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COMMANDERS CORNER
Well here we go, a new year
and the journey continues. I trust you all had a great holiday and
enjoyed the company of family and friends. Like you my thoughts and
prayers were with our Armed Forces serving around the world.
Additionally, several of our comrades were also called to Post Everlasting
last year and I ask that you continually keep their families in your
thoughts and prayers as well.
I would like to take this
opportunity to thank the officers, members, Auxiliary, and S.A.L. (John
Windsor), for all of your support this past year and I really look forward
to working with you the reminder of my term in office. Also a special
thanks to the House, Finance, and Executive Committees for the outstanding
work they have done thus far. These next several months are going to be
full of surprises according to the Operations Manager and she and the ABC
Managers have several projects planned, but I am going to let her tell you
about them.
If you remember when this year
began I published six Commanders Goals that I promised to work toward
accomplishing this year. We are on track for the remaining five but fell
short of one. Obtaining the membership goal of 100% and signing up 30 new
members by the end of December. We made extra telephone calls, and
contacted as many members as we could in a last ditch effort to obtain
this goal, but fell short. We ended the year with membership at 91.4% and
29 new members and several new applications in the office. I have no
doubt that we will obtain our 100% goal very shortly, and I want to say
thanks to all of you for renewing your membership. I am sure Bill will
have more to say on the membership so that’s all I will say on that for
now.
Activities planned over the
next three months are going to require some long hours and a lot of help
from our trusty volunteers. First of all the 17th District
Commander and the area Vice-Commanders will attend our February 17th,
2007, General Membership meeting and I hope to see you there. Also I
invite you to join me at Linda’s Super Bowl Tail Gate Party on February 4,
2007, beginning at 4 pm. If you were there last year, enough said, if you
were not, don’t miss this one. Now to get down to the part I like, The
Commander’s Chili Cook Off will be on Saturday February 11, 2007, judging
to began at 2 pm. Already the talk has begun. Bear Meat Chili, Deer Meat
Chili, Texas Chili, etc., I say bring it on. See the ABC Manager on duty
for Sign up sheets and Rules. On Saturday evening March 17, 2007, in
conjunction with Our American Legion Birthday Observance is the
Commanders’ sponsored Member Appreciation Night. The activities are to
begin at 6 pm and capping off the evening with Karaoke with Babs. Other
important events to remember are the Alexandria Presidents Day parade
February 19, 2007, (I invite you to meet me there), the District
Conference is in March and the Department Spring conferences is in
Virginia Beach, March 22-25.
For God and Country
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WELCOME HOME JOSH
Sam Ramseur
On Tuesday December 19, 2006,
the Post held a Welcome Home celebration for one of our own. Army
Specialist Joshua Peterson has just completed a 16-month tour in Iraq,
serving with A Company, 4th Battalion, 23 Infantry, 172nd
Stryker Brigade. His next duty station will be Ft. Drum, New York.
Josh’s mother, Janet,
(Auxiliary), sister Jessica (Jr. Auxiliary) and a host of relatives and
friends were on hand for the joyous occasion. Distinguished visitors on
hand joining the Commander, Sam Ramseur, 1st Vice-Commander,
Bill Strawsburg, and Chaplain Paul Surin, for the welcome home ceremony
were the Department of Virginia Commander Jerry Howard and his wife Kathy,
the 17 District Commander, John Kokernak, and Chef de Gar, Dick George, of
Voiture 1569.
The Department Commander
offered words of gratitude, praise, and spoke briefly about the pride the
American Legion and the Nation has for our fighting forces. The 17th
District Commander echoed these remarks.
The Commander read the thank
you card to the audience that the Post received from the members of Josh’s
company and Josh was introduced to the audience. Some What surprised and
a bit overwhelmed he told the group that he was aware that there was going
to be some small get together but had no idea it was going to be this type
of a welcome. He thanked them for their prayers and gave a special “thank
you” to his mother and the Post for the packages we sent them, and told
the audience how much the goodies and personal items from home uplifted
their spirits. Following his remarks the Post Commander presented Josh’s
mother a bouquet of roses, and Josh was presented with the American Legion
Medal, the American Legion Certificate of Appreciation, along with a
framed portrait of the American Bald Eagle with the American Legion symbol
imbedded in the background. A special presentation was also made to him
on behalf of the Command Sergeant Major, United States Army Material
Command by Master Sergeant Loni Smith. Following the ceremony
refreshments were served. I would like to thank Dewitt, Alan Amos, Ann,
Helen, Linda, and Jen for their hard work behind the scene to ensure this
was a great success.
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Post 162 Flag Disposal
Program Reminder
(Public Affairs Officer)
American Legion Post 162 has a
program that enables people to properly dispose of worn, tattered, faded
or other wise unserviceable flags. As President Wilson eloquently stated
“The flag, which we honor and under which we serve, is the emblem our
unity, our power, our thought and purpose as a nation. It has no character
than that which we give it from generation to generation." The flag code
adopted by the U.S. Congress in 1942 clearly states that "when a flag is
in such a condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display it
should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning."
You may drop off your
unserviceable flags at the Post home located at 8210 Legion Drive, Lorton
Virginia or we have a solid metal repository, which has the actual shape
and look of an American Flag located at the Lorton Fire Station.
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Membership
Unfortunately, we did not
make 100% by the end of the year. The good news is we are ahead of
National’s schedule. We have over 60 members who have not as yet renewed
for 2007. We are still trying to achieve 100% prior to any other Post in
the 17th District (none are there yet). We are currently
sitting at 91.49% and have 29 new members.
I have forwarded a list of
delinquent members to our webmaster for posting on our site. Please check
it out to see if you know anyone and nudge them into renewing – this is a
great organization and we need all the members we can get.
Bill Strawsburg
1st Vice - Membership
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BIRTHDAY PARTY DATES
Every month we have a post
birthday party for those special individuals who happen to be born in that
month. Do we have your name? Have you signed-up? See the ABC Manager on
duty. The upcoming dates for the next parties are as follows:
February 16, 2007
March 16, 2007
April 20, 2007
IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY, IT’S A
PARTY, HOW OLD ARE YOU…NO KIDDING!!
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Auxiliary News
Well we have made it through
the Christmas rush. The decorations are all put away, the trees are down,
our credit cards are maxed out, and we have begun our New Year’s
Resolutions.
Unit 162 has been very busy.
Projects completed include the new children’s playground, the children’s
Christmas Party, providing deserts for the Post Christmas Party, providing
Thanksgiving dinner for 2 area needy families, donations of gloves and
mittens to Lorton Community Action Center, and made several donations for
sponsored charities.
We also sent the VA homes in
our area generous donations of Christmas gifts for our Veterans and signed
hundreds of Christmas Cards that were sent overseas to our troops.
Birthdays: Leona, Maggie,
Shelia, and Candy; Happy belated birthday to all!!
Upcoming events include
Initiation Ceremony during February meeting; Children’s Easter Party 25
March; Car Wash & Rummage Sale fund raisers; and the Spring Conference in
VA Beach.
Also, there are a few ladies
who haven’t renewed for 2007 as yet – if you haven’t done it yet – Git-R-Done!!
Linda Salgado-Kowatch
Unit Secretary
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Club News
The Holiday rush is over but
your Social Quarters at the Post Home isn’t going to slow down. Upcoming
events include a pig roast during March or April; a wine and cheese
tasting (watch for date); and aSpaghetti Dinner 17 Feb for $5.00 with all
proceeds going to Landstuhl Hospital Care Project.
Special THANKS go out to
Brenda and Larry Tislow and Patricia Driscoll for their help in washing
the walls and chairs in the Hall, and to Jimmy Blount for painting the
wood trim. Also, new tables arrived for the Hall, Jimmy, Bobby Chambers
and Bill Strawsburg all ended up with personal injuries unpacking the new
ones and taking out the old ones. They made Dolores’ first day a very
interesting one. Thanks for the hard work and the most productive three
day weekend we’ve had in a long time.
We are trying out a limited
menu beginning in February:
Mondays
Noon to 3:00 pm
Lunch Special
4:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Beef Tips and noodles w/salad - $6.50
Tuesdays
Noon to 7:00 p.m.
“Tacos all Day”
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Beef
Chicken
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Taco
$1.00
$2.00 |
Salad
$2.00
$3.00 |
Wednesdays
4:00 to 7:00 pm
Soup de Jour and Sandwich - $4.00
Thursdays
1st Thurs – 4 to 7 - Double stuffed pork chops, mashed pot
& green beans - $7.00
2nd Thurs – 12 to 7 - Wingdings & fries $3.00 for 6
3rd Thurs – 5:30
to ? - Oysters on the half shell $1.00 or 3 for $2.00
4th Thurs – 12 to 7 – Spiced shrimp - $6.50/doz
5th Thurs (Mar, Jun, Aug, Nov) – 4 to 7 – Jen’s fried chicken
dinner - $6.50
Fridays
4:00 to 7:00
Free pizza
Karaoke Specials 8 – 10:30
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Your Service – Your Benefits
By Art Dupay - Post Service Officer
2007 has the potential for
being a banner year in the introduction and passage of new and revised
benefits and entitlements. Although Democrats and Republicans may not
agree on our current military strategy, individual lawmakers from both
parties are looking forward to the 2008 Presidential Election Campaign and
want to be on record for supporting the troops. Introduced in the 110th
Congress are at least 18 bills in the House and seven in Senate committees
having significant interest to the military community. Your American
Legion Headquarters watches the progress on these bills and generates
support for co-sponsorship by letting our representatives know of the
veterans’ feelings on the issues. Some of the bills we are tracking are:
§
A bill to allow
members of the Armed Forces and Selected Reserve to transfer certain
educational assistance benefits to dependents.
§
A bill to allow
veterans to be referred to civilian care when health care standards with
the VA are not met.
§
A bill to
improve access to medical services for veterans seeking treatment at VA
outpatient clinics with exceptionally long waiting periods.
§
A bill to amend
IRS Code to allow refundable credit to military retirees for premiums paid
for coverage under Medicare Part B.
§
Several bills
dealing with payment on Combat-Related Special Compensation.
§
A bill to
identify and test members of the Armed Forces exposed to depleted uranium
during military service.
Also on the congressional
agenda is debate on the recommendation by the Secretary of Defense for a
permanent increase in Military End Strength – the maximum number of
individuals the Services can have on active duty. The SecDef
recommendation is for 65,000 soldiers and 27,000 Marines to be added to
current active duty limits over the next 5 years. Present limits are:
Army – 512,400; Air Force – 334,200; Navy – 340,700, and Marine Corps –
180,000.
Other news: The President
recently signed into law a 3.3% increase in disability compensation, VA
pension, and survivors’ benefits for veterans and eligible family members.
National Defense Authorization
Act 2007 Update: Military contractors operating in combat zones are now
subject to the UCMJ. Law formally only applied “in time of war,” has now
been expanded to cover “contingency operations.”
NDAA 2007 Update: Members
retiring on or after January 1, 2007 will receive credit for years of
active beyond 30 years. Presently retired pay this is capped at 75% of
base pay and is computed from 75% to 100% of the final active duty base
pay.
New Navy Lodge opens in
Norfolk, VA. 100-room state-of-the-art hotel open for business claims to
be 40% less costly than comparable civilian hotels. Call 1-800-NAVY-INN
for reservations. You cannot be bumped once you make a reservation.
Retirees can also make reservations (medical - 60 days out; leisure – 30
days out; surviving spouses and family members – 30 days out).
Got a service benefit related
question or need help initiating a claim? Contact me, artdupay@us.ibm.com,
or any Post 162 officer for assistance.
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