Tag Archive: VFW life member

In Memoriam: George H.W. Bush President, Navy Veteran, VFW Life Member

Author: December 17, 2018

In Memoriam: George H.W. Bush President, Navy Veteran, VFW Life MemberLike many wartime pilots, Lt. j.g. George H.W. Bush named his airplane after a girl back home. But he had to call it “Barbara III,” since he lost his first two planes — one during training and one to enemy fire. That’s how dangerous flying was in World War II. There were 16 pilots in George H.W. Bush’s squadron, according to retired Adm. Samuel Cox, director of Naval History and Heritage Command. “Half of them were killed or captured before the end of the war,” Cox said.

He flew the TBM “Avenger”, a carrier based torpedo/ bomber which had a three-man crew. His target on Sept. 2, 1944, was a Japanese radio transmitter on the island of Chichi Jima.

His plane was hit as he began his run into the target but he stayed with it until he dropped his bombs. Out over the water, Mr. Bush told his crew to bail out.

“The Japanese came out after him. Some fighters from the flight were able to strafe the Japanese boats and keep them away during the four hours that Bush was actually in the water,” Cox said. A U.S. submarine got to him before the Japanese could. A 20-year-old George H.W. Bush spent 30 days on that submarine thinking, as he later told the author James Bradley, “Later, I learned that neither Jack Delaney nor Ted White had survived. One went down with the plane; the other was seen jumping but his parachute failed to open.” Bush has been quoted as saying “I think about White and Delaney every day”

George H. W. Bush was one of eight VFW members who have become U.S. Preseidents.

Source: CBS NEWS December 4, 2018, 6:41 PM 

In Memoriam, News, Newsletter Articles

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Post Charter Draped for Warren Eddy

Author: November 5, 2014

At our November meeting, the Post charter was draped to honor the memory of Warren Eddy. Warren, who was a long standing member of Post #8870, served in the Army during WW II. Warren was raised in northern Minnesota and joined the Washington State National Guard unit upon moving to the Pacific Northwest in 1940. Soon after the unit was activated, Warren was selected to attend Officer Candidate School. After receiving his commission in 1942, he was assigned to a weapons battalion after which he boarded a ship headed for England. His battalion boarded LST’s on D-Day, and for the next three days, Warren and his men remained on the landing craft. Finally, on the morning of D-Day +4, they dry landed on Normandy Beach and headed inland.

While his unit’s mission was air defense, they were used primarily to provide ground support to the infantry. His battalion was assigned to the 29th Infantry Division. Shortly after arriving in France, Warren was ordered to reconnoiter a road to locate the enemy and assess its strength when the three soldiers were ambushed. For his action in returning his men to safety after being ambushed, Warren received a Bronze Star with a “V” device for Valor. Warren participated in combat operations as the Allied Forces chased the Germans back to Germany.

Upon his return home, Warren joined the Army Reserves and retired at the rank of Major. He and his wife, Sandra, were married for over 50 years, and they had two children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Warren, who died after a brief illness, was a Life Member of VFW.

News, Newsletter Articles

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Membership

Author: September 8, 2014

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.

News, Newsletter Articles

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Consider a Life Membership or a Legacy Membership if You are Already a Life Member

Author: September 1, 2011

You can become a VFW Life Member by making a one-time payment as shown below. You can also pay for your Life Membership through an installment plan, with an initial $35 payment and an mount billed over an 11-month period as shown in the table below.

Age One-Time
Payment		 Installment
Payment
18-30 $425 $38.64
31-40 $410 $37.27
41-50 $375 $34.09
51-60 $335 $30.45
61-70 $290 $26.36
71-80 $225 $20.45
81 and Older $170 $15.45

A Legacy Membership is open to Life Members. There are three levels, Gold, ($1,200), Silver ($800), and Bronze ($400). Unlike the Life Membership where the Post no longer is the recipient of an annual dues rebate when a member passes, the Post continues to receive a return of dues from National for Legacy members who pass thus leaving a lasting positive impact on the Post‘s financial well being. The Legacy Membership is tax deductible to the maximum extent allowed by law. Like the Life Memberships, an installment plan is available. This is a great way to continue giving to the Post and to VFW long after you and I are gone and have left the Post to the next generation of veterans.

News, Permanent Items

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