Author: ateeter

The Auxiliary Corner (May 2017)

The time has come when I must ask for some help from all of the good ladies and gentlemen in this
Auxiliary logowonderful organization to step forward and give VFW Post 3063’s Auxiliary some needed help with membership. Ask your wives, husbands, daughters, sons and friends if they would like to join this organization and help support our service men and woman.

 

Our group gets together every first and third Thursday of the month. On the first Thursday we have our meetings at 5:30 p.m. and we serve a light dinner. On the third Thursday we have our social and we serve a great dinner at 6:30 p.m.
Feel free to contact me at 206-412-7384 if you have any questions or if I can help in any way. Sincerely, Margaret Philips, Post 3063 Auxiliary President

 

May Newsletter Available for Download

Ballard Eagleson VFW Post 3063’s May 2017 newsletter is available for download here. Highlights of May’s issue include: Post Elects 2017-2018 Officers; Post and Sea Cadet Corps Recognize Jessica Chacko’s Service; Museum of Flight Profile of New Member, Bob Drew; and Members Away From Home Profile of Georgia Warrix.

Quartermaster’s Update (May 2017)

By Harold Rodenberger

 

Our recent warmer weather has accelerated my feeling of renewal that happens every spring.

 

The older I get the more I appreciate the sense of renewal that happens this time of year. When I was younger, the days rolled by one by one, weeks took a full week to pass and tomorrows seemed endless.

 

Now, as the passing days, weeks and months total nearly four score years of living on this earth, my days spin by quickly. Sunday barely gets going before Saturday pops up and the months pass like weeks did in years past.

 

I think the apparent speed is caused by accumulating memories that blend current observations with the old. I seldom see a genuinely new thing unless I search for it. The temptation is to go with the same old emotions, fit new sights into the old and categorize the passing scene as, “the same old, same old.” Only if I set out to find a new shape, color or idea nearly hidden in the smoke screen of old memories can I find something that stimulates a new question or thought.

 

Not saying that old memories are bad, just that they should be used with discretion. As I get older I find refuge in some of those old memories of gentler and happier times when time passed slower and multiple blinking, beeping, speaking and vibrating electronic things weren’t competing for my attention.

 

This time of year brings renewal to our VFW Post as well. Joint installation of our new officers and those of our Auxiliary will be held this Thursday, 5/4/17, with our Department Junior Vice Commander, Linda Fairbank, presiding. Linda will be installed as our VFW Department Senior Vice Commander next month at our state convention.

 

Our Post Honor Guard Captain and Chief Librarian, Bill Hoeller, finds it necessary to step down to take care of pressing family matters. Bill has done a wonderful job but must move on and he will be sorely missed.

 

Joe Fitzgerald is stepping into the position of Honor Guard Captain. We receive requests for our honor guard to perform, especially graveside or memorial services, but we need more people to field a proper team even when some members have other commitments. If you are interested in serving on our honor guard, please contact Joe at 206-777-5364 or [email protected].

 

We are looking for someone to serve as our post librarian. Since we have an honor system library, the duties are not time consuming. If you have an interest in books and would like to maintain our library, please let me know.

 

This month we will visit the VA Hospital to host a bingo night on May 23, 2017 and again on Memorial Day when we will visit with and hand out goodies to patients.

 

Remember, “new” is a big part of “reNEWal.”  Sometimes I am reluctant to step out of my daily routine but I need to “embrace renewal,” not only of the natural world around me, but also of the brain. If I let them, new sights and changing scenes can bring new thoughts and memories, rejuvenating a tired old brain and getting our new VFW year off to a running start.

From the Commander (May 2017)

By Nestor Tamayao

 

I bet many of you are thinking what I am – “It’s May already!”  The post will be busy this month with installation of newly elected officers, the Social and Memorial Day activities.  For me, May also marks the fact that my tenure as your commander is coming to a close next month.

 

While many equate May to the Memorial Day holiday, for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, there is a day that has significance as it was the VFW that had it recognized.  That day is May 1st, Loyalty Day.  The day provides an opportunity for all American citizens to reaffirm their loyalty.  Patriotic rallies, parades, public meetings, school programs and other activities are some examples that show citizens’ patriotism and loyalty to our government.

 

Loyalty Day’s roots are not recent.  The idea to hold patriotic rallies started in 1930 to offset the Communist rallies that were held on May Day.  The VFW’s involvement began with the adoption of a resolution at the VFW National Convention in 1949 to make May 1 as Loyalty Day.  In 1954, the resolution was introduced in Congress and approved in 1955.  It was officially recognized with the adoption of Public Law 529 in 1958.

 

Memorial Day gives the opportunity to honor the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.  It was known first as Decoration Day as the day graves of fallen Civil War soldiers were decorated.  The name Memorial Day came into use in 1882.  The name was declared by federal law in 1967.  Some confuse Memorial Day with Veterans Day.  While Memorial Day remembers those who died while serving, Veterans Day honors everyone who has served in the armed services.

 

The month of May provides citizens the opportunities to participate in activities that reflect continuing loyalty to America and honoring those who gave their lives to maintain our cherished freedoms.   If you are not able to attend an organized activity on Memorial Day, you can pause for a moment of silence at 3:00 p.m. on that day to honor those who have died in service to the nation, as The National Moment of Remembrance Act of 2000 encourages.