Presenting the Colors
Tom Hallums, Silver Star Recipient – Keynote Speaker
Owen Mather, Tom’s grandson who read an oral history of Tom in Korea
Olivia Olson—Patriot Pen Winner
Phil Sacks, Korean War Veteran and Purple Heart Recipient ringing the Ship’s bell
Korean War Veterans
VFW Post #8870 recently announced the four winners of its Freedom Scholarship program. This marks the second year that these scholarships have been awarded. The scholarship was established to identify and reward deserving graduating seniors who have achieved an outstanding record of academic achievement, leadership, and community service and understand and value the freedom and rights guaranteed to us all by our Constitution. The scholarships, each in the amount of $1000, were awarded to two students residing within the Edmonds Public School District and two deserving seniors residing within the Mukilteo Public School District. In addition to their transcript and a resume, students were asked to write a 500-750 word essay in which they explained the meaning of freedom to them and how our Constitution establishes and maintains a culture of freedom in our country.
Representing the Edmonds School District are Soren Steelquist and Stephanie Lam. During her four years at Edmonds-Woodway High School, Stephanie maintained a 3.8 GPA and established an impressive record of involvement in school activities and community service. She has held leadership positions in the Key Club, Yearbook, Science Club, and German Club. Stephanie has also been a member of the Band for four years and was admitted to the National Honor Society in her sophomore year. She has devoted countless hours of her time in the Edmonds community by volunteering for a variety of Key Club sponsored activities. Stephanie plans on attending the University of
Washington in the fall.
Soren has received numerous awards while participating in Lynnwood High School’s basketball and soccer programs. He played varsity soccer for four years and has served as team Captain for three years. In his senior year, he was elected captain of the varsity basketball team. Soren has been elected to class leadership positions during all four high school years, and has been a member of the National Honor Society since his junior year. He has volunteered considerable time to several Lynwood High School community programs and has served as a soccer referee for the Alderwood Boys and Girls Club. Soren plans to attend the University of San Francisco.
The Mukilteo School District recipients, both of whom attended Kamiak High School, are Brent Haub and Jack Anderson. Brent maintained a 3.76 GPA while participating in varsity sports and playing in the school orchestra. He played varsity baseball and ran varsity cross country. Among the organizations to which he devoted many hours as a volunteer are Hugs for Ghana, St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank, and Pitch in for Cuba. Brent has also been a member of the Chess Club and worked behind the scenes for the school’s drama productions, working on stage craft and set building. Brent has been awarded a Chapman University Chancellor Scholarship, the California school at which he will attend.
While pursuing a rigorous academic program, Jack Anderson was also a participant in Kamiak’s athletic program. He ran on the varsity cross country team and played varsity lacrosse. During his high school years, Jack was also a member of the school’s Chess and Spanish clubs. He will attend the University of Arizona in the fall.
In addition to being recognized at their school’s academic recognition programs, the four scholarship winners will be publicly recognized at the Post’s July meeting and will be reading their Freedom Scholarship essays to our members.
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.
There will be a memorial service for June Schmidt, Erv Schmidt’s wife, who recently passed away. It will be held at 1:00PM on June 8th at the First Baptist Church located at 22800 56th Avenue West in Mount Lake Terrace. I know that Erv would appreciate as many “shipmates” that can make it to the service.
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.
Our Post failed to achieve 100% membership by 1 member. This is the first year in many years we failed to achieve the 100% goal. We don’t “buy” 100% in this Post, we earn it. So if you are one of the delinquent members, please consider renewing your membership next year. Your membership is important to the strength of our Post.
I would like to extend my personal thanks to the members of VFW Post #8870 for your confidence by electing me to a second term as Post Commander. Early in my life, I was taught the importance of “serving” others. The lessons I learned from my parents and at Sunday School and Church were reinforced by President Kennedy’s challenge to “ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country”. There was never any doubt in my mind, that, one day, I would serve in the military, and it was a privilege to do so. Similarly, it has been a privilege to serve as your Commander.
Incredibly, my first year as Commander is over. Thanks to the dedication, hard work, and sacrifices made by many of our members, we can look back, with satisfaction, for many wonderful accomplishments.
None of these achievements would have been possible without the active participation and involvement of so many of you. Some of you stepped forward to accept leadership positions in our Post, for which we are most grateful. Words alone cannot express my sincerest appreciation for your willingness to be “Givers” and being “Part of the Solution”.
With your continued support, we can look forward to another successful year in serving the needs of our members and all veterans.
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.
Thank you for your payment. Your transaction has been completed, and a receipt for your purchase has been emailed to you. You may log into your account at PayPal to view details of this transaction.
A slate of uncontested candidates ran for office this year. Fred Apgar will continue as Post Commander and Chris Edwards will continue as Senior Vice. New to office will be Jim Blossey as Jr. Vice Commander and Dennis Peterson as Quartermaster. Ron Clyborne is Judge Advocate and Rock Roth will continue as Chaplin. Tom Hallums will be our new Three Year Trustee. Al Boyett will continue as Surgeon. Commander Apgar has appointed Dick Simmons as Adjutant, Barry Fitzgerald Guard, Jim Collins Officer of the Day, and Don Whedon will continue as Service Officer. There are 22 separate Committees that have been assigned chairpersons to lead them. If you would like to become more involved with the Post’s activities, feel free to contact the Post QM at [email protected] or Commander Fred Apgar at [email protected] for more information about the various committee assignments that are available. I know our Operations committee which does the set up and take down each meeting can use help. All you have to do is show up a bit early (11:00AM) and stay a few minutes after the meeting.
On April 10, 2013, VFW Post # 8870 sponsored a public forum regarding the Fallen Heroes Project. The Founder and President of the Fallen Heroes Project, Michael Reagan, was the featured speaker. The event was hosted by Third Place Commons, located in Lake Forest Park. More than 100 people attended the event.
Mike, a portrait artist who lives and works in Edmonds is a combat veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps who served in the Vietnam War. He began drawing portraits of fallen service members when a grieving widow asked him to draw a portrait of her husband who had been killed in Iraq. Mike, of course, agreed to draw the portrait and did so free of charge. Since that first experience nine years ago, Mike and his wife, Cheryl, have dedicated their lives to drawing portraits for all American and Coalition families who have lost a loved one in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. To date, he has drawn over 3,200 portraits, all free of charge. He has brought untold comfort to grieving Gold Star family members. The Fallen He-roes Project was founded to help support what Mike refers to as his calling.
A highlight of the evening was when Mike unveiled, for the first time, a poster that contained the portraits he had recently drawn to honor the memory of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims. Following the Newtown tragedy, Mike reached out to the family members of the victims and provided each with a portrait of their loved one.
VFW Post #8870, of which Mike is a member, sponsored the forum to honor Mike in recognition of the great personal sacrifices he and his family have made to provide love, support, comfort, and peace to the families of our Fallen Heroes.
Interested citizens who would like to know more about the Fallen Heroes Project or who would like to make a donation to this wonderful effort can contact Michael at his web site, www.fallenheroesproject.org
When asked the significance of May 1, many Americans would probably respond by saying that it is May Day. Technically, they would be correct, but May 1 is so much more.
Historically, May Day is related to Celtic and Germanic festivals. Eventually, these pagan religious festivals evolved into secular celebrations that marked the end of another winter and welcomed the arrival of spring and warmer weather. Gradually May Day celebrations complete with May Pole dancing were occurring in many communities all across America.
The spirit of May Day took on an ominous meaning, for many Americans, when Communist Russia celebrated the day to honor the Russian Revolution. In an effort to counteract the Communist May Day celebrations in America, members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars sought to challenge what they considered to be the “disruptive forces of Communism”. They sought ways for Americans to demonstrate their loyalty to American ideals. At the urging of the VFW, many communities all across our great nation organized various activities to promote patriotism and Americanism. These were sponsored by schools, churches, labor unions, fraternal organizations, and all levels of government. A resolution was adopted in 1949, proclaiming May 1 as Loyalty Day, but it wouldn’t be until 1958 until the proclamation became law. In 1958, President Eisenhower signed Public Law 529 in which May 1st was proclaimed Loyalty Day in the United States.
Loyalty Day was established as a day for reaffirming our loyalty to the United States and the documents upon which our nation was founded and provides us with the opportunity to celebrate the many freedoms secured and preserved for us by the brave patriots who have served in our nation’s armed forces and risked their lives in the defense of freedom.
The VFW urges everyone to take time to reflect on the privileges of democracy and liberty that have been afforded us by the institutions of our nation.