March 2015 Ve terans of Foreign Wa r s o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s Post 7327, Springfield, Virginia The Camaraderie SERVING VETERANS, THEIR FAMILIES and the COMMUNITY Honoring the Dead By Serving the Living Volume 14-3 By Post Commander Bud Bishop Happy St. Patrick's Day! Spring is just around the corner and our deployed veterans in the hills of Afghanistan should soon be getting warmer! We visited the Veterans Hospital in downtown Washington, DC this month and enjoyed some short games of bingo with the veterans. Thanks very much for your support of this activity. You may not have been able to attend but your dues and your volunteer hours at bingo all contributed to our ability to provide them companionship and doses of dollars! Well done to all!!! This month we will be announcing nominations for next year s officers in preparation for the April 15 elections at the post. Installment of officers will occur at the May meeting. If you are interested in holding a position, please let me know and I ll get your desires to the proper people. Those who are currently filling the jobs are an excellent resource to mine as you make your decision to be involved in the management of the Post to remind: the monthly hours you d be asked to contribute are small and, if this last year was a measure, almost stress-free. The goal of our organization is to service veterans and the community in which we reside and I think we have accomplished that goal extremely well this past year. We welcomed new members at the February 17 meeting. Pictured at left is newly transferred Life Member Brian Venerick. Comrade Venerick is a recent honor graduate of the Army Reserve Career Counselor Course. Welcome to all new members! Please be sure to introduce yourself to any new faces you may not recognize. That s all for the news! I want to thank all of you who volunteer (at bingo, at the hospitality suite, at the veterans sup- (Continued on page 2) Senior Vice Commander Clarence McNeill and Quartermaster Terri Andreoni attended a presentation at the 249th Engineer Battalion's unit area in recognition of our donation to support their MWR football event this past fall. Daylight Savings Begins! Spring Ahead One Hour March 8
Commander s Commentary continued from page 1 The Camaraderie port activities, and at the post home) and to the new members who are starting in the post. It remains important to maintain and improve our bingo program as it will pay our rent. If you think you might have a couple of extra hours per month, come by and check out the work assignments. If you see a job that you could stand to do, let us know and we can work you into our effort. Any additional hour we can find will relieve another volunteer of extra hours they may be contributing to sustain our programs. Even a little matters the huge donations we made to USO should be a beacon for how we can directly help our fellow veterans. These donations come from bingo! As always, if I m meeting you for the first time at the post, then the beer (or soda if you prefer ) is on me. I look forward to helping you find the best way to fit your desires to support veterans into the activities of the post. Yours, Bud Bishop, Post Commander Greetings Comrades, Sisters, and Friends of the Post, CHAPLAIN S CORNER Post Chaplain Wayne Yancey We had a successful VA hospital on February 10, 2015. District Commander Kelch, Comrades Mike Kephart, and Sonny Thomas made the trip with me. We sponsored Bingo for the residents and distributed twenty-five toiletry bags. Our goal is to make four trips to the VA Hospital per year (one each quarter). This was our fourth visit and it is only the eighth month of the VFW calendar year. We are on track to make six visits this year which will average one every two months. Our next VA Hospital visit is scheduled for April 14, 2015. While we were at the VA Hospital we noticed that their bingo equipment is on its last legs. The machine that generates the balls is not working properly and the board that reflects what numbers have been called is not working at all. The equipment is not economically repairable due to its age. At the February General Membership meeting we voted to assist them in replacing the equipment. Bingo is one of the few things the residents have to enjoy and I m sure they will enjoy Bingo even more with equipment that works properly. It was great to see Comrade George Sweeney at the February General Membership meeting. George says he continues to visit the VA Hospital weekly for treatment and is holding his own. I also spoke with Comrades Lipscomb and Ron Webster and learned they are both as well as can be expected. As always if I can be of assistance to anyone please don t hesitate to call at one of the number provided below. Stay well and stay warm, Wayne Yancey, Home: 703-719-7660, Cellular: 703-350-8409 VFW Members, Family, and Friends Buy, Sell, or Lease a home with me, Alice Gehl and 10% of my proceeds from each completed transaction will be donated to the building fund at VFW Post 7327. I am a Life Member of Post 7327 Ladies Auxiliary. Alice E. Gehl, Realtor Weichert, Realtors, Burke Office Email: agehl@weichert.com Cell: 571-426-4073 Licensed in the Commonwealth of Virginia Page 2
March 2015 Hello Sisters, Comrades, and Friends of the Auxiliary, This February has been such a cold month with very low temperatures and snow for several days. As pretty as snow is, it can be a hazard for some of us on our health. I hope everyone has been warm, stayed inside, and not strained ourselves shoveling snow. Two of our Sisters died in the last two months, Monika Sullivan at the end of January and Evelyn Dentz in February. We extend our condolences to their families. The Post 7327 Award Ceremony was held February 28, 2015. Presentation of awards were awarded to the winner of the Voice of Democracy and the first, second and third place winners of the Patriot s Pen, awards to the Teacher of the Year, Public Service awards to EMT and two Law Enforcement Officers. The ceremony concluded with a meal. I thank our Sisters Linda Bond, Marcia Lohr, Joyce Rodriguez and JoAnne Kelch for setup of the room and tables and serving the food. Philippines Mission Trip Katy Sylvester Ruthie (15) and I would like to extend our thanks to both the Post and Auxiliary for their generous support of our mission trip to the Philippines. We left Monday, January 26 and returned Thursday, February 5. A lot was packed into this short trip! The majority of our time was spent assisting with a five day mission conference at Calvary Baptist Church in San Jose del Monte, a suburb of Manila. Ruthie sang in three of the services and also presented a puppet ministry skit twice. I took lots of pictures, but did not sing. That is not a talent she received from me! We also participated in two Saturday Bible Clubs in neighborhoods throughout the area. Ruthie is pictured sharing candy with children at one of the clubs. The missionaries at Calvary, Carl and Michelle Gormley, have started fourteen works during their twenty years of service in the Philippines. Carl s father is a retired Air Force officer who met and married Carl s mother during his time at Clark Air Force Base. We spent lot of time touring several of these other churches. Most were small buildings with few comforts we are familiar with here in America; flush toilets being one of them. The pastors and people were all very welcoming, content, and thrilled to have us visiting their churches. Calvary is in the process of building an orphanage to serve the homeless street children of Manila. We were able to visit the orphanage property and the men in our group worked painting used motor oil on the barn to help prevent termite damage. They will have goats and chickens on the property to supply milk, eggs, and meat. A highlight of the trip was a visit to the local prison. Fifteen ladies shared one cell that was no more than ten feet by fifteen feet with only one twin size bed. It was humbling to think that some of them had been there eight years. We sang hymns with them, delivered a devotion, and passed out toiletry bags that we had brought from the states. This particular visit just reinforced how blessed we are in America, even in our prison system. It s hard to communicate the poverty and the vast number of people in the Manila area. Manila consistently ranks at the top of population density lists. Everywhere we went there were people, people, and more people. The most common homes were tin roofed shacks with no running water shared by up to fifteen people. We returned home with an increased level of gratefulness for the blessings we enjoy as Americans, a deep love for the people of the Philippines, and plans to return in 2017 or 2018. Thank you again for your donations. It was a trip of a lifetime and I m so thankful to have shared it with my daughter. VFW Post 7327 8350-F Terminal Road Lorton, Virginia 22079 Phone: 703-541-3139 Fax: 703-541-0641 Website: www.myvfw.org/va/post7327/ Facebook: VFW Post 7327 Twitter: @VfwPost7327 Email: adjpost7327@va.vfwwebmail.com Blog: www.vfwwebcom.org/va/post7327 Editor & Design Katy Sylvester 703-350-8574 Contributing Articles By: Bud Bishop, Frank Konieczny, Alice Merrill, Diana Regan, Ted Scott, Wayne Yancey Photographs By: Terri Andreoni, Diana Regan Post Officers Commander: Bud Bishop 703-801-3075 Sr. Vice: Clarence McNeill 703-622-6641 Jr. Vice: Marilynn Bianco 703-913-7463 Quartermaster: Terri Andreoni 419-953-4131 Judge Adv: Ted Scott 703-838-1908 Chaplain: Wayne Yancey 703-719-7660 Surgeon: Jackie Miller 703-329-4140 3-Yr Trustee: Gary Kelch 703-644-8485 2-Yr Trustee: Larry Parham 202-341-3556 1-Yr Trustee: Mark Benedict 703-440-0488 Post Adjutant: Terri Andreoni 419-953-4131 Service Officer: Frank Konieczny 703-569-3244 Auxiliary Officers President: Floy Lipscomb 703-866-4919 Sr. Vice: Shirley Norris 703-971-1939 Jr. Vice: Itty Neal 703-569-4257 Secretary: Valerie Murrell 614-266-2927 Treasurer: Alice Merrill 703-569-1771 Chaplain: Diana Regan 703-719-7660 Conductress: Barbara Bucklin 703-971-8299 Guard: Marcia Lohr 703-548-1698 1-Yr Trustee: Marcia Lohr 703-548-1698 2-Yr Trustee: Diana Regan 703-719-7660 3-Yr Trustee: Linda Bond 703-451-1510 Patriotic Instructor: Janne Best 703-321-7349 The Camaraderie newsletter is published by Springfield, Virginia Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7327, a community based 501c19 not-for-profit Congressionally Chartered Veterans Organization. Mailed for educational outreach and information purposes to our members, volunteers and friends. The newsletter is distributed to over 700 individuals. We have served our community since 1946, providing support to Veterans, their families, active duty military and community based organizations. Page 3
Hello Sisters, Comrades and Friends of the Post; The Camaraderie Auxiliary Chaplain s Corner Chaplain Diana Regan When will winter stop??? It s the question on everyone s mind! The meteorological answer includes a reminder that the days are getting longer and spring is comingeventually. In 2015, the spring equinox falls on Friday, March 20 at 6:45pm, EDT. One more piece of good news; Daylight Savings Time starts Sunday, March 8th. So, turn your clock forward one hour before you hit the sack. Sunrise and sunset will be about one hour later than the day before and there will be more light in the evening! The winter season has been so harsh on many of our members. Sister Mary Jones (wife of Comrade Willie Jones) is in very ill health. Mary is at home and under the excellent care of daughter Caroline (also an Auxiliary Sister), husband Willie and other family members. Please keep Mary in your prayers. The end of February also found Sisters Sam Ritchie, Shirley Norris and Melissa Taylor at INOVA Fairfax Hospital at the same time but for varied reasons. We have other Sisters that are under the weather and making numerous doctor visits. Ladies, please know that our thoughts, prayers and well wishes are ever with you. If anyone would like to send the Ladies a card, etc., please get in touch with me for additional information. Sister Irene Donnelly lost her husband; Comrade Dale Smith, on January 17, 2015. Dale was a fighter pilot in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam two times. Dale Smith will be buried at Arlington Cemetery in a few months. More information will follow as it becomes available. Arrangements for Sister Monika Sullivan s funeral have been finalized. There will be a viewing on Wednesday, March 25th from 6-8pm at the Demaine Funeral Home, 5308 Backlick Rd., Springfield, VA; (703)941-9428. Your Auxiliary Sisters will pay tribute to the memory of Sister Sullivan by conducting our Memorial Service at the viewing sometime during the evening. The funeral service for Monika will be at the Old Post Chapel (204 Lee Ave., Bldg. 335) on Fort Myer in Arlington, VA at 2:45 pm on Thursday, March 26th. The procession to the grave site in Arlington Cemetery will immediately follow. At 4:15 pm, everyone is invited to attend a celebratory gathering at the Ft. Myer s Officer s Club. If there are other Sisters that are ill or in need of some support, please get in touch with me. Please feel free to contact me at: (703)719-7660 or oregandl@cox.net. Whalen On-Target Instruction Kathleen (Kat) Whalen of Whalen On-Target Instruction is a National Rifle Association (NRA) certified instructor and Range Safety Officer. Kat offers handgun familiarization and safety training classes targeted at teaching ladies to protect themselves safely. Classes are open to the general public twelve years and older. Classes are held on weekends between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 pm. Cost for the class is $110 which includes: six hours of instruction; one hour of range time at Sharpshooter's indoor range (only minutes from the Post); and all instruction materials. For more information or arrange for instruction, contact Kat at 703-618-3137 or TopShotLady@me.com. Page 4
March 2015 Service Officer s Corner Francis W. Konieczny, Post Service Officer VA Claims - Part II (So, You've Filed an Initial Claim. Now What? This is Part II of a five-part series about filing for VA Disability Claims. If you have already filed for your Initial VA Disability Claim, you must remember that your claim does not mean you will receive medical care with the VA. You must file separately. 1. REGISTER FOR HEALTH CARE. You can register for VA health care online, in person, by telephone, or by mail. Go to http//www.va/gov/healthbenefits/apply/. Veterans who served in a theater of combat operations after 11 NOV 1998, and were discharged from active duty on or after 28 JAN 2003, are eligible for VA Health Care for five (5) years following their respective discharge. Go to http//www.va.gov/healthbenefits/apply/returning_servicemembers.asp. 2. GET A VA DENTAL EXAMINATION. You may receive a one-time VA dental examination at a VA medical facility if you apply within 180 days after separation. You will need to bring your DD 214 to the VA Dental Clinic in order to schedule an appointment. 3. TRY TO REMAIN IN THE AREA FOR 60-90 DAYS FROM FILING. The VA may call you to schedule your exams, or they may send you a letter requesting that you call them (at a certain telephone number within 30 days to schedule exams. Check your voice mail and postal mail regularly. It's important that you don't miss the deadline. If you miss a call from the VA, please call them back immediately. Most veterans are contacted within 60-90 days, but it may take a little longer depending on the backlog in the regional office, medical claim, or the complexity of the claim. 4. CHECK ebenefits IN ABOUT 30-40 DAYS. Track your claim through ebenefits. You'll need a Premium Level 2 LS Logon Account to access your status. You can register with your CAC and will automatically receive the Premium Account. If you do not have a CAC, you can register online (http://www.ebenefits.va.gov), but you may need to go to a VA Medical Center "Eligibility Section" with two (2) forms of ID to receive the Premium access. Check your claim status by logging in, going to "View My Status, Compensation & Pension Claims Status; Check it (at least) every couple of weeks for any updates. NOTE: You can also check your State Veteran Benefits by searching "Benefits By State." 5. CONTACT VFW IF THERE IS A PROBLEM. If you check your ebenefits account and your claim has been closed without any notification, or if it's been several months since you've heard from the VA, please contact the VFW representative who helped you process your claim. If you've filed a Pre-Discharge Claim, you may call direct to the Winston-Salem. NC VFW Representative at 336-251-0390, or charles.ryder@va.gov. 6. WHEN YOU RECEIVE YOUR VA DISABILITY DECISION. You will eventually receive a thick, manila envelope in the mail, which contains a list of your service-connected disabilities, any deferred or denied disabilities. The letter will explain in detail how and why the VA made the decision. You may choose to accept the rating, or file a Notice of Disagreement (NOD) for all ratings, or some, including denied ratings. Call your VFW National Rep, or your Service Officer if you choose to file. 7. USE YOUR VETERAN'S PREFERENCE FOR FEDERAL JOBS. OPM has a great website that explains Veteran's Preference, the Veteran's Recruitment Appointment (VRA) Authority and Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA). You can go to http://www.opm.gov and search for Vet Guide, or, http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/veterans-services/vet-guide/ 8. STAY UPDATED WITH VETERANS ISSUES THROUGH THE VFW ACTION CORPS. You do not have to be a VFW member to sign up. You will receive weekly updates on veterans issues. The VFW Action Corps is free and open at all Americans who care about the military and veterans communities. Go to: http://www.vfw.org/vfw-in-dc/action-corps/ This article was written by Gregg Orto (US Army, Ret) who is the VFW's Pre-Discharge (VA) Claims Representative within the VFW's National Veteran's Service. He is responsible for our region and can be reached at: 202-815-134, or gorto@vfw.org Page 5
The Camaraderie Tax Relief Info - Fairfax County This is a message from Fairfax Alerts, submitted by Ted Scott The Board of Supervisors is hosting a series of free tax relief workshops beginning Feb. 28 and running through March at several locations throughout the county. Real estate tax relief is available for older adults and people with disabilities who meet certain qualifications; you also may be eligible for car tax relief and tax relief for renters. More information, including deadlines, Department of Tax Administration staff will be at the locations below to assist with filling out the application form and answer questions. All phone numbers are TTY 711. Springfield District, Hosted by Supervisor Pat Herrity March 26, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. No appointment necessary. West Springfield Governmental Center, 6140 Rolling Road, Springfield 703-451-8873 More information on tax relief and meeting other locations can be found at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dta, or call 703-222-8234 (TTY 703-222-7594 ). AUXILIARY MEMBERSHIP NEWS Ladies Auxiliary Changes Rules to Remain in Good Standing Alice Merrill, Treasurer Ladies, I want to let you know of these important changes made to the National Bylaws at the 2014 National Convention: Annual continuous members MUST have 2015 dues RECEIVED at National Headquarters by June 30, 2015 to maintain continuous years of membership. If her dues are NOT received at National Headquarters by June 30, to return to good standing, she MUST: (1) Apply to REJOIN, prove her eligibility, and be voted into membership. Then her continuous years of service start to rebuild again from ZERO. (2)WAIT A YEAR before becoming eligible for a CANCER GRANT. (3)The reinstate category for membership NO LONGER EXISTS. These changes make it more important than ever for annual members not yet renewed for 2015 to know that: Your membership cards expired December 31, but you can still retain credit for your past years of service by sending your $23 dues to me in time to be processed through Department of VA and by National Headquarters by June 30. If you need help paying your dues this year, we have a Relief Fund available to provide you help, just as your membership has helped our veterans and sisters in the past. Please don t let current difficulties cause you to lose credit for your prior years of service. Instead, contact me at 703-559-1771 or a-b6103@cox.net as soon as possible so we can help you regain current membership in the VFW family in honor of your veteran and all veterans. Page 6
March 2015 The Annual Awards Ceremony was held February 28 at the Springfield Volunteer Fire Department. These are preliminary pictures from the Patriot s Pen, Voice of Democracy, Teacher of the Year, Policeman of the Year, and EMT of the Year awards. Look for a complete write up and list of award recipients in the April edition of The Camaraderie. Page 7
VFW Post 7327 8350 - F Terminal Road Lorton, Virginia 22079 The Friendliest VFW Post in Virginia Web Site: www.myvfw.org/va/post7327/ e-mail: cdrpost7327@va.vfwwebmail.com 703-541-3139 Phone 703-541-0641 Fax Web Site: www.myvfw.or g/va/post7327/ Upcoming Events and Activities March 3 Star Spangled Banner adopted as the US National Anthem 1931 March 8 Daylight Savings Begins March 11 Ladies Auxiliary General Membership Meeting, 7:00 pm March 15 District 10 Meeting, Post 8241, 1051 Springhill Road, McLean March 16 Post General Membership Meeting, 8:00 pm March 17 Happy St. Patrick s Day March 20 First Day of Spring Come early to meetings and join us for drinks and comradeship! BINGO - EVERY THURSDAY AND FRIDAY evening beginning at 7:00 pm at Greater Springfield Volunteer Fire Department Post Hours of Operation Monday / Tuesday Closed (except for meetings) Wednesday / Thursday 10:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m. Friday 12:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. Saturday / Sunday 9:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. The Post may be open other than these hours as events require and personnel are available.