Operation Uplink Fundraiser Cruise
Saturday, August 16, 2008 at 08:34 PM
by dist3
OPERATION UPLINK
FUND RAISER CRUISE
Support Operation UpLink by setting sail in 2008 on a fantastic 6 day cruise to the beautiful beaches and crystal clear waters of Freeport and Nassau, Bahamas. You will be going to duty-free shops and white sand beaches of Nassau. You will enjoy on fun experience after another while funding an important VFW program, Operation UpLink. VFW Virginia 3rd District is committed to selling 40 rooms on the Carnival Victory, which with matching funds from the cruise line and additional from the travel agency, will raise $5000, all to go Operation UpLink. If more rooms are sold there will be more donations.
A minimum of 8 cabins must sell to receive amenities of $25 per cabin shipboard credit.
Rooms per person, including taxes and boarding fees, are: Interior $678; Oceanview $834; and Balcony $973. For further information, contact 3rd District Commander at cdrdist3@va.vfwwebmail.com or vipleisuretravel@cox.net.
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Virginia Third District Meeting
Friday, August 8, 2008 at 08:26 PM
by dist3
Third District Meeting will be August 9, 2008 at 1000 hours, District Headquarters.
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Commander-In-Chief Independence Day Message
Friday, July 4, 2008 at 08:04 AM
by dist3
As we celebrate the 232nd anniversary of our nation's independence, let us pause to remember the victories in battle and the blood that was shed to preserve our freedoms. Let us give thanks to our forefathers for their vision of liberty, life and the pursuit of happiness. Most importantly, let us pay tribute to our nation's greatest assets: our servicemen and servicewomen in uniform who so proudly serve our nation in peace and defend our freedoms in war. We salute you for your dedication to duty and service to country. Thank you from the 2.4 million members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and its Auxiliaries.
God bless America.
George Lisicki
VFW Commander-in-Chief
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VFW Demands Accountability Over Chantix Issue
Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 04:33 PM
by dist3
WASHINGTON (June 19, 2008) - "Enough is enough," said George J. Lisicki, the national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S., in response to today's Washington Times article that provides additional information about the potential lethal effect a prescribed drug is having on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder-diagnosed veterans who volunteered for a Department of Veterans Affairs smoking cessation program.
"Those in the VA who failed to properly serve America's veterans must resign their positions," said Lisicki, a Vietnam veteran from Carteret, N.J. "If not, then the VA secretary must take decisive action to terminate them."
The smoking cessation research program uses the drug Chantix, which Food and Drug Administration officials say helps people to stop smoking, but according to a Washington Times/ABC News investigative report on Tuesday, Chantix has also been linked to almost 40 suicides and more than 400 incidents of suicidal behavior. The drug's manufacturer and the FDA have recently cautioned healthcare providers about adverse side effects that could produce changes in behavior ranging from anxiety and depression to suicide.
All 940 veterans enrolled in the VA's smoking cessation program have PTSD. A test group of 143 of them were prescribed Chantix, which is also known as Varenicline.
Lisicki questions why VA clinicians who knew of Chantix's hazardous side effects would allow veterans suffering from PTSD to continue taking it, because "professional ethics and common sense just dictates that clinicians would stop their patients from taking the drug just to err on the side of safety for the veterans and their families," he said. As of May 21, the Federal Aviation Administration banned the use of Chantix by airline pilots and air traffic controllers.
The VFW national commander also questions the leadership ability of those who oversee these types of medical research programs, asks why it took the VA two more days before revealing additional details of those in the study; and wonders what other information has yet to be uncovered. Aside from Chantix, other drugs that are were reported to currently being used to treat veterans with PTSD are the anticonvulsant Divalproex, and the antidepressants Paroxetine, Mirtazapine and Citalopram, all of which carry warnings of potential suicidal side effects.
"The VA is known for quality healthcare that is delivered by highly trained and educated medical professionals and staff, but in recent weeks, the American public has read stories accusing the department of not properly taking care of veterans with mental health problems, to include veterans attempting suicide under VA care. These stories, to include the well-documented veterans' claims backlog, are having a negative cumulative effect on the overall image of the VA," said Lisicki.
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And the Race is on for 2010.....
Saturday, November 10, 2007 at 04:53 PM
by dist3
Department of Virginia endorsed - Dan Boyer- announces his candidacy for National Jr Vice Commander 2010.
Candidates from the Departments of Florida and Mississippi also announced their bids at the Southern Conference Convention held in Myrtle Beach, SC this past week.
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