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VIETNAM WAR MEMORIAL ** AMERICAN LEGION POST 639

 THE VETERANS VOICE

Records on active-duty military included in stolen VA data

The names, Social Security numbers and birth dates of up to 50,000 active-duty military personnel were included in the data stolen from a Veterans Affairs Department employee's home last month, the department announced Saturday. Among the 26.5 million people with records affected by the security breach were 10,000 to 20,000 National Guard and Reserve personnel on at least their second active-duty call-up. The compromised information may also include personal details on 25,000 to 30,000 active duty Navy personnel who completed their first enlistment term prior to 1991. VA said in its statement that it learned of this "through its ongoing analysis of the data." The department is working with the Defense Department to match the data and verify those potentially affected. Individual notification letters are being sent to those who could be affected by the stolen data, according to the statement. Active-duty military personnel may be included in the compromised VA database because the individuals were issued notifications from the Pentagon, known as a DD-214s, or separation from active service notices, once they completed their first enlistment. This paperwork triggers an automatic notification to VA that the individual is no longer on active duty, but in these cases the people re-enlisted. VA believes the information could still be in the agency's data files. There is no evidence suggesting that full-time active-duty personnel from other branches of the military are affected, the department stated. VA Secretary James Nicholson has said a data analyst in the department's Office of Policy violated agency policy by taking home a digital copy of unencrypted records containing the names, Social Security numbers and dates of birth for veterans discharged since 1975 and some of their spouses. Also at risk are veterans discharged before 1975 who filed for disability compensation. The department has initiated the process for firing the career data analyst, who will be afforded the same rights other career federal employees receive in such situations, VA officials said. The employee has worked at the agency for more than 30 years and had been taking sensitive data home since 2003. To assist in the department's efforts to determine what information was in the database, VA has hired data forensic experts to analyze the original data. A House Veterans Affairs Committee official said the panel will have at least five hearings on the incident between now and July 13. A final report from the VA Inspector General is expected July 10.

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COMMANDERS MESSAGE

This year is almost over for the present officers. Our elections were held on the 6th. The new officers will be installed during our Aug meeting. I feel that we have had a very good year accomplishing some of our goals. As the outgoing Commander, I hope that each and every one of you will support your new Commander—Al Powers as you have supported me during my term of office. With all of us working as one we can accomplish a lot to improve our Post. Not ME, HE, OR SHE BUT WE. Father’s Day honoring the Mount Vernon Veterans was a huge sucess. We really enjoyed talking and visiting with them. For those of you who couldn’t make the occasion, you missed out on something special. Remember to check your calendars for the special events which occur during the month. I hope that you will be able to attend all of them. Have a great 4th of July, WE EARNED IT! Thank you one and all.

Phil Richardson

ADJUTANTS MESSAGE

New membership cards for 2007 will be coming in August. So it will be that time to renew your membership again. Last year we made 103% of our goal set by State, let’s do it again. Installation of the new Post officers will be on August 1st  at the General meeting. Dinner at 6;00 pm our meeting is at 7:00 pm. Like to know when the bar is open? Look for the new neon OPEN sign. If it’s on-We are! Thanks for the donation J.R.

J.C. Ponder

CHAPLAINS REPORT

In June there was Flag Day - in July we have the 4th to celebrate our independence. I was reading the paper and came across this poem by an 8th grader about our flag.  She won the contest and the poem was read at the 89th session of Congress:

THE FLAG

This flag of red and white and blue
May not mean very much to you.
But as for me this banner flies
And with its mighty voice it cries
Out to peoples far and near
To proclaim our freedom here.
A small beginning, I agree,
But like the acorn to the tree.
Thirteen states we had at first,
But as our country grew, out thirst
For land and freedom did not stop.
That land did well; produced a crop
For countries of the world to share
And then they knew our flag was fair.
And underneath this starry wing
Foreign peoples help to sing
The greatest story ever told,
The story of our country bold.
Of its birth into the world
And of its wondrous flag unfurled.

And over the world there ne’er will stand

The flag of any other land

That will mean as much to me

As this flag of liberty.

By Stacy Frank, Grade 8

Now we know one of the reasons we fight for our liberty. Let’s remember Bill Carroll’s family and the loss of his sister. Charles (Chuck) Fraser is in Cox Regency, Room 44 and Eddie Simko is in Cox South Room 401. Keep our military men and women, our nations leaders and our POW’s and MIA’s in your thoughts and prayers.

Bob Carroll

HAVE A SAFE 4TH

 FROM THE EDITOR

There are quite a lot of things happening in the month of July so you’ll need to check the calendar so you don’t miss the events. As you could tell, the road sign is up and operational but still needs electric. The other new florescent sign is hanging in the foyer in front and will let people know when we are open. We now have motorcycle parking thanks to Harvey Williams. The E-board voted on putting no parking signs on the north side of the driveway in the near future due to a safety issue. We are in a need to get some members with knowledge of general maintenance to be on the Building & Grounds committee. If interested, call me at 417-619-6456. I would like to thank all the new elected members of the E-board for stepping up to the challenge of directing our Post in 2007. May the FORCE be with you. OH, and by the way, welcome to our new bartender, Lydia . She’s fitting in just fine. We will be taking empty cans for recycling so if you have any make arrangements with me to take care of them. Money goes to the rose garden.

GENE BEATTIE

BAR REPORT

Thank you to everyone who has been coming to the Post to help support it. It is so nice to see friendly, interesting people here cause that makes our job much easier. July 1st is going to be very busy due to a large wedding reception outside so please take that into account when ordering a drink. A big Post 639 welcome to Lydia , our newest bartender. Watch it guys, she CAN hold her own. Ha. July will be quite busy with planned events so watch the sign.

Pat Beattie - Bar Manager

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Calendar Back                                     July 2006                               Volume 26 Issue 7