Grill Masters Sr. Vice Commander Carl Kurfess, left and on the right, Alden Gilliland wield their spatulas.
Following the parade on July 4, another of our
traditions has been to hold a picnic/barbecue at the Legion Hall. This year,
close to 100 Veterans of Post 66 and Post 8870 including family and friends,
gathered to enjoy great food and comradeship. A few of us who arrived
a bit late had to hunt for a place to sit among all the early arrivals.
Forming the chow line. Are we back in the service?
Among those in attendance, was an honored
guest, District 1 Commander Doug White. It is always good to have
Commander Doug with us.
The menu included grilled hamburgers and
hot dogs and pulled pork sandwiches. To accompany all of that
delicious barbecued meat, members brought a variety of salads and
side dishes and for dessert lots of cookies and a variety of cakes.
It would be difficult to individually
thank all of the folks who brought and cooked food and who stayed after
the event to clean up, but we certainly thank everyone who
participated in whatever manner. It only works if everyone pitches
in.
Now all that was needed was fireworks to
end a perfecr Independence Day celebration on a perfect July day.
At the June post meeting 2019-20 Commander Rose Gilliland
took over from 2017-19 Commander Mike Denton in a brief hand-off of the
gavel. Past Commander Denton began the meeting and conducted the
ceremony of draping the charter for recently deceased comrades Benton Webb
and Russ Pitner. (Obits for Webb and Pitner appeared in the May
newsletter) The appropiate prayer for departed Comrades was read by
Chaplain Dan Doyle.
Commander Rose Gilliland then began the
business portion of the meeting during which Post 8870 Surgeon Charles Gaul led some
discussion of guidelines for our Hospital and Community Service reports, for
which we ask members to submit their activities monthly.
The latest instruction received from Department
regarding Hospital reporting are pretty clear; the key being the word “hospital”. If
it doesn’t happen in the hospital or nursing home or transport to and from
these facilities, it doesn’t get reported in the Hospital Report (with the
exception of blood donations).
We are however, seeking clarification as to
what is reportable and what is not for the Community Service Report. In the meantime,
members may want to continue reporting as we have been and leave it to your
Post Officers to judge reportablity.
Much of the remainder of the meeting was
devoted to plans and preparations for participation in the “Edmonds Kind of 4th” Independence
Day parade and picnic/barbecue to follow.
The annual VFW Department of Washington
Convention took place in Vancouver, WA June 19-22. Representing our post
were Commander Rose Gilliland and Past Commander/Department Trustee Jim Traner.
Rose and Jim congratulate Detective Stone on her Award
Jim and Rose were present for two particularly
notable events. First, the presentation of the Department Law Enforcement
Officer of the Year award to Post 8870 LEO Detective Nicole Stone of the
Mukilteo Police Department. Commander Rose received the certificates and “White Covers”
of an Allstate Post on behalf of Post 8870, representing the results of
the hard work put in by our members in a wide variety of VFW and community
service endeavors.
Detective Stone, her Award being presented by VFW Department of Washington Commander Linda Fairbank and Past VFW Commander in Chief Paul A. Spera
Congratulations are in order to each and every
post member who participated during the 2018-19 VFW year.
Rose and Jim join other District 1 representatives at the Award Luncheon.
Ervin Schmidt was a 25 year old barber from
Marshfield, Wisconsin when he enlisted in the United State Navy in August
of 1940. After completing basic training, Erv was assigned to the battleship
USS California and participated in numerous training cruises in the
Pacific Ocean. In December of 1941, the USS California was docked in what has
become known as “battleship row” at Pearl Harbor. Erv was asleep in his bunk
when the first of two torpedoes hit the California. After a second torpedo
struck, the Captain issued the order to abandon ship.
Erv was then assigned to the heavy cruiser, USS
Chicago and the ship deployed to serve as reinforcement to the Australian and
New Zealand forces in the vicinity of the Coral Sea. In the confusion
after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Erv was listed as Killed in Action, and
his family was so notified. Six weeks after his family held a funeral
service for him, they learned that Erv had survived the attack.
Erv at sea aboard Torsk
In January 1943, the Chicago engaged the
Japanese in the Solomon Islands, and the ship sustained severe battle damage.
Once again, Erv heard the command to abandon ship. Thinking he might be safer
under water, Erv volunteered for submarine duty. He was assigned to the
USS Saury as a radio and sonar operator, and during his five patrols on
the Saury, a total of 9 Japanese ships were sunk.
USS Torsk
After some well-deserved shore duty in
Portsmouth, New Hampshire he was assigned to another submarine, the USS
Torsk, which conducted patrols against enemy shipping, first in Tokyo Bay
and then the Sea of Japan. On August 11 and then on August 13, 1945, the
Torsk sank two Japanese Naval ships, which were the last two ships sunk by
the US Navy in World War II. On August 14, 1945, hostilities in the South Pacific
ended. During his 2012 Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., Erv had the
opportunity to visit, for the last time, his beloved USS Torsk, which now
serves as a memorial in Baltimore Harbor.
Thanks, Fred for reminding of us our late
comrade.
Fred Apgar moved away to the mid-west a few
years ago, but he has remained in close touch with the Post and has been
kind enough to contribute to this newsletter from time to time. Disappointed
with the local posts near his new home, Fred recently re-affiliated with
Post 8870.
Led by Commander Rose Gilliland the new Post officers take the oath.
The newly elected officers for the VFW year 2019-20 were installed at the May Post meeting in ceremonies led by Past District and Post Commander Jim Traner, in preparation for the official beginning of their term at time of the Department Convention in June.
Commander Mike Denton hands the gavel off to installing officer, Past District Commander Jim Traner to begn the ceremony.
Elected officers are Rose Gilliland, Commander,
Carl Kurfess, Sr. Vice Commander, Duane Bowman, Jr. Vice Commander,
Dennis Peterson, Quartermaster, Dan Doyle, Chaplain. Also elected were three
Post Trustees; Jim Murdock, Kerry Watkins and Don Stapleton. Appointed
positions were announced by incoming Commander Gilliland to include Dick
Simmons, Adjutant, Don Whedon and Paul Russo, Service Officers, Jim
Traner, Judge Advocate, Charles Gaul, Surgeon, John Shelton, Guard and Jim
Collin, Officer of the Day.
We congratulate all of our new officers and offer
our gratitude for their willingness to serve.
Ben was born in Lafayette, TN and enlisted in the Navy in Nashville in 1943. He served in the Pacific Theatre, Solomon Islands. He was with the 152nd Landing Craft Repair Unit (LCRU) as a 1st Class Ships Cook 1943-45. He returned to Norfolk, VA Naval Base in July, 1945 and got married. He and Mary Elizabeth were in New York City Times Square for the VJ Day celebration. They were married for 65 years. Ben joined VFW in 1945 and at his death was the longest serving member of our post at 73 years. He was a member of VFW Post 3694 in Seattle after the war and served as the Post Athletic Director. Benton was a retired baker and served as a General Manager for Hansen Bakery and Best Pie. He was 97 years old.
Ben was born in Lafayette, TN and enlisted in the Navy in Nashville in 1943. He served in the Pacific Theatre, Solomon Islands. He was with the 152nd Landing Craft Repair Unit (LCRU) as a 1st Class Ships Cook 1943-45. He returned to Norfolk, VA Naval Base in July, 1945 and got married. He and Mary Elizabeth were in New York City Times Square for the VJ Day celebration. They were married for 65 years. Ben joined VFW in 1945 and at his death was the longest serving member of our post at 73 years. He was a member of VFW Post 3694 in Seattle after the war and served as the Post Athletic Director. Benton was a retired baker and served as a General Manager for Hansen Bakery and Best Pie. He was 97 years old.
Russ Jason Pitner
At his death, the newest member of our Post,
inducted at the May 2019 Post meeting, Russ was an army veteran of 12
years, a staff Sergent stationed in Germany for 10 years. He commanded
teams of 35 men through the Bosnian-Serbian conflict serving with the 11th
Armored (“Black Horse”) Cavalry. Raised in the Smokey Mountains of
Tennessee, he grew up with three brothers. Russ was 54. He is survived by
his wife, Laurie.
Russ suffered an aneurism on Saturday, June 1 and
was declared brain dead by Edmonds Swedish Hospital shortly there
after. Both of his kidneys have found homes in the bodies of people who
have spent every day for years waiting for the gift of life.
Brad Andrews, one of our newer members and a
Vietnam Veteran, volunteered to accompany 93 year old WWII veteran Frank
Muramatsu as his “Guardian” on the spring Honor flight. Brad paid his
expenses out of his own pocket in order to perform this service.
Muramatsu was one of those young Japanese American
warriors who stepped up to serve their country despite the treatment their
families received during that time. Frank served in the Pacific, unlike so
many of his comrades of Japanese descent.
In addition to his personal services, Brad also
donated 4,000 Alaska air miles to Puget Sound Fisher House through the
“Hero Miles” program.
Above, Sr. Vice Commander Carl Kurfess offers a poppie to a QFC customer
Once again the Post turned out to staff the usual
four locations for our “Buddy Poppy” distribution for Memorial Day, in
remembrance of our fallen comrades.
Over $ 15,000 was raised to recharge our relief fund. Many thanks to all who participated, which was nearly all of our active membership, turning out in less than ideal weather to ensure that the Post will be able to continue to fund all of the causes we support. The crew at the Speedway QFC led the way, but all locations produced well. Special recognition goes out to our comrades who staffed the two doors at QFC West Lynnwood, who were out in the weather all day both days.
Staffing one of two doors at the Speedway QFC are, l to R, Linda Blossey, Bryan Rowe, Past Commander Jim Blossey and Jay Hansen.
Mike Schindler explains the kiosk functions to Sylvana Rinehart.
In a brief ceremony on the afternoon of Memorial
Day, members of Post 8870 gathered with guests to dedicate the new Edmonds
Veterans Plaza information Kiosk.
Edmonds Mayor David Earling spoke briefly about the
importance of the Plaza to Edmonds veterans and the city at large,
followed by comments from Veterans Plaza Chair Ron Clyborne.
Edmonds Mayor David Earling
The information kiosk is designed to assist visiting veterans in sourcing a variety of benefits and assistance, by giving access from the plaza to the WAserves GreaterPuget Sound web site. Prominently displayed on the home page is the Veteran Crisis Line number (1-800-273-8255) providing ready access to emergency assistance. The kiosk operates by touch screen, making it easy to use. Soon, it will contain a data base of the names and service information of all of the individual veterans honored in the plaza and a guide to locate the veteran’s individual pavers, benches, etc. Also in planning is a cover over the kiosk to offer protection from weather, both to the equipment and the user. Stop by and take it for a test drive soon.
As we were planning for the dedication of the
Veterans Plaza information kiosk, Heidi Audette, of the Washington State
Department of Veterans Affairs called to ask if we might have a Memorial
Day Ceremony planned at which the Korean Ambassador for Peace Medal
could be presented to eligible Korean War Vets. The result was to turn a relatively
low key dedication to one much more widely attended and that allowed us to
join the Republic of Korea General Consul’s office in honoring twenty
some veterans with the medal.
Said Audette; “I wanted to take a moment to thank
you and the members of Post 8870 for your generosity and hospitality
during Monday’s ceremony! The Consul General’s Office and WDVA are very
grateful that you allowed the Ambassador for Peace Medals to be presented.
You obviously have the support of your community and in turn you are
providing great support to the veterans and families who call Edmonds
home!
Thank you again, and I hope to have the opportunity
to work with you again in the future!”
