VFW WI WebCOM Network

Thursday, July 10, 2008 at 08:56 AM

by Wisconsin VFW News

All Department of Wisconsin VFW Posts (and Auxiliaries) are eligible to compete in the statewide 50/50 Revenue Sharing Contest for 2008. To see the current standings by division, CLICK HERE

Reminder: All participating Posts must submit a report monthly to:

VFW STATE CONTEST
PO BOX 61
MARSHFIELD, WI 54449

Tickets and a Post Check for payment must accompany report. If your post had NO SALES in the month, you may submit an electronic report HERE

To print a Monthly Contest Report Form or Raffle Poster, Order more Tickets, or review participation rules, CLICK HERE.

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Monday, June 30, 2008 at 12:53 PM

by Wisconsin VFW News

Veterans of all ages, from the newest returning service members to older veterans of all eras are invited to stop by and learn about the benefits they have earned.  Veterans who may have never applied for benefits before are encouraged to attend, as well as those who may want to learn about any updated or changed veterans’ benefits and services.

The Supermarket of Veterans Benefits being held at the Milwaukee County Zoo will have over 35 providers including the federal VA, WDVA programs, Workforce Development Centers, Milwaukee County Offices, Veteran Services, Health and Human Services and Aging, numerous veterans service organizations, education centers, and more. The Supermarket is part of the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs “I Owe You” outreach campaign and the “Mission: Welcome Home” program. 

At this "one-stop shop" for benefits, veterans, military service and family members can:

Establish eligibility for state veterans benefits (veterans are advised to bring their DD Form 214) if they have one.
Apply for benefits, such as VA health care and prescription drug benefits, disability compensation and pension, personal loans, home mortgage loans, home improvement loans and education or job training grants.
Find out about employment information.
Receive assistance in obtaining military medals and records.
Learn what the Wisconsin Veterans Homes in Union Grove and King offer:  affordable assisted living, activities, and a friendly environment.
Pre-register for burial in state veterans cemeteries.
Obtain information about nursing care and aging services.
Learn about education benefits to include the Wisconsin GI Bill benefit of tuition remission for eligible veterans and dependents.

This Supermarket, being held in the Peck Welcome Center, with additional exhibitors in the U.S. Bank Gathering Place, is unique in that it is being held in conjunction with Operation Freedom, Milwaukee County’s 5^th annual event, a day to thank U.S. Armed Forces members and veterans for their service.  The day’s events and activities include a picnic starting at 11:00 a.m. for Operation Freedom (those with wristbands) attendees and a patriotic program featuring the United States Army Drill Team starting at 1:30 p.m. at the Miller Stage (watch for signage at the Zoo).  

The Milwaukee County Zoo located at 1001 W. Bluemound Road opens at 9:00 a.m. and closes at 6:00 p.m.  Participants may visit the zoo for a portion of or the entire day.  For more information about the Zoo visit www.milwaukeezoo.org.  For more information about Operation Freedom contact the Milwaukee County Veterans Service Office at (414) 382-1753.

For more information about the Supermarket of Veterans Benefits, go to the WDVA web site at www.WisVets.Com/Supermarkets, call 1-800-WIS-VETS (1-800-947-8387), or contact a local County Veterans Service Office. 

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Friday, June 6, 2008 at 06:55 AM

by Wisconsin VFW News

A Special Message From:

Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary John A. Scocos

 

The 64^th anniversary of Operation Overlord is June 6. Called “D-Day,” or “Day of Days,” the assault on Europe in 1944 took place on the shores of northern France, in what was to be the largest seaborne invasion in history to that time.

Over 850,000 American and British troops crossed the English Channel from southern England to the shores of Normandy. The objective to secure Normandy was accomplished through additional land and naval support of other Allied nations. This critical spearhead invasion is today recognized as the turning point towards the Allied victory in WWII.

The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs, through the Wisconsin Veterans Museum (WVM), preserves the materials and memories of all Wisconsin veterans, including those at D-Day.  The collections of the WVM are of immeasurable benefit to the veterans and grateful citizens of this state as we reflect on the sacrifices made in France 64 years ago.

The Wisconsin Veterans Oral History Project, administered by the WVM, currently holds over 1,200 recorded interviews with Wisconsin veterans, including more than a dozen with D-Day participants.  These oral histories provide the benefit of hearing the voices of these men and women as they reflect on their experiences.

A paratrooper in the 101^st Airborne, Orville Collins of Denmark, Wisconsin landed near Foucarville, France on June 6 and immediately found himself under German fire.  In his interview, Collins described his thoughts and feelings as he took part in this momentous event:

"You can hear mortars, machine guns, sporadic, all over.  But still you feel alone.  And I never was.  I suppose it is fear.  You got to admit there is fear there.  I never had such a dry throat in my life.  I often think of that poem, Gunga Din. “It was crawling, and it stunk, but all the drinks I drunk, I am most grateful for that one from Gunga Dun.” It was crawling and it stunk.  I know I had my canteen cleaned up in no time.”

Milwaukee native Martin Gutekunst, a member of the Navy’s 2^nd Beach Battalion, talked about landing in an LST (Landing Ship, Tank) and his reaction upon hitting Utah Beach:

"And I never gave it much thought as to what was going on.  Besides, I was sort of numb by the whole thing.  Because it was something we didn’t have any training in this sort of thing, with all these guns going off, the Navy guns and the other Navy firing, and the Germans had the bombs and they also had their 88 mm.  And those were something that really gave you a scare, because they had an odd whistle to them.”

Though a significant victory, the D-Day invasion was not without cost. Of the over 400,000 Americans who lost their lives during WWII, more than 2,400 died on June 6, 1944, and today, we reflect on the experiences of that historic day.

It was also in 1944 that the original GI Bill provided for the full cost of a higher education plus a living allowance for our Greatest Generation. While the original GI Bill was allowed to erode since World War II, Wisconsin has been among a handful of states that continued to provide veterans educational assistance through the Wisconsin GI Bill. A new federal bill – the Webb GI Bill – has been proposed to provide federal dollars for full educational benefits for veterans. More than 64 years after the year D-Day occurred, today’s newest Greatest Generation deserves nothing less than the same.

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Wednesday, May 28, 2008 at 05:05 PM

by Wisconsin VFW News

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Wednesday, May 28, 2008 at 02:52 PM

by Wisconsin VFW News

Berlin VFW - 4th Annual Poker Run

Berlin VFW comrade Monte Rhodes has rallied the members of the 4th annual Poker Run to donate all funds and items collected to the Berlin school’s “Heart and Home” project.

Heart and Home project director & Berlin school educator, Mrs. Neumeier, initiated the heart and home project in 2002 to support Berlin students of the military that were preparing for combat and those who later were in the combat zones of Iraq and Afghanistan.  Since the start of this project over two hundred packages have been sent to individual service men and woman.  All those who were in the military remember the importance of packages and information from home and how it made you feel.  This is the reason Mrs. Neumeier developed the program to involve students in gathering items, and writing essays for packages to be sent to those who risked their life each day.  Individual packages that are sent include many items, such as telephone cards, snack food, socks to wear in boots, DVD, Jerky, cookies made by students, the red & green school paper, but most important were letters written by students.  During the years that our Berlin men and women have been serving overseas the heart and home project has been doing great things in their every day life.

We are making an appeal to any family of service members, who might have been left out of the program to contact the VFW clubhouse at (920) 361 –1574.  The home and heart project has been operating by donations from friends and families, so it is very helpful to have the aid of the VFW organization.

The 4th annual VFW Poker Run
Saturday June 7th 2008

Any person wanting to contribute items for the Heart and home project can drop them off at the Berlin VFW during the event.  At the conclusion of the Poker run, about 6 pm, there will be a steak fry for which the public is welcome.

Come out and support the troops
through the Heart and Home Project

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Thursday, March 13, 2008 at 01:42 PM

by Wisconsin VFW News

The 2008 Bob Munro SERVICE TO VETERANS AWARDS will be given out at the Seventh District Spring Meeting on April 20, 2008. The Award Ceremony will take place during the combined luncheon preceding the business meetings.

The Bob Munro award was created last year as a way of honoring those individuals and/or businesses in the Seventh District that have gone above and beyond in service to Veterans, and also on behalf of our deployed troops and their families.

Last year there was one category only. This year, an additional category has been created so that there will be two top awards. The categories are: Service by a VFW or Auxiliary Member, and also Service by a Non-VFW or Auxiliary Member. The purpose of the dual categories is to encourage nomination of non-members throughout our communities who, even though they are not eligible to belong to either the VFW or our Auxiliaries, still puts out the effort to support our cause.

The award is named for the late Robert Munro, who served as Wisconsin State Commander ('93/'94). He was a proud son of the Seventh District and a true proponent of Veterans causes. He valued all who supported our mission.

The First Place Winner last year was Todd Boudreau of Wisconsin Rapids, and a member of Bob's Home Post (2534). Todd was recognized for his tireless efforts not only on behalf of his post and comrades, but also his work in conjunction with the organization 'Hearts Apart', through which collected and sent many items in Care Packages to local service people deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.

There were eight nominees in all. Each one received a personalized certificate of appreciation. Todd received a special certificate mounted on a special plaque with eagle.

Nominations were, and are, ranked by an independent committe from outside our district in order to keep the judging fair and impartial. Prior nomination does not disqualify any individual for renomination this year.

Submission of a nomination also does not require a vote of the post. The nominating process is directly open to any individual member in good standing of a District 7 Post. (Nominations submitted by non-District 7 members or anyone who's dues are not currently paid, will be disqualified automatically.)

Please indicate whether your nomination is for a Member or Non-Member. Individuals nominated need not live in District 7, but should have some tangible relationship with a community within the district.

The Official Munro Award Nomination Form for 2008 is available by clicking HERE, or by following the link on our District 7 Page, under Department Links. You may complete the application on line, but it must be printed and mailed. It must be received by April 12th in order to qualify for judging.

Submit your nomination today!

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Monday, February 25, 2008 at 10:46 PM

by Wisconsin VFW News

• Military Veterans motorcycle groups
• Law Enforcement, Firefighters and EMS motorcycle groups
• Civilian groups that support our Military and First Responders
• Friends and family members of Fallen Heroes who served in the Armed Forces or as First Responders

• Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Korean War Memorial, WW II Memorial and other sites
• Arlington National Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknowns
• National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial

• Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway
• Deal's Gap and the Tail of the Dragon
• National D-Day Memorial
• Mark Twain Home and Museum

• Saturday, June 14 - Leave Minnesota, travel through Wisconsin into Illinois ... Overnight in Wenona, IL  
• Sunday, June 15 - Travel through Illinois, Indiana and into Ohio ... Overnight in Columbus, OH  
• Monday, June 16 - Travel through Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland and into Virginia ... Overnight in Falls Church, VA  
• Tuesday, June 17 - Visit War Memorials and other sites in Washington, DC ... Overnight in Falls Church, VA  
• Wednesday, June 18 - Visit National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC and the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Emmitsburg, MD ... Overnight in Falls Church, VA  
• Thursday, June 19 - Visit Arlington National Cemetery (includes a special presentation) and the Tomb of the Unknowns ... Free concert in the evening by The Tribute Lady in Falls Church ... Overnight in Falls Church, VA  
• Friday, June 20 - Travel west through Virginia and then south on the Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway ... Overnight in Roanoke, VA  
• Saturday, June 21 - Visit National D-Day Memorial and travel into North Carolina on the Blue Ridge Parkway ... Overnight in Asheville, NC  
• Sunday, June 22 - Travel through North Carolina and into the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee ... Visit Deal's Gap and ride the Tail of the Dragon ... Overnight in Pigeon Forge, TN
• Monday, June 23 - Do Whatever You Want Day ... Organized event may be added later ... Overnight in Pigeon Forge, TN  
• Tuesday, June 24 - Travel through Tennessee ... Organized event may be added later in or near Nashville, TN ... Overnight in Clarksville, TN  
• Wednesday, June 25 - Travel through Tennessee, Kentucky and into Illinois ... Overnight in Alton, IL  
• Thursday, June 26 - Travel north along the Illinois side of the Mississippi River into Hannibal, Missouri ... Visit the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum ... Travel along the west side of the Mississippi River into Iowa ... Overnight in Cedar Rapids, IA  
• Friday, June 27 - Travel through Iowa and into Minnesota  

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