News

This is a recurring column that highlights new VFW Post 3063 members. Comrade Shennae Curtis joined in October 2020 and volunteered to be the Post 3063 Historian.

What motivated you to join the VFW? After seeing so many of my compatriots struggle as they got out to find purpose and meaning in their lives I realized that what I really wanted was a community. One of the things that is hard to find in civilian life but was easy when I was in the military is finding a network of people all trying to achieve the same positive goal. While the time has passed for me to be on active duty, the VFW is a way to still support both my country and the people that protected it.

What is your military background? In the Navy I was a nuclear Electrician's Mate. We worked long hours, in the depths of a ship, with little in the way of sunlight or communication to the outside. It was difficult, but by bonding together we managed to make the most of it. Some of the strongest bonds that I've made in my life were in the service, and I carry them to this day.

Civilian job, education, family, hobbies, or anything else you’d like to tell us about yourself? Now I've taken a much less stressful position as a Field Service Engineer for a lighting control company and spend my off hours pursuing my education or reading.

What do you hope to achieve being a member of the VFW? As Post historian I hope to catalog all the stories that Post 3063 holds. I would like to capture all the memories that we have and preserve them so that new members can see all that we've accomplished and all that we've experienced. If you would like your stories put to record, please reach out to me: scurtisnavy@gmail.com.

By Harold Rodenberger

Welcome to SPRING 2021. As we move toward more freedoms, let’s take a break from earthly restrictions and look to the heavens for inspiration. This quarter we’ll see three “super” moons in a row: The Super Pink Moon on 4/27, the Super Flower Moon on 5/26 and the Super Strawberry Moon on 6/24. There also will be a short full lunar eclipse of the Flower Moon on 5/26 that can be seen from the west coast, if the sky is clear.

Looking to the heavens reminds me to be thankful that the vaccines were developed quickly and are being administered to more and more people. Please do your part to protect yourself, your families and your countrymen by getting your shot(s) as soon as you can. The more people vaccinated, the quicker we can put this virus behind us.

Big things are happening not only in the lunar realm but also right here in Ballard at your VFW Post. We are experimenting with a hybrid in-person and Zoom meeting for our April business meeting. If that goes well, we will have combined in-person and Zoom meetings into the future. The goal is to have regular meetings in person and Zoom for our members across the States and around the world to tune in and participate.

Around the hall, our ceiling project is finished. The newer ceiling tiles look fresh and clean. Thanks again to the volunteers who helped. Member Michael Mahar devoted many hours to cleaning up the hillside north of our parking lot, and for the past couple months volunteer Campbell Krawitz has spent many hours helping spruce up the hall. Many thanks to both.

Chef Kay and crew have been putting out some seriously good take away dinners for our third Thursday socials. The past few months she has been preparing one hundred meals. This is the maximum we can handle, so remember every third Thursday and reserve your order before they’re gone.

Memorial Day is coming in May. We have small, 12” x 8” flags on 24” sticks that were donated by ACE Hardware and are available to members free of charge. If you would like some for memorial or patriotic purposes, please stop by the office and pick them up.

Finally, as always, keep a weather eye out for new members. Help keep our post growing!

Ballard Eagleson VFW Post 3063’s March 2021 newsletter is posted here. Highlights include: The Surgeon Says: Covid-19 Update; Get Your Covid-19 Vaccine From VA; 0 to 100 Project Launch Includes Post 3063 Member Portraits; Service Flashback: Robert Kettle; Empty Lot Next to Post 3063 Slated to Become Electric Vehicle Charging Site; Save on Online Shopping; Your New VA Welcome Kit; and Upgrade Your Military Discharge.

Comrade Robert Kettle, Commander, U.S. Navy (Retired) provided these images from his service overseas. From 1990 to 2012, his naval and joint service included serving at sea (Bosnia, GWOT, Iraq, Afghanistan), on land (Iraq, Russia), and on staff (Kosovo while with EUCOM as J2 XO). Bob says his purpose was, "To serve my nation in something that’s not just a job but an adventure that supports life, liberty and the pursuit of all those who threaten it!"

We'd love to see your photos too! Submit them to editor@vfwseattle.org.