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Commander's Corner
It fills me with great pride as your Commander to announce that due to
the support, dedication, and hard work of our Officers, members, the
Auxiliary, and Sons, combined with the many hours of volunteer work, the
year 2007 has been one of most productive years in Post 162's 74-year
history.
We have increased our membership to an all time high, improved our bottom
line and are financially sound, continued our ongoing upgrade of the Post
home and grounds, reestablished a daily food service menu, localized our
chartable donations to better support our surrounding community, and
refocused our efforts to assist and support our men and women serving in
our Armed Forces while continuing our support to our Veterans and their
families.
This dedication to service has bestowed upon our Post this year's title
as the 17th District's Post of the Year. Along with this distinguished
honor, at the 17th District convention we also received the following:
Americanism Award, Children and Youth Award, Membership Award, The Muray
B. York Trophy for Membership, and was the first recipient of the newly
established E. Tony DaCosta Membership Plaque (This award was established
last year in honor of Tony).
We were again recognized at the Department Convention. Yours truly was
selected as the 17th District Post Commander of the Year; Bill Strawsburg
was selected 17th District Legionnaire of the year. Other
awards/recognitions received by the Post were The Department of Virginia Dan
Daniels Award for membership of 110% or better; 100% Membership
Certificate to Chairman of the Membership Committee; 100% Membership
Certificate to the Post Commander; Certificate of Appreciation for Rolling
Thunder; Gold Brigade Membership Award, and our Post Newsletter was
awarded 3rd place in Department of Virginia Competition. Great Job, Bill
and Sil.
At the Post level and just as important, these members, Alan Amos, Dewitt
Duggar, Sam Miller Joe Malovrh, Larry Tislow, Peter Pate, Ray Harrigan,
Guy Rosenthal, Ed Anes, and Vic Graulau, who I have labeled the "Post
Team", received Certificate of Appreciation for their efforts in
recruiting new members and their names will be the first names inscribed
on the Charles "Tex" DeMoss, Membership Trophy.
Lastly, to cap off what has already been a memorable two months our own
Bill 'Git er Done" Strawsburg was sworn in as 17th District Commander for
2007-2008.
Now wasn't that fun, let's do it again.
For God and Country Sam Ramseur, Cmdr.
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Membership
As Commander Sam stated in his article we had one fantastic year!!
Membership is the linchpin in getting persons involved in the Post and The
American Legion. Many thanks go out to Post 162's Membership Team for
getting new members. A special thanks to Commander Sam Ramseur for leading
the way to our receiving the "Post of the Year" honors and to Bill
Strawsburg for earning "Gold Brigade" award for recruiting over 50 new
members.
Bill has informed me that along with the 2008 Legion cards being in house,
he also has the 2008 Sons of the Legion cards and Unit 162's cards.
Neither group will receive renewal notices until late fall of 2007
(Oct/Nov). Please help us out and either drop off your renewal or mail it
to Lorton Post 162, P. O. Box 12, Lorton, VA 22199-0012. SAL is $30.00 and
Auxiliary is $18.00. If done fast enough, this would save Post 162 and the
American Legion a ton of money in renewal notice postage.
All of you can help take Post, Unit and Squadron 162 to another "All Time
High" award.
Thank you in advance for your membership in the American Legion Family.
Larry Tislow - 1st Vice Commander
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SCHOOL AWARDS PRESENTATIONS
As you are all aware, the American Legion's primary purpose is to support
our fellow veterans. However, we also serve our community and support our
young people with youth oriented programs. The Legion strives to further a
strong sense of patriotism and loyalty among our nations youth.
Legionnaire Peter Pate is our Chairman for the school awards program and
under his leadership the School Awards program has grown and has become a
very successful program within the elementary schools in the Lorton
Community.
On June 14, 2007, assisted by Ray Harrigan, Peter Pate presented
citizenship-oriented awards to students in two area schools, Lorton Station
(6), and Gunston Elementary (3). The students in Lorton Station are Kim Leiastein, Darius Wallace, James Parker Lessley, Xefertiti
Brown, Kevin Franque, and Michael Andrew Mineni. The students at Gunston are Taylor Borja, Devon Strunk, and Hannah Amoako.
We salute these students on their accomplishments and wish them continued
success, and thanks to Peter for the outstanding job he is doing as
Chairman.
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AREA
BOYS ATTEND AMERICAN LEGION BOYS STATE
Boys State is a comprehensive one-week course in state and local
government. Virginia American Legion Boys State is a "leadership action
program" where qualified male high school rising seniors take part in a
practical government course. It is designed to develop a working knowledge
of the structure of government and to impress upon the citizen the fact
that our government is just what we make it.
The Boy State Chairman for Post 162 is Dewitt Duggar. He was mentored by
one of the best in the business Lou Ricker and Dewitt is doing an
outstanding job. The one-week course was conducted in Lynchburg, Virginia
at Liberty University.
The boys departed the area on Fathers Day, June 17, 2007, and returned on
June 24, 2007. The following participants sponsored by American Legion
Post 162 were selected to attend this year's program.
From Hayfield High School, Nathan Fairbanks, Chris Archer, Spencer
Cresswell, Irwin Richard;
From Mount Vernon High School were Basil Badley, Ryan Deneault, Farshad
" Shawn" Fauladi, Wyatt Dloyd, and Hugh "Matthew" Weir.
From West Potomac, Jeffery LaBelle, Christopher Silva, Dereck Parada, and
Justin Yu; and
From South County High School were Anuj Dogra, Nikhil Khera, and Robert
Mack.
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FLAG DISPOSAL CEREMONY
Our flag has a proud and glorious history, it was at the lead of every
battle fought by Americans; many people have died protecting it. It even
stands proudly on the surface of the moon.
On Flag Day, Thursday June 14, 2007, at 8:00 pm, Lorton American Legion
Post 162 conducted its annual Flag Retirement Ceremony. This ceremony
allows for a dignified and honorable way of disposing unserviceable
American Flags. Flags turned into
the Post from individuals, our flag disposal container located at the
Lorton fire Station along with those from public and civic organizations
resulted in the post collecting over 1300 flags for disposal, the highest
total we have ever received.
Post members participating in the ceremony were Commander Sam Ramseur, 1st
Vice Commander Larry Tislow, 2nd Vice Commander Guy Rosenthal, Chaplin
Victor Graulau, 3rd Vice Commander Bernie Duncan, Sergeant At Arms Brad
Barrington, and Bugler Raymond Harrigan.
Around 25 individuals from the post and local community were in attendance
for the ceremony.
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Your Service - Your Benefits
By Art Dupay Post Service Officer
As of this writing the National Defense Authorization Act for 2008 has
been voted on and passed by the House and is now being considered in the
Senate. Some of the major provisions of interest include the following:
1 Reserve
retirement: One item that will spark negotiation is the Senate committee's
language to lower the start of Reserve retirement below age 60 by three
months for every 90 days a reservist or National Guard member is recalled
to active duty. This change at first glance looks like a boon to career
reservists mobilized for Iraq and Afghanistan. But the committee could
find no money to apply this change retroactively to deployments since the
attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. This change, therefore, would only lower
retirement age for Reserve and National Guard personnel mobilized after
the date the bill is signed.
2 TRICARE Fees: The White House wanted to raise the fees for TRICARE
enrollment to sustain a high-quality health care benefit by largely
capturing the inflation increases that have occurred since cost sharing
was first established in 1996. The House bill did not allow Defense
officials to raise Tricare fees and co-payments for retired military
beneficiaries under 65 or allow implementation of some new set of
cost-containment actions expected to be recommended soon by the DoD-appointed
Task Force on the Future of Military Health Care.
3 Other significant provisions in the Defense bill include:
-
Guarantee funding for Walter Reed to protect against skimping on
facilities.
- Require at least 30 days advance notice, and preferably 90 days, for
Guard and Reserve members scheduled for deployment.
- Ease naturalization/visa issues for nonresident alien spouses/children
of members assigned overseas by treating such periods of overseas
assignment as residence within the United States.
- Increase Army end-strength by 36,000; Marine Corps levels by 9,000;
and Army National Guard by 1,300.
- Authorize the Secretary of Defense to reimburse drilling Guard and
Reserve members up to $300 per training session for travel costs to
drill locations outside commuting distance, effective Oct. 1,2008.
- Make the Chief of the National Guard a four-star position.
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Honor
and Respect: The Wall 25 Years
Vietnam Veterans of America is presenting the 25th Anniversary Parade in
celebration of the dedication "The Wall" on Saturday, November 10, 2007.
The schedule is as follows:
1 Opening Ceremony on the Mall 10:00 a.m., at 3d Street between
Jefferson and Madison Drives.
2 Parade immediately following opening ceremony with thousands of
participants, military vehicles, floats, veteran motorcyclists, and
marching bands. Noon till 4:00 p.m.
3 Gathering of parade participants and general public on Washington
Monument Grounds. Noon till 6:00 p.m.
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REQUEST
YOUR ASSISTANCE
We are presently trying to identify Post 162 members, or their spouses,
sons, daughters, grandchildren, etc., now serving on active duty,
especially those who have served or are now serving in Bosnia, The Gulf
Region, and Afghanistan. We would like to send them a personal note from
us here at Post 162 to let them know we here truly support them and honor
their service to our country.
If you have loved ones now serving in the Armed Forces and would like them
included in this project please provide the following:
Help us say
THANK YOU to those who are the Guardians of Freedom.
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Saluting the Flag
WASHINGTON,
D.C. - U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) today praised the passage by
unanimous consent of his bill (S.1877) clarifying U.S. law to allow
veterans and servicemen not in uniform to salute the flag. Current law (US
Code Title 4, Chapter 1) states that veterans and servicemen not in
uniform should place their hand over their heart without clarifying
whether they can or should salute the flag.
"The salute is a form of honor and respect, representing pride in one's
military service," Senator Inhofe said. "Veterans and service members
continue representing the military services even when not in uniform.
"Unfortunately, current U.S. law leaves confusion as to whether veterans
and service members out of uniform can or should salute the flag. My
legislation will clarify this regulation, allowing veterans and servicemen
alike to salute the flag, whether they are in uniform or not. "I look
forward to seeing those who have served saluting proudly at baseball
games, parades, and formal events. I believe this is an appropriate way to
honor and recognize the 25 million veterans in the United States who have
served in the military and remain as role models to others citizens. Those
who are currently serving or have served in the military have earned this
right, and their recognition will be an inspiration to others."
This Bill was passed July 25, 2007.
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IT'S
YOUR BIRTHDAY
Did you know we celebrate members' birthdays? Yea that's right, with a
Birthday Party on the third Friday of each month (following Ralph's
Pizza). So let us know the date of your birthday. Ask the ABC
Manager on duty for the Birthday Notebook and give us the date of your
birth.
August
1 Mary Ann Smith
4 Sheila Grimes
5 David spears
11 Matt Crandall
18 Glenda DeCosta and
Charlie Krear
24 Jim Krear
September
3 Linda (Salgado) Kowatch
4 Leona Jones
5 Judy rose
7 Rodney Grimes
8 Fran Ricker
10 Betty O'Connor
12 Mahlow Ellell
13 Bernie Farley
17 Joan Surin
23 LTC Joe Spicer
26 Alan Amos
28 Cindy Maslinski
Any changes will be posted on the message board at the entrance to the
club. ITS YOUR BIRTHDAY, IT'S A PARTY, And HELEN IS DANCING.
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