News

By Harold Rodenberger

During pre-pandemic times, veterans in soldiers’ homes and VA hospitals would assemble the Buddy Poppies© that we distribute on Memorial Day, Veterans Day and throughout the year.  Donations from recipients of these poppies go to our Relief Fund, where the money is used to support our mission of caring for comrades in distress and other charitable works.

Because of the virus, this year the normal veteran assembly lines became impossible so our VFW National Commander in Chief asked local post members to assemble poppies.  Our post was one of many who stepped up. We requested 100,000 sets of poppies parts and our volunteers have been busy for the past two weeks, assembling those beautiful poppies.

As of this writing, about half of the sets have been assembled with the remainder on track to be finished in the next two weeks. Completed poppies will be boxed up and shipped back to our National HQ ready to be shipped out to even more volunteers who will distribute them nationwide when it is safe to do so. 

In next month’s newsletter, I’ll publish a full accounting of the results of this project. Meanwhile, many thanks to our members and friends who have been diligently assembling poppies.  

Volunteer Jack helping assemble poppies.

Small poppy assembly line.

Ballard Eagleson VFW Post 3063’s 4th Quarter 2020 newsletter is posted here. Highlights include: From the Commander; Quartermaster’s Update; Update on Covid-19 and Don’t Forget to Wear Your Mask; Youth Essay Entries Due October 31; Fighting Flu Together: Get an Immunization!; Officer Spotlight: Sr. Vice Commander Bryce White; and Service Flashback: Please Send Us Your Photos.

Well Done Comrades!

The raffle that wasn’t - actually was pretty much of a successful Owl!

It was obvious to the fundraising committee that this year our usual sit down Spaghetti Dinner and Raffle was not going to happen due to the restrictions and limitations of Covid-19... and so, the raffle would not happen either.

It began to look like we would just have to make do with the Spaghetti dinner ala take out that Chef Kay Seelig has perfected, and that would be it for this year.

But wait a minute... Comrade Aly Teeter to the rescue! She introduced the committee to the “Bidding Owl” - an online auction she had recently been involved with for a different concern. Maybe the raffle could be replaced by the Bidding Owl!

And so it was....

With a lot of work primarily on the shoulders of Comrade Aly who set it up, and Comrade Harold Rodenberger who implemented the Bidding Owl, we had an online Auction that became, “The raffle that wasn’t.”

Comrade Harold will be submitting all the financial particulars that will be showing that in spite of Covid (or maybe because of Covid) this year’s fundraising effort was very much a success!

Certainly there are many people who contributed in various ways with the fundraiser effort, and without them it would not have happened, but I do want to recognize these people in particular who really stepped up for us to help make this year’s fundraiser a success.

· Comrade Aly’s family who provided the main “Hot Ticket” item for the raffle.

· Richard and Pat Murray for their continuing support of all our post activities.

· The Burien Highline Kiwanis Club who provided the five gift baskets totaling over $500 in value, and another $300 in dinner tickets that were gifted right back to the Post!

I will speak to all of this again later, but for now I just want to thank these people and all of you for your contribution to this year’s fundraiser effort!

Joe Fitzgerald

Post 3063 Commander

This is a recurring column that highlights the 2020-2021 post officers.

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

As the second most senior official in the post, I will assist the Commander in his duties and in preserving order.  I will preside over meetings in the absence of the Commander.  I hope to work with our post members and identify and or initiate programs needed in our community.  Reaching out into our communities is crucial to our organization.  This will help in developing relationships with community leaders and local civic groups.  We must find the ways and means to be more active and visible within our local community.  Finally, I would like to recruit new members to our post.

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

I joined Post 3063 a few years ago.  At first, I would just come every once and a while to connect with other veterans, but lately I have been trying to get more involved and helping in any way possible.  I just recently served as the Junior Vice Commander last year.  I also joined the post’s Honor Guard last year.

What do you enjoy most about belonging to the VFW?

I like belonging to the VFW because the VFW advocates for veterans. If someone needs assistance or wants the camaraderie, the VFW is a great place. If a veteran is having issues with mental health, there is always a helping hand.  I have a purpose to serve, and most Marines have a place in their heart to serve as well.  It's a better way to serve and better the community by doing things such as helping veterans and your community.  We volunteer to make a difference in our community, and we get to meet new people.