a moving experience. Many thanks to Ms. Olmos and her students for including us.

Home Depot Partners With VFW

Home Depot Partners With VFWThe Home Depot chain of home improvement stores has a long history of supporting our nation’s veterans. A 10% discount is provided to veterans, and members of VFW need only show their membership card. Home Depot also provides, free of charge, all building materials and manpower needed to accomplish small home renovations, repairs, and improvements for veterans. For example, projects such as the installation of a ramp at a veteran’s home are completed on a regular basis. Members of Post # 8870 who have a need for such a home improvement project are urged to contact our Post Chaplain, Fred Apgar (206-940-7502) who will connect them to a Home Depot representative.

Edmonds Cemetery Memorial Day Observance – 2016

A large crowd gathered at the Edmonds Cemetery to honor all of our fallen men and women on a beautiful sunny “Edmonds Kind of Day”! Particularly honored on this occasion was Edmonds native Frank Freese, KIA in France in WWI, in the battle of Meuse Argonne, where he is buried. Edmonds’ American Legion Post 66 is named in his honor.

Post 8870 member First Sergeant Chris Edwards led a guard of honor from the Washington National Guard, who provided a rifle salute. Taps was played by Edwards.

Edmonds Cemetery Memorial Day Observance - 2016

VFW Post 8870 color guard

Edmonds Cemetery Memorial Day Observance - 2016

VFW Essay Winner Olivia Olsen

Edmonds Cemetery Memorial Day Observance - 2016

Cdr Jim Blossey and Les Abel raised the colors.

Edmonds Cemetery Memorial Day Observance - 2016

WWIi Vets Norm Goldstein, (L) and Amos Chapman Read the names & and rang the bell for the fallen

 

Record Revenues From Memorial Day Poppy Distribution

Record Revenues From Memorial Day Poppy DistributionPost 8870 members set a new record of $14, 624 in revenues generated from Buddy Poppy distribution for Memorial Day 2016.

Members staffing QFC Mukilteo  stations led the pack by a small margin.

It was a great effort on the part of all hands participating and will give our Relief Committee a good boost for the coming months.

NL0616_memorial-poppy

Chaplain Fred Apgar and Senior Vice Commander Terry Crabtree are pictured outside Central Market.

Post 8870 Election Results

The election of officers for the 2016-17 post year was held at the May Post meeting and resulted in the following command and staff members for the coming year:

Commander: Terry L. Crabtree
Senior Vice Commander: Carl L. Kurfess
Junior Vice Commander: Joan Wyant
Quartermaster: Dennis L. Peterson
Chaplain: Fred Apgar
Judge Advocate: Aaron M. Terwedo
Surgeon: Al. S. Boyett
1 Year Trustee: James. M. Traner
2 Year Trustee: David M. (Mike) Denton
3 Year Trustee: Daniel A. White
Adjutant: Richard F. Simmons
Service Officer: Don D. Whedon

 

CONGRATULATIONS To Our New Post Officers

The new officers will be installed at the June Post meeting, but will not officially take office until June 25, when the new Department of Washington officers are sworn in at the Department Convention.

From the Book Shelf

The Eleven Days of Christmas: America’s Last Vietnam Battle By Marshall Michel III

The Eleven Days of Christmas: America’s Last Vietnam Battle By Marshall Michel IIITo many, it was referred to as the Christmas Bombings. Officially, the operation was called Linebacker II.

By December 1972, the Paris Peace Talks had fallen apart, and to most Americans, the war had already been
lost. Despite the opposition of the Strategic Air Command (SAC) and Congress, President Nixon ordered the massive bombing of target complexes in and around Hanoi and Haiphong. The air battle would mark the first time that SAC’s giant B-52 long-range bombers would bomb targets so far to the north.

In the previous eight years, B-52’s had routinely flown “Arc Light” missions in relatively low threat environments to interdict the Ho Chi Minh Trail complexes. During Linebacker II, our B-52 force proved shockingly vulnerable to the Soviet built Guideline surface-to-air missiles (SAM). Also revealed in the book is an objective discussion of SAC’s planning errors that resulted in the significant loss of American crewmen and B-52’s.

After Day 2 of the 11 day bombing campaign and despite the threat of court-martial, many pilots ignored some of the non-sensical planning orders to improve mission success and survivability. Nevertheless, Linebacker II resulted in staggering losses.

The North Vietnamese returned to the peace talks and an agreement to end the war was finally signed. (ed. note: An agreement largely ignored subsequently by North Vietnam.) The air battle swung back and forth between what appeared to be certain American victory, to what appeared to be a North Vietnamese victory and finally, to an ambiguous ending.

The author is a retired Air Force pilot who served multiple tours in Vietnam, flying F-4’s. The book has been meticulously researched, and its riveting account of Linebacker II holds the reader’s attention.

“From the Bookshelf” will be a recurring series of book reviews that will appear in the
VFW Post #8870 newsletter from time to time. This review was written by Fred Apgar.

Plan Now for Coming Post Events

  • May Staff Meeting: Tues. May 2, 9:00 AM American Legion Hall, Edmonds
  • May Post Meeting: Tues. May 9, Supper at 1715, Meeting at 1800 Legion Hall
  • Memorial Day Poppy Distribution, Memorial Day Weekend – sign up with Bob Crawford
  • Independence Day Parade and Picnic, July 4 – More info in June newsletter.

Veterans Plaza Funding Goal Achieved!

Edmonds Veterans Plaza drawing

Edmonds Veterans Plaza Wall

The largest single donation received from an individual or family has put the Edmonds Veterans Plaza funding goal over the top; $16,000 from Bruce and Elaine Nickolson is the largest contribution from an individual donor, according to Ron Clyborne, chairman of the Plaza committee.

The volunteer co-chair of the Plaza’s funding committee, Tom Mesaros, said that the local community is being encouraged to continue to support the Plaza with their donations. Mesaros added, “Experience has shown that there is a possibility of unanticipated cost overruns. And of course there is the occasional enhancement that the committee failed to think of. Having a financial cushion to cover items like these is a responsible idea.”

The Plaza will consist of two complementary areas. The main plaza will feature a chest-high granite or marble wall honoring veterans of the five military services. The wall will incorporate waterfalls and emblems of the five services. Directly adjacent will be a Memorial Garden, a place of reflection dedicated to veterans that have passed away. Citizens may honor specific individual veterans by purchasing paving stones, dedicated benches and seating cubes that match the wall.

Donors Bruce and Elaine Nickolson are well-known locals. He is a 37-year veteran of the U.S. Navy, retiring as a Master Chief Petty Officer, followed by achieving an engineering degree the University of Washington and going on to found an electronics manufacturing firm, Opcon, Inc. Nickolson is a founder of the Edmonds Car Show and he and Elaine are founding members of the Edmonds Center for the Arts.

Persons wishing to be a part of the Edmonds Veterans Plaza may donate by mailing a contribution to Edmonds Veterans Plaza, c/o Edmonds VFW Post 8870, PO Box 701, Edmonds, WA 98020. (Make
checks payable to Edmonds Veterans Plaza.) On-line donations can be made at http:// edmondsveteransplaza.com.

Clyborne said that construction is planned to begin by August 1 and the Plaza will be dedicated at a
public ceremony on Veterans Day of this year, Friday November 11.

Post 8870 Members: Prepare for Action May – July!

Memorial Day Poppy Distribution

Memorial Day Poppy Distribution

Memorial Day Poppy Distribution May, June and July are busy months for our Post, with Poppy distribution and other Memorial Day observances in May, Flag Day in June and, of course Independence Day, when we participate in the Edmonds Kind of Fourth parade and hold our annual VFW/AL barbecue/picnic. (Followed of course by fireworks int he evening.

If you have yet to sign up for poppy distribution be sure to see Bob Crawford at the Post Meeting this
month and make a commitment to help at one of our locations on one or both days. Friday, May 28 or Sat, May 29.

Memorial Day honoring the fallen

Memorial Day – Honoring the Fallen

There will be a new wrinkle in the event this year, as we will also have raffle tickets available for sale to
support our Veterans Plaza and information on how families can honor individual veterans through the plaza.

Flag Day

Flag Day

Virtually all of the money our Post Relief Committee uses to fund Veteran’s and community causes such as aiding homeless vets, supporting the Washington State Veterans homes, scholarships and other activities comes from our poppy distribution event. The more members we have on hand, the more money we are

Independence Day BBQ & Parade

Independence Day BBQ & Parade