Newsletter Articles

Buddy Poppies—We Need Help

Author: October 1, 2014

When I first became active in VFW, I was very hesitant to volunteer handing out Poppies on Veterans Day and Memorial Day. I overcame my reluctance when the Poppy Chairman one year almost broke my arm to get me to sign up for a shift. Since then, I don’t believe I’ve missed a single Poppy drive. Why? Because it isn’t like having a root canal, in fact, it is a very satisfying experience. Folks are down right friendly to us and you end up meeting some very interesting folks. In the past, I’ve met a woman who served in the German Army in WWII as a radar operator and fled to the Americans at the end of the war. I’ve met veterans who have served in every war from WWII to the present and sons and daughters of veterans including one who survived the Bataan Death march. I’ve had a Korean couple thank us for saving their country and best of all, we have handed out hundreds of brochures, primarily to school children, explaining why the Poppy is a symbol of Veterans Day.

We work in teams so you’re never alone and the shifts aren’t that long—typically 4 hours. All the funds we raise are dedicated to our Relief Fund and aren’t used to support the Post. So consider helping out because at the same time, you’ll really be helping out the various places we spend our funds like the NMS, Fisher Houses, and active duty military folks who need Christmas gifts for their children and can’t afford them.

We will be at several stores on November 7th and 8th. If you can help (and we no longer break arms like mine was), let us know. Call Bob Crawford at 206-909-4893 or email [email protected].

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VFW Trivia

Author: October 1, 2014

A number of us will not attend anything more than our Post meetings during our entire tenure with VFW which in some cases can go on for 7 decades. So when Traci Williams spoke at our Post I noted that she had Silver piping on her cover. I was sitting next to Don Wischmann, Department 1 Commander, who had Red piping on his cover. The rest of us had Gold piping on our covers. Traci was a National Chairperson and National Officers and Chairs are entitled to Silver piping on their covers. Department officers and chairs are entitled to wear Red piping while everyone else (meaning the workers of VFW) wear Gold on their covers.

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Veterans Day

Author: October 1, 2014

Just a heads up for you folks who can’t make the next meeting. We are planning on holding our first ever Veterans Day ceremony at our new Veterans Park at 5th Ave. North and Bell St. While in the early planning stages, the event will be held on November 11th at 1100hrs. Please bring your families and friends to this ceremony. We need to have a strong showing so folks in City Hall know that our veteran community is dedicated to our small park they have allotted us.

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Guadalcanal Campaign Veterans

Author: October 1, 2014

We just received an email from the organizer of this year’s reunion of the Guadalcanal Veterans. During October 15th—19th, the reunion of the veterans will held in Lynnwood. On October 17th, they will take the 9:20AM ferry departing Edmonds and hold a memorial service on the crossing to Kingston. Upon arriving in Kingston, they will have lunch where you can join them. Finally, on Saturday between 2 and 4pm, the veterans will be in the Hampton Inn Suites and available to meet people in the community. These guys are real heroes so try to meet them on the ferry or in Lynnwood.

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Post Members Visit School

Author: October 1, 2014

Mrs. Sue Idso, a 5th grade teacher from Mukilteo Elementary, asked if some of our veterans would speak to her classes (yes—like high school she has 5 periods of classes). Fred Apgar, Jim Blossey (see “Commanders Column”) and I volunteered.   The following day Sue passed along comments that her students made after our presentations so I’ve included some of them here:

 

The sacrifices our veterans make are a great act of kindness.

I’m impressed by how a stranger would sacrifice his life for me.

I feel like I know a lot more about the military.

There are so many lives lost in a war.It’s so sad.

I’m a Boy Scout and now I want to be a Scout even more.

I understand how much veterans care about America.

There’s always a price for freedom.

We have the best system of government in the world. I feel appreciative of that.

I’m very proud of Mr. Apgar.

I have learned to respect the WWII veterans.

I’m so grateful that so many people serve.

Now I know more about how a soldier feels.

Mr. Traner’s stories make me feel safe.

I can understand more about what my grandpa went through.

Veterans keep the Constitution alive.

I’m inspired to join the Army.

If we didn’t have veterans, we wouldn’t have freedom.

The military is more serious than I thought.

Soldiers put their lives on the line for our Constitution.

I learned how hard it was to make the sacrifices to go to war and to accept it.

It’s really special to know someone who fought for our country.

 

As Veterans Day approaches, we will have a number of opportunities to speak to classes and entire assemblies. We will be passing a signup sheet for volunteers at the next meeting so have some fun and speak to a class.

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50th Anniversary Commemoration of the Vietnam War Welcome Home Celebration

Author: October 1, 2014

50th Anniversary Commemoration of the Vietnam War Welcome Home Celebration

 

I have posted below an invitation from the Army to all Vietnam Era Vets to attend the ceremony at JBLM on October 9th. There will be a “massing of the colors” where each veterans group/Post is asked to have one member carry the Post’s colors. Since we won’t be meeting until the following day, if you are interesting in going, let me know at [email protected] and also RSVP no later than October 3rd by going to the link that is provided below. If we have enough interest, we will put together a car pool. I should note that even if you aren’t a Vietnam Vet, you are welcomed to attend this event. You can get additional information by going to: http://www.ausafortlewis.com/drupal/sites/default/files/JBLM%20%20Vietnam%20Vet%20Salute%20w_Hyperlink.pdf

The following is a repost from the Army on this ceremony:
The Commanding General, I Corps, is having a ceremony and reception on 9 October to honor all veterans that served during the Vietnam War era. It is most important to note that this is all veterans and not just those that served in Vietnam and SE Asia. This includes Cold War veterans of that era such as SAC, Air Defense, Europe, Korea, at sea, CONUS, etc. In addition to veterans, the public is invited and encouraged to attend.
Veterans and the public are requested to enter Joint Base Lewis-McChord through the DuPont Gate at I5 Exit 119 starting at 11:00 am. All will be guided to parking.

The ceremony will be held on Watkins Field (Main Parade Field) starting at 1:00 PM. Included in the ceremony will be the entire 7th Infantry Division, 593rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command and other major units stationed on JBLM. The Washington Army National Guard and the civilian community will participate through the Massing of the Colors to honor the American Flag as the symbol of our Country.

Ceremony speakers will be General Barry McCaffrey, recipient of the two Army Distinguished Service Crosses in the Vietnam War, and Lieutenant General Stephen R. Lanza, Commanding General, I Corps.

Major JBLM Army and Air Force units will have displays for visitors located in the main part of the Army part of the installation.

There will be a reception with the Vietnam Era Veterans and their families and friends where Generals McCaffrey and Lanza will present each veteran with a commemorative pin.

Please RSVP by October 3rd if you plan on attending by following the link
https://einvitations.afit.edu/inv/anim.cfm?i=210707&k=0060420E7B50

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Commanders Column By Jim Blossey

Author: October 1, 2014

A few days ago I had the privilege of speaking with a class of 5th graders at Mukilteo Elementary School. These 10-year-olds were some of the sharpest young people I have ever met.. They had been studying the U.S. Constitution and their teachers wanted them to meet some actual people who had put their lives on the line to protect the liberties that are so eloquently enumerated in that magnificent document. Past Commanders Fred Apgar and Jim Traner also spoke that day, at different times and—I presume—to different classes.

“If we didn’t have veterans, we wouldn’t have freedom.”

The next day their teachers seny us a few excerpts from the comments the students had written down. Clearly, they were listening. More importantly their words pointed to the content of our remarks, not to us as speakers. They recognized that service, particularly military service, is about real people and—in most cases—people that live right here among us.

“I learned that even 17- and 18-year-olds can make big sacrifices.”

The students identified with the idea that when we served we weren’t much older than them. They wanted to know how we felt at the time and what motivated us to become part of the military. We told the truth—that very few of us joined because we wanted to be patriots. But we also told how every one of us came to realize the importance of what we were doing and that we were fighting, not so much for the vague ideals of freedom and democracy, but for family and loved ones…and for future generations. In other words, for them.

“It’s really special to know someone who fought for our country.”

I’m glad they wrote those words on paper rather than saying them to me in person, because I’m not sure I could have retained my composure. What is important for all of us to know is that this is how most people feel about us. And what I want you to know is how special it is to be able to touch these young people’s hearts.

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Post Changes Meeting Location

Author: September 8, 2014

After many years of meeting at the Edmonds Senior Center, the Post has elected to change its meeting location to American Legion Post 66’s home at 117 6th Avenue S.. You can take a look at the new location by going to http://mapq.st/1sOd4al since I was unable to print a map for you. Or to put it in a different perspective, go one block east (up the hill) from the traffic circle on Main St. and 5th and turn right on 6th Ave. There is a large American Legion sign and a flag pole with an American and POW/MIA flag flying. Everything else i.e. time, cost of meals, etc. will remain the same, only the location is changing. For those of you who don’t mind walking a bit, please leave any open parking spots that are close to the hall open for those who aren’t as mobile.

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Big Changes for the Ladies Auxiliary

Author: September 8, 2014

Resolution 302 was approved at the National VFW Convention in July. The Resolution reads as follows:

EQUALITY FOR ALL VETERANS’ SPOUSES AND FAMILY MEMBERS

BE IT RESOLVED, that the Veterans of Foreign Wars goes on record supporting the transformation of our national association, known as the Ladies Auxiliary, to make suitable accommodations for the male spouses and male family members of all eligible service members; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Adjutant General and the Ladies Auxiliary National Secretary be directed to work in concert, developing suitable language for by-law amendments, to be presented at their respective conventions in the year 2015; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the VFW supports any additional efforts by the Ladies Auxiliary to create an association name and protocols that are gender neutral.

As you can see, there is at least a year of planning before the Ladies Auxiliary becomes The Auxiliary. There are cries being heard that the sky is falling but hopefully that isn’t the case, and Auxiliary will only become stronger with the inclusion of spouses and sons of our female comrades.

The VFW also passed Resolution 301 which changed the Congressional Charter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars making it gender neutral by replacing “men” with “veterans”. Our organization includes a number of women who have served in combat and National feels they deserve the same consideration as their male counterparts.

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Edmonds Night Out

Author: September 8, 2014

0914_Edmonds-Night-OutThe kids were lined up to toss bean bags, knock down cans, or spin the wheel for a prize (every spin was a winner) at the Edmonds Night Out. We had 8 volunteers that evening and the Post presented the colors to begin the festivities. Our Vice, Chris Edwards, brought a contingent of Army National Guard with 3 vehicles and the kids loved climbing through them. I saw one kid nearly topple under the weight of trying on some body armor. It was humorous until I tried to pick it up—that stuff is heavy and I thought our flack jackets we wore in Nam were bad. Anyway, it was a great night out and the Post and Army National Guard were big hits with the kids.

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