THE
VETERAN'S VOICE
Volume
24 Issue 2
February
2004
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PRESIDENTS'
DAY
FEBRUARY
16
Washington's Birthday has been celebrated since the 18th century. It became a
Federal holiday in 1885.
Then, many states began celebrating Lincoln's birthday, although it was
not federally recognized. Since George Washington's birthday is February 22 and
Abraham Lincoln's is February 12, there were two public holidays within a very
short time period. In 1968, Congress passed the Monday Holidays Act to
officially move the celebration of Washington's birthday to the 3rd Monday in
February. It was proposed that the day celebrate both birthdays, but the idea
was rejected. Despite this, in 1971
when the act went into effect, President Nixon declared the day as President's
Day to honor all presidents
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KOREAN
CONFLICT
MEDALLION
PROGRAM
Sarah Steelman, the
Missouri Senator from the 16th District, sponsored a bill
that entitles any Korean Conflict veteran
who was honorable discharged, meets the eligibility requirements and
resides in Missouri to receive a Korean Conflict medallion, medal and a
certificate of appreciation. The
"Korean Conflict Veterans' Recognition Award Fund" has been created
and will be used to fund the design, manufacture and distribution of the above.
Currently, any funds remaining from the medals, medallions and certificates are
to be utilized to pay for buglers at veteran burials.
Any veteran that meets the eligibility requirements, or
their spouse or eldest living survivor if they died prior to making an
application, is entitled to the award.
Eligibility requirements:
a. Veteran must have served on
active duty in the
United States
military service at
any time
during the period of
of June
27th, 1950 to
January 31,
1955.
b. Veteran was a legal resident of
Missouri on
August 28, 2003,
or was a legal
resident of this
state at the time of
his or her
death.
c. Veteran received an honorable
discharge, or was in
active
service in an
honorable status
at the time of his or
her death.
d. The Korean conflict medallion
medal and certificates
shall be
awarded regardless of
whether
or not such veteran
served
within the United
States or a
foreign country.
e. Veteran's application must be
filed during
the period of
January 1, 2004 to
January 1,
2005.
For more information, please see the Service Officer,
Bill Walker.
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PAID UP FOR
LIFE
MEMBERSHIP
Any member of The American Legion, in good standing, is
eligible for Paid-Up-For-Life (PUFL) membership. To be in good standing, the
member must have a valid membership card for the current year.
The cost of PUFL membership is based on two factors-the
member's age at the time of purchase
and the total dues of the Post at the same time. The total dues of the Post include the Department and
National per capitas and the amount of the annual dues retained by the
Post.
Arrangements can be made to pay the fee on time payment. At
least 10% of the fees are due with the application with monthly payments to be
made within 12 months.
Check with the Adjutant for more information.
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FROM
THE COMMANDER
A recent article in the
Springfield paper implied that military
retirees' medication
fees may rise. It stated that the Bush administration is considering dramatic
increases in the fees military retirees pay for prescription drugs. This would
negate a benefit started 30 months ago. There are documents indicating retirees
may be asked to pay $10 for each generic prescription filled by mail through
Tricare and $20 for a three month supply. This is an increase of $7 and $11
respectively. Drugs that retirees receive free at military hospitals would have
to paid for under the new plan. There would be a $10 fee for brand name
medications. These increases may not seem like very much to some, but it is just
another example of the rights that veterans were promised being taken away.
We are reminded every
night by the news telecasts and every day by the newspaper of the sacrifices our
military makes. If it wasn't for the sacrifices of veterans in previous wars, we
wouldn't enjoy the freedom that we have.
It's sad that the
military veterans in this country must continuously lose the rights they
deserve. The example above is just one.
Military retirees also
must get their retirement checks reduced by the same amount of their disability
check, if they receive one. Sure, they are trying to get legislation passed to
remedy it for some, but it should be remedied for every retiree! Retirees aren't
the only ones to get hurt. One veteran isn't heard, but as a group or as an
organization, we are a force to be dealt with. I hope you will write, call or
e-mail your Congressman and/or the White House and let them know you oppose
veterans having their rights taken away.
The kitchen at the post has been closed indefinitely. We
will still have All-You-Can-Eat Catfish nights every third Friday of each month.
If there is a month we can't have one, it will be posted on the electronic sign.
I have a few ideas about how to re-open the kitchen, but must work out all the
details. If anyone has any suggestions, please come and talk to me about them.
I would also like to know what you, as a member, think of
the kitchen being open or closed on Friday nights, i.e. is it a positive or a
negative for the post? I think it is a good thing and will work to get it going
again. So let me or one of the E-Board members know.
Doyle has been fixing a lot of things at our post. He has
gotten the ovens in the kitchen working properly, he sandblasted and painted the
grease pan on the stove, repaired a broken commode in the women's restroom and
put a light fixture in the dry cooler! Thanks Doyle, and I hope everyone else
thanks you too, you have been great help!
As you know, our Bingo moved to Friday nights. This was a
change that required an adjustment by our Bingo workers, but they have taken it
in stride. They do a great job and everyone should extend their thanks and
gratitude for their sacrifice of their time. I do.
A big thanks to Bill Roark for establishing a great web
site for our post at www.vietnammemorialpost.us
There will be a Super Bowl party and a chili cook-off at the post on February 1.
We will find out whose chili is the best and have some good eating.
Berman Walker
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FROM THE
PRESIDENT OF THE AUXILIARY
I want to thank everyone who helped to make the Christmas
party for the children a success this year. Special thanks to Santa Bob Carroll
for the fabulous job he did with the kids. Each child got to sit on his lap and
tell him what they wanted for Christmas and each child was presented with a gift
from Santa.
Toys for Tots was a success also. Jamie took the items to
the Armory and the post was presented with a nice plaque for our participation.
These are the kinds of things that make our post a great place to be. Let's keep
it up.
Luanne Spradling
President, ALA 639
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LADIES
AUXILIARY NEWS
I'd like to personally
thank everyone for the support and prayers for my family this past month. Thank
you all sincerely.
Now for the news. We are
accepting donations for our very nice Valentine basket this year. $1 gets you 1
ticket or $5 gets you 6. There is a list on the outside of the basket itself, so
stop and check it out and find a Ladies Auxiliary member for a ticket. We'll be
giving away the basket on February 14, when we have our party! You don't have to
be present to win.
I would also like to
remind everyone that we are going to start sending packages overseas again. We
would like to send at least one a month. As you've helped us in the past, it is
still greatly appreciated. So, if you know someone overseas, let me know.
Thank you for all of
your support.
Kim Boler
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ADJUTANT
REPORT
We are still looking for
your membership renewal. We are at about 80%. We need YOU to
renew to get 100%!
Thanks
Mark Reed
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BINGO
REPORT
Well, we have moved to
Fridays. Thanks to all the workers, you know who you are. Please come out and
work or play!
Mark Reed
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THE
JUKEBOX
I hope everyone is
enjoying the music on the jukebox. As you can see, many new CDs have been added
and it continues to change.
If you have a CD on loan
to the post and it has been taken off, it is now in a box in the Commander's
office. Let me or the Commander know which one it is and we will get it back to
you.
It has become clear that
some CDs are much more popular than others and it is my intention to establish a
Post Favorites section which I plan to move to the first few pages of the
selection list. Soooo-the location of many CDs may be moved. Be sure and check
that you have made the correct selection when you play the jukebox.
Also, you may have
recently loaded your favorite CD to the post and we certainly thank you for
sharing your music.
Finally, I would like to
thank all for the support of these changes and the kind words of approval you
have extended to me for this effort.
Rick Stephens
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CHAPLAINS
REPORT
Condolences:
Kim Boler on the loss of
her father.
Bob Carroll on the loss
of his mother.
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Our troops in the States
and overseas are still protecting our freedom and helping others all over the
world. Let's keep them in our thoughts and prayers. Also, let us always,
remember our POW's and MIA's.
Bob Carroll
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THANK
YOU
We would like to thank
the Ladies Auxiliary for making our wedding such a wonderful time and for
everyone attending.
Lee and Kim Boler
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VALENTINE
BASKET
The Ladies Auxiliary
proudly presents their exciting & intriguing Valentine Basket. Tickets are
only $1 each or you can buy 6 for $5. The drawing will be held at the
Valentine's Day Party/February Birthday Party on February 14. You need not be
present to win! See an Auxiliary member for tickets!
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Vietnam War
Memorial
American Legion
Post 639
2660 So. Scenic
Springfield,
MO. 65807
417-882-8639
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UP
AND COMING EVENTS
February 1 - Super Bowl
Party & Chili Cook-Off
February 3 - General
Meeting
February 10 - All You Can
Eat Catfish Dinner and Fixin's
February 14 - Valentine's
& Birthday Party
February 16 - Presidents'
Day
February 23 - E-Board
Meeting