Author Archive: Editor

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.

VFW Gold Piping, VFW Red Piping, VFW Silver Piping

Veterans Day

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.

Edmonds Veterans Park, Veterans Day

Guadalcanal Campaign Veterans

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.

Guadalcanal Veterans

Post Members Visit School

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.

Boy Scouts, Constitution, Freedom, Mukilteo Elementary, Veterans, WWII Veterans

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

50th Anniversary Commemoration of the Vietnam War, Cold War Veterans, Commanding General I Corps, General Barry McCaffrey, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Lieutenant General Stephen R. Lanza

Commanders Column By Jim Blossey

Fred Apgar, Jim Blossey, jim traner, Mukilteo Elementary School, U.S. Constitution, VFW Post 8870 Commander

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.

Commander, News, Newsletter Articles

Post Changes Meeting Location

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.

American Legion Post 66, Edmonds Senior Center, VFW Post 8870 Meeting Location

Big Changes for the Ladies Auxiliary

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.

ladies auxiliary, National VFW Convention, VFW Resolution 301, VFW Resolution 302

Edmonds Night Out

The 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.

Army National Guard, Edmonds Night Out, vfw post #8870

When to Wear and When to Remove Covers

I was approached by a member asking if there were any rules pertaining to the wearing of VFW covers. I was somewhat surprised by the lack of information on the internet so here is what I could run down from the 2014 Podium Edition of the VFW.

General Rules of VFW Ritual

Para 13(b) Members will follow the action of the Chaplain or presiding officer relative to removal of caps during prayers; ….

(c) official caps will not be worn during luncheons, banquets or other meals;

(d) Official caps will be the only head covering allowed to be worn at regular meetings of the VFW of the US.

Section 803 of the By-Laws goes on to say:

No member or other person shall use or wear any seal, emblem, badge, insignia or uniform of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States while engaged in any commercial or political activity in such a manner as likely to falsely convey that such activity is approved or endorsed by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.

I know that I have seen news clips of numerous politicians with veterans wearing their VFW or American Legion covers while standing behind them. I would assume they are in violation of Section 803. We recently had a politician requesting to have their photo taken with one of our members. I suggested it would not be appropriate and the politician graciously did not pursue the matter. In any event, use your best judgment anytime you have your cover on in public.

I referred to the Podium Edition of the VFW which includes the Congressional Charter, By-Laws, Manual of Procedure and Ritual of the VFW. It is for sale at the VFW store online and we typically order a copy for each officer. Since there are not a lot of substantial changes from one year to the next, if you want one speak to one of the continuing officers for their old copy or approach or contact Quartermaster Dennis Peterson who may some extra copies for sale. Everything you need to know about VFW is contained in the book.

General Rules of VFW Ritual, Podium Edition of the VFW, VFW By-Laws, VFW Covers, VFW online store

Membership

The Post has 211 members. Included in that number are 153 Life Members and 58 Continuous Members meaning every year we need to have 58 souls send us checks for their dues to arrive at 100%. Herding cats is a slightly easier task. To complicate matters, anyone joining after January 1, 2014 has a membership based on the payment date and anyone who was a member prior to that date has a membership that expires on July 1st (this would be the bulk of our 58 members). This new system is great for National’s cash flow and murder at the individual Post level. So if you are a continuous member, please pay ASAP so our Quartermaster doesn’t go insane trying to run after everyone. Better yet, simply become a Life Member. Don’t worry that by paying a bit early you will be forfeiting part of your prior year dues. National simply extends the expiration date of your membership by 12 months so you get the benefit of a full 12 months anytime you make a payment.

Also, if you need help in paying your dues, let the QM know. We don’t want to lose a member because they have hit a rough spot financially. We have funds in our Relief Fund for those who need assistance. Our dues are $35 annually and you can mail your check to:

VFW Post 8870
PO Box 701
Edmonds, WA 98020

Alternatively, you can go online to VFW.org and renew your membership there. Either way, the sooner the better.