Texas VFW Winter 2012 Newsletter

Winter 2012

page 8 State VOD Winner Announced

also inside patriot’s pen winners veterans day celebrations texas vfw foundation receives $500,000 grant

Texas VFW News — 1st Place Winner 2010 National Publications Contest

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CONTENTS

The official publication of the Texas Veterans of Foreign Wars

www.texasvfw.org

Texas VFW Launches Online Post, page 13 Introducing a new VFW post that has no brick-andmortar home. It’s meetings require just five members to actually be present for a quorum. Everyone else can join in online.

Texas VFW Foundation receives $500K grant, page 18 The Texas Veterans Commission provide the Texas VFW Foundation a $500,000 grant which will help provide Texas veterans and their families emergency assistance with household, vehicle, childcare, medical and personal expenses.

Serving Veterans Since 1899

What Does The Texas VFW Offer You? Camaraderie with fellow Veterans • Community Networking & Involvement • Remembrance Programs • Full time support of today’s service members • Programs for families and youth • Full Time Watchdog on Capitol Hill & at the Texas Legislature • Free representation in VA claims • An award-winning magazine Contributions: Letters, manuscripts, stories, materials, or photographs are welcomed but cannot be returned unless sender provides SASE. Texas VFW News will not be responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photos and drawings. Submission of articles and letters implies the right to edit and publish all or in part.

Please send your comments, suggestions, ideas and Post activities to: Texas VFW P.O. Box 14468 Austin, Texas 78761 or by email to dan@texasvfw.org Opinions expressed herein are those of the writers and are not to be construed as those of the publisher nor as official views of the Texas VFW, the National VFW or any of its agencies, unless otherwise made manifest by writers or spokespersons acting on behalf of the foregoing.

Advertising of products and services herein does not imply endorsement or approval of the Texas VFW. Advertising is accepted on the premise that the merchandise and services are accurately described. Ads that contain fraudulent, deceptive or misleading statements or illustrations, or in the opinion of the Texas VFW News may be offensive, are not knowingly accepted. If you encounter noncompliance, please tell us.

For Information Regarding: Unit reunions, general orders, taps, seeking, District Meetings and other topics please visit www.texasvfw.org.

In the News

4 Commander’s Column 5 Caring & Sharing in the Community 6 Community Involvement 8 Voice of Democracy Winners 10 Patriot’s Pen Winners 14 Mortgage Relief for Service Members 15 1st Cavalry Division News 17 VFW 100th Anniversary Pistol Raffle 19 City of Austin Plus 1 Financial Support 20 Membership Application 21 Memorials 22 VFW Gear 26 Veterans Day Celebrations from Around the State 28 Pearl Harbor Day Ceremonies 29 Vietnam Peace Accord Ceremonies Back Cover Post 1406 Veterans Day Events

Upcoming Events 30 92nd Annual Convention 31 Officer Training Seminar Join us on facebook for up-to-date information, photos of VFW events and breaking news relevant to Veterans.

Flippable Online Version of this magazine is available at www.texasvfw.org.

Winter 2012

ABOUT THE COVER National Commander-inChief Richard DeNoyer, State Commander John Spahr and Ladies Auxiliary State Sr. Vice President Kathy Wewe recognize Sharon Yang as the State winner of the Voice of Democracy program.

pa ge 8

sTa Te VOD WiN Ner aN NO uN ceD

also insi de

patriot’s pen winne rs veterans day celebr ations Texas VFW FOuN DaTiON receiVes $500,0 00 graNT

Texas VFW NeWs — 1st Place WiNNe r 2010 National Publica tions Contest

Texas VFW Winter 2012

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STATE Commander’s Column

Accomplishing our mission together

As we begin to close in on the end of our year, I’d like to look back on several highlights and look forward to some missions yet completed.

I have had the opportunity, over the past three years, to visit some wonderful Posts and Districts. I have seen our organization working as it should with the primary goal of doing all we can to assist our fellow veterans, our active military, our youth and our communities. I have been to large pageants and small ceremonies. I have spoken to crowds of nearly a thousand people and I have visited with groups of two or three. Throughout all of these, I have seen the core of our VFW — the World War II veterans proudly wearing their covers as they held the flag in a windy Memorial Day ceremony and the young soldier filling out the membership application while his three year old son watched. I have been in the presence of Korean War and Viet Nam veterans and consider every one of them to be heroes. I have welcomed Desert Storm and Iraq/Afghanistan veterans into our organization and I have said farewell to many of our older members. I have shed tears while watching the arrival of a young Army Spec 4 on his final journey home and I have smiled as I’ve watched several dozen recruits take their oath and become members of the United States Army.

I have watched with pride as our VFW, partnered with our friends at the Liberty Institute, the American Legion and the National Memorial Ladies, stood up to an Administration attack against our VFW Ritual and an attack on our freedom of speech and defeated their efforts to stifle us.

Over the past three years I have been witness to our VFW Posts and Districts going above and beyond to help a Comrade in need. I have watched Posts who have worn their patriotism proudly and I have listened to some of our older members tell me what it was like when they were in the foxholes in France or the mountains in Korea or the jungles of Viet Nam. I have had the honor of meeting retired Generals and Privates — each with their own memories and experiences.

I have been privileged to institute new Posts and saddened to see some Posts surrender their Charter. It has been heartwarming to see the efforts of our Ladies and Men’s Auxiliaries as they work to assist our VFW Posts and it has been a great honor to serve with Sharon Helton, one of the nicest, most tenacious and courageous ladies I have ever known.

Over the past three years, however, I have also seen storm clouds on the horizon. I have seen building strength in the efforts to attack the benefits that so many veterans fought for. Recently, those attacks strengthened with the proposal by the DoD to impact TriCare and prescription costs for our veterans. During the past three years we have seen our defenses decline through a shrinking membership and a weakening of our resolve to combat those attacks.

I will continue to strive to gain members for our VFW, and I urge every member to do the same.

The stakes now are far too great to sit back and accept defeat. Without increasing our strength and the volume of our voice in Congress, I’m afraid we can look forward to continued cuts in our benefits. If we do, indeed, resign ourselves to shrinking membership being acceptable, then we have no one to be mad at but ourselves.

Our mission is clear, our objective is obvious. We have the people to do the job, we have the means to turn back the Government’s efforts to weaken what is so richly deserved. If every member got just one more member we would climb again to a position of strength and we would be a force to be reckoned with.

The question then becomes, not only can we do it, but will we do it? Can we regenerate our efforts to become a powerful organization — one which is listened to and respected when budgetary matters are being considered. We have but a few months remaining to achieve our goals. With renewed efforts on the part of every member, every Post and every District, we can accomplish that mission and, once again, we can climb to levels that cause the Government and the nation to take note of the fact that the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States is not only the greatest, but the strongest veterans service organization in the world. n

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Texas VFW Winter 2012

The Official Publication of the Department of Texas, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. Texas VFW News (USPS 008-177). Periodicals Postage Paid at Austin, Texas and additional mailing offices. Subscription price of $20.00.

Published Quarterly by the Department of Texas, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S., 8503 North IH-35, Austin, Texas 78753 Volume LXVI, Number 3, © March 2012. All rights reserved.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Circulation Dept., VFW, 406 W. 34th St., Kansas City, MO 64111.

Members Change of Address: Forward address changes to: Data Entry, VFW, 406 W. 34th St., Kansas City, MO 64111. Be sure to furnish your old address, also your Post number, when requesting change to new address. To ensure accuracy, please clip and enclose your present address as printed on a recent copy of the Texas VFW News magazine.

Advertisers: Electronic Media Kit available at www.texasvfw.org, or request a printed Media Kit at dan@texasvfw.org.

Roy Grona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Editor Dan West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assistant Editor www.medianation.net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Graphic Design DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS........................................ (512) 834-8535

2011-2012 DEPARTMENT OFFICERS Commander John Spahr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8787 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P.O. Box 14468 Austin, TX 78761 Sr Vice Larry Velasquez . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2397 . . . . . . . . . . 4829 Golden Eye, Corpus Christi, TX 78413 Jr Vice Sylvia Sanchez . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8936 . . . . . . . . 1906 Ashprington Dr. San Antonio, TX 78251 Adj/Qm Roy Grona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3377 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P.O. Box 14468 Austin, TX 78761 Judge Advocate Ken Burton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9182 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P.O. Box 14468 Austin, TX 78761 Surgeon Doc Howard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3359 . . . . . . . . . . . 2517 Golden Oaks Dr., Garland, TX 75044 Chaplain Bob Dickerson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2451 . . . . . . . . . . . . P.O. Box 341136, San Antonio, TX 78234 Chief Of Staff Harry Munn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P.O. Box 202 Hewitt, TX 76643 Inspector Larry Konarik . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8587 . . . . . . . 200 Clear Springs Rd., Georgetown, TX 78628 Immediate Past Commander Wayne Depute . . 6378 . . . . . . . . . . . . 324 Windward Dr. League City, TX 77573 Council Member Al Cantu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2397 . . . . . . . . . . . 4009 Tripoli Dr., Corpus Christi, TX 78411 Asst Adj Dan West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3413 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P.O. Box 14468 Austin, TX 78761 Asst Qm Carlos Sustaita . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8787 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P.O. Box 14468, Austin, TX 78761 Deputy Inspector John Lozanski . . . . . . . . . . . . 5076 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1215 Cedar Ridge Rd, Heath, TX 75032 Deputy Inspector Larry Hume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8904 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P.O. Box 1024 Center, TX 75935 Deputy Inspector Bruce Alford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9174 . . . . . . . . . . . . 6130 Ridge Oak, San Antonio, TX 78250 Deputy Inspector Richard “Dick” Prewett . . . . . 8932 . . . . . . . . . . . . P.O. Box 18473 Corpus Christi, TX 78430 Deputy Inspector C.W. “Pete” Kinson . . . . . . . . 9299 . . . . . . . . . . 400 Sw Gordon #417, Burleson, TX 76028 Deputy Inspector Joe Vargas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9173 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10436 Tomwood, El Paso, TX 79925 Officer Of The Day Lonnie Garza . . . . . . . . . . . . 3413 . . . . . . . . . . 1769 Jacobs Ct, New Braunfels, TX 78130

DEPARTMENT VETERANS COUNSELORS Service Officer/Waco Sandra Covin . . . . . 6008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 701 Clay St., Waco, TX 76799 Service Officer/Houston Julio Harros . . . 3413 . . . . . . . 6900 Almeda Road, Houston, TX 77030

2011-2012 DISTRICT COMMANDERS James Blaine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7875 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3011 Cr 2730, Honey Grove, TX 75446 Robert Lafleur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2775 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3528 Whippoorwill, Orange, TX 77630 Lary Harrington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8627 . . . . . . . . . . 1007 Green Meadow Dr., Richardson, TX 75081 Ingeborg “Inge” Conley . . . . . . . . . . 12075 . . . . . . . . . . . 17411 Ebeys Landing Lane, Humble, TX 77346 Keith Foley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12058 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Po Box 14468, Austin, TX 78761 Francisco “Frank” Garcia . . . . . . . . . . 8932 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Po Box 4333, Corpus Christi, TX 78469 Ralph Rodriguez, Jr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6873 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Po Box 113, Clyde, TX 79510 Lilly Harwell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2512 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Po Box 34, Childress, TX 79201 Rodney “Rod” Raulston . . . . . . . . . . . 8919 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3901 Mcconnel, El Paso, TX 79904 Terry Rowe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8560 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6668 Cr 1100, Sulphur Springs, TX 75482 Daniel M. Hinojosa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8134 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305 Cr 678 E., Natalia, TX 78059 William “Bill” Mcmenomey . . . . . . . . 4008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Po Box 188, Kempner, TX 76539 James Mansfield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8878 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Lackland Cr, Wichita Falls, TX 76306 Glenn James . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8551 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235 Primrose, Freeport, TX 77541 Norman Macey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4816 . . . . . . . . . . . . 16907 Caldwell Pointe Ct., Humble, TX 77346 Ricardo “Rick” Ramirez . . . . . . . . . . . 8788 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 416 E. Water Lily, Mcallen, TX 78504 Don Kirkley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3893 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Po Box 632190, Nacogdoches, TX 75963 Antonio Vasquez . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 . . . . . . . . . . 2441 Ne Loop 410 #510, San Antonio, TX 78217 James Van Rite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4695 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5011 Buffalo Ct N, Fort Worth, TX 76119 Humberto Benavides . . . . . . . . . . . . 4146 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1203 Melrose Ave., Victoria, TX 77901 Melvin “Mel” Parker . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6284 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5305 Clinton, Odessa, TX 79762 E.J. “Tex” Kennedy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8925 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1797 A Fm 812, Cedar Creek, TX 78612 James Gunter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5872 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 Talford St., Fairfield, TX 75840 Paul Wilbanks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7103 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1300 La Acres, Athens, TX 75752

C o m m u n i t y

S e r v i c e

CARING & SHARING IN the COMMUNITY

Texas VFW Post 8923, Carrollton — The Post sponsored and participated in Atria Carrollton Retirement and Assisted Living Community Veterans Day Program. Present were veteran Rudy McDonald (and wife Odessa), Rachel Lewis and Shirley Tarpley. Certificates and awards were given out to the veterans living and spouses of fallen heroes.

Nollie Marie Brown —

On behalf of Atria Carrollton Retirement/Assisted Living, VFW Post 8923 member, Rudy McDonald, interviewed and prepared all the documentation for Nollie Marie Brown, US Women’s Army Corps veteran of the Korean conflict years (1952-1955) for The Library of Congress Veterans History Project. Staff Sergeant Brown, was a member of the 7774th Signal Corps 7th Army Headquarter.

H H New Member Spotlight H H

Texas VFW Post 880, Galveston — SFC Daniel Anothony Monnell presented Post Commander Raul Rodriguez two American flags that had been flown in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. SFC Monnell was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his service in Iraq in 2009. Immediately after presenting the American flags to Commander Rodriguez SFC Monnell applied for membership in the Galveston Post. He was accepted by unanimous vote of the members. SFC Monnell is expected to remain on active duty with the U.S. Army until August of 2014.

M rs Ke ck (N an cy), CSM Ve la an d I would lik e to th an k you fo r th e ca rds se to us by th e la di es Au xiliant Po st 6974. What an a m az ry of VF W th e So ldiers of th e Ai r Ca in g gift fo r Whe n a So ldier is away frova lry Briga de. es pe cia lly over th e ho lid ay m ho m e, pie ce of m ail not on ly lift s s, a sim ple but pro vid es a touch of ho on e’s sp irit a ph ysica l di sp la y th at sh m e. It als o is alwa ys su pport s he r So ldierow s A m erica Fa m ilie s. Plea se pa ss on m s an d th eir Ve la ’s “th an ks an d wi sh es in e an d CSM Holi da y Seas on” to all th e fo r a bli ssf ul he lpe rs of th e La di es Au xilla di es an d ia ry.

Th an k you an d God bless.

v/r COL John E. Nova

lis II

Texas VFW Winter 2012

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C o m m u n i t y

I n v o l v e m e n t

MEMBERS GET ALL “DRESSED UP” Members of Texas VFW Post 8904, Houston, visit local nursing homes on Halloween to spread a little “spooky” cheer.

L-R: Auxiliary President Becky Yates, QM Larry Hume (Capt. America), Post Service Officer Myron Bounds, Pine Grove Nursing Home Activities Directory Peggy Hughes, and post member Fr. Stephen Secaur.

L-R: Fr. Stephen Secaur, Post Service Officer Myron Bounds, Post QM Larry Hume, Jr. Vice Gary McKey, and trustee Danny Long.

TEXAS VFW POST 8788, MCALLEN, HONOR GUARD

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Texas VFW Winter 2012

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Vo i c e

o f

D e m o c r a c y

C o n t e s t

W i n n e r s

in serving “is there pride ary?” in our milit

by Sharon Yang

ical Center as terans Affairs Med Ve y ke ba De e th at with hundreds of volunteered hospital. I walked e th Last summer I nd ou ar s an e five or ten minutes lping guide veter th them only for th a patient escort, he wi g yin sta rs, do I chatted freely with e curving corri and another. Some patients through th rd wa e on n ee tw around; only the the distance be . Others I was quiet it took to traverse to es jok ck no k‐k eels against waxed corny knoc squeak of rubber wh and told ridiculously e tiv eti rep e th d an ed breaths sound of their labor e still silence. th g tin veterans with floors interrup offering an arm to rs, he etc str g llin pu wind. The harsh wheelchairs, ll running into the e hospital pushing sti th if in as s le ek ub we do e nt fiv t I spen acters, be of bitterness, drawn Chinese char asizing the creases ph dly em ba e es, lik fac ed t by eir ok th cro in backs ed the lines be extinguished, no ght out and deepen ide that could not ou pr br a s ed ht is a rn lig t It bu . en in ng esc sk fluor der their litary traini d yet somewhere un erve ingrained by mi An res . e ret th reg m d fro an e , rn ess bo sadn a quiet pride, by loneliness. It is time or by pain or reflected in the carry. d beauty in the pride un personal pride they fo I l. ita e sp ho at each one bearing th d beauty in th with time and age, rile confines, I foun d ste ine y sta s ldl d rie co an e sto th ed ole ite fad Desp th told wh wore, most d insignias on the clo one of the veterans rle ery cu e ev th d d an an ch ea ing caps in. The stitch . owner had served Wars, Afghanistan name of the wars its , Korea, The Gulf am etn Vi II, ar W that were saved ld or ginnings and ends be in a few words: W s, ph um re tri d an of tragedies tight, as if they we dual soldier, stores the cloth straining ivi s, ple ind e tem th ness of rk eir th ry da e sto nd The clung arou faces, but th d thread. The caps shadows over their ere st ca oid ts br ha em e by Th er in. forev s saved with riences and memorie protecting the expe ng from their eyes. ini sh urth floor from the sk the soft pride ma ite qu t no to his unit on the fo uld ck co ba ng lki wa s self, an IV stand with a man I wa ost folded in on him conversation I had alm a , air of lch ed ee ind wh rem I am hold on it, afraid a down in his er. He was slumped impulse to steady his nt al ce t on en ati irr atm t tre os is alm dialys out of him, and we ber having an ve taken the strength ha xt to him. I remem ne to d ng me alo d us g see rin sis tte stu his arm. Dialy form words. I pulle tear the line out of cked, struggling to ha uld He wo . It ly. mp ble en bu igi dd t ell su gh sli perked up mething int to communicate so e elevators before he th him r to fo sp of ay d ra ite lfw e th ha wa re th ly we r, and patient d, his voice, wi ddle of the corrido cords, but in the en l ca vo his th wi to a stop in the mi e ing battl he was fighting a los seemed almost s if my hat…” be. t lef I t… id “My ha d there always will sandpaper, finally sa pride in service, an en be s ay These . alw ide s pr ha shared this litary. There hospital hallways all in serving in our mi ing ide nd pr y is wi ar e ere th din th in or s, s e Ye ese are th ng moment n I met in the fleeti e for our country. Th fic me cri wo sa d e an th ate n e im ar me ult e e ese Th rs. Th to make th of awards and hono o had been willing o are not recipients wh were the people wh s, it was required. ou as g fam t lon no e as r ar ose names d every day, fo an ch ea s, I s, tie du men and women wh eir out th on to join the rank d forces who carry . If I was called up me d an u yo e ar members of the arme ey roism. Th zed concepts of he They are not ideali ve my country. ve ser to r ion on me that I ha so in orde would proudly do all made an impress ey th t ye d an at t, th me ide I veterans kind of pr t of the lives of the but also the humble re of I passed into and ou the burden of pain em th aight, proud postu th str wi d ro ed m‐ rri ce. They ca the signature, ra o int s est ch eir carried with me sin th ted up eir shoulders and lif straightened out th ers. our country’s soldi

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Texas VFW Winter 2012

13th – Jessie Peterson – $1,500 Scholarship Name: Richard and Peggy Marshall Memorial Scholarship. Sponsoring Post: 4146, Victoria, and its Ladies Auxiliary, District 24.

2nd – Allison Vandagriff – $4,500 Texas VFW Motorcycle Group John Fair Memorial Scholarship. Sponsoring Post: 2775, Orange, and its Ladies Auxiliary, District 2.

14th – Jacob Phillips – $1,250 Scholarship Name: Post 2544 C.L. Bridge Memorial Scholarship. Sponsoring Post: 7835, Granbury, and its Ladies Auxiliary, District 21.

3rd – John Brown – $4,000 W. T. “Pete” Evans Scholarship.

Sponsoring Post: 8567, Graham, and its Ladies Auxiliary, District 15.

15th – Alyssa Zapata – $1,000 Scholarship Name: Dennis L. Cunningham Post 8550, El Paso, Texas Scholarship. Sponsoring Post: 3966, Devine, and its Ladies Auxiliary, District 13.

4th – Devon Cash – $3,250 Camp Bowie Post 708 and Auxiliary Scholarship. Sponsoring Post: 5619, Houston, and its Ladies Auxiliary, District 4.

5th – Tiffany Hardy – $3,000 Past State Commander M. John Knapp Scholarship. Sponsoring Post: 3278, Brownwood, and its Ladies Auxiliary, District 8.

6th – Alexander Hoagland – $3,000 I.P. Sarge Bell Memorial Post 3377 Scholarship. Sponsoring Post: 4149, Midland, and its Ladies Auxiliary, District 25.

7th – Tama Robinson – $2,500 Robert O. “Bob” Pugh Memorial Scholarship.

Sponsoring Post: 8625, Sinton, and its Ladies Auxiliary, District 6.

8th – Colton Lewis – $2,250 Scholarship Name: Francis Sullivan Memorial Scholarship. Sponsoring Post: 6441, Wimberley, and its Ladies Auxiliary, District 5.

9th – Devyn Gilmore – $2,000 Scholarship Name: RVOS Insurance Scholarship. Sponsoring Post: 4148, Hamilton, and its Ladies Auxiliary, District 29.

16th – Jameson Pitts – $1,000 Scholarship Name: West Brazos VFW Post 8551 Ladies Auxiliary Scholarship. Sponsoring Post: 10427, Leander, and its Ladies Auxiliary, District 28.

17th – Hunter Pierdolla – $1,000 Scholarship Name: Rudy and Earlene Ostovich Scholarship. Sponsoring Post: 8555, Poth, and its Ladies Auxiliary, District 20.

18th – Joshua Villarreal – $1,000 Scholarship Name: Hewitt VFW Post 6008 Scholarship. Sponsoring Post: 2369, McAllen, District 18.

19th – Shelby Robinson – $1,000 Scholarship Name: Martin D. Denson Post 6873 Scholarship. Sponsoring Post: 1836, Lufkin, and its Ladies Auxiliary, District 19.

20th – Kayla Elam – $1,000 Scholarship Name: E.G. Mudd Insurance Agency in Memory of Past Department Commander Earnie Mudd. Sponsoring Post: 7782, Clarendon, and its Ladies Auxiliary, District 9.

10th – Anthony Criscione – $2,000 Scholarship Name: Department of Texas 21st – Skyla Thompson – $1,000 Scholarship Name: Jerome Henze Ladies Auxiliary Scholarship. Sponsoring Post: 4692, Bryan, and its Ladies Auxiliary, Scholarship. Sponsoring Post: 3393, Kempner, and its Ladies Auxiliary, District 14.

District 17.

22nd – Cathryn Halverson – $1,000 Scholarship Name: District 16 Auxiliary 11th – Michael Olsen – $2,000 Scholarship Name: Spring Branch VFW Post Memorial Scholarship. Sponsoring Post: 3530, Richardson, District 3.

8790 and Ladies Auxiliary Scholarship. Sponsoring Post: 9828, Lindale, District 12.

23rd – Gregory Annett – $1,000 Scholarship Name: VFW District 28 12th – Alia Pappas – $1,750 Scholarship Name: Veterans Memorial Scholarship. Sponsoring Post: 8782, El Paso, and its Ladies Auxiliary, District 10.

Incorporated Scholarship. Sponsoring Post: 9171, Canton, and its Ladies Auxiliary, District 30.

24th – Tiffany Sumrow – $1,000 Scholarship Name: Stewart-Wendell VFW Post 3904 Scholarship. Sponsoring Post: 4380, Plano, and its Ladies Auxiliary, District 1.

2011-2012 Voice of Democracy contest results

1st – Sharon Yang – $7,500 Department of Texas VFW Scholarship. Sponsoring Post: 5400, Alta Loma, and its Ladies Auxiliary, District 16.

Texas VFW Winter 2012

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P a t r i o t ’ s

P e n

A w a r d

W i n n e r s

patriot’s pen are you proud of your country?

by Felicia Walker helm ould overw sh s rd o w be an g those m proud to just hearin a , I . d ica u r ro e p e s of Am ween. feeling to b ed State thing in bet , joy, and a y th er rm ev a The Unit d w n a h s, wit ess, freedom ican’s heart untry’s succ every Amer co r with me, u o f o ill disagree proud w m le I’ p . n eo a p ic Amer Many proud of a w I can be o h ic sk a d n a an econom as been in h t a th y tr coun a country ver a year, sink-hole o ost shut ent has alm m n er v o g s that’ s more try that ha n u co a d n d down, a ever has ha ple than it eo p s es el r m ho stand up fo t I will still at once. Bu Although and reply, “ y tr n u co y m roblems, ing those p v a h is a ic Amer ke that ot remain li n l il w ey th e USA about it, th k in h T . er forev and The l disasters, ra tu a n s, t orist attack r a fact tha through terr d I know fo n a er th to o n has gotten a and proceed metime or ing ends so tough times e th y es er th v E h . g n u ssio thro ill make it Great Depre isis.” f America w o s te er major cr ta th S o ed y it er n ev U r e th ys has fo like it alwa h reasons to than enoug succeed just re o m h it w ty, and ed us uality, liber has provid y eq tr r n fo u t h co g l fu fou and most icans have Our wonder in it. Amer is the freest g y tr in v n li u co in r e Ou ll over take prid countries a e now have. w id a h d ic n h a w , to ce ds, choose We donate independen the world. eak our min in sp y to tr n ed u w co o of the are all generous ’t have half n o a hand. We d f o s ie d tr ee n n u Freedom the world in ore. Most co dom I have. so much m ee d n fr a y s, er n ev io be the l for our relig am thankfu t we should a I th d n a er ff o o d e g us, untry has to freedoms w are defendin thing our co ry e a n it o il er m b g m n safety r stro is the nu American’s eople of ou re p e su h en T f. to o s ud of most proud r lives for u risking thei u’re not pro o d y n a y s, sa u o g T . protectin ey are now g American remain as th ride in bein s p m e o k d ta ee ’t fr n o and forefathers, you d rself, your like saying u o is y y f tr o n d u u ro your co mplished. ou’re not p s been acco ke saying y t’ a li th is t g a in th th d an and every at. ow citizens, ne to say th leaders, fell sh for anyo lfi se ly b a v be. I take It’s unbelie lways will a d n a A S U triot of the to offer. a proud pa m a I , d all it has n es a y y So tr n u co l exceptiona pride in this future.

nd my my heart, a , e m o h y m America is

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Texas VFW 1st Place Patriot’s Pen winner Felecia Walker wins 20th Place at National Competition

PATRIOT’S PEN WINNERS

T e a c h e r

CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION TEACHER AWARDS

Kaye Wheelis – Grades K-5 – Sponsored by Texas VFW Post 9078 Round Rock and its Ladies Auxiliary.

A w a r d s / B i r t h d a y s

HAPPY 112th BIRTHDAY Veterans of Foreign Wars

Texas VFW Post 4676, Universal City celebrates the 112th Birthday of the VFW on Sept. 29, 2011

HAPPY 103rd BIRTHDAY!

Renee Clark – Grades 6-8 – Sponsored by Texas VFW Post 9078 Round Rock and its Ladies Auxiliary.

Jennifer Jordan – Grades 9-12 – Sponsored by Texas VFW Post 6873, Abilene and its Ladies Auxiliary.

Bradley Davis, a World War II veteran celebrated his 103rd birthday on Feb. 25. He is a life member of Texas VFW Post 2933, Dripping Springs.

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Texas VFW Launches Online Post vets hope online meetings will stem post decline Micah Burnett is a busy man.

He works for TexVet, an initiative of the Texas A & M Health Science Center College of Medicine. As a communications specialist in the college’s Round Rock headquarters, Burnett works to connect military veterans with the myriad government and private non-profit assistance programs available to them.

It’s a big job. The short transition period from military to civilian life leaves time for little more than a cursory introduction to such programs.

As a result, many vets don’t get the services they desperately need.

The work leaves Burnett little time for outside activities, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, widely known as the VFW. “I would not want to join an organization unless I could devote some time to it,” said Burnett.

That, though, was before he heard about a new VFW post that has no brick-and-mortar home.

It’s meetings require just five members to actually be present for a quorum. Everyone else can join in online. It’s the country’s first online VFW post.

“Maybe,” said Burnett, “there would be the excuse: Oh, I don’t have time to take two or three hours out of my day, or once a week, or once a month, even, and go meet with people.

“But if I can sit down at my computer for 20 minutes, there’s really no excuse. So I think the appeal lies there.”

That was the thinking when retired Army 1st Sgt. Bob Gear and his friend, Jason Doran, got into a discussion about the decline in the number of VFW posts around the country, as the older veterans from World War II, Korea and Vietnam begin to age and pass away. “Nine posts are closing a year in the Department of Texas VFW,” said Gear. “After all the recruiting efforts, they’re generally 2,000 members short.”

What would happen, though, the men asked themselves, if an online post could welcome busy young veterans to an organization that still works to protect their benefits in Washington and in American society in general? Burnet jumped at the opportunity and became a charter member.

“There are still all the formalities of a VFW meeting, I believe, following Demeters and the protocol that’s native to the organization,” he

said. “Our plan is to transition to Google+. That way we can see one another, similar to Skype.

We’ll be able to look one another in the eye and talk. “I think it can really boost the membership of the organization and that’s important because the organization lobbies for veterans’ benefits.”

That kind of talk is music to Gear’s ears.

“I’m a perfect example,” he said. “I have two young children at home. So my days are full and I’m extremely busy at night, so I don’t think about the VFW.” Of course, veterans had children at home back in 1950, as well, and VFW ranks swelled then. “Life, now, moves very fast,” Gear observed. “It’s a different life that we have in 2012 than we had in 1950. All the pressures that are on families: sports, school activities, whatever it is; this is a great way to integrate something as important as VFW into their lives.

By Jim Swift (KXAN)

“Right as I went on leave,” he said, “I had one of my old Humvee drivers; he was blown up by a pressure plate IED in Ramadi.” So the day I landed back in Germany, I went and visited him in Landstuhl. He was a double amputee below the knee. So, you had that; you had a great deal of emotion seeing the family and the kids. “And then you come back, go back into the tour and as soon as you get there, you receive news like this.”

So now, the country’s first online VFW Post has a name: VFW Post Kiernan. n

“We can have a young veteran at a football game with his children and he can participate or track what’s going on via his smart phone at the same time. “We could have a member deployed to Afghanistan; even though he may miss the meeting time, he can go back the next day and see what was discussed and add his input.”

The Austin veterans worked hard to convince state and national VFW leadership to experiment with the idea. It’s a test launch and everyone involved knows there will be some issues to work out. But when the VFW brass, National Commander in Chief Richard DeNoyer and State Commander John Spahr, officially installed the post and swore in the new members, there was a sense of glee in the air.

“They all seemed to be very enthusiastic,” said Burnett, “and they wanted to learn how to set up Facebook pages for their posts, how they could update their post web sites.” So the cyberspace bug appears to be spreading throughout the organization and there is excited hope that the idea will turn the membership decline around.

Quietly, though, in the background, everyone involved has a name on their lips. Army Staff Sergeant Christopher Kiernan, a central Texan, who was one of Gear’s good friends in Iraq, was killed in action in 2007. Gear learned the news as he returned to combat from a “rest and relaxation” break.

Swearing in ceremony for the officers of Texas VFW Post 12117 was held at the Texas VFW MidWinter Convention in Austin on January 28, 2012.

. . . the cyberspace bug appears to be spreading throughout the organization . . .

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M i l i t a r y

N e w s

By John H. Cushman Jr.

mortgage relief for service members Members of the military services who lost their homes in unfair foreclosures have won a big victory — and will receive big payouts — in the comprehensive settlement of mortgage litigation that was reached last week.

Service members do not have to apply for relief. The government, over time, will identify victims and notify them.

Four big lenders have agreed to identify service members who lost their homes or were denied interest rate reductions in violation of a law that protects active duty and deploying troops from credit card or mortgage abuses — and to make up their losses. The lenders are JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Citigroup and Ally Financial, formerly GMAC.

Mr. Perez said “the law postpones, suspends, terminates or reduces the amount of certain consumer debt obligations so that members of the armed forces can focus their full attention on their military responsibilities without adverse consequences for themselves or their families. It allows our service members to focus on the critical role they play in protecting our nation.”

The breakthrough was described in a briefing on Friday by Holly Petraeus, assistant director for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Office of Servicemember Affairs; Tom Perez, assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s civil rights division; and Attorney General Beau Biden of Delaware.

Wells Fargo, Citigroup and Ally will be required to provide any service member who was a victim of a wrongful foreclosure a minimum of $116,785, plus lost equity and interest, Mr. Perez said. Banking regulators could decide to make the payout even higher.

JPMorgan Chase, which has compensated some service members because of an earlier private settlement, will provide victims either their home free and clear of debt or the cash equivalent of the full value at the time of the sale.

“In addition,” Mr. Perez said, “service members will receive compensation for any additional harm suffered.”

Those who think they may qualify can contact an Armed Forces Legal Assistance office. (More details are at servicemembers.gov. Or call the Justice Department at 800-896-7743.)

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He added: “Among these protections is a prohibition on foreclosure of a service member’s property without first getting approval from the court, if the service member received the mortgage loan prior to entering military service. And if a foreclosure is filed in court, it requires the servicer to notify the court that a service member is on active duty.”

Finally, he said, the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act “provides that a service member can have his or her interest rate lowered to 6 percent on debt that was acquired before entering military service.”

The settlement expands the protections in important ways, like covering deployed troops regardless of whether they took out their mortgages before or after enlisting, and providing mortgage relief when military families whose homes are under water financially are relocating for new assignments. n Copyright 2012 The New York Times Company

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Staff Sgt. Joe Armas, 1st ACB, 1st Cav. Div. PAO

soldier awarded army’s highest peacetime award for valor: the soldier’s medal 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division CAMP MARMAL, Afghanistan — A Soldier assigned to the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, was awarded the Army’s most prestigious peacetime award for valor, the Soldier’s medal, during a ceremony here Dec. 1.

Capt. Dennis Edwards received the award for his efforts to extract two drivers whose vehicles had caught fire during a traffic accident in Killeen, Texas on the morning of Jan. 27, according to the citation. Edwards, from Baton Rouge, La., the assistant operations officer for Task Force Lobos, 1st ACB, was on his way to work when he was at a stoplight and two vehicles collided on the other side of the intersection.

Edwards, at times emotional, recounted his initial shock when the crash occurred.

“Initially, it took me back for a second,” he said.”

I couldn’t believe that both vehicles had burst into flames.” “As I approached the first vehicle, all I could think to myself was that I had to react quickly to get both of the drivers out of those vehicles,” added Edwards. When Edwards approached the first vehicle, his initial intention was to extract the driver from the driver’s side door, but quickly learned that would not be the most viable option.

“There was too much fire on that side of the car, so I had to resort to the passenger side,” Edwards continued.

Edwards had repositioned both drivers away from the crash scene, one of the individuals who had assisted him called 911 and fire trucks soon rolled into the area to extinguish the fires.

The commander for Task Force Lobos, Lt. Col William Huff, saw Edwards later on that day, and was in awe of the subdued demeanor of someone who had just been through what many would consider a life-altering experience.

“He maintained his calm and cool collective attitude the whole time; he was absolutely unflappable,” added Huff. Huff said Edwards had called in late that morning and hadn’t mentioned anything about the accident. “Come to find out, he was late because he was saving someone’s life,” said Huff. “He was thinking about his impact on the mission; he’s the epitome of selfless service,” added Huff.

Moreover, it took an act of selfless service for Edwards to be awarded the Soldier’s Medal.

According to Army Regulation 600-8-22 (Military Awards and Decorations), “The performance must have involved personal hazard or danger and the voluntary risk of life under conditions not involving conflict with an armed enemy.” Huff said that he feels strongly that Edwards deserved to receive such an honor. “Without thinking twice about his own personal safety, he ran across that intersection without hesitation to pull both drivers out of those vehicles,” added Huff. “It just speaks volumes about his professionalism.”

“He saw a dangerous situation, and responded the way we all would have wanted to,” added Huff. Edwards said that as he looked back almost a year after the accident, the experience was one he would never forget. “I learned a lot from that day, especially to not take the little things in life for granted,” added Edwards.

As for the ceremony, Edwards was presented the award by Lt. Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, commander, ISAF Joint Command.

Fellow Soldiers stood at the position of attention as the citation was recited, briefly summarizing the events of a late January morning that had started just like any other for Edwards. After the award presentation, Edwards talked about what the award meant to him as he acknowledged the immensity of the moment.

“It’s an absolute honor to receive this award,” said Edwards, who joined former secretary of state and retired four-star general Colin Powell as a fellow recipient of the prestigious honor.

Edwards, seemingly humbled in receiving the award, said any Soldier would have reacted the same way, and that he was glad that he was able to intervene the way he did. Huff said the award ceremony was a great moment for Task Force Lobos. ‘To witness a humbled and deserving professional like Edwards receive this award, it’s really something special and I was honored to be a part of it,” added Huff. n

After extracting the passenger in the first vehicle, Edwards dashed to the second vehicle, and with the assistance of a few individuals who were in the vicinity, he successfully extracted the driver of the sedan which was also in flames. After

Capt. Dennis Edwards (right), an operations officer assigned to Task Force Lobos, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, originally from Baton Rouge, La., is presented with the Soldier’s Medal: the Army’s highest peacetime award for valor, by Lt. Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, commander, ISAF Joint Command, Dec. 1.

Edwards received the award for his efforts to extract two drivers whose vehicles had caught fire during a traffic accident in Killeen, Texas on the morning of Jan. 27. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Joe Armas) Texas VFW Winter 2012

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SSA logisticians provide ‘supplies for the skies’ in afghanistan 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division CAMP MARMAL, Afghanistan — Soldiers who work at the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade’s SSA warehouse work around the clock and play an important role in the brigade’s overall mission.

The supply, support and activity platoon provides the 1st ACB’s units with logistical support, handling in excess of 2,500 daily transactions that involve everything from office supplies to highly expensive aircraft parts.

“Our mission is to provide supplies for the skies,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Lakisha Coles, originally from Baltimore, the SSA accountable officer, assigned to Company A, 615th Aviation Support Battalion, 1st ACB, 1st Cavalry Division.

“The role we play is crucial because aircraft can’t remain in the fight if maintainers don’t have the parts to fix them,” added Coles.

Coles said the support her soldiers provide must remain constant in order to meet the customers’ needs.

“We always have to be there for our customers, since you never know when an aircraft is going to become non-mission capable due to a part failure,” said Coles. “We’re open for business 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in order to provide that level of support.”

That level of support extends to all of the ground units that are located at Marmal, she added.

Staff Sgt. Alvin Roane, from Baton Rouge, La., the non-commissioned officer in charge of the SSA, A Company, 615th ASB, used a football analogy to compare the role of the SSA warehouse platoon to that of an offensive line.

“The offensive line protects the quarterback so he can drive the ball down the field and score,” he said.

Essentially, the SSA platoon protects the brigade’s units by facilitating their parts needs and thereby helps them achieve mission success, added Roane.

“We’re responsible for providing oversight and accountability for all of the items that are ordered and stored at the warehouse,” said Sgt. Wayne Keller, originally from Port Angeles, Wash., an automated logistics specialist, also assigned to A Company, 615th ASB. “The warehouse has a turn-in section where customers turn in unserviceable items that we forward to the repair depots so that the parts can be re-integrated back into our supply system” added Keller.

The SSA platoon normally coordinates with A Company’s transportation platoon for assistance with movement of those unserviceable items, added Cole.

“The items are palletized, and then we utilize forklifts to download the pallets on to Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Trucks that [the transportation platoon] use to transport the items,” said Coles.

The soldiers replenish their stock of parts and supplies daily, since a plethora of orders are constantly moving in and out of the supply system, said Keller.

Moreover, the spotlight rarely shines on the soldiers who work at the SSA warehouse — a fact that doesn’t bother Coles one bit.

Spc. Ecclesia Walker is part of a transportation platoon that assists the supply, support and activity platoon in transporting unserviceable parts that are processed by the SSA. “We get so caught up in our work out here,” said Coles. “Everyone understands their job though, and they see the big picture; it isn’t about us, it’s about the units we support.”

Roane said teamwork and cohesion ensure smooth operations at the warehouse, and he gave his soldiers the credit for the platoon’s daily successes.

“The soldiers are well balanced and versatile as they constantly multitask,” said Roane. “They go above and beyond their normal duties, and I wouldn’t trade them for anything.” n

Live from Afghanistan . . . it’s the zack & jim show CAMP MARMAL, Afghanistan — It’s been almost six months since the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade deployed to Afghanistan and it can be assumed for many in the Fort Hood area it has been that long since the community has heard the voices of many 1st ACB soldiers.

Zack Owen and Jim Cody, hosts of the “Waco 100” radio show, “The Morning Show with Zack and Jim” changed that by letting 1st ACB soldiers voices be heard throughout Central Texas. Owen came to Afghanistan and from November 14th through the 18th hosted their morning radio talk show live from the 1st ACB’s headquarters at Camp Marmal, Afghanistan.

Over the course of the week Owen interviewed hundreds of soldiers from the 1st ACB, 1st Cavalry Division, and let them give “shout outs” to their friends and families back home during the four-hour morning radio show.

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“We have so many listeners in the Fort Hood area that Jim and I kind of feel it’s our responsibility and our duty to come out here,” said Owen.

Command Sgt. Maj. Glen Vela, a native of Fort Worth, Texas, and the senior enlisted leader in the 1st ACB, praised the shows’ efforts to highlight the brigade’s soldiers. “These guys tell the Fort Hood story, and they get that story from the guys who are actually out there doing the job,” Vela said.

The increase of morale was apparent to everyone involved with the show this week here, Vela added. n

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G r a n t s

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D o n a t i o n s

Texas VFW Foundation Awarded Grant Texas Veterans Commission Announces $500,000 Grant to Texas VFW Foundation for Veterans, Families Assistance A $500,000 grant was awarded by the Texas Veterans Commission Fund for veterans Assistance to the Texas Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Foundation to assist in the VFW’s’ commitment to ensuring military veterans and their families have the support they need — both during and after their deployment to help provide Texas veterans and their families emergency assistance with household, vehicle, childcare, medical and personal expenses.

The Texas VFW Foundation assists veterans and their families by promoting programs to raise awareness and educate the public about the sacrifices made by America’s veterans, as well as the unique and special needs resulting from their service. VFW services include support for families during long deployments, relief in emergency financial situations, assistance with medical claims related to military service, employment assistance and job training, and scholarships for children of veterans.

Grants from the Fund for Veterans’ Assistance are funded from Veterans Cash, the Texas lottery scratchoff game, online donations through Texas.gov, donations when registering a vehicle, the State Employee Charitable Campaign, and direct contributions.

Since its introduction on November 11, 2009, sales of Veterans Cash scratch-off tickets have provided over $17 million to the Texas Veterans Commission Fund for Veterans’ Assistance. The current $2 scratch-off Veterans Cash lottery ticket features John Wayne and offers John Wayne-related prizes.

Donations to the TVC Fund for Veterans’ Assistance are tax deductible under the provisions of Section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Texas Veterans Commission The mission of the Texas Veterans Commission is to advocate for and provide superior service to Veterans and their families in the areas of claims assistance, employment services, education benefits and grant funding. Over 200 skilled counselors in 75 cities provide one-on-one guidance to Veterans and their families to ensure they receive all of the benefits to which they are entitled.

Veterans and their families in need of assistance can contact the Texas VFW Foundation at 1 (512) 291-6850 or get an assistance application online at www.texasvfw.org. n

Flag Donation to Final Salute Program Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Texas, donates 1,000 Texas flags for families of deceased veterans Jerry Patterson, Chairman of the Texas Veterans Land Board, today thanked the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Texas for their gracious donation of 1,000 Texas flags to be used in the Final Salute Program.

“These flags will be presented to the family of any Texas veteran who, at the time of their passing, lived in one of our eight Texas State Veterans Homes,” Patterson said. “This final salute is an honor earned and I thank the VFW for their work to better the lives of our nation’s veterans and their families.”

The Texas flags will be given to the family of a deceased veteran on behalf of the Texas Veterans Land Board.

“Thanks to the work of Roy Grona, department adjutant, and the VFW’s more than 82,000 members, our Texas veterans will now get a proper, Lone Star final salute,” Patterson said.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars is made up exclusively of men and women who served overseas in a theatre of combat operations and earned a campaign medal.

The Texas Veterans Land Board owns eight Texas State Veterans Homes, in Amarillo, Big Spring, Bonham, El Paso, Floresville, McAllen, Temple and Tyler.

Each home provides skilled long-term nursing care, comprehensive rehabilitation programs, special diets, recreational activities, social services, a library, and a certified, secured Alzheimer’s unit with its own secured outdoor courtyard.

For additional information on Texas State Veterans Homes and special home, land and home improvement loans for Texas veterans, call 800-252-VETS (800-252-8387) or visit our web site at www.texasveterans.com. n

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Texas VFW Foundation

If you are an Austin Energy Customer we may have a discount program for you!

The Texas Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation (VFW) is expanding their spectrum of services by partnering with the City of Austin’s Plus 1 Financial Support Program. Through this partnership, Texas VFW will provide financial assistance to their clients who are unable to pay their utility bill due to unexpected emergencies like medical issues or job loss.

“The Texas Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundations is excited about this partnership with the City of Austin as we work together to help those who served our Nation in harms way,” said Dan West, Assistant Adjutant and Retired Sergeant USMC. “With the grant from the City, the Texas VFW Foundation will be able to assist those veterans and their families in need keeping them cool on a hot summer day or warm on a cold winter night.”

The VFW has over 110 years of providing civic services and programs nationwide. Currently, the Texas VFW operates the Unmet Needs program that helps offset unexpected expenses related to military service for current or recently discharged military members and their families. Offering the Plus 1 utility bill assistance is a much needed enhancement to the services offered to Texas military members, veterans and their families.

To participate in the Plus 1 Financial program, potential clients will undergo a screening process to determine eligibility. If eligible, assistance will be provided toward the applicant’s utility account. For more information on Plus 1 or to discuss your eligibility requirements, call Texas VFW Foundation at1 (512) 291-6850 or visit www.texasvfw.org.

Your small donation makes a big difference.

• The Texas VFW Foundation Veterans Assistance Program is available to any Texas veteran with an honorable discharge regardless of where or what time they served.

• Funds for this program come from individual donations from veterans and veteran supporters like yourself, and from charitable foundations.

• The Veterans Assistance Program is not an entitlement program and not all veterans who apply will receive a financial grant and those awarded a grant will not directly receive any funds.

• The applicant will have to work with a Service Officer from a Federal, State or Veterans Service Organization or with their local military command if still in the military before application can be processed.

• Applications can be found at the Featured Links section on the Texas VFW Web Site www.texasvfw.org or by emailing the Foundation at foundation@texasvfw.org or by calling (512) 291-6850.

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Yes, I am a war veteran and want to continue my Legacy of Service to America.

Please fill out the VFW Membership Application below and mail in, or sign up online at www.texasvfw.org > About > Membership and follow link.

Lobbying for Veterans & Military Providing Disaster Relief Name: _________________________________________________Email: _________________________________________ Community Volunteerism

First Middle Last (Suffix – Sr., Jr., etc.)

Funding College Scholarships Address:____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Phone Cards for Troops Supporting Youth Groups City:______________________________ State:____________ Zip:______________ Phone:____________________________ Emergency Financial Assistance Date of Birth: _____________________________ (MM/DD/YYYY) Supporting Memorials Assisting Veterans with Earned Entitlements

Military Service: p Army Current Status: I served in:

p Air Force

p Coast Guard

p Navy

p Marines

p Active Duty p Veteran p National Guard/Reserve p Pre-World War II p Korean War 1950-54 p Desert Shield/Storm p Afghanistan 2001 p World War II p Korea 1955 p Bosnia/Kosovo 1995 p Iraq 2003 p WW II Occupation p Vietnam 1958-75 p Global War on Terrorism – Expeditionary 2001 p 1945-55 (Europe, Korea, Japan) p Expeditionary Operations 1958-2003 (Thailand, Grenada, Libya, Panama, Haiti, Somalia, etc.) p 1945-90 (Berlin)

Qualified recipient of: p Imminent Danger/Hostile Fire Pay

p *SSBN Nuclear Deterrent Patrol*

*Period Covered: ______________________________________ (Required for applicants with no other reported qualifying service).

I would like to join the Texas Veterans of Foreign Wars as a: p Annual Member ($35)

p Life Member*

p Life 12 Mo. Install* ($35 Initial payment)

Life Membership Fee Schedule Attained age on 12/31

Through age 30 31 – 40 41 – 50 51 – 60 61 – 70 71 – 80 81 and over

One Time Payment

Life 12 Month Payment Plan

$425.00 $410.00 $375.00 $335.00 $290.00 $225.00 $170.00

$40.39 $39.02 $35.84 $32.20 $28.11 $22.20 $17.20

Installment Payment Plan Terms and Conditions: The VFW Life Membership installment plan allows any VFW member/applicant to purchase a Life Membership by making either 11 or 23 monthly installments after an initial payment of $35.00. The member/applicant will be issued a “Provisional Life” membership card and can elect, upon receipt of first monthly invoice, to pay via check, credit card or ACH Debit. The monthly fee (Shown in the payment schedule above) includes a $1.75 monthly service fee. The applicable Life Membership fee is to be determined from the schedule using the applicants age on December 31 of the installment plan year in which the application is submitted, regardless of actual date of birth. A permanent Life Membership card will be issued upon completion of this agreement. No refund of any portion of current year annual dues will be made. A “Payoff amount” will be printed on each monthly invoice, allowing the member the option to pay in full at anytime during the installment plan, thereby avoiding additional service fees.

If the member pays off early, no additional monies will be collected.

I attest by forwarding this application that I am a citizen of the United States, that I qualify for the VFW and that my Campaign Service was honorable, and that I have never been discharged under other than honorable conditions or I am still serving honorably in the armed forces of the United States of America.

I further give authority to the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States to verify my entitlement to membership in the VFW and that if no proof can be found or provided that I am subject to discharge from the VFW without refund.

Signature:___________________________________________________________________Date: ______________________________________________ Include membership payment by check or money order (DO NOT SEND CASH) or pay by credit card.

p Mastercard p Visa p Discover p American Express

Credit Card Number:_________________________________________________________

Exp. Date: ____ ____/____ ____ $_____________________ Mail to: Texas VFW • P.O. Box 14468 • Austin, Texas 78761

For questions call: (512) 834-8535

M e m o r i a l s

in memoriam: carter younts In Memory of Past State Commander 1962-63 HARVEY “CARTER” YOUNTS Born: April 29, 1923 in Robstown, Texas Died: November 30th, 2011, 88 years old Enlisted in the Army Air Force at the age of 19 he served as a Pilot of a B17 bomber in World War II. He was honorably discharged from the Army Air Force as 1st Lieutenant in August of 1945. Active in the Veteran of Foreign Wars of the United States as a Life Member he held positions at Local, District, and State as a National Council Member for the VFW.

Herman Floyd, QM Tommy Blake and Chaplain John Pritchett place a bronze foot plaque at the grave site of US Army Veteran, Ray Lee. Photo taken on 9 Dec by Commander David Judson.

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Get Your Official “Texas VFW” Gear Auxiliary Logos Now Available

Texas VFW Ball Cap — $16.00 Show your Texas Pride with a our new “Texas VFW” Ball Cap, complete with Texas VFW, Texas flag and your choice of emblem embroidered on the front. Available in White, Red and Blue: one size fits most. Imported.

Navy Polo Shirt with Pocket Texas VFW and your choice of emblem on right chest.

53% Cotton, 47% Microfiber, dri-balance performance material. Imported.

VFW Logo Men’s pocket shirt – Stock #7942 VFW Logo Ladies’ no pocket shirt – Stock #7944 Men’s Aux Emblem – Stock #7948 Ladies Aux. Emblem No Pocket Shirt – Stock #7946 S-XL – $33.00 2XL – $34.50 3XL – $36.00 4XL – $38.00

VFW Emblem W7359 – White R7359 – Red B7359 – Blue VFW Ladies Aux. Emblem W7966 – White R7966 – Red B7966 – Blue VFW Men’s Aux. Emblem W7967 – White R7967 – Red B7967 – Blue

Caps & Shirts now available with Ladies and Mens Auxiliary Emblems!

Texas VFW Polo Shirt What better way to show off your Texas attitude than with a “Texas VFW” shirt. Made of 100% cotton knit with “Texas VFW” and your choice of emblem embroidered on left chest.

Customized buttons with the five point Texas Star with Texas spelled out reminiscent of the first Texas flag known as the “Bonnie Blue” flag. Patriotic collar and sleeve cuffs with the Texas Flag image on left sleeve. Imported.

VFW Emblem – Stock #7360 VFW Emblem Ladies Style – Stock #7361 Men’s Aux Emblem – Stock #7949 Ladies Aux Emblem & Style Shirt – Stock #7947 Price $35.00 for S-XL; 2XL Add $2.50; 3XL Add $4.50; 4XL Add $5.50.

For custom embroidery options you can may up to 2 lines of text on the right chest for an additional $5.00.

The overseas cap was the first introduced in World War I and is America’s first military uniform item denoting war time service.

Light weight style overseas cap with the Cross of Malta Emblem, letters VFW above the Post number and state name.

Additional lettering is available at .88 per letter or numeral. No reduction in price if state name is abbreviated. *STATE AND POST NUMBER TO BE ON CAP. *SIZE 8 AND LARGER ADD $5.00. *FORT KNOX STYLE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST. *CAP MAY BE LETTERED WITH THE WORDS “VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS” for an additional $18.69; LIFE MEMBER embroidered for an additional $8.90; or a Life Member patch for an additional $2.55. Green, lightweight, shade51. Allow 8 weeks for manufacture except during April, May, June, & July.

During these months allow 10 weeks.

V F W

Price: $32.95

1849 Texas VFW Men’s Bulova Quartz Medallion Watch

Price: $249.00 Note: If there is a need to exchange or return jewelry items, please contact the Supply Department for return authorization before doing so. Watches have, in the past few years, become very stylish and the factories change the appearance of them often. Therefore, the watch you receive may differ in appearance from our illustrations, but will be as good or better in quality.

TEXAS VFW Velour Throw

Beautiful, soft and luxurious microfibre throw, with TEXAS VFW embroidered in corner. Machine washable for easy care. 100% polyester. 50” x 60”

1992 — $28.99

Limited Quantities! ORDER TODAY!

Light-weight, versatile jacket with TEXAS VFW and Cross of Malta laser etched on the left chest. Microfiber fleece, full-zip front, hidden zip side pockets, draw-cord bottom. Imported.

Texas VFW Winter 2012

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Quality Bulova watch with date feature and two-tone silver and gold clasp band.

Medallion VFW emblem on face with Texas VFW.

7356 – Navy Blue 7357 – Charcoal Gray $35.00 S-XL $37.00 2XL $39.00 3XL

T e x a s

M6251 Light Weight Members Cap, Gold Piping

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for State Jr. Vice Commander I served in the United States Air Force from 1962 to 1973 with foreign service in Turkey and Vietnam — where I received several military awards and citations.

I have a B.A. degree in English and a Masters degree in Sociology and History.

Now retired, I devote most of my time to community activities — especially those that involve our veterans, the homeless and the school system, primarily speaking and scholarships.

I am a Gold Legacy Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and have held several positions at the National and the Department of Texas levels. I am also a Life Member of the Vietnam Veterans of America, the Disabled American Veterans and a member of the American Legion.

p r ov e n l e a d e r s h i p p r ov e n e x p e r i e n c e

USAA is

Proud to Serve

the Veterans of Foreign Wars

Your honorable military service can qualify you for USAA membership.

In 2010, USAA became a proud supporter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, a decision based on shared values as well as the savings and benefits USAA membership offers. USAA was founded in 1922 by military members, and our commitment to serving the financial needs of the military community and their eligible family members is without equal.

Today, USAA provides a full range of highly competitive financial products and services to military members and their families.

“In everything they do, USAA demonstrates its commitment to serve those who stand tall for our country.”

— Allen “Gunner” Kent, VFW Adjutant General

Go online or call today. usaa.com/vfw | 800-274-8839 Insurance Banking Investments Retirement Advice USAA means United Services Automobile Association and its insurance, banking, investment and other companies.

Use of the term “member” does not convey any legal, ownership or eligibility rights for property and casualty insurance products. Ownership rights are limited to eligible policyholders of United Services Automobile Association. The term “honorably served” applies to officers and enlisted personnel who served on active duty, in the Selected Reserve or National Guard and have a discharge type of “Honorable.” Eligibility may change based on factors such as marital status, rank or military status. Contact us to update your records. Adult children of USAA members are eligible to purchase auto or property insurance if their eligible parent purchases USAA auto or property insurance. Membership eligibility restrictions apply. VFW receives financial support from USAA for this sponsorship. © 2012 USAA. 136893-0312

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Veterans Day Activities — Nov. 11 Texas VFW Post 6974, Burnet — L. J. Henderson, VFW Post 6974 member at the annual Veterans Day program at Burnet’s Bulldog Stadium.

Texas VFW Post 1406, Dallas —

Post members participated in the area Veterans Day celebrations.

day!”

“It was a great Texas VFW Post 6522, Bellville — The Post invited the general public to join in the festivities which included placing wreaths, a twenty-one gun salute, food and camaraderie. A wide range of ages and affiliations attended the event — and all would agree “It was a great day!”

Texas VFW Post 12075, Humble — Post members pose Texas VFW Post 3530, Richardson — with JROTC members at the Veterans Day celebration held at Humble High School.

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Post members gathered for a celebration held at the local high school followed by a parade.

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Celebrations from Around the State Texas VFW Post 3893, Nacogdoches — The Post

created a Veterans Day Float for the Veterans Day Parade. The Parade was led by the Texas VFW motorcycle group.

Texas VFW Post 3377, Manchaca —

Post members participated in the Austin Veterans Day Parade, laid a wreath at the Capital Tomb and later hosted an open house at the Post home.

Texas VFW Post 6899, Trinity — Celebration included a free pancake and sausage breakfast for all veterans and various musical programs performed by area schools. Below is a photo of Trinity Intermediate School fifth graders program, and lower right is the USO salute to the veterans from the same school. Don’t forget about the cooks! L-R: Ron Linden, Richard Chamberlin, Johnny Arnold, Gene McLeod.

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PEARL HARBOR DAY — December 7 Texas VFW Post 9182, Katy — Local Wold War II veterans Johnnie Reuther, Navy Aviation; Norris Miertschin, Army; and Paul Zanfardino, Navy, are recognized for their service at the Pearl Harbor Commemoration Ceremony held on Sunday, December 4, 2011 at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9182 hall on George Bush Drive.

Texas VFW Post 8904, Center — QM Larry Hume visited Pearl Harbor survivor and post life member Glenn Prince at his home on December 7th, 2011.

Texas VFW Post 9078, Round Rock — The Post hosted a ceremony and guest speaker. A decorated chocolate cake with white icing was enjoyed by the guests.

Texas VFW Post 3377, Manchaca — The Post hosted a remembrance ceremony and Dept. Commander John Spahr (right) presented Andrew Derochers (seated) a plaque to remember his service while serving in Hawaii during the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. Among the guests were Andrew’s son and daughter.

Texas VFW Post 2775, Orange —

WII Veteran, Mel Hammock, speaks to the group about his service with Frank Curre. A video depicting the experiences of Pearl Harbor Survivor Frank Curre was viewed by 46 people. The video was provided by Mr. Curre, a shipmate and close friend to VFW Post 2775 member Mel Hammock, who granted permission for the showing of his personal account. Frank Curre passed away Dec. 7, 2011, the day of the Post program viewing of his story.

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Vietnam Peace Accord — January 27 Texas VFW Post 5619, Houston — The Post celebrated the Vietnam Peace Accord by reading the history of the events leading up the the Peace Accord in Paris. The peace accords ending the conflict were signed 27 January 1973. This was the Post’s first meeting at their new location.

Texas VFW Post 2775, Orange —

Chairman Clark composed and showed a video of events leading up to the signing of the Vietnam Peace Accord. Open discussion followed the showing.

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Texas VFW Post 8953, Romayor conduct remembrance ceremony of the Sinking of the U.S.S. Maine.