News

Never Forget…

Al Boyett

Al Boyett We lost another of our brothers when Al Boyett, who had served as our Post Surgeon for a number of years, passed away recently. Al had been suffering from a long bout with cancer.

Boyett was born June 30, 1937 in Williamsburg Alabama and moved to Seattle in 1948. Married Jo Nazworthy December 6, 1963 to Jo Nazworthy he became father to Tahnya Boyett 1966. The family moved to Bothell 1973, where they have lived since.

Al was drafted into the Army and served in Korea. After the war, he joined BBoys Auto Parts from 1956 until he purchased the auto parts store which he owned from 1974 to 1981. He then worked for an auto parts warehouse, Mar- Lac Distributing until he retired after 2011.

B-Boys was a founding member of the Washington Automotive Industry Association, in a effort to bring support to the automotive industry and to provide health insurance to employees.

Al graduated in 1955 from Lincoln HS and later technical school for space and missile electronics. He became a pilot in 1970 and belonged to Bellevue Air club. Al was a Member of Northlake Lutheran Church since 1974 and a past member of the Bellevue Air club, Elks, and a Good Sam’s member serving the Tired & Retired chapter of Good Sam’s.

In Memoriam, News, Newsletter Articles

al boyett, In Memoriam

Veterans Day at Edmonds Woodway High School

On November 8, Edmonds Woodway H.S. held a Veterans Day observance, featuring veteran speakers and appropriate music from the school’s band, chorus and orchestra.

Veterans Day at Edmonds Woodway High School

Among the featured speakers was Post 8870’s own Charlie Gaul. Other attendees from our post included Commander Carl Kurfess and Past Commander Mike Denton.

Gaul is pictured speaking in the photo at left.

Edmonds Woodway High School, Veterans Day

Lynnwood Gold Star Memorial Dedicated

A monument dedicated to the families of fallen U.S. military members was unveiled Wednesday November 2 in Lynnwood’s newly redeveloped Veterans Memorial Park.

Hundreds gathered in the park – located at 44th Avenue West and 194th Street Southwest – to witness the unveiling of the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument. During the ceremony, Lynnwood Mayor Christine Frizzell thanked the Gold Star Mothers in attendance and assured them they were not alone in their grief.

To fund the project, the Washington State American Gold Star Mothers partnered with the Hershel Woody Williams Medal of Honor Foundation, which is dedicated to honoring and paying tribute to families who have sacrificed a loved one in service of their country.

Williams was a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient from WWII who had plans to see a monument dedicated to Gold Star Families in all 50 states. Though Williams died in June of this year, his work will continue through his foundation, said speaker and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Michael Reagan.

Lynnwood’s monument is unique compared to others. In addition to honoring those who were POW/MIA, it is the first monument to recognize Indigenous veterans and those who died by suicide, said keynote speaker retired Lieutenant General Mark Wise.

Surrounding the monument are 22 stone seats in honor of service members who died by suicide after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Under the monument, sand from Iwo Jima, Japan; water from Belleau Wood, France and three military challenge coins were buried in its foundation.

The monument is the 200th to be installed in the country and the third to come to Washington state. During the ceremony, Deputy Director of Washington State Department of Affairs David Puente, Jr. read a letter from Gov. Jay Inslee, who praised the Gold Star Mothers for their tireless work to bring the monument to Lynnwood.

Photos and article excepts courtesy of MyEdmondsNew.com

Lynnwood Gold Star Memorial Dedicated

VFW District 1 Youth/Teacher Awards

On Jan 7 we held the District 1 2022-2023 Youth Essay and Teacher of the Year Awards. We would like to congratulate all of this year’s winners at the District level and wish them luck at the Department level in the coming weeks!

Voice of Democracy – Steven Locke
Patriots Pen – Brendan Stinson
Youth Essays – Eloise Liao

We would also like to recognize this year’s Teachers of the year!
High school – Heather Hunsberger submitted by Arlington post 1561
Middle School – Michelle Bannon submitted by Sultan post 2554
Elementary school – Kevin Mandoske submitted by Monroe post 7511

District 1 Youth Teacher Awards, patriots pen, voice of democracy, youth essay, Youth Essays

VFW National Membership Drive

Our National headquarters recently announce the 30 Departments who have achieved 92% or more in membership by January 1, which includes the Department of Washington! Edmonds VFW Post 8870 is part of this achievement and we urge all of our members to reach out to local eligible veterans and bring them into the fold. We can only do the work on behalf of our nations war fighters if we keep our membership strong.

VFW National Membership Drive

From the Commander’s Desk

A belated Happy Veterans Day to you all and I hope that everyone had a great one. I’d also like to wish all Marines a Happy Birthday and hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving! Our General Fund is running low. Donations will be accepted by our Quartermaster. Thanks to all those that volunteered to hand out Buddy Poppies during our Veterans Day drive, & contributing to its success. Thanks, as well to Sr. Vice Commander Duane Bowman for organizing it. Our annual Toy drive at Teri’s Toybox in downtown Edmonds runs from Nov. 15-Dec. 15. Drop by and purchase a toy or two for our collection box.

Report your volunteer activities by phone, email, or text to our surgeon ([email protected].) Please submit before our meetings, to cut down on our meeting time and report by the end of each month so we can report to Department in a timely manner.

There will be no Post meeting in December. Instead, VFW Post 8870 & American Legion Post 66 will be having our annual Christmas Potluck party on Saturday, December 17. (See this article of this newsletter for details.) There will be an auction with great items to bid upon, so bring money! Also please bring canned food and an unwrapped toy. Earlier that morning, there will be a Wreaths across America event at Evergreen Washelli Cemetery from 0900-1100.

Have a Merry Christmas!

Commander, News, Newsletter Articles

commander

November Post Meeting

Heather Peterson, volunteer coordinator for Continuum Hospice. spoke to our November Post meeting about their program. She is looking for Veteran volunteers to meet with Veteran Hospice members so they can talk Veteran to Veteran. No set schedule, volunteer as much or as little as you like. https://continuumwa.com/

When you have a chronic illness, you may find yourself feeling overwhelmed as your disease progresses. Continuum Palliative Resources provides home-based palliative care, you will be assigned a Nurse Practitioner to provide home visits to enhance your daily lifestyle through education, medication management and necessary medical tools to support your management of your advanced disease.

Highlights of Business Meeting

One new member, Eric Baum was accepted & one transfer, Jim Armstrong from Post 1040. (We will introduce these member in detail when they have attended their first meetting)
Minutes from the October Meeting were read & approved with no changes.
Quartermaster’s report was reviewed. The following expenditures were approved by the membership. $29.68 for pre-meeting meals, $39.17 for soft drinks.
Community Service Reporting. According to Don Wischmann (District 1 Quartermaster) the reporting is going well. He suggested that we work on combining repeating activities into one report. (As an example, if you you spent 3 hours per day for 3 days during the month you should submit one (1) report for the month showing the total hours.)
Relief Fund was reviewed and is in good shape to meet budgeted commitments.
Service Officer Report. Alden has received several requests for assistance & has been busy directing folks to the help that they need.
We received 3 essays (youth/patriots pen) that will be reviewed and forwarded on to District.
Don Wischmann the District 1 quartermaster did an audit of our post financials found everything in order
The Post Charter was draped for Dick Simmons & Norm Goldstein.

business meeting, Continuum Hospice, Heather Peterson, post meeting

Post Christmas Party

Saturday, Dec. 17, 1-5pm

The annual Christmas pot-luck event will be held at the American Legion Hall in Edmonds at 117 6th Ave S. in downtown Edmonds. The American Legion and VFW Posts will supply turkey, ham, Stuffing, soft drinks, and coffee/tea. Families attending are asked to bring a dish that will be shared with others. We need side dishes, salads, rolls/bread, and desserts. There will be an auction/fundraiser, and a recognition ceremony. Please sign up on the Sign – up genius on line via this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c094caaab2da5f5ce9-vfwlegion

Post Christmas Party

Never Forget…

It has been a difficult year in which we have experienced the loss of a number of our comrades. This is the latest group departing our ranks. May they all rest in peace and never be forgotten.

Norm Goldstein was one of our few remaining WWII veterans, serving in the Navy as a Torpedoman, mostly in shore stations, servicing torpedos for Aircraft. Following his WWII service, Norm graduated from the UW with a teaching certificate in 1950. He taught at Ballard High School, Mountlake Terrace High School and as Dean of Students, Athletic Director, and Varsity Basketball coach at Edmonds Community College. He would have celebrated his 100th birthday on January 6, 2023.

Gil Loomis was a VFW Life Member at large before joining our post. Corporal Loomis served in the Army Infantry from 1947 until 1952. He was in Korea for Occupation duty beginning in 1948. When war broke out in 1950, Gil was with I Company, 31st Infantry, 7th Infantry Division. He was shot in the hand and forearm, suffered frostbite and was eventually evacuated from the battlefield. Awards include Purple Heart w/ 1st Oak Leaf Cluster, Korean Service Medal w/ 3 bronze service stars and the Good Conduct Medal. He also led the Lynnwood Chapter of Disabled American Veterans.

John Shelton enlisted in the Marine Corps and was sent to Vietnam in 1959 where he served as a sniper. He was severely wounded in Vietnam and has been confined to wheelchair ever since. He went to UCLA and four years later emerged with a baccalaureate degree in psychology going on to earn a masters degree and ultimately a PhD in behavioral psychology. Dr. Shelton had a long and successful practice ministering to thousands of patients. John and his wife had just recently moved to Spokane, Caroline’s home town, after many years in Edmonds. As our long time Post Guard, we will miss John’s presence at the front desk signing us into meetings, collecting meal money and selling raffle tickets.

Dick Simmons served as an officer in the Navy on supply ships, including the AE class, which resupplied the carrier task forces with bombs and other munitions. Later in the Vietnam years, he served on an LST, (Landing ship tank) delivering such munitions. After the Navy, he followed a career in journalism, working as a reporter and editor for the Seattle P.I. Dick was our Post adjutant for several years and was a frequent member of our color guard at parades and other events. Recently, he was living in a memory care facility in edmonds prior to his recent passing.

In Memoriam, News, Newsletter Articles

dick simmons, Gil Loomis, John Shelton, Norm Goldstein

Veterans Day Poppies – 2022

On Friday and Saturday, Nov. 4 & 5, we held our semi-annual poppy distributions and raised money for our Veterans Relief Fund at three area grocery stores – QFC Westgate in Edmonds, QFC Speedway in Mukilteo and Town & Country market in Mill Creek. Given the weather conditions, including power outages experienced that week, as well as a rather light turnout of participating members we did remarkably well, bringing in a total of $14,000 over the two days (after all all adjustments).

In past years, we have staffed as many as five stores, but it has become more difficult to staff even the three locations. We have lost a number of our regular participants over the past couple of years, some of whom have moved away and others who are no longer physically able to be with us, or who have passed on. We are very much in need of new members and participation from our more inactive members in this and the Memorial Day event. 20 Post members participating, out of a total of around 200 on the roster? Surely more of us can give up a couple of hours twice a year to help out.

The participants were:

Duane Bowman
Calvin Barnard
Carl Kurfess
Dan Doyle
Charlie Gaul

Pete Farmer
Les Abel
Nia Parvini
Vivian Olsen
Tom Hallums

Michael Reagan
Rose Gilliland
Alden Gilliland
Don Stapleton
Bryan Rowe

Charlie Smith
Mike Denton
Linda Denton
Dan Mullene
Steve Brown

Jim Murdock
Jim Traner
Holy Rosary Girl Scouts

Chaplain Doyle recruited a group of Girl Scouts from Holy Rosary church in Edmonds, which included his granddaughter. A creative way to draw attention to our cause. Many thanks to non-member participants, Edmonds City Councilor and USAF Veteran Vivian Olson, and Linda Denton, wife of past Commander Mike Denton, as well as American Legion Post 66 Adjutant Dan Mullene.

Photos from left: Presenting our certificates of appreciation to the store managers: Tom Hallems and Les Abel at QFC Westgate, Duane Bowman at Town & Country Market, Jim Traner at QFC Speedway. Next are photos with Dan Doyle and granddaughter and lastly, Past Commander Rose Gilliland with gift of roses presented by a family at QFC Speedway! (A new experience!)

Veterans Day Poppies

Veterans Day at the Plaza

More than 75 veterans, their families and community members filled Edmonds Veterans Plaza Friday morning to honor and give thanks to those who have served in the military and to the military families who support them and sacrifice with them.

After welcoming remarks from Carl Kurfess, Commander of VFW Post 8870 and the invocation by Post Chaplain Dan Doyle, Edmonds Mayor Mike Nelson delivered introductory remarks.

“You carry the weight many cannot bear,” he began, addressing veterans and their families. “It is a constant reminder that what we have today came with a price that includes not only serving in far-flung locations, often in harm’s way, but the days and nights away from family, missing holidays, children’s’ birthdays and more.”

Concluding with a quotation from Gen. Douglas MacArthur on the meaning of the words duty, honor and country, Nelson stressed that these are not just words that are said, but for veterans it is the words they live.

Keynote speaker Michael Reagan, founder of the Fallen Heroes Project, then spoke of the things that tie veterans together.

“All veterans have one thing in common,” he began, “– memories. Each of us who have served walks a different path. Some were wonderful, allowing us to experience different cultures and people. Others were not pretty or nice, and some of these left scars we don’t like to talk about.

“If you’re not telling your stories and you need to, call me,” he concluded. “I don’t celebrate Veterans Day one day a year — it’s every day for me. When someone dies for me, it’s the greatest gift anyone can give me.”

The second keynote speaker was Mike Schindler, founder and CEO of Operation Military Family.

“I had a prepared speech today, but I’m not going to give it,” he began. “Instead, I want to tell you about a message I received this morning from my daughter, telling me how proud she is of me and my service to our country. It really choked me up. For me, this was a great reminder that because of all who have served and the sacrifices they have made, my daughter is today able to live her passion and pursue a career in medicine.

“I served not for political reasons,” he concluded, “but because I love this country. I don’t believe God put us here to be small — we are here for a reason. Now go out there and do something amazing!”

Photos & portions of the article courtesy Larry Vogel, MyEdmondsNews.com