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Well here
it is tax time again and I don’t know about you but I am not ready, to be
totally honest, I am never ready but I hope you are. You know if you
look through rose-colored glasses you could see that the one good thing
about the dreaded tax season is spring and summer are just around the
corner.
As you
are well aware, it is getting close to electing officers for the 08-09
Legion year and with that in mind I will appoint a nominating committee
during our General Membership meeting in March. The year is moving
along so fast and there is still so much more to do. I truly would
like to thank everyone for their support thus far and you can expect me to
continually call on all of you during this our “home stretch.” These
next three months are going to be very busy and I hope to see you at many
of the events listed on the activities calendar.
By the
time that you have received this newsletter we would have sponsored lunch
for the Resolve to Win Team consisting of three retired Army officers who
recently returned from Iraq and beginning on March 1, 2008, started
marching the 400 miles from the South Carolina and North Carolina State
line and ending at the U.S. Capitol on March 16, 2008, sponsored luncheon
for the Armed Forces Retirement Home, celebrated the American Legions
Birthday, and started the final preparation for the Post 75th Anniversary
celebrations, while several of our members donated blood, and sponsored
the annual children’s Easter party and egg hunt.
I know
you are very tired of hearing me crying and reading my notes and cards
about membership, but I need you just to take a few minutes during half
time of your favorite “March Madness” team, write out your check and
following the game mail in your Membership Renewal. Better yet, stop
down at the Post Home on Sunday and enjoy NASCAR on the big screen, pay
your dues, have a bite to eat, we would love to see you.
Remember,
this is your Post so come on down and visit us, you are going to have a
great time.
For God
and Country
Samuel S.
Ramseur
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Your Service – Your Benefits
By Art
Dupay
Post
Service Officer
This
issue’s column has two topics, starting with an update on the 2008
National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which President Bush signed
it into law on
January
28, 2008. The $696
billion 2008 NDAA contains provisions improving the transition from active
duty to veterans' status and improving VA health care for returning
service members, especially those with traumatic brain injury (TBI) or
mental health issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Among the key provisions to improve care for veterans and their families,
the NDAA:
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Provides an
additional three years of access to free VA health care for returning
service members from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Improves and expands VA's ability to care for veterans returning from
Iraq and Afghanistan with TBI, including research, screening, care
coordination, and working with non-VA providers.
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Provides for a more
seamless transition between active duty and veterans' status, including
a single physical exam for DoD and VA benefits.
-
Creates
Wounded
Warrior
Resource Center to serve as a
single point of contact for service members, their families, and primary
caregivers.
Requires VA to provide age-appropriate nursing home care for veterans.
-
Allows members of
the NG and Reserves that are eligible for Reserve Educational Assistance
Program (REAP) to use their education benefits for ten years after
separation.
Veterans
Affairs Performance. Few
federal programs have seen the kind of turnaround experienced by the
Veterans Affairs Department's health care system in the late 1990s.
Formerly a poster child for substandard medical care and incompetent
management, VA's health care system now is considered by many to be the
best in the country. Its ratings for quality of care and customer
satisfaction have risen even as the patient load has increased. Major
media outlets have credited the agency's use of electronic medical
records, unprecedented even in the private sector, with improving medical
care. However, not all is rosy. As a federal agency dependent on
congressional appropriations, Veterans Affairs is increasingly ill-suited
for the long-term requirements of the veterans’ population. The annual
appropriations process (receiving funding based on the annual President’s
Budget (PB) and Congressional appropriation) creates program instability
and prevents strategic planning. In addition, the agency cannot exercise
the kind of management judgment that corporations routinely exercise.
As a case in point, the PB request for veterans' funding for 2009 is
simply not adequate. Although the request includes a 5.5% increase for
health care, this increase barely covers the cost of medical inflation and
does not keep up with the ever-increasing demand for VA health care.
More on this subject in the next edition and thanks to the Wildflecken
Veterans Association Web Site for the reference data.
Finally,
did you know? – The veteran population of the
United
States is approximately 23.8 million. There are 2.7 million World War II
vets still living and approximately 1,100 pass away each day. Vietnam era
vets totaling 7.9 million are the largest segment of the veterans’
population. Veterans and their spouses and children comprise almost 20
percent of the US population. These are interesting facts, but to me the
400 plus most important veterans are my fellow Legionnaires and their
families who are members of Post 162. If you feel the same way
please consider devoting a few hours each month serving on our Veterans
Affairs and Rehabilitation Committee. If you can spare your time and
services to help plan and support Post programs for veterans please
contact me at (703) 946-9301 or
artdupay@us.ibm.com.
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Economic Stimulus Payments
By Art
Dupay
Millions
of retires, disabled veterans and low-wage earners who usually are exempt
from filing a tax return must do so this year in order to receive a
stimulus payment.
Starting
in May, the Treasury will begin sending economic stimulus payments to more
than 130 million households. To receive a payment, taxpayers must have a
valid Social Security number, $3,000 of income and file a 2007 federal tax
return. IRS will take care of the rest. Eligible taxpayers will receive
between $300 to $600 if single or $600 to $1,200 if married filing
jointly.
If you
have been exempt from filing based on income received solely from Social
Security or Veterans Benefits, you must file a tax return for 2007 in
order to be eligible for the Economic Stimulus Payment. Don’t fail to take
advantage of this payment going to 130 million households. It's not
taxable, and it won't reduce your 2007 or 2008 refund or increase the
amount you owe when or if you file your 2008 return. It is a relatively
simple matter to file the IRS Form 1040 or 1040A that will trigger your
payment. For more information or assistance go to
www.irs.gov or contact your Post 162 Service Officer.
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LORTON
AMERICAN LEGION POST 162 CELEBRATES 75 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE
COMMUNITY AND NATION 1933-2008
In October 1933, a group of young Veterans, met in a room over the Post
Office at Lorton, which at that time was known as Springman's Store. They
decided to form an American Legion Post. A temporary Charter was
applied for at Department Headquarters in
Richmond,
Virginia. The application was approved by the Department of Virginia, and
on November 13th, 1933 Pohick Post
#162, the American Legion began operating under a Temporary Charter.
The first Post Commander was Edwie Welsh elected for the years 1933 -
1934. The Post requested and received permission through the
kindness of one of the members on the school board to hold its Post
monthly meetings in the old Lorton School House. This practice was
continued later when the new school was constructed.
In July 1938, a resolution was presented and adopted to change the name of
Pohick Post #162 to Lorton Post #162. A permanent charter was also
applied for and granted at this time. Every year since, we
demonstrate that community spirit and leadership through our outreach
programs that have assisted veterans and their families in our area, and
by our monetary support of more than $35,000.00, last year to the local
charities within both Fairfax and Prince William Counties.
This year 2008 marks the 75 Anniversary of our Post and its close
association with the Lorton Community. The Post will sponsor several
programs and events throughout the remainder of the year in celebration of
this event. These events will be announced through the local news
media and on our website
www.valegion162.org
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Flag
Legislation
By Art Dupay
Veterans' organizations across the Nation
provide funeral honors for veterans' services at national cemeteries,
including the folding and presentation of the flag, the recitation of the
flag-folding steps (known as the 13-fold flag recitation) and the playing
of Taps.
In response to one complaint last year, the
Department of Veterans' Affairs briefly prohibited the flag-folding
recitation at funerals. Only in response to the national outrage did the
VA reverse its policy, allowing the 13-fold flag recitation to be
performed at funerals if requested by the family of the deceased. The
complaint objected to the phrases “God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and
the God of Jacob” and God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost”
in the recitation.
Legislation sponsored by Rep Paul Broun (R, GA)
and 37 co-sponsors would ban honor guards from participating in the
funeral of any veteran interred in a national cemetery unless the
veteran’s family is told about the option of having the honor guard
perform the traditional recitation. These meanings, not part of the U.S.
Flag Code, have been ascribed to the 13 folds of American flags at
veteran’s burial services.
1. Symbol of life.
2. Symbol of our belief in the eternal life.
3. In honor and remembrance of the veteran
departing our ranks who gave a portion of life for the defense of our
country to attain a peace throughout the world.
4. Represents our weaker nature, for as American
citizens trusting in God, it is to Him we turn in times of peace as well
as in times of war for His divine guidance.
5. A tribute to our country, for in the words of
Stephen Decatur, “Our country, in dealing with other countries, may she
always be right; but it is still our country, right or wrong.”
6. Represents where our hearts lie. It is with our
heart that we pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States
of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one
nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
7. A tribute to our armed forces.
8. A tribute to the one who entered in to the
valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day, and to
honor mother, for whom it flies on Mother’s Day.
9. A tribute to womanhood.
10. A tribute to father.
11. In the eyes of a Hebrew citizen, represents
the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon, and
glorifies, in their eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
12. In the eyes of a Christian citizen, represents
an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in their eyes, God the Father, the
Son, and Holy Ghost.
13. When the flag is completely folded, the stars
are uppermost, reminding us of our national motto, “In God We Trust.” |
For the
past 36 years the Ladies Auxiliary, assisted by dedicated volunteers, have
honored those Veterans living at the Armed Forces Retirement Home.
Twice a year these dedicated individuals invite these veterans to the Post
for lunch and following the meal the DJ cranks up the volume and the
forties, fifties, and sixties come alive. This year 50 residents
were in attendance and judging by the smiles on their faces they had a
great time.
Deb,
Robert, Chuck, Helen, Fran, Wilma Ranck, 17th District
President Dee,
DJ Steve,
Sara, Beth and their little helpers
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PRESIDENT’S PARADE
Commander
On
February 18, 2008, members from
our Post joined the Department of Virginia Commander, members of
Alexandria Post 24 and other legionnaires throughout the 17th
District and marched in the George Washington Day Presidents parade.
The weather was outstanding, the bands were great and the spectators seem
to enjoy themselves as much as the marchers. Your Post Commander
joined with Miss Poppy and helped distribute poppies to individuals along
the parade route. This year blue skies and warm temperatures was a
far cry from last year’s ice and snow. However, it did rain like the
devil as soon as we ended our portion of the parade. Post 24 made
all in attendance feel right at home. Next year I hope to see more
of our members participate.
Department Commander Andrew C. Robertson and Family, 17th
District Commander, Bill Strawsburg,Vice Commander Marv Rodney
Post 162
Commander Ramseur at rear of procession
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ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER
Well like
many post we are moving, though slowly, into the electronic age.
First thanks to Ray Harrigan for our website
www.valegion162.org which is very informative and we post upcoming
activities and highlights special events with photos and it is updated as
needed. The site has been well received by our membership and has
received hits from around the world.
Next the
Social Quarters and the hall became computer friendly through WY-FI (a
high-frequency wireless local area network) -- see I did learn something.
You can now see members using their laptops and socializing with friends
while doing work or what ever on their laptop computers.
Our next
adventure is, you guess it, the Electronic Newsletter. We have
discussed this in the past in the Executive Committee but now I think its
time has come. The newsletter is another venue we use to communicate
with our membership, however, the time and expense now in publishing,
labeling, sorting by zip code, and mailing has increased significantly and
there is an expected price increase in postage this summer. This
task, while not labor intensive, is tedious, time consuming and usually
becomes the responsibility by default of one or two members. To send
the newsletter electronically or have members down load it from the
Website would not only save us time and money but would provide you the
reader with clearer, sharper text and pictures. Now we realize that
everyone does not have a computer or access to the Internet so we will
continue to send those members a hard copy until they have Internet
capabilities.
There
are two ways to opt out of receiving a hard copy of this newsletter.
First, fill out the registration form located behind the bar and leave it
with the ABC Manager on duty; secondly go to our website click on the
Newsletter tab and follow the instructions.
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IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY
by Helen Voccio
Happy Birthday to You!! By now you know we celebrate members'
birthdays on the third Friday of each month (following Ralph's World
Famous Pizza)? We sing you a song, present you with a special B-Day
Card, serve you some delicious cake and cookies, and lie about how you
don’t “look your age.” So, what are you waiting for, simply ask the
ABC Manager on duty for the Birthday notebook, sign-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 April and May are:
Birthday
Party's for April and May are:
April May
2
Keith Jones 6 Victor Graulau
7
Dorothy Hall 7 Helen Voccio
7
Dolores Garvey 8 Jenny Spears
13 Janet Jacobs
15 Dave Lowden
Jessica Haynes
Kim Fine
23
Linda Reed
30
Shelly Herst
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Chaplain’s Report /TV raffle/NASCAR 2008
Spring is upon
us and Post 162 activities will be ever increasing. Easter and the Lenten
season will have ended, and the officers and members will be involved with
Post Officer nominations and election. We will also be involved with the
Post 162 75th anniversary, 17th District and
Virginia Department Conventions and other functions.
We had
the recent passing of former post commander Walter J. Drewery. I want to
thank Sam Ramseur, Art Dupay, Chuck Voccio, Bill Strawsburg, Alan Amos,
and Ray Harrigan for participating in the Funeral ceremony. The Drewery
family was most appreciative of our attendance. Walter Drewery’s interment
is scheduled for
March 31,
2008, at
Arlington National
Cemetery. We have draped the Post Charter, in remembrance of Walter.
Items of
note for the next couple of months are: Honor Flight, April 19th
and May 3rd. Please make an effort to help, as our WWII
veterans are passing away at an alarming rate. This is one of the few
events that helps our WWII vets travel to the WWII Memorial and share with
each other and reflect. Here is a short list of other important events for
the next two months:
The Unit
162 Poppy drive is scheduled for May 2nd through May 3rd,
Armed Forces Day on May 17, and Memorial Day Flag Placement on May 24th
at Pohick and
Cranford United
Methodist Churches. The Joint 40/8 and Post 162 observance of Memorial Day
will be on May 25th. Monday May 26th we will be
flying the colors at half mast until noon and there will be a moment of
remembrance at 3pm. Please check the Calendar of Events for exact times of
every event.
On a
lighter note, please don’t forget about Vic’s KJ/DJ nights, Saturday April
29th and May 31st. I will be looking forward to
seeing many of you at the post for fun and dancing. We will be
moving the NASCAR Post position drawing to Monday night starting on March
31st. So please make an effort to be at the post on Mondays to get your
show up points. The kitchen will be open on the drawing days for your
dining convenience. Don’t forget we will be showing the races on the
big screens every race day throughout the season. So far this year it has
been a free for all for NASCAR, and no one is out of this year’s NASCAR
2008 contest. It looked like we were not going to have NASCAR this year,
so I want to take time out to thank everyone for making NASCAR 2008
contest a reality.
I also
want to thank all of those people who helped in the TV raffle and to those
who bought raffle tickets. I will be working with Ann and the House
Committee, so we can upgrade to receive the high definition signal. The
next TV Raffle will start sometime before the 75th Anniversary
Open House and Dinner, tentatively scheduled for October. The final
drawing will be for a 50” LCD HDTV. We will keep you posted as to
when the new raffle starts.
NASCAR
Schedule for the next several weeks. Check the times on the Post Calendar.
April
4th Texas Motor Speedway
April 12th
Phoenix International Raceway
April 27th Talladega
Super Speedway
May
3rd Richmond International Raceway
May
10th Darlington Raceway
May
25th Lowe’s Motor Speedway
June 1st
Dover International Speedway
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