News

By Harold Rodenberger

 

On the Fourth of July several members of our post visited the VA Hospital located on Beacon Hill here in Seattle. We took drinks and snacks and passed them out to the patients and staff. Some who were on restricted diets only took a can of diet soda but others had their choice of various goodies. The favorites seemed to be Slim Jims and fruit drinks.

 

More important than the goodies were the pleasant words and good wishes we passed along to the patients. We also thanked the staff members for working on the holiday when most other folks were celebrating the birthday of our country.

 

We noticed many empty beds this visit and found out that as many patients as possible are given a pass over the holiday to visit their families so they have a short break from their hospitalization. After the holiday they will be back in their beds for continuation of their treatments.

 

Those of us who visit the hospital or the various retirement and nursing homes always find it to be a rewarding experience. If you would like to join us on future visits send us an email, contact us via our website or call the office at  206-782-8618.

 

 

Below is the latest news from the Washington State Department of Veterans Affair’s July email bulletin.

 

News from WDVA:

 

You are Invited to attend the Korean War Wreathlaying Ceremony

July 23, 2016

11:00am

Korean War Memorial on the Capitol Campus

Please share this invitation with Korean War Veterans, their families and community members who would like to honor our Korean War Veterans.

http://www.dva.wa.gov/sites/default/files/Korean%20Wreathlaying%20Event.jpg

 

Check out the WDVA Calendar for July Events

(Do you have an event you would like posted?   Email your flyer and event details, or if you have regular events to post, ask us about becoming a WDVA Calendar Contributor!)

 

Follow Us on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and YouTube to read the latest agency information

• Veterans Home at Retsil receives YesVets Decal!
• Seahawks Visit Spokane Veterans Home (Photo Album)
• Spokane Veterans go Fishing courtesy of West Bay Park – Thank you!
• Building 9 goes to the Mariners Game!
• YesVets Ceremony Recognizes Employers (Photo Album)
• Spokane Veterans Home Donates to House of Charity Shelter (Photos)
• Dream Foundation Donates Daybed to Veteran In Need
• National Congress of American Indians discusses TVR Accreditation
• Song and Service visits Washington Veterans Home at Retsil

 

The June 2016 Veteran Voices is now available – get your copy here!  (https://wdva.box.com/s/ygz11xtnkk0y0crxlsp9wczbxkng2kvw)

 

Please join the Governor’s Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee – VAAC – in Chelan for a Town Hall Meeting!

July 21 from 10am – 12pm

Chelan City Hall, 135 E. Johnson Ave, Chelan.

FLYER

 

Nominations are Open for the 2016 Outstanding Awards for Service to Veterans!  

The Governor’s Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee is accepting nominations for the 2016 Washington State Outstanding Awards for Service to Veterans.  These awards are open to all who serve veterans in Washington State and nominations may be submitted by any person, organization or institution. Nominations are due bySeptember 11, 2016 and the winners will be honored in the 50th Auburn Veterans Day Parade on November 7, followed by a special luncheon after the parade. There are three Nomination Categories to choose from: Superior Award – This award is the Committee’s highest honor and is given to recognize clearly superior accomplishments, achievements and outstanding performance. Distinguished Service Award – This award is used to recognize significant accomplishments and special contributions. Team Award – This award is designed to recognize significant accomplishments of a team or group of individuals. This may be for their contributions on a special project, special contribution and outstanding performance. Complete your online nomination here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1yx_rJRD34E5TgUCIR6FhHsFSF8aId_ybVKNvC9CAZ_k/viewform

For additional information please contact Liza Narciso at 360-725-2157 or lisan@dva.wa.gov

 

Please join the Washington State Veterans Cemetery for the annual Unclaimed Cremains Interment Ceremony

September 13, 2016 at 1:00pm. For more information contact cemetery@dva.wa.gov

 

Check out the progress on the Walla Walla State Veterans Home!

(You can even do a time lapse of the construction by clicking on one of the four images and selecting the time lapse option!)

 

Attention Veteran Owned Businesses – Check the Links below for Information and Resources!

• If you’re a Veteran or Servicemember Owned Business – sign up here today!  It’s simple and it’sfree.
• Are you hiring?   Let YesVets and WorkSource connect you with Veterans looking for work!

 

WDVA is Hiring! See the latest Open WDVA Positions here

 

Here’s a list of Upcoming Job Fairs

 

Don’t Miss Out on Veteran/Military Events Taking Place across the State!

Get Notified on WDVA Events

WDVA Facebook Events Tab: https://www.facebook.com/wsdva/events HOW TO SUBSCRIBE: Subscribe to our Facebook Events Tab and never miss out on an event.  To subscribe: Click on the below link (WDVA Facebook Events Tab) and then click on the “Subscribe” button located on the top right side of the events menu bar.

Don’t have Facebook…No Problem! Join our Listserv and/or visit our WDVA Website Calendar

Subscribe to WDVA Listserv: http://listserv.wa.gov/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=WDVA&A=1

WDVA Web Calendar: http://www.dva.wa.gov/calendar

 

Find Out What Else is In the News on the WDVA Web Site.

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By Charles R. Anderson

 

On Flag Day, June 14, 2016, Ballard Eagleson VFW Post 3063 held the first flag retirement service in more than 35 years to dispose properly of worn flags that had been left at the post.

 

It was a windy gray day with a threat of rain looming, perhaps appropriate for such an event.

 

The flags were burned as prescribed by the United States Flag Code. The incinerator device was home-made by our Quartermaster Harold Rodenberger from half of a 55-gallon drum mounted on a piece of salvaged aluminum from an old post sign with wheels added for portability. A raised grating supported the flags, while a healthy bed of burning wood provided the fuel.

By Lisa Oberg, University of Washington

 

As we approach the centennial of the United States’ entry in the first World War (April 6, 2017), staff in Special Collections in the University of Washington Libraries are planning an exhibit of Seattle’s WWI involvement. The exhibit will be installed on campus in late August and will run from September through January, 2017. There are many stories to be told about the war and Seattle’s contributions from the Red Cross hospital, Base Hospital 50, organized by the University of Washington to the Spruce Production Division logging Douglas Fir for the first military aircraft. And, on the home front, there was labor unrest, food rationing, victory gardens, bandage folding, knitting drives and more. Special Collections has some wonderful scrapbooks, personal papers and manuscripts relating to World War I, but we would welcome the loan of the following types of artifacts you might have in your personal collection or family memorabilia to supplement the exhibit.

 

 

• WWI gas mask, helmet or uniform
• Service Flags
• Photos and memorabilia related to the UW’s Base Hospital 50 and U.S. Army Ambulance Corps
• Overseas Hospital Service photos and memorabilia
• WWI medals, unit patches, etc.
• WWI women's service photos and memorabilia
• YMCA flyers, posters, post cards
• Red Cross posters, flyers and other relevant WWI ephemera

 

 

If you have questions related to the exhibit or material you would be willing to loan contact the exhibit curator, Lisa Oberg, Head of Public Service, Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries. Lisa can be reached at 206-543-7492 or lisanne@uw.edu.

 

Mark your calendar and plan to visit the exhibit between Sep 1, 2016, and January 30, 2017. Contact Lisa, as well, if you’re interested in information about any programs offered in conjunction with the exhibit.

 

Our new Ballard Eagleson Color Guard started things off by posting the colors. They looked sharp and performed with precision as they brought the colors to the stage.

 

Kay Seelig, as our Executive Chef, cooked up 230 servings of her tasty spaghetti sauce. Volunteers from her family and our post helped prepare salad ingredients, spaghetti and garlic bread.

 

Chuck Tuft, a 48-year member of our post, and his family along with other volunteers, manned the serving line. Volunteers from our post and Auxiliary baked delicious home-made cakes. More volunteers set up the hall with tables and chairs.

 

Kudos to Russ Seelig and his team for setting up the raffle prize tables and efficiently managing the raffle and thanks to Jesse Basher for serving as Master of Ceremonies.

 

After dinner Barbara Moore, District 2 Senior Vice President, gave a Loyalty Day presentation.

 

In all, more than 40 volunteers set up the hall, cooked and served the dinner, tended bar, raffled prizes and cleaned up. Grandma used to say, and John Heywood recorded in the sixteenth century, “Many hands make light work,” and the old saying was once again proved true on this occasion.

 

By Harold Rodenberger