Author Archive: Editor

Post Welcomes Student Veterans by Fred Apgar

Post Welcomes Student Veterans by Fred Apgar

At our June meeting, Post # 8870 welcomed three veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars who are students at Seattle Central Community College.  These three students have assumed leadership positions for the newly organized Student Veterans Association on campus.  The mission of the Veterans Organization is to ensure academic success of student veterans by assisting them with the financial burdens of higher education.  The organization has organized several initiatives to establish a Student Veterans Scholarship Fund.

VFW Post #8870 has established working relationships with similar student veterans groups at several other area colleges, and we look forward to supporting the Student Veterans Association at Seattle Central Community College.  The Post membership approved a donation of $500 to the group’s scholarship fund, and we look forward to working with the organization in the future.

Korean War Armistice 60th Anniversary

There will be an annual wreath laying ceremony on July 27th at the Korean War Veterans Memorial on the Capital Campus in Olympia.  This will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the armistice and the public is encouraged to attend.  I know we have a number of members who are veterans of the Korean War and I suggest that you may wish to form a car pool and attend the ceremony.  The service is to begin at 11:00AM so utilizing the car pool lanes will be beneficial to ensure you get there in a timely fashion.  If you have any specific questions regarding the event, you can contact the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs at 1-800-562-0132 option 1 or email them at [email protected].

New Members

 

Edgar R Shepherd

Edgar R Shepherd

Edgar is a Life Member transferring from Post 2100. He is a native of Traford City, PA. He served with the Navy 1942-45 in the South and Northwest Pacific. He worked in Fire Control aboard the USS Helena CL-50, a light cruiser and USS Louisville, a heavy cruiser. The Helena was sunk by a Japanese torpedo July, 1943, in the Battle of Kula Gulf. Edgar is an Edmonds resident.

John E Rogalski

John E Rogalski

John is a Life Member transferring from Post 15040, Pennsylvania. A Philadelphia native, he served with the Army 1966-68. He served in Vietnam with the 69th Engineer Battalion at Can Tho 1967-68. He is retired and resides in Everett with wife Maxine.

Don Stapleton

Don Stapleton

Don, a native of Yakima, WA, served with the Marine Corps Reserve 1955-57. He switched to the Air Force in 1957 and retired as a Master Sergeant in 1978. He served in Vietnam 1971-72 at Tan Son Nhut Airfield where he assisted with direction and control of tactical airstrikes, search and rescue operations and command briefings. He also served in the United Kingdom and at various stateside bases. Awards include the Legion of Merit and Bronze Star. Don is a retired Boeing employee. He resides in Edmonds.

VFW Night at the Aquasox

Ok Comrades—bring your check books or cash to the next meeting if you intend to go to the Aquasox game on August 17th.  This is VFW day at the park and your family is invited to attend.  Tickets are $10.  I realize it is a couple of months off but we are trying to get head counts and arrange for some special events at the game and I have found that when there is some skin in the game, the counts become more accurate.

Join the American Legion

I suspect a lot of us are already American Legion members.  For those of you who are not, please consider it.  In our small community, the VFW and American Legion team up in virtually all the community events from Edmonds Night Out to the 4th of July Parade.  For the American Legion to thrive, it needs new blood.  Their meeting takes place on the third Monday of the month at 6PM in the Senior Center’s library room.  Come by on June 17th and consider a membership.

The Last Word—Commander’s Column by Fred Apgar

On the 4th of July, our Post will participate in the annual Edmonds July 4th parade.  This parade has been recognized as one of the ten best July 4th parades in America, and the City deserves our thanks and appreciation for honoring America in such fine fashion.  I urge all members of the Post to march with us in the parade and join us afterwards for what will be another terrific picnic in Edmonds City Park.

 

I have wonderful memories of the first time I marched in this parade.  It was in 2008, after I had moved to Washington the previous summer.  I was not prepared for the heartfelt reception we received as we stepped off to begin the mile long march through town.  As we marched, people stood up, applauded, and shouted out “thanks”.  This was the first time since I had returned home from Southeast Asia that I had ever felt this wonderful sense of love, gratitude, and approval.  If you have not participated in this great celebration, I urge you to make every effort to do so.  You will be glad you did.

 

July 4th, of course, commemorates the birth of our nation, honors our founding documents, and celebrates the freedom and liberty that all Americans enjoy.  You have all made significant sacrifices during your years in the Armed Forces, and all of our lives have been touched by the ultimate sacrifices made by so many of our comrades.  It is ironic that while we celebrate the 241st birthday of our great nation, we have unfolding before us a scandal in which rights, granted to us all by our Constitution, have been violated by agencies of the United States.  I am, of course, referring to the tapping of phones of members of the free press and the IRS actions that violated First Amendment free speech rights.  In our younger years, such actions occurred regularly behind the Iron Curtain, in Banana Republics, and by dictators.

 

Personally, I am outraged by such actions taken by public employees working in agencies of our government; “a government of the people, for the people and by the people”.  However, I am even more outraged by apathy among our citizens.  These are freedoms guaranteed to us by our Constitution and Bill of Rights, and as they are being systematically stripped away, and our response seems to be “good people doing nothing”.  Ronald Reagan reminded us that “freedom is just one generation away from extinction”.

 

As loyal Americans it is our responsibility to preserve our freedoms, which so many of our comrades fought for and for which you fought.  Our job is to ensure that those elected officials who have permitted these egregious threats to our freedoms are never returned to office again and we elect representatives who will protect and defend our Constitution.

The views expressed in this column are solely those of the Commander and do not represent those of VFW Post #8870, its membership, or VFW. 

Record Poppy Collections

The Post set a new record in Buddy Poppy donations.  The total as of May 28th (some funds are still trickling in) is $13,430.  As you know, this money is used exclusively for our Relief Fund.  We have been able to be generous because our community is generous in their support of VFW.  I want to thank everyone who did “Poppy Duty”.  Duty is a poor word to use.  I should restate it to “Opportunity” since it is an opportunity to hear folks thank you for your service, share stories of their service or that of their father, mother, sister or brother.  For the first time, we experimented with the use of a credit card reader which was attached to our iPhone or iPad.  It was only used at one location, and while it didn’t raise significant funds, we did collect $150 that we wouldn’t otherwise have collected.  Since there is no charge for the equipment and only a nominal service charge for the transaction, we will probably expand their use in the future.  I want to thank Bob Crawford who organized the event.  He did a great job in seeing everyone was in the right place and at the right time.  Elizabeth Mather and Tom Hallums counted the cash and prepared the deposit slips for the bank.

In addition to raising funds, we all had the opportunity to recruit new members to our Post.  I suspect we will need to replenish our supply of applications (I know I emptied my car of the half-dozen that I carry).

Finally, I am not sure how many folks that came by and said they were so glad to see Poppies again for Memorial Day.  I notice that Prince Harry was wearing a Poppy on his recent visit to the States, but I don’t recall seeing a single politician with one in his or her lapel while watching the news on Memorial Day.  Perhaps VFW can bring back a tradition that has faded from the American landscape over the past few generations.  I know that Post 8870 purchased 20,000 Poppies so at least that many folks were wearing them on their lapel on Memorial Day.

General Rules of VFW

This is a reprint of an article I did a couple of years ago.  Since we’ve added a number of new members in the recent months, I thought it would be a good idea to pass along some of the protocol that will make those of you unfamiliar with VFW feel a tad more comfortable while attending meetings.Hopefully, this doesn’t come across as being dogmatic, but only as observing the traditions of those veterans who have come before us.As VFW is an organization comprised of veterans, its structure is loosely based on military protocol.First, during meals, caps will not be worn.As far as gavel code is concerned, two raps means stand and one rap means sit.Pretty straight forward.  During prayers by the chaplain, members will remove their caps only if the chaplain removes his.If the chaplain remains covered, so should the members.If uncovered during a prayer, the hat should be placed on the extended closed fingers of the right hand in such a way that the Cross of Malta is exposed and over the heart.Only official hats may be worn in a meeting.If you forget your VFW cap, the Quartermaster may have a spare you can borrow, or you may simply remain uncovered for the meeting.The military salute shall be given in all ceremonials or meetings when a member wishes to address the commander or presiding officer.I hope that this quick lesson in protocol is taken in the correct vein, to make new members feel more comfortable and integrate more quickly into the VFW.

Naming the Park

We have a full court press underway in Edmonds as we try to get as many folks as possible to send in Veterans Memorial Park as the name for the small park on HWY. 104.  By the time you receive this newsletter the deadline will be passed and we won’t know the outcome for sometime.  However, Ron Clyborne has done a terrific job in getting the word out to the community.  The top three names submitted to the city will be forwarded to the city council who will make the final decision on the name.  Should Veterans Memorial Park be chosen, the American Legion and VFW will raise the funds for a suitable memorial, flag pole, and bench.

This is a reprint of an article I did a couple of years ago.  Since we’ve added a number of new members in the recent months, I thought it would be a good idea to pass along some of the protocol that will make those of you unfamiliar with VFW feel a tad more comfortable while attending meetings.Hopefully, this doesn’t come across as being dogmatic, but only as observing the traditions of those veterans who have come before us.As VFW is an organization comprised of veterans, its structure is loosely based on military protocol.First, during meals, caps will not be worn.As far as gavel code is concerned, two raps means stand and one rap means sit.Pretty straight forward.  During prayers by the chaplain, members will remove their caps only if the chaplain removes his.If the chaplain remains covered, so should the members.If uncovered during a prayer, the hat should be placed on the extended closed fingers of the right hand in such a way that the Cross of Malta is exposed and over the heart.Only official hats may be worn in a meeting.If you forget your VFW cap, the Quartermaster may have a spare you can borrow, or you may simply remain uncovered for the meeting.The military salute shall be given in all ceremonials or meetings when a member wishes to address the commander or presiding officer.I hope that this quick lesson in protocol is taken in the correct vein, to make new members feel more comfortable and integrate more quickly into the VFW.

Chaplain’s Corner—Rock Roth

How well do we know others including our family, friends, and/or acquaintances?  I suspect that we know family members reasonably well, friends, or at least some friends, fairly well, and acquaintances with some degree of familiarity.  But how well do we really know them and why would I ask this question?

John Bustard, fellow VFW member and Commander of American Legion Post 66 of which many of us are members, ‘crossed the bar’ on 16 May.  His memorial service was held on Tuesday, 21 May, with many of us in attendance.  How well did we know John?  During his eulogy presented by family members and friends, I heard about John the father, John the husband, John from Grosse Point Michigan, John the fisherman, John the hunter, John the Navy corpsman, John the Boeing employee, John the shooter, John the grandfather, et al.  From these ‘snapshots’, one gets a glimpse – a picture – of the real John.  It became readily apparent, people knew John at different times in his life and, therefore, in different situations.  However, there seemed to be a visible and common thread – a theme – that ran through John’s life.  John strongly believed in serving others.  John served his God, his family, his country, his friends, and youth.

I found all who eulogized John truthful, thoughtful, insightful, and inspiring.  However, I was left with the impression that no one really knew the whole or real John – his heart, soul, and mind; his desires, dreams, and beliefs; his loves, passions, and goals.  His wife, Anna, probably came closest.  This is not intended as a criticism; it is just a fact of life.  The only One who really knows and understands a person is Our Lord.  He knew each person before he or she was born; knows everything about a person throughout life – his or her heart, soul, and mind; his or her desires, dreams, and beliefs, and his or her loves, passions, and goals.  Additionally, Our Lord will be with each of us when called upon to ‘cross the bar’.   On the Tomb of the Unknown Solider is written, “…Known but to God.”  I would suggest that each of us in life and in death is “Known but to God.”  Trusting that the Lord knew (and knows) John – body, soul, and spirit – I strongly believe that He has said unto him, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant…..”  (Matthew 25:21).

On this Memorial Day, please remember John and your other comrades who have ‘crossed the bar’!  Also, please pray for our troops and their families.