Category: News

Officer Profile: Gail Engler, Post 3063 Service Officer

Tell us about your new position and what you hope to accomplish during your term.

As Post 3063 Service Officer I help members and their family members file for disability claims and also try to educate and inform members about their veterans benefits. I am especially interested in making sure our senior and elderly veterans are aware of the Aid and Attendance benefit which can help pay for assisted living if they qualify. I am at the Ballard Senior Center the 3rd Thursday of each month for several hours and available at the post by appointment as needed. I also visit several of our WWII Veterans who reside in retirement homes and assisted living.

 

How long have you belonged to Post 3063 and did you previously serve in an officer position?

I joined Post 3063 in October 2009. I am now a VFW Life Member thanks to the generosity of Post 3063. I previously served as a Trustee for Post 3063.

 

What is your military background?

I joined the Army in 1975 right after graduating from high school. I was on active duty until June 1977 and was a Radio Operator, serving in the small town of Schwabisch Gmuend, Germany. It was quite an adventure going from a smallish town in Montana to a small town in Germany. I was assigned to HQ, 56th Field Artillery Brigade. I enjoyed traveling throughout Europe while there and my mom even traveled by herself all the way from Montana to come visit me. That was nice considering she was quite reluctant for me to join the Army in the first place. My dad didn’t “protest” too much about my joining the service. He was a WWII Veteran—a Marine who fought on Okinawa. I am so humbled by these courageous WWII Veterans and their service during such a horrible war.

 

After my active duty service I got out and six months later I joined the Army Reserve. It was a good way to help pay for college in addition to having the camaraderie of belonging to a “select” group of people.

 

I also was deployed to Baghdad, Iraq in 2004, serving with an Engineer Battalion while living in Missoula, Montana.

 

I retired from the Army Reserve in June 2015 and also from my civil service career where I served as a Military Technician since 1996. My last duty station was in Marysville, WA with the 364th Expeditionary Sustainment Command.

 

What do you enjoy most about belonging to the VFW?

I like helping people so I enjoy being a service officer. There are many great people in our post and I enjoy working together with them to help our fellow veterans, those who are currently serving and their family members and to make our community a better place. I think we all have a responsibility to do so.

Post reps attend state’s 70th Annual Mid-Winter Conference

By Nestor Tamayao

 

The Department of Washington 70th Annual Mid-Winter Conference took place on Jan. 20 and 21, 2017 in Vancouver, Wash. Those who attended the conference along with me were Quartermaster Harold Rodenberger, Senior Vice-commander / Adjutant Pete Krawitz, Trustee James Williams, Service Officer Gail Engler, Assistant QM Joe Fitzgerald and House Committee member Doug Maines.

 

The conference serves to provide updates to posts statewide and provide training opportunities.  There was a post service officer training session, two phases of recruiting training and a quartermaster class. At the general business sessions, chairpersons of 27 committees provided updates of their respective committees, such as federal legislation, audit, inspections, public relations, POW/MIA and many others. The business session allowed candidates to inform the membership of their intent to run for office for which the elections will be held at the Summer Convention in Olympia in June.  Also, pertinent information was disseminated from the State Commander and from the Council of Administration.

 

A highlight of the conference was the Voice of Democracy Banquet.  High school students who were top finalists at each district in the state vied for the top prize of an all-expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C. to compete in the National Competition for a $30,000 scholarship. The Department of Washington winner was Erica Roloff, who was sponsored by District 3.  She will represent Washington State at the National competition. Danika Nolton, who placed 1st at District 2 (which Post 3063 is a part of) placed 5th at the State level.

 

VA and Walgreens Team Up to Provide Flu Vaccinations

The cold and flu season is upon us and the Department of Veterans Affairs has once again teamed up with Walgreens Pharmacies nationwide to allow all veterans who are currently enrolled in the VA healthcare system to be able walk into any of the over 8000 Walgreens nationally (and the Duane Reade pharmacies in the New York metropolitan area) to receive a vaccination at no cost.  Vaccinations will be available through March 31, 2017.Free flu shot

 

Veterans wishing to receive the no cost vaccination simply need to present a Veterans Identification Card and a photo ID, at any participating Walgreens to receive the vaccination.

 

In addition, after the Walgreens pharmacist administers the vaccine Walgreens will transmit that information securely to VA where it becomes part of the patient’s electronic medical record.

 

VA is committed to keeping Veteran patients healthy, and during this flu season, vaccination is the best way to prevent the spread of flu.  No matter where you live, visit your local VA clinic or Walgreens to get a free flu shot.

 

 

Officer Profile: Bill Griffith, Post 3063 Chaplain

Tell us about your new position and what you hope to accomplish during your term.

Last year our chaplain was unable to complete his responsibilities and I was asked if I would be willing to fill in. This year I was asked if I would like to continue as chaplain and I said yes. A concern I have as chaplain is connecting with those in our post who are unable to attend our meetings. Several people in the post have joined me in reaching out to these non-attending members. Our World War II vets are of special concern to our committee. We would value any information that you might have concerning a compatriot who is sick or perhaps for other reasons  is finding it difficult to attend our meetings. We would like to send them a card of encouragement and pay them a visit if possible.

 

How long have you belonged to Post 3063 and did you previously serve in an officer position?

I have been a member of the post for almost four years and this is my first officer position.

 

What is your military background?

Bill Griffith: Soldier of the Quarter
Bill Griffith: Soldier of the Quarter

I was enlisted in the Army starting off as an aircraft mechanic in Korea and then as a flight operations specialist at the Presidio in San Francisco. I was temporally drafted to do clerical work at Sixth Army Headquarters working for a Colonel Lee. Colonel Lee decided that I looked like a fine upstanding soldier and thought that somehow I would do, so he entered me into the Sixth Army soldier of the quarter competition which I amazingly won. The picture in this post adorned the walls of the Sixth Army Headquarters for three months in 1966 as part of this recognition.

 

What do you enjoy most about belonging to the VFW?

I enjoy the community of vets at Post 3063 and like the comradeship of connecting with the vets at the VA Hospital  on an on-going basis.  I also enjoy the work of supporting our quartermaster and guiding the giving and fundraising aspects of post activities.

 

Is there anything else you’d like to tell Post 3063 members?

Although the post does many worthwhile events like visiting the VA and helping veterans with claims for service connected disabilities, I find that just hanging out with the members of the post is the most enjoyable aspect of membership. They are a great group!

 

After a lifetime in aviation I’m now retired. I am currently a docent (tour guide) at the Museum of Flight in Seattle. I am there most Wednesdays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and I would love to give any post member a personal tour.

 

DoD Extends Online Exchange Shopping to Veterans

Courtesy of Defense.gov

 

The Department of Defense announced a policy change that will extend limited online military exchange shopping privileges to all honorably discharged veterans of the military.

 

The veterans online shopping benefit will be effective this Veterans Day, Nov. 11.

 

While shopping privileges exclude the purchase of uniforms, alcohol and tobacco products, it includes the Exchange Services’ dynamic online retail environment known so well to service members and their families. This policy change follows careful analysis, coordination and strong public support.

 

“We are excited to provide these benefits to honorably discharged veterans to recognize their service and welcome them home to their military family,” said Peter Levine, performing the duties for the under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness.

 

“In addition, this initiative represents a low-risk, low-cost opportunity to help fund Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs in support of service members’ and their families’ quality of life. And it’s just the right thing to do,” Levine added.

 

The online benefit will also strengthen the exchanges’ online businesses to better serve current patrons. Inclusion of honorably discharged veterans would conservatively double the exchanges’ online presence, thereby improving the experience for all patrons through improved vendor terms, more competitive merchandise assortments, and improved efficiencies, according to DoD officials.

 

“As a nation, we are grateful for the contributions of our service members. Offering this lifetime online benefit is one small, tangible way the nation can say, ‘Thank you’ to those who served with honor,” Levine said.