Never Out of Style
 Styles, fads and such come and go. Some are fun and some not so much. One thing that is always in vogue and has been since forever is saying “thank you”. That’s what the Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post 8904 here in Center did this past Tuesday. They planned and hosted a thank you dinner for the citizens of Shelby County who have participated and helped with the various programs we did this past year. In addition to dinner the honorees in attendance were given a certificate of appreciation.
Without their help our programs would have been lacking in some respect. Our military honors funerals would not be the same without the rifle team from the Shelby County Sheriff’s department. Joaquin Mayor Mike Wood adds a touch of class to these funerals and other programs with the playing of “Amazing Grace” on the bag pipes. The singing of the National Anthem and other patriotic songs by Charles and Judy Delaney really adds to any program. Chris Watlington, Dr. Danny Paul and Sally Windham, Victoria Ford and Auxiliary member Sharon Windham are others who have added their musical talents at one time or another. The Puckett and Long boys, Austin Nelams, Austin Ford, Jade and Mattie Yates and Kris Risinger (his Dad Paul too) are kids and grandkids of members who are always ready to help. Lynn Silvey who teaches English Arts at Joaquin High School is the number one supporter of our Voice of Democracy program and has been responsible for 126 entries in the last six years. No one in Shelby County would know when something is going on without Shelby County Today, the Light and Champion, Payne’s Community News and KDET Radio news. They are all very gracious in helping us spread the word.
This subject always takes me back many, many years to when I was a kid growing up in California, Missouri. There was a man named Wally Morris who made an impression on me at a very early age. Wally ran a tavern (beer-joint) in California and I went there lots of times with my Dad or uncles or by myself to shoot a game of 8-ball. In those days kids walked all over town and went where they wanted without the fears we have today. One thing I always noticed about Wally was he would greet everyone that walked in, even kids. He would always say to me “hello son, how you doing?” When you left he would never fail to say “come back” as you headed toward the door. Wally still owned the place when I became of age and his modus operandi never changed. His joint is no longer in operation and Wally passed many years ago but I can still hear him saying “hello son - come back”. I really wish I could go back one more time.
So to the Ladies Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8904, Center, Texas thank you for putting on the appreciation dinner and thank you for all you do for the post. How about you? Thank someone today – remember it’s never out of style.
Military Honors Funerals
This past week VFW Post 8904 Honor Guard rendered final military honors for US Army Veterans Cecil Robinson and Jerry Dickinson. Comrade Robinson was buried at Cold Springs Cemetery in Garrison and Comrade Dickinson at Oak Lawn Memorial Park in Center. We would like to thank the families for asking. It is always an honor. Thanks also to the Shelby County Sheriff’s deputies for rendering rifle honors and Dr. Kirby Hill of Carthage for the playing of Taps. Dr. Hill is a member of the “Bugles Across America” organization that I talked about last week.
Veteran Discounts
I have been asked a number of times how a veteran would go about obtaining a card or document they could carry that would show proof they served their country. A number of businesses such as Lowe’s give discounts to veterans. Now there is an easy way to do this in the state of Texas. The Department of Public Safety now includes the designation “VETERAN” on the face of any class or type of Texas driver license issued to a veteran in compliance with Section 521.1235 of the Texas Transportation Code. You must of course show proof with a DD Form 214 or DD-215 (corrected copy of the 214) showing you received an honorable discharge. For more information go to http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/DriverLicense/vetServices.htm
New VFW Tagline
The VFW recently unveiled a new tagline “No One Does More for Veterans” and you will begin to see this new branding on ads, websites, stationary, envelopes, etc. I personally like it and think that it states a true fact. If there is another organization that does more I would like to know about it. It is also the single reason every eligible should belong. This new tagline is not to be confused with our motto “Honoring the Dead by Helping the Living” which remains unchanged.
Play Lottery Scratch-Offs?
It has become a ritual for my wife Theresa and I to buy two lottery scratch-off tickets each Saturday as we make our rounds to the grocery store, bank and post office. We don’t buy just any ticket, we always buy “Veterans Cash”. We do this as it is one of the primary sources of funding for the Fund for the Veteran’s Assistance program that provides grants to organizations that help veterans through the Texas Veteran’s Commission. Just a couple of weeks ago Theresa had a ticket that had about five winning combinations and it took us awhile to figure out how much it was worth. Ended up being $50.00. We don’t expect to get rich but it’s a fun way to help a great cause.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Stands up for all Veterans
 “VFW Spring Legislative Conference”
In the past few articles I have been talking about the importance of veterans belonging to a veteran’s organization and standing together to protect benefits and rights. This was never more apparent than last week when the VFW held their Spring Legislative Conference in Washington D.C.. Here are some of the things that went on.
VFW National Commander Testifies
VFW National Commander-in-Chief Richard DeNoyer testified Wednesday, March 7th before a joint hearing of the House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees to urge Congress to protect the VA budget should mandatory sequestration occur, and to stop negative Defense Department proposals that would make military dependents and retirees pay exponentially more for their Tricare health programs. His testimony was the final event of the VFW's spring legislative conference that saw hundreds of VFW leaders from every department visiting with their congressional representatives to urge their support of VFW's priority goals.
VFW National Commander Meets with the President
VFW National Commander-in-Chief DeNoyer met with President Obama on Thursday, March 8th to discuss issues important to veterans, service members and their families. Topping the agenda was protecting the VA budget and voicing VFW opposition to DOD plans to increase Tricare fees and to civilianize the retirement system. The president has been consistent in word and action on protecting and increasing the VA budget, and he pledged to continue to do so even in these tough budget times. "We gratefully appreciate that commitment." said the Chief. The president also fully agreed that there is no mission more sacred than to recover our fallen from the battlefield and return them home to their families.
VFW Storms the Hill
As part of the spring legislative conference, hundreds of VFW members stormed Capitol Hill this week to urge their legislators to fund veterans' health care, enhance military transition issues, improve employment, education and job creation for veterans, and to protect military healthcare and retirement benefits.
VFW Testifies at VA Committee Hearings
On Thursday, March 8th the VFW testified at two House VA subcommittee hearings on an array employment and reemployment bills, and on a recent internal audit of the VA's National Cemetery Administration. The Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity took up bills to overhaul how veterans' workforce development programs should be implemented, to protect veterans from workplace discrimination and retribution, and to improve consumer education for student-veterans who use their GI Bill benefits. VFW Deputy Legislative Director Ryan Gallucci expressed support for most of the subcommittee's efforts, highlighting the need to ensure service-disabled veterans could not be discriminated against in the workplace for seeking treatment for their service-connected conditions and improving VA's educational counseling and complaint tracking for student-veterans using the G.I. Bill.
Do you think the Veterans of Foreign Wars would have been allowed to participate and sit face to face with the President without a strong support base? I think not. We are strong but not as strong as we should be. I ask all Shelby County Veterans to do your part and join an organization you are eligible for. You don’t have to participate but your single membership can make all the difference in the world. Call me at 598-2976.
You can read more about what went on last week in Washington by going to: http://vfw.org/
Serving our Community
“Bugles Across America”
 This past Sunday, March 4th, VFW Post 8904 Honor Guard rendered final military honors for WW II Veteran Charles Metcalf at Holly Springs Cemetery. It was a beautiful sunny day and we thank Comrade Metcalf’s family for asking. We would like to also thank Joaquin Mayor Mike Wood for the playing of “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputies for rendering rifle honors. Bugler David Treadaway who lives in Broaddus and is a member of “Bugles Across America” also joined us for the playing of TAPs and did a great job.
Bugles Across America was founded in 2000 by Tom Day with the thought that every veteran should be honored with a live rendition of TAPs. Last year their 7,500 volunteers across this great nation played TAPs thousands of times at veteran’s funerals. Many have full time jobs as David does with Stephen F. Austin State University’s Piney Woods Conservation Center located just outside Broaddus. David is an amateur musician and plays trumpet in the Lufkin Community Band, local church orchestras and graveside TAPs at the Dallas – Fort Worth National Cemetery. He told me that he spent this past Monday at the DFW National Cemetery and played at eleven (11) services.
David has volunteered to assist our honor guard anytime he can and has committed to playing TAPs at our Memorial Day service on May 28th. Thanks to David and the other volunteers who help honor our departed comrades, we the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and the Ladies Auxiliary are true to our motto “Honoring the Dead by Helping the Living”. When the time comes and you have a loved one who has served his or her county and would like a military graveside service just tell your funeral director and we will make it happen.
USS Stormes DD 780
Looking for crewmen who served aboard the USS Stormes, DD780 in 1966 while deployed in Vietnam. This is in regard to Agent Orange claims and trying to get the Stormes on the list to qualify for Agent Orange Veterans benefits. Anyone who has an Agent Orange-related illness, who has or has not filed a claim, or knows of any deceased shipmates who died from an Agent Orange-related illness, please contact: KenMoffett@mail.house.gov or send mail to:
Ken Moffett
3000 41st Street, Suite 2
Moline, Il 61265 or contact:
Ron Tady 309-755-8523
601 30th Ave.
East Moline, Il. 61244 or e-mail to:
Ronjmarj@aol.com
(Vietnam Veterans of American Web Weekly, March 6, 2012)
JOIN THE FIGHT
Many of you fought for your country. Would you fight for your family if under attack – absolutely, no doubt. So why do so many of us do so little when our family of active military and veterans is under attack each and every day. The DOD budget released a couple of weeks ago recommends tiny increases in military pay and huge increases in Tricare and Tricare for Life. Remember less than 1% of the United State population has done the fighting in the war on terror and there is real disinterest by the general public so we cannot rely on anyone but ourselves to carry the fight to Washington.
Read the February 23, 2012 VFW news release below and then go to http://capwiz.com/vfw/issues/alert/?alertid=61030611. All of us are not blessed with putting our thoughts into words so the VFW has made it easy. Just fill in your name and contact information and your concerns that are preprinted will be sent to your US Senators and US House of Representative. It takes about 5 minutes to ask them to vote against any proposal that puts budget before the troops and their families.
VFW Says Pay & Benefits Changes Will End All-Volunteer Military
(VFW Press Release, February 23, 2012) WASHINGTON—The national commander of America’s largest and oldest major combat veterans’ organization is urging the entire military and veterans’ community to “Join the Fight” to stop the Defense Department from penny-pinching service members to the point of dismantling the all-volunteer force.
“There is no military personnel issue more sacrosanct than pay and benefits,” said Richard L. DeNoyer, who leads the 2 million-member Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. and its Auxiliaries. “Any proposal that negatively impacts any Quality of Life program must be defeated, and that’s why the VFW is asking everyone to join the fight and send a united voice to Congress.”
The DOD budget unveiled February 13 recommends 1.7 percent military pay raises for 2013 and 2014, followed by a scant 0.5 percent increase in 2015, and 1 percent in 2016. Also announced were plans to almost quadruple Tricare Prime enrollment fees for some working age military retirees, impose Tricare for Life enrollment fees on those older than 65, and introduce enrollment fees and increased deductibles on Tricare Standard and Extra users. Included in DOD’s healthcare revenue plan are increased pharmaceutical copayments for retirees as well as military dependents.
DOD also recommends reducing the size of the active force by more than 100,000 troops over the next five years—mostly soldiers and Marines—through attrition, a reduction in force, mandatory retirements and high year of tenure separations, among others. In addition, DOD gave the White House the go-ahead to create a commission to examine overhauling the current military retirement system in a manner that would benefit the government more through savings than reward someone who first has to volunteer 20 or more years of their youth just to qualify.
Ideas already floated include older programs such as High-3 Pay and the reduced retirement plan (Redux), as well as new ones that would delay the receipt of retirement pay till age 60 (similar to current National Guard and Reserve programs), or be contributory, 401(k)-type programs (similar to corporate America). Newly authorized are 15 year retirements, which accrue at the normal rate of 2.5 percent of base pay annually, minus a 1-percent penalty for every year below 20.
“Those currently serving in uniform or already retired are grandfathered under the existing system,” said DeNoyer, a retired Marine and Vietnam combat veteran from Middleton, Mass. “Our concern is for tomorrow’s recruits, the young 18-year-old enlistees and new 22-year-old officers who will be fighting tomorrow’s wars with the same force challenges as today—high operations tempos, too little dwell time, and not enough troops to meet worldwide threats and commitments.”
The VFW national commander said 10 years of war has produced a battle-hardened force that’s extremely proud of their accomplishments but 100 percent aware of the general public’s noninvolvement.
“They and their families worry about getting paid on time,” he said. “They worry about what will happen if the car breaks down or if a loved one should get hurt at home or during training exercises or real-world deployments. Most of all, especially with this defense budget submission, they worry about whether the folks who give all the orders really care about the troops who do all the fighting and sacrificing.”
DeNoyer wants America’s 22 million veterans, 2 million service members and all their families to “Join the Fight” to make their voices heard loud and clear to the lawmakers who have the power to override these negative Quality of Life proposals.
“A secure America needs a strong military,” he said, “and whether one serves honorably for four years or 40, messing with military pay and benefits is a clear signal to the troops and their families that the budget is more important than people. That is going to seriously hurt recruiting and retention, and potentially end the all-volunteer force, because nobody wants to work for an ungrateful employer in a vocation as inherently dangerous as ours.”
Click on “Join the Fight” and help the VFW tell your elected officials that it takes people to win our nation’s wars. Breaking faith with those who sacrifice the most will signal the end of America’s all-volunteer force, which in this extremely volatile and unpredictable world, is one expense our nation cannot afford.
WHO SPEAKS FOR VETERANS”
This week I would again like to emphasize the importance of veterans banding together to insure we are treated fairly and receive the care and benefits we deserve. We can’t do it alone but together we can accomplish a lot.
I belong to other organizations such as the Vietnam Veterans of America and together with the American Legion and the many others our voice is heard but how loud. I believe the loudest voice of all is the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States which is the largest combat veterans organization in the world. I am proud to be a member and proud of the work it does. Here are a few examples.
VFW Testifies on VA Budget
On Wednesday, the VFW testified before the House VA Committee as part of an Independent Budget (IB) panel on the FY 2013 VA budget. The IB, now in its 26th year, captures the full picture of what VA needs to care for veterans. The VFW is responsible for the construction portion of the IB, and our testimony centered on major and minor construction project funding. We voiced our concerns about the woefully underfunded construction accounts, noting that Congress projected some $2.8 billion for projects, while the Administration this year only asked for $725 million, which is well over $2 billion short of what is needed. Safety and accessibility are concerns when construction accounts remain unfunded or underfunded for years. VFW asked Congress to increase funding so VA can complete numerous projects under way, as well as those being planned. To read VFW testimony, go to http://www.vfw.org/VFW-in-DC/Congressional-Testimony/. (Source: VFW Washington Weekly, 2/17/2012)
VFW Believes DOD Budget Breaks Faith With Troops
Also released Monday was the requested FY 2013 budget for the Department of Defense, which the VFW believes contains negative military pay and benefits proposals that will become “deal breakers” with the troops. One proposal recommends 1.7-percent military pay increases for 2013 and 2014, and a mere half percent in 2015. Tied to pay changes is DOD’s concurrence to create a Military Retirement Modernization Commission, which some in Congress already said should also examine the non-taxed status of military allowances, such as separate rations, housing and combat pay. The second proposal would force military dependents and retirees to pay more for their Tricare health programs. DOD recommended a three-tiered annual enrollment fee for Tricare Prime—based on the amount of retirement pay received—which over the next five years would quadruple existing fees for some working age military retirees. DOD also proposed instituting a one-tier annual enrollment fee and increased deductibles for Tricare Standard and Extra programs, a three-tiered fee for Tricare for Life coverage, and new pharmaceutical copays for everyone except uniformed service members. “Defeating these negative Quality of Life proposals are top VFW legislative priorities,” said VFW National Commander Richard DeNoyer. Read more about VFW’s position at http://www.vfw.org/News-and-Events/Articles/2012-Articles/DEFENSE-BUDGET-BREAKS-FAITH-WITH-TROOPS/. (Source: VFW Washington Weekly, 2/17/2012)
VFW Discusses G. I. Bill with State Approving Agencies
This week the VFW joined the National Association of State Approving Agencies, or NASAA, for the organization's annual conference in Arlington, Va. State Approving Agencies serve as the "boots on the ground" for certifying G.I. Bill-eligible programs across the country, which is why VFW was honored to join a distinguished panel of veterans' advocates to discuss challenges and opportunities for student-veterans who seek to use their Post-9/11 G.I. Bill benefits. To learn more about the panel and the VFW’s ongoing efforts to ensure student-veteran success visit: www.vfwonthehill.org. (Source: VFW Washington Weekly, 2/17/2012)
Also being discussed and proposed are cuts to our national POW/MIA recovery efforts. If this were to happen, families like the Sluss’ who recently lay their loved one rest would never know the fate of their missing in action. Army Corporal William R. Sluss had been listed MIA since November 30, 1950. In 1953, returning Americans who had been held as prisoners of war reported that Sluss had been captured by the Chinese and died in the spring of 1951 as a result of malnutrition. This month William Sluss made the journey home from Korea after 61 years.
The motto of the Veterans of Foreign Wars is “Honoring the Dead by Helping the Living”. We live up to that motto each and every day. Your membership makes a difference.
Stolen Valor Update
10TH US Circuit Court Upholds Stolen Valor Act
Last week I wrote about “Stolen Valor” and how it looked like the courts would strike it down as they say it violates the First Amendment. Good news as the 10th US circuit Court of Appeals in Denver recently reversed a lower court’s decision that the Stolen Valor Act of 2005 violates First Amendment free speech protection. In the Colorado case, defendant Rick Strandlof had founded a veterans group in Colorado Springs, and said he had received the Purple Heart and Silver Star, although the military had no record that he ever served. The California case, U.S. v. Xavier Alvarez, is currently before the U.S. Supreme Court, primarily because the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco overruled by 2-1 a lower court verdict against Alvarez, a member of the local water district board, who claimed at a public meeting that he was a retired Marine and Medal of Honor recipient. Alvarez, too, had never served in the military. The VFW is the lead cosigner of an amicus curiae brief to the Supreme Court to uphold the Stolen Valor Act. (VFW Washington Weekly, 2/10/2012).
DOD to Ease Women in Combat Assignments
The Defense Department notified Congress this week that it will abolish the restriction on assigning women to locations where ground combat troops operate, and to selectively lift the policy barring women from assignments to ground combat units below the brigade level. Those changes will result in more than 14,000 new jobs or assignment opportunities for military women. Women in the Army and Marine Corps face the most job restrictions, with each prohibiting them from serving in about a third of its positions (principally in infantry and special warfare, but also in logistics, signal and intelligence). In contrast, the Air Force excludes women from 1 percent of its positions (pararescue and Tactical Air Control Party, for example), and the Navy about 12 percent, a percentage that will reduce now that women can serve aboard submarines (but not in special warfare units like the SEALs). Policy changes will take effect later this spring after 30 days of continuous session of Congress, as the law requires. Read more at http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=67131. (VFW Washington Weekly, 2/10/2012).
VFW STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP THEMES FOR 2012 – 2013
While school may still be in session for this year it is not too early to start thinking about next year when it comes to scholarships. National VFW just announced the themes for next year’s programs.
The theme for the Voice of Democracy program: “Is Our Constitution Still Relevant?” This is the premiere youth scholarship program the VFW has conducted since 1947 and the national winner is awarded a $30,000 scholarship. This program is open to all students in the grades 9 – 12, enrolled in public, private and parochial schools and also those being home schooled. Each student writes and records their essay on the theme. The recording must be between 3 and 5 minutes. Interesting fact: American journalist Charles Kuralt is a past National Voice of Democracy winner.
The Patriot’s Pen program is for students in grades 6 – 8 enrolled in public, private and parochial schools and also those being home schooled. The national winner receives a $10,000 savings bond. These students must write an essay of 300 – 400 words on the theme: “What I Would Tell America’s Founding Fathers”.
VFW Post 8904 and the Ladies Auxiliary will begin distributing entry forms to local schools at the beginning of the 2012- 2013 school year. Entries are due NLT November 1st, 2012. If you would like to pick up an advanced entry form for either program drop by Chief Imaging, 614 Tenaha St. in Center or call Larry Hume at 598-2976 for more information or to have a form mailed or emailed to you.
VFW To Observe the Sinking of the USS Maine with Wreath Laying Ceremony
 The Spanish-American War lasted a little less than four months, April 21st – August 13th, 1898 and ended Spain’s worldwide empire. It ended with America easily defeating Spain and signaled the United States emergence as a world power. The blowing up of the battleship USS Maine in Havana harbor on February 15th, 1898 with the loss of 266 crewmen and marines in essence was the start of the war.
The US Navy Department board of inquiry concluded that a mine had detonated under the ship and the American public reacted with outrage blaming Spain for the disaster. It was during this war that Teddy Roosevelt and his cavalry unit known as the “Rough Riders” became famous. This would be the first war fought overseas by the United States and involved campaigns in both Cuba and the Philippine Islands.
The war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris on December 10, 1898 which established the independence of Cuba gave Puerto Rico and Guam to the United States and allowed the US to purchase the Philippines Islands from Spain for $20 million. The brief war cost the United Stated $250 million and 3,000 lives of which 90% perished from yellow and typhoid fever and other infectious diseases.
The VFW traces its roots back to these veterans who founded local organizations to secure rights and benefits for their service. There was no medical care or veterans’ pension for them, and they were left to care for themselves. These formed organizations would become what is now known as the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.
In observance of the sacrifices made by the Veterans of the Spanish American War and those who died aboard the USS Maine, Shelby County Memorial Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Ladies Auxiliary will hold a Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Veterans Memorial on the grounds of the Historic Shelby County Courthouse on Wednesday, February 15th, 2012. The observance will begin at 10:00 am and conclude with the playing of TAPs. “Without Remembrance Sacrifice is Meaningless”. More information please contact Post Quartermaster Larry Hume, 598-2976.
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I received the following information from the Department of Texas recently and would like to pass it on to all the women veteran’s here in Shelby County. At the current time our post here in Center has two women members. We would love to have more and believe you would truly enjoy what we do in the community. The fact that the Veterans of Foreign Wars recognizes the needs of women veterans are sometimes different makes me proud to be a member. 
Each year the World War II Allies remembers May 8th, 1945, the date when they accepted the unconditional surrender of Nazi German. Adolf Hitler committed suicide during the Battle of Berlin so the surrender of Germany was authorized by his replacement, President of Germany Karl Donitz. 
We all get them, emails from well-intended friends or acquaintances (who received it from their friends) and sometimes strangers. They are structured to inflame our patriotic instincts and move us to action. Some have half-truths, some very little, and some complete fabrications. 
“Keeping the Promise”, “Fulfill their Trust” and No one left behind”. Heard of these? These are but three of the many mottos that refer to those who work so diligently to recover Americans who became missing while serving our country. Defense Prisoner of War – Missing Personnel Office is the Department of Defense organization that is responsible for the work that is done around the world in an attempt to recover our missing.
Although I haven’t written about it lately there is still a problem with “wannabe heroes” who claim they won all sorts of high military medals including the Medal of Honor. They go so far as to dress up in military uniforms and pin all sorts of things on their chest and tell all kinds of stories. As trusting Americans we want to believe and are many times taken in by their stories of valor. 
First American Killed in Action in Vietnam
If you recall the last surviving World War I Veteran passed away almost a year ago on February 27th, 2011 at the age of 110. Unfortunately the public doesn’t generally think about WWI much anymore except maybe on Memorial Day when our VFW Post and Ladies Auxiliary remembers them during our annual observance by reading their names. There are 16 known from Shelby County who were KIA during the “War to end all wars” from Preston Archer to John Yeary.
