PROUD WINNER OF POST EXCELLENCE AWARD

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1 PROUD WINNER OF POST EXCELLENCE AWARD AMERICAN LEGION POST 18 AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY UNIT 18 PO Box 307, Portsmouth, RI Phone: NEWS FROM THE POST ~ Flying InFormation ~ MAR/APR 2013 COMMANDER S BRIEFING Greetings from the West Coast! My family and I are settling in to our new command an F-18/C Strike Fighter Squadron. Below is a picture I snapped of Alcatraz Island. When military families transfer or the service member deploys, it s important to access a support network. In the Ocean State, the Family Assistance Center of the RI National Guard is a great resource for spouses and children offering social activities and many support-based programs to ALL military families (every branch and component). To learn more, contact Sage Maker at A Joint Family Service Assistance Program team is on site! rjerdan@gmail.com CS1 Robert E. Jerdan, USN, Commander We are honored to be a Heritage level sponsor of the year-long PORTSMOUTH 375 celebrations. The goal of organizers is to have each event self-supported leaving a nest egg earmarked for permanent and rotating/ seasonal displays featuring local history courtesy of the Portsmouth Historical Society at the Portsmouth Free Public Library. In keeping with this theme, our 2013 Portsmouth High School Scholarship essay topic is The Importance of Preservation of Local History. The short application form will be available soon to PHS seniors. ECHO TAPS ACROSS AMERICA SATURDAY, 18 MAY RI VETERANS CEMETERY IN EXETER Buglers muster/sign 11 AM; ceremony starts at noon. RI Patriot Guard Riders (PGR) will form a Flag Line. Brass players of all ages and spectators welcome! The 24 notes of TAPS are played in the round. Learn more at For Rhode Island info, contact Michael Jackson of Bugles Across America at istrum4u@cox.net. Operation Stand Down Rhode Island (OSDRI) currently manages five permanent supportive housing facilities for veterans. On Tuesday, 2 APR 3 PM, the house at 790 Providence St., West Warwick, RI, will be dedicated in memory of USMC SGT BRIAN R. ST. GERMAIN who was KIA on 2 APR 2006 in IRAQ supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Guest speaker will be retired COL Susan Luz, author of "The Nightingale of Mosul." She is the daughter-in-law of George Luz, Sr. (Band of Brothers), and married to Brian's cousin, George Luz, Jr. Please join us for this tribute to a hometown hero. Like Sgt. Brian St. Germain Foundation on Facebook.

2 JUNIOR COLUMN As the RI winner of a national competition, I had the opportunity to attend the grand opening of the National World War II Museum s U.S. Freedom Pavilion in New Orleans, LA. All 51 students attending the opening were given the privilege to escort some of our nation s finest servicemen and women through the procession while carrying our State flag. I felt deeply honored by this part of our weekend. Being a Junior Member of the American Legion, I knew this would be a valuable experience. On the day of the ceremony (12 JAN 2013), it was clear that my peers also recognized the importance of our country s veterans. My veteran was Herbert Barton who served in the Navy in the Pacific during the war. He said little of his time there, save with the veteran behind me, a Japanese- American who served in the Pacific as an intelligence officer. Instead he inquired where I was from, how I came to win my state s competition and my future plans. A life-long resident of New Orleans, I learned that he and his wife lost their home, photos and Mr. Barton s medals in KATRINA. Their grandchildren travelled to Washington, DC to get Mr. Barton s medals reissued. I m mindful that time alone does not account for the desensitization of our country with WWII. The information and interactive exhibits at the Museum, but even more so the shining faces of my peers as they spoke with veterans, assures me that our nation s costliest war will not be forgotten on this generation s watch. I know that I will never forget. Myranda Fuentes, Senior, Rogers High School, Newport, RI POST EVERLASTING We re saddened to report the passing of MURRAY W. OBEAR on 25 JAN 2013 at the RI Veterans Home where he resided for many years. May fond memories comfort his family, friends and caretakers. ADJUTANT S REPORT Visit the CALENDAR page on our web site for details for the 2013 reflagging schedule. Volunteers (students, Scouts, fellow citizens) needed. Tentative dates: Portsmouth Saturday, 18 MAY Newport Sunday, 19 MAY Ft. Adams Monday, 20 MAY I m using my space to promote the following: Entertaining Vietnam - a documentary about freelance, non-uso performers who entertained the troops is showing in an on-line film festival at documentary/watch-online/play/10371/ Entertaining\-Vietnam. This site came to me highly recommended! ripost18legion@aol.com Christine Hayward, ADJ/Past CDR FLYING INFORMATION MAR/APR 2013 PG 2 TREASURER S REPORT I love a parade! It s a great honor to assist the Town of Portsmouth during the 375 th celebrations even though I have not lived in the town. My 46 years on Aquidneck Island have been in Newport and Middletown. One may wonder why my enthusiasm over chairing the Parade Committee. The small American Legion Post in my hometown always sponsored the parades during official holidays and other occasions. The American Legion always stepped up and offered refreshments at the Post Home after the parade concluded and hosted the official presentations to participating dignitaries. Today, we are aware that few posts are unable to carry on this patriotic tradition for a variety of reasons (age, health, money, lack of interest and few volunteers). Our Post is extremely fortunate to have many members still willing and able to support this worthy cause, and I m privileged to be a part of this team. Post & Unit 18 will also participate in the parade with a good contingent of marchers behind our banner. We hope to make arrangements for a vehicle for those unable to march. Please, mark your calendars for Saturday, 31 August, 2013 and join us. Be PROUD to be a member of the largest Veterans Service Organization (VSO)! geoedna@aol.com RMC George Wardwell, USNR (Ret.) Treasurer/Past CDR

3 Post 18 will have three young competitors representing us at this year's National Junior Olympics to be held in Colorado Springs, CO in April. Libby Mostert (18), below left, is one of the nation's top 60 young women invited to compete in Women's Smallbore 3-Position Rifle. Just like its Olympic counterpart, the course of fire for this event is 20 shots in the prone, standing and kneeling positions from a distance of 50 meters. Firing.22cal rifles, the bullseye target has a 10- ring that is about 2/3 the size of a dime! Alex Muzzioli (14), center, will be competing in Men's Smallbore 3-Position Rifle and Men's Air Rifle. Alex was the men's double gold medalist in this year's RI State Junior Olympic Championships to qualify. The Men's Smallbore event is similar to the Women's, except the course of fire is 40 shots in each position. Alex will also compete in Men's Air Rifle. Fired from 10 meters, using.177cal pellets, the bullseye target has a 10-ring the size of the period at the end of this sentence. Although this is Alex's first appearance at the National Junior Olympics, he is no stranger to high level competition. Alex was the silver medalist in his age category at Camp Perry's prestigious National Smallbore Championships this past summer. Rebecca Green (14), right, will be our representative for Women's Air Rifle. Like the Men's event, Women's Air differs only in the number of shots. She will fire two 40 shot matches. This will be Rebecca's third trip to the National Junior Olympics. If her last name sounds familiar it s because her sister, Catherine, was the double National Champion at last year's event, as well as having been a past National Champion for The American Legion! Kudos to coach Michele Makucevich and her dedicated assistant coaches who help ensure our shooters are winners on and off the range! War Journal Publishing ( is featuring LAMB IN A JUNGLE by Kenneth Teglia, a decorated field artillery forward observer in Vietnam starting in The book examines close-in combat with an elusive and determined enemy intertwined with the Army s sensitivity training directive. The quandary of counter-insurgency warfare, the challenges of winning the hearts and minds of a population caught in war, and the American soldiers fighting it mirror some of the current controversy of our military presence in Afghanistan POST 18 OFFICERS CS1 Robert E. Jerdan, USN, Commander Vincent C. D Andrea, Sr. Vice Commander David B. Hayward, Jr. Vice Commander Christine Hayward, Adjutant/Webmistress RMC George Wardwell, USNR (Ret.), Treasurer Walter Alves, Sgt.-at-Arms CS1 Ed Agosto, USN, Asst. Sgt.-at-Arms Ken Williams, Chaplain UNIT 18 OFFICERS Christine Hayward, President Veronica Roni Perry, Vice President Shannon Fuentes, Secretary Janet Gill, Treasurer (vacant) Chaplain Edna Wardwell, Immediate Past President NOTE: This newsletter is printed in a larger format for those with vision challenges. Please make an effort to speak up at meetings and events for those who are suffering hearing loss due to age or lack of hearing conservation during their service. Any member needing a ride to Post or Unit 18 meetings/events can call to make arrangements. This award -winning newsletter has an initial distribution of 864 copies per issue with countless pass-along readership and a web presence. We welcome submission of photos, articles and calendar items from members, other Posts and Units, the Department and veteranfriendly organizations for consideration. Contact: Editor C. Hayward, 143 Evarts St. # 2L, Newport, RI or ripost18legion@aol.com. Proud member of the National American Legion Press Association. FLYING INFORMATION MAR/APR 2013 PG 3

4 Ronnie s Ride The PS3 Ron Gill, Jr. 5th Annual Motorcycle Run will be held on Sunday, 21 APR Registration begins at 8:30 AM at Cranston HS West. Kickstands up at 10 AM. Donation: $25 (includes dinner & t-shirt). 100 mile roundtrip with full police escort. Dinner immediately following at Cranston Country Club (69 Burlingame Rd., Cranston, RI). All proceeds benefit the PS3 Ron Gill, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Foundation. Visit or contact Ron Gill, Sr. ( artisgill32150@yahoo.com or call or ) for more info. Don t ride? Make a donation to this worthy cause, get a t-shirt and join us for dinner! NEWS FROM THE 2nd COUNTY Greetings from your 2nd County CDR! In a few months we will be electing a new slate of officers for the DEPT of RI. The DEPT Convention will take place 7-9 JUN 2013 at the Clarion Hotel in Seekonk, MA. Resolutions some of which may be forwarded to National and other matters that may affect the course of the DEPT will be discussed. We promise you some fun during the weekend gathering, too! Posts are urged to register and send all authorized delegates. Please attend and help shape our future! RI recently reached 92% of our membership goal which is well ahead of National s March deadline of 91%. DEPT CDR Bates received a call from National CDR Koutz congratulating him. As one of the most active posts in the state, I applaud Post 18 s efforts and continued support of the DEPT and our programs. 2nd COUNTY POSTS 6 BRISTOL 7 NEWPORT 8 BARRINGTON 10 RIVERSIDE 11 WARREN 12 N. KINGSTOWN 15 E. GREENWICH 18 PORTSMOUTH 22 JAMESTOWN 36 BLOCK ISLAND 37 LITTLE COMPTON 39 S. KINGSTOWN 104 WARREN One of the more common responses from those who aren t already members: Because I was never asked! When you meet someone new, ask if he or she is a veteran. Invite them to an upcoming event, and ASK THEM TO JOIN! mwr333@verizon.net Michael Reed 2nd County CDR FLYING INFORMATION MAR/APR 2013 PG 4 + = $ RECYCLING PROGRAM TO BENEFIT OMK Ever wonder how to recycle that empty lipstick tube, used up mascara or empty jar of face cream? Now you can get rid of those products guilt-free and benefit a good cause at the same time. Kristen Connor of the Lifeworks program has initiated a recycling program at Balfour Beatty Community Housing that will benefit Rhode Island Operation: Military Kids (OMK). The Beauty Brigade waste stream (packaging from beauty and personal care products) was selected. Collected items are turned over to TerraCycle for processing. A portion of the proceeds benefits the non-profit of choice, which is RI OMK. Visit -care-and-beauty-brigade-r.html for details. The local (Newport County) collection point is at the Coddington Cove office of Balfour Beatty located at 8 Constitution Avenue in Middletown. Balfour Beatty is the civilian contractor which oversees all of the housing affiliated with Naval Station Newport and a faithful partner of RI OMK. Pam Martin (phone: or pmartin@uri.edu) at URI s Peckham Farm will also serve as a collection point. So, clear out all those old packages of beauty and personal care items cluttering your cabinets. Go green for a good cause; help spread the word! Visit the web site below to learn how to support OMK in your area. WELCOME ABOARD OUR NEW/ TRANSFERRING* MEMBERS POST 18 RICHARD G. BRENNAN (USCG) RAYMOND P. IGLE, JR. (USN) JAMES M. MONTEVIRGEN (USN) Do you know someone eligible for membership? Let us know so we can get them on board! Prompt renewal helps minimize the expense of reminders. Those funds can be put to better use supporting veterans, our troops and military families! *Members transferred in AUG 2012.

5 This fully funded program helps returning service members and recent veterans readjust through powerful wilderness courses that draw on the healing benefit of teamwork and challenge. The expeditions are physically, mentally and emotionally challenging to help build the self-confidence, pride, trust and communication skills necessary to successfully return to their families, employers and communities following wartime service. The current offerings include dogsledding, backpacking, sailing, rafting, skiing, mountaineering and much more. Visit or call for details or to donate. STROKE AWARENESS THEMED WORD FIND PUZZLE A stroke is a brain injury that occurs when a blood vessel in the brain is blocked or bursts. Recognizing the signs of a stroke and seeking prompt medical attention can save a life, minimize damage and increase the chances for a full recovery. At the first sign of stroke, call 911 immediately. Here are some warning signs: sudden weakness or numbness in the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body; sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding; sudden trouble with vision in one or both eyes; sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination; sudden severe headache with no known cause. Risk factors include high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, obesity and history of stroke. Make lifestyle changes to reduce your risk factors and take medications as prescribed by your healthcare provider. Visit for warning signs and symptoms, prevention and recovery information. WORD LIST STROKE FAMILY PATIENT HABITS HOSPITAL LIFESTYLE EMERGENCY EXERCISE DOCTOR OBESITY RESEARCH DIABETES BRAIN LIPIDS CLOT SMOKING ARTERY MEDICATION VEIN RECOVERY BLOOD SUPPORT WARNING PREVENTION FACE NUMBNESS THERAPY SURVIVOR RISK ADAPT MINI REHAB HEALTH RAMP CARE HEART E X D E S I C R E X E K T B L I F E S T Y L E D S C I L M S S E N B M U N I N I M U T E F G A T H C R A E S E R H S D O C T O R J B U B L N E T A I Y Z S L X E S R W O R I U V C E P G C T U A F I A B W H N A I V A E R I G T P A T I E N T E R S V N O N Y H T A G A A I E J I D B E R K P U R M L N O K V L P V E C A F E T D T O N O C Q E V A D G M B E M H O R R U R O B A H E R S R D E P C T P C N O B E S I T Y F A M D S E Y L I M A F G N I N R A W R L I P I D S U P P O R T R Be green and save Post 18 the cost of production and mailing! Subscribe to receive Flying InFormation via in full color in an easy-to-share PDF format. It s free and membership is not required! Send your address to ripost18legion@aol.com. FLYING INFORMATION MAR/APR 2013 PG 5

6 NEWS FROM UNIT 18 I recently had a terrifying experience, although I m sure it was much more terrifying for my family member who suffered a stroke. Recognizing the warning signs, I summoned emergency medical care immediately. Please see the article and puzzle on PG 5. Educate yourself, family members and coworkers about the symptoms and warning signs of stroke. Better yet, visit and learn how you can minimize risk factors and prevent stroke. Due to the blizzard, we had to cancel our famous Valentine s Themed BINGO at the RI Veterans Home for the safety of our volunteers. We re grateful that the Activities Department picked up and delivered the Valentine s ditty boxes to the residents before the holiday. Here s a shout out to the officers and members of the Unit and the Post for their on-going support of programs that benefit veterans. ripost18legion@aol.com Christine Hayward, President 2013 CALENDAR OF EVENTS MARK YOUR CALENDAR AND JOIN US! WEDNESDAY, 6 MAR 7 PM REGULAR MEETING OF POST VFW Hall, 822 Anthony Rd., Portsmouth (WEATHER PERMITTING) WEDNESDAY, 3 APR 7 PM JOINT MEETING OF POST & UNIT VFW Hall, 822 Anthony Rd., Portsmouth. 1st round of nominations for officers for SATURDAY, 13 APR 1 PM SPRING THEMED the RI Veterans Home, Metacom Ave., Bristol. Volunteers needed to socialize with vets, distribute ditty bags, help vets play their cards and award prizes. Muster at 1 PM; games start at 1:30 PM. (SAVE THE DATE TENTATIVE) SATURDAY, 4 MAY 9 AM JOINT MEETING OF POST & UNIT location to be determined. 2nd round of nominations for officers and voting for Our May meeting is held at a place of historic significance and includes a tour, guest speaker and/or presentation. Location and venue suggestions will be entertained at the March meeting. For more info and updates, please visit where you can download this and archived issues of our award-winning newsletter. Libby Mostert, a senior at Portsmouth High and five year veteran of the Newport Junior Rifle Team, recently signed her letter of intent to join The United States Military Academy's Class of Recruited for her shooting prowess, she will join the Black Knight's Rifle Team and is expected to be an immediate contributor in both smallbore and air rifle. Libby hails from a military family. Her dad, Justin, is a retired Navy Captain and Naval Academy grad. Here s hoping both will join our ranks at Post & Unit 18! FLYING INFORMATION MAR/APR 2013 PG 6 APPLY MAILING LABEL HERE FOR WINDOW ENVELOPE Rhode Island s tall ship, the SSV Oliver Hazard Perry, has secured a permanent berth at historic Fort Adams State Park. The 196, 3-masted vessel will provide education at sea while advancing the Ocean State s maritime heritage. Visit