Category: Commentary

Commander’s Corner: Veterans Day 2024 Edition

Comrades,

As we approach Veterans Day, I want to take a moment to reflect on the significance of this time of year. It’s not just a day for remembering—it’s a time to reconnect with the values that define us: service, sacrifice, and camaraderie. These values are at the heart of everything we do here at VFW Post 3063.

On Nov. 11 starting at 9 a.m., we will be hosting our Veterans Day Open House. This event is more than just a community gathering—it’s a chance for us to come together as a post, to honor our shared experiences, and to welcome others into our fold. Whether through displaying artifacts, sharing stories, or simply being present, every one of us has something valuable to contribute. We also need volunteers! Please see this sign up for available slots.

I encourage all of you to take part, not just in this event, but in the life of our post. As members we are part of something much bigger than ourselves. Together we have the power to create lasting connections, support each other, and ensure the legacy of our service lives on in our community.

Let’s make this Veterans Day a true celebration of who we are and what we stand for. I look forward to seeing you there.

In comradeship,
Aly Teeter, Commander

Commander’s Corner (October 2024)

During our Sept. 5 business meeting, we voted to adopt the VFW Post 3063 strategic plan. This plan is a roadmap that addresses our current challenges and sets clear goals for the future. The strategic plan outlines several key goals: increasing member participation, redeveloping our post into a central hub for veterans, ensuring financial accountability, and enhancing veteran recruitment and entitlement awareness.

Our newly formed Strategy Committee is working to implement these goals, especially membership participation. Thank you to everyone who has stepped up to volunteer their ideas and time to improve the health of our post.

Goal two is redeveloping our post and we recently hired a project manager (and Navy retiree), Brian Lauer. You may see him pop in for meetings or stop by the post during office hours since he’s in the midst of the redevelopment discovery process. We’re excited to work with him to help reach our goal of redeveloping into a central hub for veterans.

FYI: we’re hosting a Halloween-themed concert fundraiser for our Post 3063 Relief Fund on Oct. 26. You can buy tickets now on Eventbrite. Thank you to Past Commander Joe Tiffany for organizing! 

Youth essays are due at the end of the month on Oct. 31. Please spread the word! Now is go time.

Lastly, mark your calendars for Nov. 11. We’ll be hosting a Veterans Day Open House and lunch at the post. The flyer is included below.

If you want to get involved with any of these initiatives or events — we can always use more help! — please contact me at [email protected] or 206-701-9259.


In comradeship,
Aly Teeter, Commander

Commander’s Corner (July 2024)

Greetings Comrades,

As we approach the 4th of July holiday, I hope you all have plans to enjoy this special time with family and friends. It’s a perfect opportunity to reflect on the freedoms we cherish and the sacrifices made by so many in the name of freedom.

Meeting Time Change

Please note that due to the Independence Day celebrations, our regular monthly meeting is rescheduled to the second Thursday, which is July 11.

Core Values, Mission, and Vision Statements

Our post members have worked diligently with a facilitator to develop a list of Post 3063 core values and draft mission and vision statements. Leadership will use these statements to guide our strategy for potential redevelopment. We need everyone to take a look at the draft statements and make their top pick for a vision and mission statement by July 10! We’ll review the results and deliberate at the July 11 business meeting.

Volunteers Needed for Ballard SeafoodFest

We need volunteers for the Ballard SeafoodFest on July 13-14. We only had a few volunteers for the Fremont Fair, which created a burden for a couple of us who had to staff the booth nearly the entire weekend. Let’s not do this again. Please step up and write your name down on this volunteer schedule. Thank you in advance to everyone who is willing to take time out from a summer weekend to help!

Upcoming Brunch

Lastly, we’re hosting a brunch on July 20 that will be cooked by our business neighbor, Colt. (He cooked the amazing lasagna for our Vietnam Veterans social.) We’re still working on the menu, but I’ve heard whispers about biscuits and gravy. In the very least, come on out, grab a coffee, and say hi as you start your weekend.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to veterans. Stay safe and happy 4th of July!

In comradeship,
Aly Teeter, Commander

Quartermaster Update (May 2024)

By Harold Hamilton

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.

Service Officer Update (May 2024)

By Joseph Mesa

In 2023, several critical issues concerning veterans have come to the forefront. Some of the key areas:

Disability and Retirement Pay:
1. Last year, Congress passed a significant benefits expansion for veterans affected by toxic exposure injuries during their service.
2. However, the focus this year is on ensuring that veterans who suffered injuries while on duty receive all the compensation they deserve.
3. The issue revolves around concurrent receipt and the Major Richard Star Act.
4. Currently, veterans with a disability rating of at least 50% receive both their full military retirement pay and disability benefits. But those with a disability rating below 50% face dollar-for-dollar offsets, resulting in reduced payments.
5. The Major Richard Star Act aims to allow combat-wounded veterans medically discharged before serving 20 years to receive both retirement and disability pay, without any offsets.

Mental Health Crisis:
1. Veterans experience high rates of mental health conditions, including PTSD, depression, and substance use.
2. Suicides among veterans increased significantly from 2006 to 2020.
3. Innovative treatment strategies are urgently needed, and addressing mental and metabolic health simultaneously may lead to better outcomes.

VA Workforce Challenges:
1. The Department of Veterans Affairs faces a flood of new cases due to the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act(PACT Act).
2. Claims processors are strained, leading to workforce challenges and impacting veterans’ access to services.

Finally, all veterans, including those exposed to toxins and hazards during military service, are now eligible for VA health care. Veterans who are exposed to toxins or hazards during training or active duty in the United States are also eligible. Eligible Veterans can enroll directly in VA health care without needing to apply for VA benefits.