Ballard Eagleson VFW Post 3063’s October 2017 newsletter is available for download here. Highlights include September Spaghetti Fundraiser Nets $4K for Relief Fund; 105 year-old WWII Vet Joins Post During Birthday Party; Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen Essays due Oct. 31; and Veteran Designation Available for WA State Driver’s Licenses.
Category: News
Veteran Designation Available for WA State Driver’s Licenses
Courtesy of VFW Department of WA Facebook Page
You can now get a Veteran designation on your WA driver licenses or ID card. If you’re only changing your veterans status, you will get a replacement license with the veteran status added for free. (If you’re renewing your license or adding an endorsement you will need to pay the normal fees for that.)
Bring your DD Form 214 that shows “honorable” or “general under honorable conditions” status to a driver licensing office. If you don’t have your DD Form 214 you can request your military service records online, by mail, or by fax at https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records.
More information about the license is available at http://www.dol.wa.gov/driverslicense/military.html.
Quartermaster’s Update (September 2017)
It’s been said that all things change. Geological change appears unchanging to us while Moore’s Law concerning computing seems to allow change so rapid we can hardly follow.
As we grow older we change physically and mentally. It seems just yesterday I was a young man with many goals, working hard and supporting a family. Suddenly I realize I’m an old man having achieved many of those goals, approaching the winter of my life and finding the changes in our world and country almost incomprehensible.
Change is happening in our post as well. Commander Krawitz has changed our meeting format with the post meeting together with our auxiliary in the large hall followed by separate business meetings, with the post remaining in the large hall and the auxiliary moving to the smaller room. Starting the monthly meeting together with our auxiliary promotes teamwork and encourages shared goals. It looks to me like a good change.
Yoga class resumes on 9/16 when our yoga teacher, Alicia, returns from vacation. If you want to change your body and mind, even temporarily, come on out for yoga, it stretches your body and mind while enriching your spirit.
Our spaghetti feed fund raiser on September 9th changed from years past when it was held in the spring. Buy your tickets early and take advantage of the advance raffle ticket sales. Hard to beat 30 tickets for twenty dollars and it’s a good way to increase your odds of winning your favorite prize.
Speaking of, there are many wonderful prizes for the fund-raising raffle. Local businesses have generously contributed some wonderful gifts just waiting for your lucky draw. Mark your calendar, buy your tickets and let’s have a great time while raising money for our post relief fund.
We have received many flags deserving of respectful retirement so we are changing our flag retirement ceremony from one to two this month. First one will start at 10:00 a.m. on the sixth and the second will start at 11:30, September 13th, after yoga.
Now for some personal change. After 42 years in Magnolia, my wife and I are selling our house and moving farther north, or east, or maybe south or west. We’ve gotten older, the place was convenient to downtown and our VFW post but change reigns eternal so we decided we couldn’t wait any longer to change home locations. If we find a place close enough to Ballard, I’ll stay active in the post and even if our new home is farther way, I’ll work with whoever you choose to take on the responsibility of quartermaster in the future.
As these changes happen, each of us must contribute what we can to further our VFW goals.
I wish everyone in our post more success during the months and years ahead.
September 2017 Newsletter Available for Download
Ballard Eagleson VFW Post 3063’s September 2017 newsletter is available for download here. Highlights include Post 3063 Reps Attend National Convention in New Orleans; Ken Burns Vietnam Documentary Airs Sept. 17 on PBS; VA Coordinator Needed; Fundraiser Quickly Approaching; WDVA hosting Women Veterans Summit in Lynnwood Sept. 16; and Color Guard Represents.
From the Commander (September 2017)
By Pete Krawitz
Comrades,
On August 12th, Comrade Rodenberger and I attended the Department of Washington’s “School of Instruction” in Everett. This event gave us the opportunity to hear from our new State Commander (John Bradburn) and Auxiliary President (Laurie Lukas). They discussed their vision/theme for the 2017/2018 calendar year. Department’s theme this year is TEAM – Together Everyone Achieves More. The State Leadership team is particularly interested in the VFW and Auxiliary working together to achieve more.
Post 3063 is already making some changes to work more closely with our own Auxiliary. Earlier this month, I met with our Auxiliary president (Margaret Philips) to discuss some ideas and plan a few small changes that will hopefully increase the collaboration between our two groups. We will announce a few of these minor changes at our September business meeting.
While the summer is coming to a close, we do have a great event planned to see us into the fall. Our annual Spaghetti Dinner and Raffle Fundraiser will be held on September 9th. We hope to see you, your family, and your friends there! While we are on the topic of fundraisers, if you have any ideas or wish to lead a fundraiser down the road, please let me know. I’ve already had a few members approach me with some great ideas.
Lastly, have you ever wondered which pieces of legislation the VFW supports? You can find the list here at this website: http://capwiz.com/vfw/issues/bills/.