POST & AUXILIARY MEETINGS 3RD Thursday, both 7 p.m. Benson VFW Post 2503 AUGUST 2017 www.vfwpost2503.org Honor Guard Meeting 2nd Thursday every month 7:00 pm POST 2503 OFFICERS 2017-2018 Commander: Ricky Johnson Sr. Vice Commander: Duke Humphrey Jr. Vice Commander: Ross Winn Quartermaster: Ryan Sudbeck Chaplain: Dennis Kerr Surgeon: Terrence White Judge Advocate: Tom Penke Officer of the Day: Bill Fead Adjutant: Tom Penke Guard: Ron Karn AUXILIARY OFFICERS 2017-2018 President: Lynn Krause Sr. Vice President: Pat Dembowski Jr. Vice President: Judy Erb Treasurer: Sue Stark Secretary: Pat Dembowski Chaplain: Nora Van Cleave Conductress: Jan Brown Guard: Jan Davis Patriotic Instructor: Geri Brown From the Commander Greetings! July has been a busy month and a hot weather one as well. Kudos to the Honor Guard and the Color Guard for performing their duties despite the extreme temperatures. Speaking of hot days, come out to the Sarpy County Fair Parade at 10 A.M. on Saturday, August 5, in Springfield and cheer on the Post 2503 Color Guard. The Hamburger Nights on Wednesdays are still doing well, and the Post is especially pleased when the veterans from the Eastern Nebraska Veterans Home join us. Last month, about 15 veterans from the Veterans Home made the trek north for Hamburger Night. In related news, Post 2503 has received the Award of Excellence for Outstanding Work from the Eastern Nebraska Veterans Home. Not only has Linda Humphrey been doing wonderful kitchen work for Hamburger Night, but also Kathy and Dan Raabe have made the Post s Taco Thursday a big success as well. Congratulations to all our kitchen volunteers. However, the Post is still in need of more volunteers for Hamburger Night. If you can work one night per month or every other month please make an effort to join a kitchen crew to keep Hamburger Night going. Don t forget to say HELLO to the Post s new kitchen manager Leslie Mason. Finally, the Post has a new Membership Chairman: Duke Humphrey; and a new Poppy Chairman: Ross Winn; and a new Memorial Brick Chairman: Mike Rosso. Congratulations to all of them for the vital work they do for the Post. Ricky L. Johnson Commander URGENT Because of normal attrition, more volunteers are needed for the kitchen crews to assist in the kitchen and the dining room for a few hours each month. To volunteer please contact Tom Penke at 402-330-6860 THE 33rd ANNUAL NEBRASKA VIETNAM VETERANS REUNION August 10th to the 13th at the Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln, NE. For information call 402-435-0454 From the Auxiliary President Hello Everyone, The New Year has started and there are changes being made. Let me start off with the lowering in membership dues, this pertains to VFW Auxiliary members. For Life members, the $7.00 that you paid every year, is no longer mandatory. A percentage of that money was sent to National for Cancer Grants, which are no longer necessary. Now if you still want to pay the $7.00, we will send it to National as a donation to the Cancer Grant fund. For Annual members ( those members who pay their dues yearly) the same applies: a percentage of your dues went to National again for the Cancer Grants. Even though we no longer need to send the money, Cancer Grants are still available to members if the need should arise. So what does this mean to you as Auxiliary members? It means we can lower dues for Annual and New members only. For annual members (those who pay yearly) the dues are now $19.00. For new members just joining the Auxiliary, the fee is $24.00. Hopefully, with the lower fees, not only will we get some new members, but also those who need to renew their membership will do so. As for Annual members your dues are due now. As some of you know, we recently lost a devoted member: Connie Liebsack passed away. She was one of our Auxiliary Presidents and Department President 98-99. The family requested any memorials be directed to our Auxiliary. John her husband asked if the money could be used for a Department Scholarship in Connie s CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
LADIES OF THE AFTERNOON The Post 2503 Sewing Ladies always welcome new members to create items to be distributed to the Eastern Nebraska Veterans Home, the VA Hospital, Lutheran Family Service, and other nursing homes and hospitals. Assistance is welcomed for various sewing projects: Lap Robes, Bibs, Fleece Cancer Hats, and Neck pillows. Donations of cotton cloth materials are appreciated as well as financial assistance to support the purchase of needed sewing materials. Please contact Nora Van Cleve at 402-571-5213 to join in on the fun. It really is! Leo Harrington is the Volunteer of the Month Recently elected to the House Committee, Leo has been working very hard in reviewing Post contracts, and making long-needed repairs to the building both inside and out. One of his major accomplishments was terminating our janitorial service and hiring our current janitor, a savings of $900.00 per month. A life member of the VFW and a Vietnam Amy veteran, Leo is also a member of the Honor Guard. Please say hi to Leo when you see him working in and around the building. IN HONOR OF PURPLE HEART DAY AUGUST 7, 2017 The Ways of Men The sky is dark, the stars shine bright, A mortar round breaks the silence of night. Again and again the rumble comes, Enemy damage is now being done. Young men look with fear in eyes, Hoping the shrapnel didn t take many lives. They say God Damn to cover fear, But deep down thinking, God please be near. The second phase has now begun, When men face men and guns meet guns. Blood is spilled and lives are lost, The enemy continues at any cost. The blood is dry, the bodies cold, Now the awful job comes, Loved ones must be told. The job is done and families cry, Why, God, why, must young men die? By Jon Jensen August 21, 1969 Jon Jensen was a USMC corpsman in Vietnam 1967-69. TACO THURSDAY IS BACK! NEW RECIPE STILL ONLY $2.50 PER TACO August 10 5:30 PM From the Auxiliary President CONTINUED name. At our July meeting, the membership unanimously voted for this request. If anyone would wish to make a donation towards this project, you may send the money to the Post to the attention of Treasurer Sue Stark or Lynn Krause President and earmark it for the scholarship. A Big Thank You to Linda Humphrey, Nora Van Cleave, Mardell Ludwig, and Ron Kerm who helped clean out the pantry and Auxiliary room; your help was greatly appreciated. As Auxiliary President, behavior unbecoming of an Auxiliary member at meetings will not be tolerated. My goal is to have a pleasant, cordial, and informative meeting. Our Department President s theme is STAY ON COURSE FOR OUR VETERANS, and that is what we are about. Loyally Submitted Lynn Krause Auxiliary President ANNOUNCEMENT Please place any paper suggestions for the Newsletter in the Post Newsletter Box on the south wall on the bar-top or in the Suggestion Box by the front door. For those with email access, please email suggestions to the Newsletter Editor at editorvfwpost2503@gmail.com THE SAND-FLEAS NEW SEASON: AUG 14 VFW Post 2503 sponsors a Sand-Lot Volleyball Team that plays games on Monday evenings (when the Post is closed) at 6:30 and 7:30 at Tanner s on North 90th Street. Come out and watch our Quartermaster and Bartender Ryan and Candy and cheer them on to victory. See the flyer in the Canteen for more information. DID YOU CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS or EMAIL? If so, please send the new information to VFW Post 2503 by letter or email to editorvfwpost2503@gmail.com titled Attn: Post Membership or Attn: Auxiliary Membership Please provide full name and new address and email
HONOR GUARD Thank you to all the dedicated honor guard members for their participation. We are still looking for more members for the honor guard. All post members should be signed up with the VA. This is a benefit we have all earned. If you need information on how to sign up, ask one of the honor guard members. We will help you. Thank You for your service. Ricky Johnson Honor Guard Captain THOMAS H. PENKE Attorney at Law Practice Limited to Estate Planning and Probate 12020 Shamrock Plaza Suite 200 Omaha, NE 68154 402-330-6860 PENKELAW@GMAIL.COM
Memorial? Yes No Thank you for your warm and generous donation, VFW Post 2503 Buddy Poppy Chairman Telephone Number Your Name: Name to be displayed on Poppy Card: It is time again for the annual sale of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Buddy Poppies. Although you may not be able to help with the sale of Buddy Poppies, we are sure you would like to contribute to this worthy cause. Donations received from the sale of Buddy Poppies are used to help needy veterans and their families. PURPLE HEART DAY AUGUST 7th PLEASE FLY YOUR FLAG AUXILIARY SISTERS! If you have any news regarding an Auxiliary s illness or death, please notify the Auxiliary Chaplain Nora Van Cleave at 402-571-5213. Thank you. AUXILIARY SISTERS! As the Hospital Chairwoman for 2017-2018, I need the following information by meeting night each month: Volunteer Hours at the VA Hospital, Non-VA Hospitals, the Open Door Mission, Victory House, and other places. Dollar Amounts of donated money or donated items; e.g., store-bought cookies. Please call me prior to meeting night to provide any of the above information at 402-391-2292. Or better yet, get in and involved ATTEND A MEETING! Connie Dohse Ross Hospital Chairwoman Like to Play Poker? Post 2503 hosts a group of people, men and women, who play every Tuesday from 4:30 9:30 pm. Please call Mary Ryder, (402) 614-5111 (Cell ) or (402)-332-6086 (Home)
AUGUST 2017 Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln, NE. 2 Pork Chop or Crew 172nd Trans 9 or Spaghetti and Meatballs Crew Jerry Becker Chicken Fried Steak Shrimp Basket Crew S. Schaefer 23 Phill-Steak Sandwich or 30 Hot Roast Beef Sandwich Crew Cabin Crew Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln, NE. Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln, NE.
SEE INSIDE FOR: Volunteers needed in the Post Kitchen Purple Heart Day Five Hamburger Nights in August! From Your Honor Guard Captain Ricky Johnson MILITARY RITES: June, 2017 Military Members Deceased Cemetery # Hours 06/01/2017 Jim Christensen Westside Church 8 24 06/05/2017 *Paul Knievel Calvary 16 48 06/07/2017 David Pratt Omaha National 6 18 06/08/2017 David Wade Omaha National 6 18 06/09/2017 Alfred Skar Calvary 6 18 06/12/2017 Thomas Upton Voss Mohr 11 33 06/12/2017 Francois Nick III Omaha National 11 33 06/13/2017 Ryamond Horky Resurrection 8 24 06/15/2017 Donald Byers Omaha National 6 18 06/15/2017 Hans Rath Omaha National 6 18 06/16/2017 Lawrence Smith Forest Lawn 11 33 06/19/2017 Edward Trudell Omaha National 9 27 06/20/2017 *Robert Fenton Hillcrest 12 36 06/21/2017 Robert Chin Forest Lawn 9 27 06/22/2017 William Bennett Omaha National 9 27 06/26/2017 Jack Smothers Omaha National 9 27 06/26/2017 *Andrew Anderson Forest Lawn 9 27 06/27/2017 Clyde Christian St Benedict Moor 10 30 06/27/2017 Clifford Fisher Omaha National 11 33 06/28/2017 Wayne Victor Calvary 7 21 06/30/2017 Charles Pittman Forest Lawn 9 27 *Post Member Month Total: 21 Funerals, 190 Member Participation, 570 Hours June 2017 All of our brave brothers and sisters who have passed before us Name V.F.W. Post 2503 8904 Military Road Omaha, NE 68134 Non-Profit Org U.S. Postage PAID Permit #610 Omaha, NE ROOM RENTALS Please keep in mind that the Post is available for your meeting/party plans, Monday through Friday during the day. Contact Geri Brown at 402-943-9067 to reserve your date. Spread the word to your friends and family. The Post looks great decorated for weddings, birthdays, and graduation parties, too. NOTICE: All articles should be in the Newsletter Box, IN WRITING, at the Post no later than August 23rd, for the August newsletter. If articles are not submitted by the deadline, they will have to wait for the next newsletter. Thank you. CANTEEN HOURS Monday Closed Tuesday thru Thursday 4:00 pm 10:00 pm Friday 4:00 pm 10:00 pm Saturday Noon 10:00 pm Sunday Noon 8:00 pm PHONE: 402-571-8397 The Post is selling Memorial Bricks around the memorial walk and flag. Memorial Bricks are being sold by Post 2503 to be put around the outside of the Memorial flag pole. These bricks will cost $60.00 each. They will be for VFW, Auxiliary, AMVET & Auxiliary members, their families, and people they sponsor. They will be memorials for living or deceased people. They will be ordered once a year on April 1st, for installation by Memorial Day each year. Max 16 spaces per line, 3 lines, and cost $60.00 per brick. Phone # WORDS ON BRICK Line 1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 Line 2 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 Line 3 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 Checks Only No Cash Return this form to the Post