POST & AUXILIARY MEETINGS 3RD Thursday both 7 p.m. Benson VFW Post 2503 JULY 2018 www.vfwpost2503.org Honor Guard Meeting 2nd Thursday every month 7:00 pm POST 2503 OFFICERS 2017-2018 Commander: Mike Rosso Vice Commander: Duke Humphrey Jr. Vice Commander: Ross Winn Quartermaster: Dan Raabe Chaplain: Rod Rickles Surgeon: Terrence White Judge Advocate: Tom Penke Officer of the Day: Sharon Cooper Adjutant: Larry Quillian Guard: Ron Karm Service Officer: Robert Brown 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: Marcia Jones Guard: Linda Humphrey Patriotic Instructor: Andrew Franklin From the Commander GREETINGS We have had a fairly exciting first two weeks as elected officers. There were some problems with the air conditioning units that are now repaired, but at a large expense. Our cleaning person moved on to bigger things, and there were a few other minor things. I would like to thank our bartenders: Amanda, Candy, Mary and Niki along with Linda H and Geri B for offering to clean the post as needed. Their service will save the Post some expense. I would like to give a shout out to Jan Davis for keeping the grounds free of debris for quite some time. She really keeps the outside looking great. It s little things like this that add up and are much appreciated by all. We would like some feedback as to what you, as members, would like to take place at the Post. We did start Happy Hours Friday 4-7 and Sunday noon to 6, please come to the Post and be Happy with friends. Update on the truck: it is almost complete and should be rolling for the Fourth of July parade in Ralston. The House Committee and a couple volunteers cleaned the garage, so it will now fit in there. I have been asked numerous times about the decals for the plane. We do have them and are waiting for a break in the monsoon to apply them. If anyone is interested in getting active in the Post, please feel free to contact me. Mike Rosso Commander From the Auxiliary President Hello Auxiliary Members The new year has started, and with that, dues reminders will soon be arriving in your mailbox. National has a different company to send out membership cards; hopefully, you will get them sooner than before. When you receive your notice to pay your dues, please be sure to read the enclosed letter. Last month was the June Convention and all your hard work was rewarded. We received Certificates of Participation in Americanism, Legislative, National Scholarship, (Auxiliary donated to National for their Scholarship program) A President s Special award for a Scholarship, (this is the scholarship the Auxiliary started in the memory of Connie Liebsack, Past Auxiliary, District and Department President who was a life member of 2503 Auxiliary), Veterans and Family Support, and Youth Activities all because you ladies all worked hard to complete programs and sent in your reports. Two special awards were also given out, again thanks to you Ladies: I received a President s Special Award for our membership group, and THE FRANCES HARMON AWARD. This Award was created in 1990 in memory of Frances Harmon. This award is given to the best Auxiliary in the State for completing all the programs and reporting to the Department Chairman. This award is in the memory of Frances Harmon, a member of the Saint Michael Auxiliary 247 in District 10. She was a Department and National President. Her main emphasis was Veterans and Family support. So Ladies a BIG THANK YOU from me to you for all your hard work in supporting our Veterans. I am so proud of ALL of you. continued on page 2
SEWING LADIES The VFW 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! TACO THURSDAY JULY 12th 5:30 PM STILL ONLY $2.50 PER TACO Nachos too! ANNOUNCEMENT: Please place any paper suggestions or articles for the Post Newsletter in the Post Newsletter Box on the south wall on the canteen bar-top or in the Suggestion Box by the front door. For those with email access, please email suggestions or ideas to the Newsletter Editor at leighf@cox.net From the Auxiliary President continued from page 1 But now we start a new year and our work starts all over again and I know it can be just as successful as last year, maybe even better. Remember all the work we do is for our Veterans; they fought for us. Now let s all work together for them. Lynn Krause President Zeta Anderson Auxiliary ANNOUNCEMENT from the PICKLE COMMITTEE: Whenever you re at the Post, please support the Post by dropping a dollar or two into the PICKLE MACHINE. State Convention News Our Honor Guard is now trained by the Nebraska National Guard and authorized to receive payment for all Army funerals. Please contact Chuck Wolf, the Honor Guard Captain and join the Honor Guard to participate. We are short of the number we are authorized for the Post. Give it some serious consideration. ROOM RENTALS Contact Geri Brown at 402-943-9067 to reserve your date for weddings or birthdays or memorial gatherings. Spread the word to friends and family. ADDRESS or EMAIL CHANGE LATELY? If so, please send the new information to VFW by letter to Post 2503 or by email to editor at leighf@cox.net Titled Attn: Post Membership or Attn: Auxiliary Membership. Please provide full name and new address and new email. Thank you. HONOR GUARD Thank you to all the dedicated Honor Guard members for their participation. We still are in a need for new members for the Honor Guard. 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. Capt. Chuck Wolf. Honor Guard Captain Remember VFW Post 2503 In your will AMVETS is looking for new members. To join, please contact Commander Beverly Butcher at 402-250-2159
Past-Post Commander Bob Ekdahl with daughter Anna Peters at VFW Post 2503 on Memorial Day. Anna was recently crowned Mrs. Nebraska. Also, she became the first new Auxiliary member for this year. Congratulations to both Dad and Daughter. YOU CAN BE A VFW POST 2503 HONOR GUARD MEMBER JOIN US IN THE CANTEEN FRIDAYS 4 PM to 7 PM AND SUNDAYS ALL DAY NOON to 6 PM $2 WELLS $2 DOMESTIC BOTTLES $5 PITCHERS $1 DRAWS $1 BARTENDER S CHOICE SHOTS
Telephone Number Your Name: Name to be displayed on Poppy Card: to help needy veterans and their families. Buddy Poppies, we are sure you would like to contribute to this worthy cause. Donations received from the sale of Buddy Poppies are used 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 MARK YOUR CALENDAR AUGUST 11, 2018: Council Meeting and Training for new Post Officers and Trustees in Seward, NE from 9 am to 4 pm. OCTOBER 5-6, 2018: Homecoming and Fall Council of Administration in Ogallala, NE. FEBRUARY 7-9, 2019: Midwinter and Council of Administration in Lincoln, NE. JUNE 7-9, 2019: State Convention in Omaha, NE. FLY YOUR FLAG ON INDEPENDENCE DAY The Post is in need of a new Kitchen Manager. See Tom Penke for more information if you are interested at 402-330-6860 AUXILIARY MEMBERS! If you have any news regarding an Auxiliary member s illness or death, please notify the Auxiliary Chaplain, Nora Van Cleave, at 402-571-5213 OR Lynn Krause at 402-553-7562.
JULY 2018 4 POST CLOSED INDEPENDENCE DAY 11 Broasted Chicken Beef Brisket Crew S Schaefer Broasted Chicken Hawaiian Chicken Crew Pat Petersen 25 Chicken-Fried Steak Taco Salad Crew Cabin Crew 21 22 VFW NATIONAL CONVENTION IN KC, MO to the 24TH
SEE INSIDE FOR: NEW HAPPY HOUR TIME Auxiliary Awards from State Available Room Rentals From Your Honor Guard Captain Chuck Wolf MILITARY RITES: May, 2018 Military Members Deceased Cemetery # Hours 05/01/2018 Donald Rawson Omaha National 8 24 05/05/2018 Peter Haberstick Forest Lawn 4 12 05/09/2018 Bill Kleinbeck Omaha National 9 27 05/09/2018 *Frank Osborn Forest Lawn 6 18 05/10/2018 Jack Guggenmos Omaha National 7 21 05/10/2018 James Whitney Omaha National 7 21 05/10/2018 Harold Peterson Omaha National 7 21 05/10/2018 William Rector Omaha National 7 21 05/11/2018 Kenneth Roy Evergreen 8 24 05/11/2018 Kenneth Jones West Lawn 8 24 05/15/2018 Raymond Voykal West Lawn 8 24 05/16/2018 *Richard Bowley Evergreen 7 21 05/17/2018 Donald McCullough Omaha National 7 21 05/18/2018 *Willie Mora Mount Hope 6 18 05/21/2018 John Deal Omaha National 3 9 05/22/2018 Larry Brown Forest Lawn 7 21 05/22/2018 *Lyle Shipley Forest Lawn 7 21 05/23/2018 George Smith Calvary 6 18 05/25/2018 *Sam Bussell West Lawn 7 21 05/29/2018 Richard Schwers Forest Lawn 6 18 05/30/2018 James Benak Omaha National 6 18 05/31/2018 David Atkins Omaha National 8 24 V.F.W. Post 2503 8904 Military Road Omaha, NE 68134 Non-Profit Org U.S. Postage PAID Permit #610 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 JULY 21st, 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 *Post Member Month Total: 22 Funerals, 149 Member Participation, 447 Hours 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. Name 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