VFW NC Post 9281

VA News - Week of May 5, 2008

Thursday, May 8, 2008 at 12:37 PM

by post9281

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May 9 - Military Spouses Day Proclamation

Thursday, May 8, 2008 at 12:33 PM

by post9281

WASHINGTON, May 5, 2008 – Military spouses embody the courage, nobility of duty, and love of country that inspire every American. On Military Spouse Day, we pay tribute to the husbands and wives who support their spouses in America's Armed Forces during times of war and peace.

The legacy of military spouses began when colonial Americans were fighting for independence. Martha Washington boosted the morale of her husband's troops by visiting battlefields and tending to the wounded. Since then, members of our Armed Forces have served our Nation accompanied by the steadfast love and support of their spouses and families.

While our men and women in uniform are protecting our country's founding ideals of liberty, democracy, and justice, their spouses live with uncommon challenges, endure sleepless nights, and spend long periods raising children alone. Many military spouses are also committed volunteers, serving other military families and local communities. Our Nation benefits from the sacrifices of our military families, and we are inspired by their courage, strength, and leadership.

On Military Spouse Day and throughout the year, we honor the commitment spouses have made to freedom's cause. To learn about ways to support our troops and their spouses and families, I encourage all Americans to visit www.americasupportsyou.mil.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 9, 2008, as Military Spouse Day. I call upon the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities and by expressing their gratitude to the husbands and wives of those serving in the United States Armed Forces.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-second.

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The American Veteran - May Edition

Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at 08:44 AM

by post9281

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Post And Auxiliary Information

Sunday, May 4, 2008 at 12:55 PM

by post9281

*Bingo!! Every Saturday night- 5:00pm early bird, 7:30-10:30pm regular bingo. Upstairs smoking, downstairs non-smoking, Snackbar/kitchen downstairs. Everyone is invited to attend.
*Volunteers Are Desperately Needed!!  Please, PLEASE contact Commander Grant about helping with bingo. I know we have a lot of active members but only a handful are willing to volunteer and that's a shame. It's about 2 hours on a Saturday night and if enough of the men and women are willing to help it would be only one Sat. night out of each month, most  times only 5 times per person, per year. Anyone who can please, contact Ladies Auxiliary Vice President Dianne Ellis at 479-2568 or Commander Grant at 488-8982 so that a schedule of times and dates can be made up. You will never know how much your generosity means to the post and community. Please call and help.

**We wish everyone a safe and joyous 2008!!

Upcoming Meetings!!                                                                                                                                                                       * May 20th

*June 17th

*July 15th                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Our post meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month opening at 6:30pm with a pot-luck dinner followed by our regular meeting opening at 7:30pm. We encourage every member to attend and bring a veteran that might need assistance or is interested in joining our post.

 

Dec. ***: Congratulations to our Commander, Jesse Grant, for being appointed to a second term as Aide- de- Camp to VFW Commander - in - Chief George Lisicki. The appointment came on the recommendation of the North Carolina Department Commander for Grant's "outstanding service to Posts and/or Department above and beyond the call of duty."  A letter from National Adjutant General Allen (Gunner) Kent at VFW National Headquarters in Kansas City, MO. informed Commander Grant of the appointment. We should all be very proud of our Commander and offer him our support, help and congratulations. 

**At our April District meeting, held at our post, Commander Grant was sworn in as District Sr. Vice Commander. We owe so much to Commander Grant for all of the things that he does for our post home and for his Comrades and sisters in the VFW. Please, take time to tell him "thank you" and congratulations on his new office.   

"All VFW members and veterans are encouraged to participate in as many events as they can. "We honor the dead by helping the living".     Still Serving,  Jesse M. Grant, Commander

 

 

**A special thank you and congratulations to Comrade Jason Pummer for his appointment as Bingo Chairman. His selfless service should stand as an inspiration to us all.

**Thank you to all of the Ladie's Auxiliary members who help every weekend at Bingo.

**Thank you to all the volunteers who help at Bingo. Without them we wouldn't have the things we have, be able to do the things we do and we wouldn't be able to help those who need us. It seems most times we have volunteers who aren't even affiliated with the post.

**Thank you to Comrade Marvin Cable for our Quarterly Newsletter. He does everything but the printing and he makes sure that gets done and he gets them mailed out. We are fortunate and honored to have him with us and for taking on such a task. If you have any bits of news or information you'd like to have put in the newsletter or if you aren't getting the newsletter and would like too, just let Comrade Cable or Commander Grant know. 
 
**Take time or make time to visit our nursing homes and hospitals. It's a great feeling to just pop in and visit awhile. You may well be the only visitor to someone.
 
**Let's each keep VFW membership in mind and at hand. VFW is here for veterans and family's thereof. We make the un-obtainable, obtainable.

 
** If there is any item you would like to see here, remember it or write it down and get it to me, Sr. Vice Commander Vaughn and I'll see about getting it here. You're comments are most welcome.   
"Pro Deo, Pro Patri!"

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A Final Salute / VFW Magazine, February 2008

Thursday, May 1, 2008 at 03:53 PM

by post9281

IRAQ

Dec. 26, 2007 - March 17, 2008

*Deaths to Enemy Action*

ARMY

73 Deaths

 

MARINE CORPS

2 Deaths

 

NAVY

3 Deaths

 

AIR FORCE

0 Deaths

*Deaths to Accidents & Disease, etc.*

ARMY

10 Deaths

 

AIR FORCE

1 Death

 

NAVY

1 Death

 

MARINE CORPS

1 Death

 

AFGHANISTAN

Dec. 25, 2007 - March 14, 2008

*Deaths to Enemy Action*

ARMY

12 Deaths

 

MARINE CORPS

0 Deaths

 

*Deaths to Accidents & Diseases, etc.*

AIR FORCE

0 Deaths

 

ARMY

0 Deaths

 

NAVY

0 Deaths

 

MARINE CORPS

0 Deaths

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VFW NEWS AND VIEWS Comrade Marvin Cable, Editor /SPRING 2008

Thursday, May 1, 2008 at 01:15 PM

by post9281

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

Last year Post 9281 was awarded The National Outstanding Community Service Post Award. This prestigious award was presented to our post. It is a result of the activities that were reported to VFW headquarters.

When you participate in reportable activities and events, please notify Commander Grant of the amount of time and money you donate. Reportable items include, but not limited to the following:

Display of the U.S. Flag at your residence; The wearing of red on Fridays in rememberance of our comrades in harm's way; Purchace of flag stamps for mailings; Phone calls made to the sick and home bound; Visits to hospitals and nursing homes of both veterans and non-veterans; Transporting patients to hospitals and doctor visits; Singing in church choirs and teaching Sunday School; Participation in fund raisers and benefit functions for non-profit events; Volunteer for fire department, rescue squad, etc.; Aid provided to the needy; Speaking engagements.

Almost anything you do for others that is not for compensation is reportable as Community Service, Americanism, Cancer Aid, Safety, or Youth Activity. Keep your Commander informed so your actions count.  

Congratulations To Comrade Commander Jesse Grant

He has been re-appointed to another term as Aid-de Camp to VFW National Commander- In-Chief George Lisicki. National Adjutant General Allen Kent notified Commander Grant of this honor. The appointment is a result of Comrade Grant's outstanding service to Post 9281 and Department 34. Thank you Comrade Grant for your continuous work and dedication "Above and Beyond the Call of Duty".

 

Upcoming meetings of Post 9281. Mark your calender now.

April 15th is election of officers for 2008. May 20th is instillation of our new officers. Meetings begin at 1930 with a pre meeting, pot luck dinner at 1830. Every member is encouraged to attend. Your participation is important in order to "Honor The dead By Serving The Living". Your post home is located beside the Drivers Licence Examiners Office on Hwy. 19 North of Bryson City. Post phone number: 828-488-3547.

 

District 17 Meeting April 27

The district meeting is to be held in Bryson City at Post 9281. Lunch will be served at 1300 and the meeting will begin at 1400. This is a very important meeting as it is the election of district officers for 2008- 2009 term. All members are encouraged to attend. We also need help setting up the post home for the meeting and serving the luncheon. Please come out and lend your comrades a hand.

 

Will Post 9281 achieve "All American Post" status in 2008?

It can happen...! It's up to you. Yes, that's right, it's up to you. There is only one obsticle to overcome in reaching our goal this year. We must achieve 125% membership by June. If you haven't paid your dues this year, don't delay, send them in now! Do you know someone who is a war veteran? Do them a favor, and sign them up as a member. Remember, the post pays the first year dues for all new members. Spring is here. Before we know it we will be celebrating Independance Day. To achieve All American Post we must get our memberships in before June 31st.

 

Jackson County has new Veteran's Service Officer

Brenda J. DuBose is the new VSO for Jackson County following the retirement of Russ Bower. Mrs. DuBose served 20 years in the US Air Force performing numerous administrative duties during her career. She is a highly qualified VSO with 9 years previous experience as the VSO for Wayne County. She was awarded the 2006, American Legion Servicer of the year, in North Carolina. Brenda says she truly enjoys her job and loves helping veterans with their VA related issues. She is the wife of Jim DuBose. Jim is the Macon County VSO with 7 years experience. Brenda and Jim welcome all veterans to their offices, regardless of where you live. Their desire is to help all veterans.

 

Post 9281 Honor Guard provided graveside services for these recently fallen Comrades:

Harold J. Orr served with the 15th Air Force in Naples-Foggia, Rome. Comrade Orr was awarded two campaign medals and the Victory Medal. 

Carl Cline served 23 years in the US Army Artillery in Alaska and Hawaii. Master Sergeant Cline was Honor Guard Commander in Hawaii for many years.

 

Post 9281 Honor Guard

We are fortunate to have 17 members of Post 9281 volunteer their time for Honor Guard Details. They provide military funeral services to fallen comrades in our community. They also provide Color Guard and Honor Guard services for parades and other patriotic events.

 

North Carolina state law seals DD-214's

The North Carolina legislature passed a law restricting access to veterans DD-214's to the veteran himself. Anyone else desiring these records must have a properly noterized autherization to obtain them. Records older than 50 years are exempt. Veterans, or next of kin of deceased veterans, may now get these records directly from the US government. See the article below.

DD-214's now available online

The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) has provided the following website for veterans to gain access to their DD-214's online: http://vetrecs.archives.gov/ . This may be particularly helpful when a veteran needs a copy of his DD-214 for employment purposes. NPRC is working to make it easier for veterans with computers and internet access to obtain copies of documents from their military files. Military veterans and the next of kin of deceased former military members may now use a new online military personnel records system to request documents. Other individuals with a need for documents must still complete the Standard Form 180, which can be downloaded from the online web site. Because the requester will be asked to supply all information essential for NPRC to process the request, delays that normally occur when NPRC has to ask veterans for additional information will be minimized. The new web- based application was designed to provide better service on these requests by eliminatingthe records centers mailroom and processing time. Please pass this information on to former military personnel you may know and their dependants..or to those needing assistance in providing eligibility for membership in the VFW or it's Ladie's or Men's Auxiliaries.

 

 

 

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VFW Demands Passage of New GI Bill for 21st Century

Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 07:12 AM

by post9281

WASHINGTON, April 29, 2008 – The national commander of America's largest organization of combat veterans is demanding that Congress pass S. 22, the "Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act."

"A new GI Bill for the 21st century must be passed," said George Lisicki, who leads the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S., a veterans' service organization that includes more than 70,000 Afghanistan and Iraqi war veterans among its 1.7 million members.

"We have an all-volunteer force that has accomplished everything asked of them," said Lisicki. "We need to reward them for their service by helping them to reintegrate back into society with an educational package that meets today's cost of tuition. I join with the leadership of Congress and my fellow veterans' organizations to say that S. 22 is the right bill at the right time."

S. 22 was introduced by Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) to mirror the original World War II educational benefit. It would repeal the $1,200 enrollment fee, match tuition at the highest in-state rate, and provide for books and fees, and a living stipend. For those veterans accepted to private institutions, S. 22 would also provide a dollar-for-dollar tuition match for those colleges and universities who choose to participate in the program.

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