At our May 2 business meeting, Post 3063 officers were installed for 2024-2025. They will begin serving in their positions after the Department of Washington Convention in mid-June.
Congratulations to our officers and thank you for volunteering to serve your fellow veterans and the community! Thank you also to Past Commander Nestor Tamayao for presiding.
Here are the elected and appointed officers serving for the next year:
Commander: Alyson Teeter Senior Vice Commander: Gabe Whetsel Junior Vice Commander: Harold Hamilton Quartermaster: Joseph Mesa 3-Year Trustee: Gail Engler 2-Year Trustee: Harold Rodenberger 1-Year Trustee: John Ellingboe 3-year House Committee: Mike Hicks 2-year House Committee: Jesse Basher 1-year House Committee: Bob Lehman Adjutant: Harold Hamilton Service Officer: Joseph Mesa/Harold Hamilton Judge Advocate: Dan Stokke Chaplain: Joe Fitzgerald Surgeon: Bob Lehman Officer of the Day/Guard: Russ Seelig
On May 21 Commander Teeter and Comrade Ellingboe, along with Comrade Jesse Palacios from West Seattle VFW and Dale Watanabe from the Nisei Veterans Committee, received a City of Seattle Government Memorial Day Proclamation.
Comrade and Councilmember Robert Kettle sponsored the proclamation, along with Councilmember and veteran Rob Saka.
This is the first City of Seattle Memorial Day Proclamation in recent history and we commend the veterans on the council for spearheading it. Their recognition honors the bravery and sacrifice of our fallen heroes, and together, we ensure their legacy endures and their service is never forgotten.
City of Seattle PROCLAMATION WHEREAS, Memorial Day has been observed since 1868, and recognized in its more familiar form as we know it today, since the end of World War I, yet before that, it was celebrated on different days and even sometimes referred to as Decoration Day; and WHEREAS, our country honors this day with parades and ceremonies, which is in keeping with General Order No. 11 of Headquarters, Grand Army of the Republic, signed in 1868. The order stated: “no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit”; and WHEREAS, the intent of the order was: “to inaugurate this observance with the hope that it will be kept up from year to year, while a survivor of the war remains to honor the memory of his departed comrades”; and WHEREAS, each year in May, Americans pause to observe Memorial Day, a National holiday since 1971 set aside to remember with dignity and admiration those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our great nation; and WHEREAS, our predecessors who shaped the structure of our government and defended our freedoms so that future generations would be free to live their lives as they chose, set forth the groundwork for higher discoveries in science, exploration, and democratic values, also started long-lasting traditions that enrich our heritage, and fought in wars so that future generations, both near and far, would be free to live their lives; and WHEREAS, on Memorial Day, it is of the utmost importance to hold dear the memories of our friends and family members who have served and gave their last full measure of devotion for our country to help preserve the freedoms and rights guaranteed to all people under the U.S. Constitution; and WHEREAS, on this day, we all pay tribute to those who have given their lives in service of our nation, our fathers, brothers, sons, now also mothers and sisters and daughters and family members, or our neighbors and our friends, and our community whose participation in such events provide a “fitting testimonial of respect” to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation; NOW, THEREFORE THE MAYOR AND SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL RECOGNIZES MEMORIAL DAY, MONDAY, MAY 27TH, 2024 Mayor Bruce A. Harrell Council President Sara Nelson Councilmember Joy Hollingsworth Councilmember Robert Kettle Councilmember Cathy Moore Councilmember Tammy. J. Morales Councilmember Maritza Rivera Councilmember Rob Saka
On April 25 Comrades Teeter and Mesa attended a meeting with representatives from the Seattle Parks Department, Carleton Park Garden Club, and various community organizations to outline plans for a significant renovation of the median strip adjacent to Catharine Blaine K-8 School, home to the Blaine Vietnam Memorial. Post 3063 had previously donated funds to clean the memorial in 2015 and look forward to collaborating with the committee on renovating the memorial.
Quartermaster Harold Hamilton (second from left) and Post 3063 Adopt-A-Unit Coordinator, Alexander Salazar (second from right), presented the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)’s official Adopt-A-Unit certificate to the Washington National Guard’s 181st Brigade Support Battalion Command Sergeant Major, Troy Martin (left), and Battalion Executive Officer, Maj. Chaz Bantle (right) on April 13, 2024.
Previously we adopted two 181 companies but felt compelled to adopt the entire unit since there was interest from both the Guard and VFW leadership for providing more support. Over the course of the previous year, we participated in a variety of events with the 181, including a static display at our post at our Armed Forces Day social and Veterans Day Open House. In addition, their leadership attended our fundraiser and the Post 3063 commander attended their Trunk or Treat event at the Interbay installation. We also hosted a holiday party and donated relief fund money to another party.
Post 3063 is offering a scholarship to deserving soldiers as part of our effort to strengthen ties with the unit. We look forward to offering continued support to the unit’s soldiers and families as we head into the next VFW year!
Hello comrades! We have made it through another VFW year. It’s had its share of ups and downs. Comrades who have moved on to new opportunities and adventures, as well as comrades who have crossed into the undiscovered country from whose bourn no traveler returns. Through it all, our constant core has continued to move the post forward. I want to thank Aly for her leadership. I want to honor our trustees and senior members who have been the heart and soul of our post. Let’s also give a special shout-out to our Scottish Swiss army knife, Jan! We may not appreciate how crucial Jan is to the post’s operation.
We are facing a challenge of relevance in the lives of our veterans. We can be at the forefront of addressing this here at the post. We have the membership mix capable of achieving great things. How do we activate it? Yes, the problem is significant but we must not go gently into that dark night of irrelevance. We have work to do. In this coming year, let’s all commit to spreading our mission. In July, we will ask our members to commit to eight hours of service per month and to bring one guest to a social event per quarter.
