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Commander's Corner
Greetings
to all of you, as of this writing, I am in the Pacific Northwest, Portland
Oregon to be exact and will return on January 17, 2008. First, let me say
that I look forward to working with you in 2008; I think our best is yet to
come. Many of you may not be aware that this year in November, is Lorton
American Legion Post 162, 75th Anniversary. We have been talking about it
for several months, and we have already begun collecting old documents,
pictures, for inclusion into the special 75th edition Post History Book. If
you have some items that you would like to see included, please drop them
off at the post and include your name and telephone number. Bill Strawsburg
is the point man, and you will hear more about the special events planned as
the year progresses.
That
said, we have several important programs/goals that I must focus on
immediately. First of which is membership, this is the backbone of our
organization and we are not where we want to be and we can and will improve.
I will be working closely with the 1st Vice, in particular, but membership
in general is all of our responsibility. I have already prepared a reminder
to members that will be mailed before the end of the month. If you have
ideas please let us know. Secondly, in the next three weeks, I will meet
with all our Officers, Committee Chairman’s, Operations Manager, Committees,
and Staff Members to revisit our present goals/objectives for the year,
determine where we are and make the necessary changes where needed to ensure
their successful completion.
Don’t forget that we will be kicking off
Super Bowl Sunday here at the Post home with the Commander’s third annual
Chili Cook-Off on Sunday, February 3, 2008. Judging will begin sharply at 2
PM. All contestants should have their entry at the Post by 1:30 PM. See
ABC Manager on duty for Sign-up sheet and rules. Also on Super Sunday we
will have the raffle drawing for the 42 inch HDTV (still some tickets left),
and there will be a silent Auction on going in the hall. Please check our
website and/or calendar for future upcoming events to include the Department
Spring Conference.
Lastly, let me say we have a great post
but together we can make it better. It will take all of us working as a
team, in the words of one of the great philosophers and his sidekick (the
Cable Guy and Bill Strawsburg), “LET’S GIT ER DONE.”
For God and Country
Sam Ramseur, Cmdr.
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Membership
We are
currently at 82.02% of our goal of 484. Post 162 missed the January goal of
85%. The February goal is 90% so we need 37 renewals by Feb 4th to make the
90%. I know that there are some of you who have just forgot to send in your
dues. Everyone should look at your cards for 2008 across the top. If it
still has 2007, then please send them in right away.
During the January general membership
meeting we voted in 8 new members in one month!!! Fantastic!!!
For those of you who aren’t renewed for
2008, this will be your last newsletter.
Larry Tislow,
1st
Vice Commander
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Your
Service – Your Benefits
On December 20, 2007, LTG (USA, Ret)
James B. Peake, M.D., former Army Surgeon General, was sworn in as the
nation’s sixth Secretary of Veterans Affairs, following strong bipartisan
support in both the Senate Armed Services Committee and full Senate.
Dr. Peake
and I spent a year together as students at the Army War College in Carlisle,
PA during 1987-1988. I can’t say we were close friends but I recall that as
a physician, Jim was a bit of an anomaly due to the fact he wore a Combat
Infantry Badge, Silver Star, Bronze Star with “V” and cluster, and Purple
Heart with cluster for his service and wounds in Vietnam as a platoon leader
with the 101st Airborne Division. His time as an infantry officer gave him a
unique warrior’s perspective on how to care for our wounded and his career
in military medicine has prepared him for the important role he now
performs.
Secretary Peake received his medical
doctorate in 1972 from Cornell University following the recovery of his
wounds and began his medical career as a general surgery resident at Brooke
Army Medical Center in Texas. Prior to his retirement in 2004, he was the
Army Surgeon General from 2000-2004, commanding 50,000 medical personnel and
187 Army medical facilities worldwide. Prior to that, he served as the
Commanding General of the Army Medical Department Center and School, where
he is credited as instituting improved training and standards that are now
being used to great effect in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In his remarks before the Committee he
stated outreach and education on mental health would be a high priority. In
response to questions on post traumatic stress disorders he said. “ I
appreciate the universal concern that PTSD and traumatic brain injury may be
less apparent that some of the horrendous physical wounds that we see fresh
from the battlefields… (they) are real wounds of war (must) be treated.
PTSD and traumatic brain disorders are likely to become the signature injury
of this conflict.” He also acknowledged he heard clearly the
dissatisfaction with veterans waiting excessive periods to have their claims
adjudicated. “A veteran should not need a lawyer to figure out what benefit
is due or to get that benefit.”
In my opinion Jim Peake could not be
more prepared or qualified for the position. I wish him the best and expect
to see him stand up to both the administration and the Congress when it
comes to the needs of our veterans. His priority, like that of your American
Legion, must be support for the warrior and not just the war.
Art
Dupay,
Post Service Officer
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Its Your Birthday
As
you know, we celebrate members' birthdays on the third Friday of each month
(following Ralph's World Famous Pizza)? So, what are you waiting for, simply
ask the ABC Manager on duty for the Birthday notebook, sing-up and up and
join us for your party. Come early and enjoy Ralph's Pizza followed by
cookies and cake. Why celebrate your special day alone? COME PARTY WITH US!
Birthday Party's for February and March are:
February
02- Karla Rosenthal
03-Steve McCarthy
07-Bill Strawsburg
11-Glenn Babb
13-Sandy Haynes
14 Joetta O’Neil
17-Joe Malovrh
18-Ralph West, John MacKay
22-Stephen Surin
March
6 John Surin
20 Sam Ramseur
21 DeWitt Duggar, Dolores Ostraco
26 Paul Surin
29 Ron Lewis
IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY; IT'S A PARTY, HELEN
BRINGS THE CAKE AND BETTY BRINGS COOKIES.
Helen Voccio
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Auxiliary
News
Well we have all made it through another
holiday season and it’s already the middle of January. The Thanksgiving Day
dinner was attended by many. The Christmas Party was a great success as was
our New Year’s Eve. New and exciting things will be happening this year
with the Auxiliary. We will be holding a Valentine’s Dinner/Dance on 9
February during which we will conduct raffles and a 50/50.
Also
don’t forget Poppy Distribution Season is almost upon us. Please mark you
calendar for May 2 or 3 for help at Ft Belvoir. Our poppy order this year
is for 5,000 poppies. We will need the help. Upcoming events include the
District Spring Conference @ Post 176 on March 16th 12:30 and the Department
Spring Conference 28 – 30 March @ Virginia Beach.
For
those of you who haven’t renewed as yet, we were #1 in the 17th District
last year with over 110% of goal. We are currently at 93% so lets get those
renewals in and keep recruiting.
Don’t forget our troops at home and
overseas protecting us and fly our flag!
Linda Kowatch, Secretary
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Club News
Have you renewed your locker
yet? Dues for the lockers are $12.00 for the year. We want everyone to be
on the same schedule so we are asking that you come in a pay through
December 2008. All lockers that aren’t paid for by March 15th will be
emptied and all contents will be turned over to the Post.
Ann
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POST 162 FAVORITE PERSON
You know I truly enjoy interviewing
individuals selected as the Post favorite person. There are so many
deserving members I might have to dedicate a special volume dedicated just
to them.
The task becomes harder and harder each
time and this time we have selected one who honors us with his presence each
day. He is kind of broad at the shoulders, soft spoken, some say he carries
a big stick, and we all know that he controls that rowdy group hanging out
by the big screen TV. Yes, we are talking about, “Big” John McKay.
Big John hails from the great metropolis
of Woodbridge, Virginia, and has been a dedicated and supportive member of
our Post 162 family for 36 years. Just like “Boston Blackie”, he is a
friend of those who makes him a friend and nothing else needs to be said.
What else can you say about a man that calls “working” a hobby (maybe he was
in the sun too long), whose favorite book is the Dirty Dozen, and favorite
TV show is a good old rock um sock um hockey game; and I don’t mean the
fancy skating? Big John says that he loves seafood, well it is no secret
around here we also love Big John.
-Commander-
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Children and Youth
Post 162 provided monetary assistance to the
following Children related Organizations in 2007:
Shriners
Children’s
Hospital: $1000.00
Dale
City Little League: $300.00
Special Olympics: $ 150.00
Lorton Community Action Center $1,000.00
Flags
For 1st Graders: $450.00
Make
a Wish Foundation: $120.00
ARC-GPW:
$700.00
Total: $3,720.00
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Disabled Veterans Grant
Lorton, VA 25 Jan 2008 The American
Legion 17th District presented $500.00 checks today to four local disabled
veterans injured while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Thanks to a half-million dollar check
from The Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes to the national headquarters
of The American Legion, District Commander Bill Strawsburg presented these
four grants to Scott Reynolds, Domonicque Tatum, Alesia Chapman and Michelle
Sanders.
“It is with sincere thanks that we
present these grants to our fellow military veterans who service our country
with honor and pride,” Strawsburg said. “We present these grants on behalf
of your fellow veterans and a grateful nation.”
“These grants are just a small token of
appreciation for the sacrifices made by so many of America’s men and women
in uniform,” said Thomas J. Palma, general manager of the Coalition. “Our
Coalition was able to raise a lot of money from caring people but we do not
have the distribution network of The American Legion. The Legion is a
well-respected organization with a presence in communities across American.
The American Legion will do an excellent job in getting those grants to
deserving veterans.”
“This is a perfect partnership – the
Coalition’s generosity teamed with The American Legion’s “Heroes to
Hometowns” program,” Strawsburg said. “Our members stand ready to assist
with veterans and their families along with community members of our local
H2H team in providing a vast array of assistance to ease their return to a
productive civilian life.”
It is not the first time that the two
organizations have teamed up to award grants to disabled veterans. The
American Legion distributed checks for the Coalition in 2005.
American Legion National Commander Marty
Conatser said that The American Legion is honored to participate in such a
worthy project. “The program was so successful two years ago that The
American Legion’s National Executive Committee unanimously passed a
resolution at our last convention authorizing our assistance in this great
endeavor,” Conatser said.
The funds are being divided into $500.00
grants and awarded to veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan across the country
who are rated with disabilities of 30% or more. The American Legion has
assumed all distribution costs, meaning that 1,000 grants will be awarded –
the entire amount of the Coalition’s contribution.
The Coalition to Salute America’s
Heroes,
www.saluteheroes.org,
is a nonprofit organization that was created to provide a way for
individual, corporations and others to help severely wounded and disabled
Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans and their
families rebuild their lives.
The American Legion,
www.legion.org,
was founded in 1919 on the four pillars of a strong national security,
veterans affairs, Americanism, and patriotic youth programs. The Legion’s
2.7 million wartime veterans work for the betterment of the communities
through more than 14,000 posts across the nation.
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