FRA BRANCH 126 NEWS FOR DECEMBER 2016 ADDRESS ALL MAIL TO: FLEET RESERVE HALL, 7673 BLANDING BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, FL

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1 PRESIDENT PRESIDENT FRA BRANCH 126 & SE Region VP JAMES J. THOMAS ALVIN D. ROBY Phone Phone VICE PRESIDENT HERMAN ELROD VERALYN THOMAS Phone Phone West Jax FR HALL INC UNIT 126 & SE Region PRESIDENT SECRETARY BRANCH CHAPLAIN MARTHA KLINIKOWSKI Vacant Phone Phone TREASURER / EDITOR WILLIAM T. KULIER EDWARD H. GRIBBIN Phone Phone MEMBERSHIP ADDRESS ALL MAIL TO: FLEET RESERVE HALL, 7673 BLANDING BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, FL HALL TELEPHONE (904) BRANCH WEB SITE: DECEMBER 2016 EDITION NOTICE: The items or opinions published in the Branch 126 Newsletter are those of the contributor of that particular article, and not necessarily that of the Editor, FRA Branch 126 Inc., or the Fleet Reserve Association. DECEMBER 2016 Monday 05 Dec 1930 West Jacksonville Board of Directors meeting Wednesday 07 Dec 1930 Branch Board of Directors meeting Wednesday 07 Dec Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Thursday 15 Dec 2000 Branch Meeting Sunday 18 Dec 1400 Family Christmas Covered Dish Dinner (page 2) Saturday 24 Dec Hanukkah begins at sunset Sunday 25 Dec Merry Christmas JANUARY 2017 Sunday 01 Jan Happy New Year! Hanukkah Ends at Sunset Monday 02 Jan 1900 West Jax Inc. Board of Directors meeting Wednesday 04 Jan 1930 Branch Board of Directors meeting Saturday 07 Jan 1000 Grading of Americanism Essays Thursday 19 Jan 2000 Branch meeting Monday 23 Jan 0900 AARP Driver Safety course (below) AARP Driver Safety Program Course This year the course will be a one day class held on on Monday, 23 January 2017 from 8:30am to 3pm. Bring a brown bag lunch. Coffee and water will be provided and cold drinks are available for 50 cents. You have to attend all day to get credit for the course. The cost is $20.00 per person or $15.00 if you are an AARP member. You must bring your AARP membership card in order to get the $15.00 discounted price. Certificates of completion will be mailed to you approximately two days after the course. A Sign-up sheet is posted on the Bulletin Board in the Hall. The Korean War Veteran s Association meets at the Branch Hall on the 4 th Tuesday of each month. The hall opens at noon and the meeting starts at The POC is Shipmate Henry Moreland at (904) Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday and Happy New Year from your newsletter crew! Jack Elrod, Ed Gribbin, Johnny Johnson, Bill & Flo Kulier, Al Peter, Al Roby, James Thomas & LAFRA RPSE Veralyn Thomas. 1

2 THE PRESIDENT S CORNER JAMES J. THOMAS. (904) aquaspaceventure@aol.com Food Baskets The ladies of LA FRA Unit 126 will be making up baskets of food to be distributed to the needy for Christmas. Bins have been set up in the Branch Home for your donation of canned goods and staples. The deadline for your Christmas food basket donation is at the Family Christmas Dinner on 18 December. So please bring a Christmas Basket item to the Christmas Dinner along with your Covered Dish. Santa may be watching you BRANCH ACTIVITIES James J. Thomas SUNDAY, 18 DECEMBER 2016 A Covered Dish Christmas Dinner will start at 1400, for members and their families. Bring a covered dish with enough food for your family plus a few more. There is no charge for this event. We will supply the Ham, Turkey, Coffee, Iced Tea and condiments. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Cuanza and Happy New Year The West Jax Fleet Reserve Hall Inc President s Corner Al Roby VP: Herman Jack Elrod (904) Secretary: James J. Thomas (904) Treasurer: Clinton Attebery (904) Election of Officers Nominations for the West Jax Fleet Reserve Hall Inc. Board of Directors were opened during the Branch meeting of 17 Nov and remain open until elections are held at the Branch meeting of 15 Dec Contact Shipmate Thomas if you can donate a few hours a month helping to maintain the Branch Home and grounds. The Medical Equipment locker: We have many wheel chairs loaned out with a few available for check out at this time. These are high demand items so please be sure to bring them back as soon as you are done with them. We also have a good supply of canes, crutches, potty chairs & assorted equipment to loan out. Call Shipmate Johnson at or Al Roby at from your Branch Board of Directors: James J. Thomas, Jack Elrod, Martha Klinikowski, Bill Kulier, Clinton Bud Attebery, Ed Gribbin, Al Peter, Donald Rodely, Al Roby, Donald Walsh and Elmer Wine. We thank Shipmate Wayman S of Gordon, Texas for his generous donation to our Branch News Letter Fund. We appreciate your support! 2

3 Branch 126 Shipmates and Ladies participated in Veterans Day Parade in Jacksonville, FL on 11/11/16. Pictured L-R in front row are Shipmates Edward Hamilton, Donald Rodely, David Burris, Terrance Johnson and Bill Kulier. Standing on the trailer are Shipmate Johnny Johnson, Edith Johnson, Tessie Varra, Paul Hetz and Florence Kulier. A special thanks to Shipmate Hamilton for providing and operating the tow vehicle. Branch 126 President James J. Thomas (R) presented a Letter of Commendation to Shipmate Donald Walsh for achieving 50 years of continuous membership in the FRA. The award, presented at the Branch meeting of 20 October 2016, included a lapel pin and a Platinum Membership Card denoting a lifetime membership. 3

4 Don t Get Sick, Get Stuck - MEDICARE beneficiaries can get the flu shot at no cost from their doctor, a participating retail network pharmacy or from a military hospital or clinic. If you get the shot at a pharmacy, make sure that you get it from the pharmacist. If it is administered by another health professional at a clinic within the pharmacy, it may not be covered. If you get your flu shot from a military hospital or clinic, you may want to call ahead to find a good time and make sure it is available. This year, the recommended flu vaccine an injectable flu shut. IN MEMORY OF OUR DEPARTED SHIPMATES Shipmate ETC Ronald E. Gates, USN, Retired, age 70, an FRA member since 1987, reported to the Staff of the Supreme Commander on 6 July Chief Petty Officer Gates was a resident of St Augustine, FL. Shipmate UT2 John JD Scott, USN, Retired, age 79, an FRA member since 2002 reported to the Staff of the Supreme Commander on 06 October Petty Officer Scott was an FRA Life Member and a resident of Orange Park, Florida. FLAG SALES Al Peter... (904) All Nylon and the Cotton Bulldog flags have sewn stars & stripes while the other Cotton flags have printed stars & stripes. We have the following flags in stock. 3x5 Nylon Flag---$ x6 Nylon Flag--- $ x8 Nylon Flag--- $ x12 Nylon Flag x5 Nylon POW/MIA Flag---- $ We have a few Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard 3x5 Flags in stock for $ SBP Benefits to 2nd Spouse The Defense Finance and Accounting Services (DFAS) is providing an open season for retirees enrolled in the Survivor Benefit Program (SBP). Those who are divorced with a deceased former spouse can change the SBP beneficiary from the former deceased spouse to a current spouse. The open season ends November 24, To be eligible for the change the following is required: Senior Shipmate AMC Synix E. Sullivan, USN, Retired, age 94, an FRA member since 1955, reported to the Staff of the Supreme Commander on 20 October Chief Petty Officer Sullivan was a resident of Franklin, NC. His passing was reported to the Branch President by his daughter in law. The deceased former spouse died before November 25, 2015 The retiree married the current spouse on or before November 25, 2015 The former-spouse coverage must have been canceled due to death DFAS has identified retirees they believe are eligible to make the change and were supposed to notify retirees by mail. If you believe you are eligible but did not receive a letter, you can contact DFAS at (800) to let them know you meet the eligibility criteria. 4

5 The Ship s Store Al Peter. (904) Branch 126 Apparel Ball Hat.. $10.00 Polo Shirt (Blue) $27.00, size S, M, L, XL Bowling Shirt. $41.00, sizes, M thru 3XL Fore n Aft Cap.. $45.00 & Up (special order) DEERS and Your Income Tax Reporting When you do not have your family enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS), the Department of Defense (DoD) cannot accurately report your healthcare coverage to the Internal Revenue Service. Starting last year, the DoD reported health care coverage of its service members and their dependents to the IRS. This report Branch 126 Shipmates and Ladies attended a Veteran s Appreciation Dinner on 10 November 2016 hosted by the NJROTC Cadets at Fleming Island High School in Fleming Island, Florida. The 7 Shipmates and Ladies pictured on the left side of the table are Edward & Beverly Gribbin, Shirley & Clinton Attebery, Flo Kulier and Edith & Johnny Johnson. Pictured on the right side of the table are Donald &?? Rodely, Elmer Wine Jr. and Al Peter. Shipmate Bill Kulier took the photo. allows the IRS to determine which families had minimum essential coverage (MEC) as required by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). For general ACA tax questions, please use the Yellow Pages to contact your local IRS Service Center or go to For more information on how TRICARE works with the ACA, go to the TRICARE website. An elderly, but hardy cattleman from Texas once told a young female neighbor that if she wanted to live a long life, the secret was to sprinkle a pinch of gunpowder on her oatmeal each morning. She did this religiously and lived to the age of 103. She left behind 14 children, 30 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, five great-great-grandchildren and a 40 foot hole where the crematorium used to be. 5