VFW NC Post 6088 - Washington

Taking Pride in the Nation

Posted at 02:16 PM on Friday, July 3, 2009 by post6088

by Glen Gardner, VFW National Commander

Patriotism is in the air especially this time of year, and we should embrace all it stands for. Those who guarantee our freedoms must not be forgotten.

June and July contain two very important holidays—Flag Day and Independence Day. Both symbolize what it means to be an American. As veterans, these special days may have added meaning. Actually fighting for the values the flag represents and the liberty we celebrate on July 4th has a way of leaving lifelong impressions.

While the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have largely receded from the collective public mind, military families and those of us concerned for their welfare still pay close attention. Proudly flying the flag, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, singing along with the national anthem and revering the Founding Fathers are traditions worth maintaining, particularly to this segment of the population.

Other than voting, a USA Today/Gallup Poll last year found that 87% of Americans see serving in the military as the most patriotic act. Obviously, to these Americans, patriotism is not an abstract virtue. It means demonstrating it in a tangible way. Patriotism without sacrifice is hollow, no matter how one defines it.

At the core of this creed is a cause greater than self-interest, something bigger than one's self. Today, only a tiny minority of Americans bear the burden of defending the frontlines against enemies who would destroy everything the nation represents. And GIs have paid a steep price in loss of life, physical and psychological wounds, disrupted family lives and postponement of personal aspirations.

As VFW members, we owe it to them to not allow their immense sacrifices to be forgotten in the rush of backyard barbecues and fireworks displays. Respecting the symbols of our country is essential. But remembering those who have preserved the values they represent is equally, if not more, important.

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VA News - Week of June 29, 2009

Posted at 02:10 PM on Friday, July 3, 2009 by post6088

VFW Washington Weekly - June 29, 2009

Posted at 09:26 AM on Tuesday, June 30, 2009 by post6088

In This Issue:

1. GI Bill Hearing

2. GI Bill Transferability Rules

3. House Passes Defense Bill

4. Congress on Recess

 

1. GI Bill Hearing: The House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity held another hearing on VA's implementation plans for the Post 9/11 GI Bill. The GI bill benefit is scheduled to be fully implemented on Aug. 1, 2009. The application process to determine eligibility opened on May 1. VA has reported over 100,000 applications filed for the education benefit.  Keith Wilson, Director of VA's Education Services, testified that VA has a two-part IT strategy that relies on short- and long-term goals for processing the claims. He updated committee members on VA's partnership with the Navy's SPAWAR Systems Center, which is contracted to design, develop, and deploy an end-to-end solution that utilizes rules-based, industry-standard technologies. VA is currently working with SPAWAR on the long-term IT solution, and expects the program to be completed no later than December 2010. For more on the hearing, visit the House VA website at: http://veterans.house.gov/.

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The Promised Land

Posted at 10:47 AM on Sunday, June 28, 2009 by post6088

The Ormond Amphitheatre in Bath,NC presented it production of "THE PROMISED LAND" on June 26th & 27th,which is a play that is based on the true story of a NC family who fought in the Battle of Guilford Courthouse during the Revolutionary War and who's descendants moved to Missouri and joined the early founders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.The theme of peace and freedom from Patriot to Pioneer rings clear in the original music and touching portrayals.This program is a family-oriented drama which is free to the public and shows every year in June,if you missed it this year you should really plan on seeing it in 2010. 

Before the regular program the staff of THE PROMISED LAND honored the branches of the military services by posting their flags and playing the military music for each branch as the flag was posted.VFW Post 6088 of Washington,NC provided the flag carriers for both nights.The people who came to see the production gave the Vets a warm welcome as they marched out with their flag.

                  Once Again GOD BLESS AMERICAN for our VETS & PATRIOTS 

                                                                                                                               

VFW National Commander Visits Iraq

Posted at 11:40 AM on Thursday, June 25, 2009 by post6088

WASHINGTON, June 25, 2009 — The national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. returned home after spending almost four days visiting American troops stationed in Iraq. His overall assessment: "This war is nearing its end, which has our troops pumped with anticipation and the Iraqi people increasingly hopeful for their future."

Glen M. Gardner Jr., a Vietnam veteran from Round Rock, Texas, entered Iraq on Sunday with the leaders of four other veterans' service organizations for a first-hand view of the progress that has occurred in Iraq. He is the fourth consecutive VFW national commander to visit Iraq.

"Iraq is a different country today because of the tremendous effort of our military to make the surge work," he said. "The assessment that everything is on target for the upcoming handover of the cities was made by everyone I met, from Multi-National Force-Iraq Commanding Gen. Raymond T. Odierno to his officers and enlisted soldiers, all of whom have served multiple tours in-country."

Gardner's trip comes a full year after the conclusion of a three-prong surge strategy that focused on security, the economy and political reconciliation. He said the changes on the ground were most noticeable in the eyes of six amputee veterans who returned to Iraq for the first time since being wounded. Their trip was sponsored by the Troops First Foundation, which has a program that allows wounded troops to return to where they were stationed to help close the loop on their wartime service. Gardner called the program "a great initiative, because departing a warzone strapped to a stretcher is not the last memory anyone should have to carry for a lifetime."

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Pens

Posted at 10:40 PM on Friday, June 19, 2009 by post6088

Louis Martin Jr. Shop Instructor at North Side High School and three students Martin Wynn,James Taylor,and Alex Garrett presents box of wooden pens to Comrade Amici of VFW Post 6088 that was made in the North Side Shop by the students to be sent to the National Guard unit from Williamston,NC( C0. A,252 Cav.) station in Iraq.

Scam Artist Hits VFW Posts

Posted at 07:08 AM on Thursday, June 18, 2009 by post6088

A con artist has been preying on the generosity of sympathetic veterans and has managed to bilk numerous VFW Posts around the country out of as much as $400 each by posing as either a veteran who has "filled out an application" to join a specific Post or as a current VFW member.

The scammer has used a couple of different approaches when he calls a Post asking for a specific Post Officer by name for financial assistance, usually alleging to be experiencing some sort of car trouble and has even gone as far as to claim to be the parent of an Iraq veteran on his "way to the funeral for his son killed in Iraq." He has also used a bogus story about how he recently visited a Post while introducing his son, "just back from Iraq" to various Post members. The swindler apparently goes on-line beforehand and obtains information about the Post in order to include details about the Post to help lend credibility to his story.

According to information received by VFW national headquarters, VFW Posts in AL, OK, WV, TX, KS and MO have responded by wiring money to the man who promises to repay the cash as soon as he returns home. So far, the sum being requested is in the $200- $500 range. Western Union doesn't require identification for sums under $1000.

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