NEXT POST MEETING: TUESDAY April 12, 2011

PLACE: THE SIZZLER, 1401 N. HARBOR BLVD.

TIME:  DINNER 6:00 PM, MEETING 7:00 PM

PROGRAM: Ryan Hartsborn, DPT

 

Our speaker, Ryan Hartsborn is a Doctor of Physical Therapy from USC and works at the Fullerton Physical Therapy and Sports Care in Fullerton.   He will answer questions of how physical therapy can help you and how to discuss it with your doctor.

 

We will also have our second nominations for officers for 2011-2012.

 

Commander’s Club. We are still seeking at least one additional member.  If you, or someone you know is interested, contact Ed Paul at (714) 992-1816.  The Commander’s Club support allows us to provide the Veterans Day Parade, Boys and Girls State, School Scholarships and helps with Memorial Day.

 

Chaplain’s Message to the Members:  “It is better to listen to the rebuke of a wise man than for one to listen to the Song of fools.” (Ecclesiastes 7:5, NAS translation)  If I can be of service to you, please give me a call.  Jim Howland

 

Commander’s Corner: The paperwork is in progress for Boys and Girls State and the Youth Environmental Conference.  Next will be the orientation luncheons (Boys and Girls State) and then the events.  It’s almost election time.  I hope that you will consider seeking a position in the Post.  Contact Ed Paul with your name.  We can also find you a place to volunteer if you are reluctant to take a Post position.  Either way…I want to take this opportunity to tell you that it has been an honor to work the officers of the Post and represent you as your commander.  You folks are the best and Thank you for your support.  Memorial Day planning is coming right along.  We need volunteers to help coordinate the community volunteers getting out the flags and crosses, and then getting them put away.  The AMVA committee that does the planning has been busy reorganizing the storage facility, and repairing broken boxes and flags.  Thanks go to Al Blake, Jeff Harris, Gary Poggensee, and Richard Wakefield.  Ed Paul is the guy in charge, with his trusty helper, Pansy.  You guys are terrific! Thank you!! May and June bring the school award ceremonies and the summer events.  Thank you Ken Neisess for volunteering again to do the Senior Awards.  Just a note:  There are still many veterans who don’t know what their benefits are.  That’s a shame.  Please take the time to help these folks get the services and benefits they deserve and need in many cases.  All you need is the contact information for the OC Veterans Service Office.  (1300 S. Grand Avenue, Building B, Santa Ana, CA 92705, just south of the McFadden and Grand intersection, www.veterans.ocgov.com and email OCVSO@hcs.ocgov.com, and telephone number (714) 567-7450.)  You could change their lives!!

 

Upcoming Meeting Dates:  The next few monthly meeting dates: May 10th, June 14th and July 12th.

 

The membership drive for 2011 will be coming to a close soon.  If you haven’t paid your dues yet, you need to now in order not to effect how the next cards are printed.  By the way, you can pay past dues if you want to “catch up.”  Just make the note on the Memo line that it is paying for a previous year.  We will adjust your number of years of service when it processed.  There are processing delays so as always, if you have a 2011 card in your hand, please do not pay a second time.   Call Richard Wakefield or Larry Sears if you are concerned.

 

Hospital/Rehabilitation Program.   Please continue to bring things to the meetings or call Mike and Pat Hyland (996-8743) to coordinate a home pick up.  For more information about this unique project sponsored by Cloudbreak Development, UC & United States Veterans Initiative, Inc. (a 501(c)(3) organization), call (562) 499-6717 or visit their web site at www.usvetsinc.org. (Villages at Cabrillo)

 

Veterans Homes: Qualifications: 1) You are age 62 or over, or you have a significant disability. 2) You served in the military and you were Honorably Discharged. 3) You are still able to live independently or you qualify for a higher level of care offered at one of the Homes. (Contact the Home of choice for services available) 4) You are a California resident. 5) You are able to live with and get along with other people in a structured communal environment. 6) You must be participating in a qualified federal, state or private health service plan, a United States Department of Veterans Affairs medical program, or have an application pending for such coverage.  A non-veteran application must be participating in a qualified federal, state, state or private health service plan to be admitted to the Home.  Information: www.cdva.ca.gov 

 

For those with internet access at home or at the city library, all of our newsletters and meeting and event pictures are available for viewing at our web page.  (Fullertonpost142.com)  Thanks go to Richard Wakefield and Mike Box for keeping our web page updated with great stuff. 

 

Please jot this number down in case someone you know needs it. 800-342-9647 or www.militaryonesource.com.  It is the number that all active duty, Guard and Reserve and their families can call 24/7 for help of all kinds.  Their slogan is “You name it.  We can help.” 

 

To request your DD-214, go to the National Archives and Records Administration at http://www.archives.gov/veterans/evetrecs/.  Follow the instructions.  You can also get assistance from the Veteran Service Office.  If you are not sure what you or your family is entitled to, please call the Veterans Service Office to talk to a claims officer. (714) 567-7450 If you reside outside of Orange County, call your County offices to find the Veterans Service Office location nearest you.

 

Important Dates: April 1, April Fools Day; April 6, Officer Meeting at Marilyn’s; April 12, Post Meeting; April 15, Income Tax Day; April 17, Palm Sunday; April 19, Passover; April 22, Good Friday; April 24, Easter Sunday/Orthodox Easter; April 27, Administrative Professionals Day.

 

Memory Lane Dates:  April 1, Invasion of Okinawa Began (1945), Operation Pegasus Began (1968); April 2, Siege of Petersburg ends (1865), India-Burma Campaign begins (1942); April 4, North Apennines Campaign ends (1945), North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Established (1949); April 5, Po Valley Campaign opens; last campaign in Italy (1945), Operation Rugged Began (1951); April 6, Army Day, Battle of Shiloh begins (1862), US Entered WWI (1917), Operation Linebacker (1972), Operation Provide Comfort Began (1991); April 7, Battle of Shiloh ends (1862); April 8, Siege of An Loc Began (1972); April 9, General Robert E. Lee surrenders at Appomattox Courthouse (1865), Germany Invades Norway and Denmark (1940), Bataan Falls (1942), Special Forces becomes separate branch of the Army (1987); April 9/10, Bataan Death March/US Forces on Bataan, Philippines surrenders (1942), Operation Provide Comfort (Northern Iraq and Turkey) Began (1991); April 10, Battle for Lang Vei Began (1968); April 11, US Began Neutrality Patrols in the Atlantic (1941), Persian Gulf War/Operation Desert Storm Official Cease Fire (1991); April 12, Civil War Began/Rebel Forces fire on Fort Sumter (1861), Roosevelt Dies; Truman Becomes President (1945), Operation Eagle Pull (1975), Army Aviation Branch established (1983); April 16, Women’s Medical Specialist Corps Established (1947), Battle of Pork Chop Hill Began (1953); April 17, Battle of Cerro Gordo (1847); April 18, Doolittle Raid on Tokyo (1942); April 19, Battle of Lexington and Concord (1775), Operation Delaware Began (1968); April 20, Operation Little Switch Began (1953); April 22, US Forces Land at Hollandia (1944); April 24, Battle of the Hills Began (1967); April 25, Spanish-American War Began (1898); April 26, Black Hawk War begins (1832); April 28, Occupation of Japan ends (1952), US Forces invade Dominican Republic (Operation Power Pack) (1965); April 29, German Unconditional Surrender to Italian Allies (1945), US Forces invade Cambodia (1970), US Forces Evacuated Vietnam/Operation Frequent Wind (1975); April 30, Battle of Chancellorsville begins (1863), Hitler Commits Suicide (1945).

Notes from March Meeting: Commander Marilyn Harris called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m., and she welcomed guests and members.  1st Vice Commander George Miller introduced the guest speaker for night, Chief Executive Officer for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County, Keith Rhodes. The Mission of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Orange County are to help children reach their potential through professionally supported one-to-one relationships that have a measurable impact.  They accomplish this mission with a program that establishes and nurtures successful mentoring relationships for all children who need and want them.  These relationships have been proven to contribute to brighter futures, better schools, and results in stronger communities for all of us.  Big Brothers Big Sisters is the oldest, largest and most effective youth mentoring organization in the United States. They have been the leader in one-to-one youth service for more than a century, developing positive relationships that have had a direct and lasting impact on the lives of young people. Big Brothers Big Sisters serves children, ages 6 through 18, in communities across the country – as well as here in Orange County.  Keith Rhodes appealed to the Legion that volunteers are needed and that there are over 500 children currently enrolled in Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County that are looking for adult sponsors.  Applications to be a Big Brother or Big Sister can be found at www.BigBroOC.org .

Adjutant Ed Paul reminded all members that Memorial Day is fast approaching and he thanked Jeff Harris, Alan Wiles and Cadets from Troy High School for helping to sort crosses needing repair and painting for the upcoming ceremony.  Adjutant Ed Paul is looking for volunteers to assist with Memorial Day preparations, if you would like to help, please contact Ed for details.

 

Veteran John Schram, community liaison for Hospice Care of California, informed the post about ongoing efforts taken by the VA to reach out to Vets through a new program called the Vet to Vet Volunteer Program.  This program is specifically designed to provide hospice care for aging veterans.  For more information, call 800-889-3227 or visit the website at www.hospicecareofca.org .

 

Nominations for officers for 2011-2012 we also announced.  Contact Ed Paul for information.