15thdistrict memorial 2017

15TH DISTRICT

LEGION

NAIRE

“The Nation that forgets its Defenders 15th District Legionnaire

...will itself be forgotten.”

“Saluting Kern & Tulare Counties" C OM M A N DE R DAV E G R A HA M 2 0 1 6 - 2 0 1 7

COMMANDER'S CORNER HELLO, “FRIENDLY“ 15th DISTRICT Greeting fellow Legionnaires, S.A.L., and A.L.R members by the time you read this edition, my year will be almost over. It has been my honored to have served as your District Commander for 2016-2017.

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While full filling many positions at the Post, State and National levels it was sometimes challenging trying to meet all my commitments. But serving as your District Commander proved to be exciting, rewarding a memorable.

My official visits to 14 Post in our District was to inspire, encourage and mentor those Post Commanders struggling with membership while educating them about American Legion protocol and programs.

Congratulations to Merle Reed Post 124, Tehachapi Post 221 and Visalia Post 782 for reaching 100% membership this year.

I encourage every Legion member to attend meetings held at your Post, District and Area levels. You will learn more about our organization and our programs as we continue to support our communities, and veteran’s needs.

I hope by my dedication to the American Legion has inspired you to continue to serve in our great organization.

Greetings. Department of California, President Wendy O'Brien has chosen this year’s theme to be ”Serving Our Veterans from Sea to Shining Sea.” We are also known as "USS" as our theme for the District.

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Monday, May 29, 2017 | MEMORIAL DAY | 1

PLUS INSIDE...

Legion Mission.................Page 5

We can exceed all our goals and get 100% reporting while getting our membership up. We can focus on our mission. Like the Tim McGraw song, "Be Kind and Humble,” this should be all units in the district’s theme song.

We are here to help our Veterans, their families and our community. Our last district meeting is in May at Post 26 Bakersfield, please come out to support our District. We will then be sailing off to Riverside for our Convention in June.

If we all remember "our mission," In the spirit of Service, Not Self, the mission of the American Legion Auxiliary is to Support The American Legion and honor the sacrifice of those who serve by enhancing the lives of our veterans, military, and their families both at home and abroad." We can exceed all our Units goals.

Recognition Act..............Page 12

100 Year Anniversary.......Page 28

To all units, THANK YOU for all your hard work and your support!

Zana Chaney 15th District President 2016-2017

God Bless Our Military, Our Veterans and The USA! Dave Graham The "FRIENDLY" 15th District Commander

Zana Chaney 15th District President 2016-2017

A Very Special thank you to California American Legion Press Association Member and Porterville American Legion Post member Brian Adams. Without Brian’s help this Memorial Day Edition would not have been possible.

THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS

Vet Support Store........ Page 31

Online Marketplace.......Page 44

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2 | MEMORIAL DAY 2017

15th District Legionnaire

15TH DISTRICT OFFICERS COMMANDER David Graham, Post 26

ADJUTANT Frank Vail, Post 26

1st VICE COMMANDER Eddie Orosco, Post 20

CHAPLAIN Sandra Carr, Post 94

2nd VICE COMMANDER Ralph Wenzinger, Post 26

SERVICE OFFICER Richard Smith, Post 26

Pastors Max & Nancy Van Dyke

SERVICE OFFICER Eric Krutz, Post 26

2301 White Lane BKFD. 93304 661 834-3311

SERGEANT-AT-ARMS Don Johnson, Post 18 JUDGE ADVOCATE Bobby Mahaffey, Post 26

HISTORIAN Bryan Adams, Post 20

FINANCE OFFICER Richard Smith, Post 26

JUNIOR PAST COMMANDER Arturo Samora, Post 20

10am Sundays & 7pm Wednesdays

We Love, Honor & Support Our Military & Families PAST PRESENT & FUTURE

15TH AUXILIARY OFFICERS

You served us, now let us serve you!

President Zana Chaney, Post 124

Chaplain Dolores Ryan, Post 26

First Vice President Harriet Clendenin, Post 221

Historian Dee Ann Graham, Post 26

Second Vice President Pat Gracey, Post 221

Parliamentarian Genieca Risner, Post 213

Secretary Treasurer Karen Herrera, Post 20

Sergeant-at-Arms & Marshall (unassigned)

Treasurer Brenda Preston , Post 26

Junior Past President Dee Ann Graham, Post 26

*PTSD Help Provided

THANK YOU VETERANS THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS

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MEMORIAL DAY 2017 | 3

MEMBERSHIP REPORT

U P A N D C OM I N G

DATES TO REMEMER

DISTRICT 15 STANDINGS

Post # Post Name & City

DEPARTMENT CONVENTION When: Thu, June 22 – 24, 2017, 9am – 5pm - Sun, June 25, 9am – 3pm Where: Riverside Convention Center,

3637 5th St, Riverside, CA 92501, USA

rs be l d m a s e o ai er al Ls line nsf 17 M 7G 7P F Go 1 1 a n U 0 0 0 r % 2 2 P O T 2

0015 Tulare, Tulare

100

34

47

6

1

88

88.00%

0018 Visalia, Visalia

100

56

15

8

1

80

80.00%

0019 Alta, Dinuba 3

5

26

6

0

1

33

94.29%

0020 Porterville, Porterville

220

126

28

17

1 172

78.18%

0026 Bakersfield, Bakersfield

680

464

52

82 89 687 101.03%

0063 Fellows, Taft

60

37

5

6

0

48

80.00%

0094 Exeter, Exeter

63

39

6

9

0

54

85.71%

0124 Merle Reed, Delano

75

55

13

7

0

75

100.00%

Reno, Nevada - August 18- 24, 2017 Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority (RSCVA)

0128 Lindsay, Lindsay

20

14

1

0

0

15

75.00%

0221 Tehachapi, Tehachapi

105

64

13

21 17 115 109.52%

Minneapolis, Minnesota - August 24 - 30, 2018 100th National Convention of The American Legion

0674 Buttonwillow, Bakersfield

10

5

2

0

0

0682 East Bakersfield, Bakersfield

225

150

33

14

3 200

88.89%

Indianapolis, Indiana - August 23 - 29, 2019 100th birthday of The American Legion

0711 Kern River Valley, Lake Isabella

90

66

9

12

0

87

96.67%

0743 Charter Oak, Ivanhoe

40

21

10

3

0

34

85.00%

0779 Terra Bella, Terra Bella

40

23

6

1

0

30

75.00%

0785 Sierra, Visalia

72

61

11

0

0

72

100.00%

FUTURE DEPARTMENT CONVENTIONS • Sacramento, June 2018 • Ontario, June 24-30, 2019 National Conventions 99th Annual National Convention

Louisville, Kentucky - August 28 - September 3, 2020

Eligibility Information If you have served federal active duty in the United States Armed Forces during any of the war eras listed below, and have been honorably discharged or are still serving -- you are eligible for membership in The American Legion!

*August 2, 1990 to today

(Persian Gulf/ War on Terrorism)

December 20, 1989 to January 31, 1990

(Operation Just Cause - Panama)

August 24, 1982 to July 31, 1984

District 15 Total

Inspiring Excellence

Transforming Lives •

February 28, 1961 to May 7, 1975

(Vietnam)

•

June 25, 1950 to January 31, 1955

(Korea)

December 7, 1941 to December 31, 1946

(World War II)

•

April 6, 1917 to November 11, 1918

(World War I)

•

•

• •

•

•

U.S. Merchant Marine eligible only from December 7, 1941 to December 31, 1946 (WWII).

IN THE WORDS OF DEPARTMENT COMMANDER GARY LEACH RECRUIT, RENEW, AND RETAIN ALL YOU HAVE DO IS JUST ASK!!!

•

2016–2017 National Membership Target Dates

September 14, 2016

50%

October 12, 2016

55%

November 14, 2016

65%

December 14, 2016

75%

January 19, 2017

80%

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It’s Your University (Continued on Page 4)

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70.00%

1,935 1,241 257 186 113 1,797 92.87%

(Lebanon/Grenada)

*Because eligibility dates remain open, all members of the U.S. Armed Forces are eligible to join The American Legion now, until the date of the end of hostilities as determined by the government of the United States.

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15th District Legionnaire

DATES TO R E ME MBE R

(Continued from Page 3)

February 8, 2017

85%

March 8, 2017

90%

April 12, 2017

95%

May 10, 2017

100%

Delegate Strength 30 Days Prior to National Convention Target dates are the second Wednesday of the month unless a holiday falls on that day or at the beginning of that week The November target date will be on the third Wednesday due to Veterans Day falling on the previous Friday. To maximize the December renewal notice, and allow for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, the January target date will be the third Thursday of the month.

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RECOGNITION AWARDS It is with great pride Bakersfield Post 26 recognizes the following members For their Continuous Years of Membership in the American Legion.

Thomas Underhill 60 Years

Ben O. Millar 60 Years

Donald E. Hammers 60 Years

David G. Salcido 60 Years

Roberto Jiminez 60 Years

Ralph L. Miller 50 Years

Val M. Garcia 50 Years

Culligan of Bakersfield 116 baker st Bakersfield, Ca. 93305 661-324-4718 culliganbk.com

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MEMORIAL DAY 2017 | 5

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The American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness. It is the nation’s largest wartime veterans service organization, committed to mentoring youth and sponsorship of wholesome programs in our communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting strong national security, and continued devotion to our fellow service members and veterans.

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Hundreds of local American Legion programs and activities strengthen the nation one community at a time. American Legion Baseball is one of the nation’s most successful amateur athletic programs, educating young people about the importance of sportsmanship, citizenship and fitness. The Operation Comfort Warriors program supports recovering wounded warriors and their families, providing them with "comfort items" and the kind of support that makes a hospital feel a little bit more like home. The Legion also raises millions of dollars in donations at the local, state and national levels to help veterans and their families during times of need and to provide college scholarship opportunities.

The American Legion is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization with great political influence perpetuated by its grass-roots involvement in the legislation process from local districts to Capitol Hill. Legionnaires’ sense of obligation to community, state and nation drives an honest advocacy for veterans in Washington. The Legion stands behind the issues most important to the nation's veterans community, backed by resolutions passed by volunteer leadership.

The American Legion’s success depends entirely on active membership, participation and volunteerism. The organization belongs to the people it serves and the communities in which it thrives.

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127 East Caldwell Avenue • Visalia, CA 93277 • 559-635-1144

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HON OR T H E F L AG

FLAG AMENDMENT

BY REES LLOYD

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American Legion National Commander Charles E. Schmidt, and Maj. Gen. Patrick H. Brady (USA, ret.) Medal of Honor, Vietnam, are calling on all Legionnaires and other veterans and patriots to join in the effort of the Legion’s Citizens Flag Alliance to revitalize the effort to protect the Flag from desecration by passage of the Flag Amendment, House Joint Resolution 61 in the new 115th Congress.

“Our brothers and sisters have shed blood, even paid the ultimate sacrifice, in defense of our nation. The American Flag represents their sacrifice and our nation’s way of freedom.

No one should tolerate desecration of the American Flag,” Commander Schmidt said in support of passage of the Flag Amendment this year, or at least in the 115th Congress.

The Flag Amendment (H.J. Res. 61) provides simply that: “Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States.” It does not state what legislation Congress must pass; it only provides that Congress has the Constitutional authority to adopt legislation to protect the Flag from desecration.

If adopted by Congress, the Flag Amendment would be sent to the States for ratification by vote of the people. Three fourths of the States must ratify it for the amendment to become part of the Constitution. Through the years, at one time or another, all 50 “It has to be understood by everyone that the only way to protect the Flag from desecration and to overcome the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Texas vs. Johnson in 1989 that physical acts desecrating the Flag are actually “speech” protected by the First Amendment, is by passage of the Flag Amendment. In that way, the Constitution, itself, empowers Congress to pass legislation to protect the Flag. Any legislation passed without the Flag Amendment is dead-on-arrival in the Supreme Court,” explained Gen. Brady.

Gen. Brady, considered America’s most decorated living veteran, was the first Chairman of the Legion’s Citizens Flag Alliance. It was created to protect the Flag from desecration by overcoming the Supreme Court’s Texas vs. Johnson by the Flag Amendment. It now has more than 140 affiliated veterans, fraternal, business, and non-profit organizations.

Under Gen. Brady’s leadership of the Citizens Flag Alliance, the House overwhelming passed the Flag Amendment in six consecutive Congresses, but stalled in the Senate. At one time or another, all 50 States have indicated Congress should send it out for ratification. Polls have shown more than 80% support for the Flag Amendment.

In 2006, Gen. Brady’s last full year as Chairman before retiring, he was able to convince a majority of the Senate but was only one (1) vote short of the two-thirds super majority required for passage.

In November of that same year, 2006, the Democrat Party took control of the House, followed by the election of Barack Obama as President in 2008. and the Flag Amendment was not able to even get a hearing with Obama as President during those years.

Now, the elections of November 16, 2016, have changed the atmosphere, Gen. Brady observes. It resulted in Republican control of House and Senate, and the election of President Donald J. Trump—who has repeatedly expressed his respect and love the Flag, and his opinion that those who denigrate the Flag should “face consequences” “If ever there was a time to act to pass the Flag Amendment,” this is that time, “Gen. Brady says.

“We need to revitalize the Citizens Flag Alliance effort into a nationwide grass roots

(Continued on Page 8)

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15th District Legionnaire

NAT IONA L

VIETNAM WAR VETERANS DAY

BY REES LLOYD

branches. The other thirty per cent were draftees.

Ground troops, Army and Marines, suffered the greatest casualties. More Marines were killed in Vietnam than in WW II. Another 304,000 troops were wounded in Vietnam.

While the ten percent casualty rate is similar to that of other wars, severe wounds involving amputations, paralysis, or other permanent crippling injury are estimated to be 300-per cent higher in Vietnam than in WWII. Many suffered, and continue to suffer, from post traumatic stress injury (PTSI), one of the major wounds of war which has left many disabled.

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Forty-four years after American troops were ordered to come home from the Vietnam War on March 29, 1973, the “Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act” was adopted unanimously by the new 115th Congress and signed into law by President Donald J. Trump.

The Act of Congress establishes March 29 to be officially, annually, and permanently observed as “National Vietnam War Veterans Day.” The Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act is the first federal statute enacted by Congress and signed by the President to officially honor the service and sacrifice of Vietnam War Veterans.

In rare unanimity in Congress, the bi-partisan Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act was adopted swiftly and without a single dissenting vote.

Co-sponsors Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Sen. Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.) filed the bill (S. 305) on Feb.3, 2018.

The Senate passed it unanimously only five days later on Feb. 8. The House followed by unanimous vote on March 21. President Trump signed it into law on March 28.

March 29, 2017 upon President Trump’s signature became the first official observance of “National Vietnam War Veterans Day.” The law specifies it is to be permanently observed annually.

More than 58,000 American veterans sacrificed their lives in the Vietnam War. It was a casualty rate of onein-ten of the more than 580,000 troops who ultimately served in Vietnam. Seventy per cent of those who died had volunteered to serve, joining one of the military

American troops were first sent to Vietnam in 1961, some 19,000, by President John F. Kennedy. The number of troops deployed continued to escalate year by year until reaching over 580,000 under President Lyndon B. Johnson. President Richard Nixon, elected in 1968, under his policy of “Vietnamization” of the war.

Began the drawdown of American troops and ended the draft. An agreement was finally reached in Paris in negotiations with the North Vietnamese Communists in January, 1973. American POW’s came home in February. By order of March 29, 1973, American troops came home, except for a small number who remained until the fall of Saigon in 1975.

Thus, March 29 has been unofficially observed as “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day” by veterans and other patriotic Americans for a number of years. March 29 is now officially “Vietnam War Veterans Day” by Act of Congress.

Co-sponsor Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa), said of the new Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act and establishment of National Vietnam War Veterans Day: “In many cases, Vietnam veterans did not receive the warm welcome they earned when they came home.

Thankfully, in the years following the Vietnam War, people and organizations across the country took it upon themselves to right this wrong by honoring the sacrifice and dedication to service our Vietnam veterans displayed. Permanently designating March 29th as National Vietnam War Veterans Day is a small yet significant step, in these efforts.”

Co-sponsor Sen. Joe Donnelly (D-Ind) added: “With this bipartisan bill signed into law, we can finally give our Vietnam veterans the additional recognition they deserve. These Americans sacrificed to protect our country — they are our family, friends, and neighbors, and it is important to honor and remember their patriotism, service, and sacrifice.”

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F L AG A M E N DM E N T

(Continued from Page 6) movement demanding that Congress adopt the Flag Amendment and send it to the States for ratification. Let the American people decide by their votes whether the Flag should be protected from desecration by burning, defecating on it, or other physical acts,” forcefully advocates.

“The issue of whether our Flag should be protected from burning, defecating on it, or other physical desecration should not be decided by five lawyers on the Supreme Court but by vote of 300-million Americans. Let the people decide whether the Flag under which more than 1.4-million veterans have given their lives for American freedom should be protected from physical desecration.” Gen Brady contends.

For more information on the Flag Amendment, and how to help. go to www.CitizensFlagAlliance.org.

Also, Patriot Outreach, founded and headed by Col. Tony Monaco (USA, ret.), 38-year combat veteran, has joined the Citizens Flag Alliance effort at the urging of Gen. Brady and is publishing very useful information on its website, including a downloadable power point presentation, text of the Flag Amendment (H.J.Res. 61), list of sponsors, a sample “Resolution” in support of the Flag Amendment, and other information: www.PatriotOutreach.org Gen. Brady has powerfully set out his views on the Supreme Court’s decision that burning or defecating on the Flag is “speech,” and the need to overcome that decision by adoption of the Flag Amendment, in his column on WND.com, “Flag Burning And The Black Robed Miscreants” (http://tiny.cc/DontBurnMyFlag). (Also available is my NewsWithViews.com column: “‘Defecating Is Not Speech’— Pass The Flag Amendment.” (http://www.newswithviews.com/Lloyd/rees187.htm) HONOR THE FLAG — PASS THE FLAG AMENDMENT!

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MEMORIAL DAY 2017 | 9

OF F IC E R G U I DE

UNIFORM CAPS The Post Officer Guide and Manual of Ceremonies states the following about the uniform cap.

"Wearing the American Legion cap, uniform and regalia” 1. T he Legion cap, uniform or regalia should be worn by its members only when in attendance at official Legion meetings or ceremonies, as official guests at patriotic or other civil functions, or by individuals when officially representing The American Legion on public occasions.

For all ceremonies, the uniforms adopted by a department are recommended. However, an official American Legion cap, dark blue or black civilian coat, dark trousers, white shirt, black four-in-hand tie, black shoes and socks make an attractive uniform. A Legionnaire is considered to be in uniform if wearing an official American Legion cap. Therefore, it is not proper to wear a Legion cap while eating a meal at an official American Legion or civic luncheon or dinner.

2. T he cap should be worn in a place of worship only by the guard of honor, color guard and commander of the same while in marching order or standing guard. When one is seated, the cap should be removed.

3. P osts marching in formation into a place of worship should uncover at the door, hold the cap with the right hand over the heart until arriving in the pews and commanded to take seats, and remain uncovered during the entire service. At the close of the service, upon command, the post shall rise, hold the cap with right hand over the hearts, march out of the place of worship, and recover after marching through the door. Note: The cap should be held over the heart as one approaches the casket, and is not at any time worn in a place of worship except by the guard of honor, color guard or commander of same while in marching order or standing guard.

4. L egionnaires not in formation will uncover upon entering the place of worship, remain uncovered during the

entire service and re-cover after leaving the place of worship.

5. A t the graveside, the cap should be held in the right hand over the heart during the entire service. In cold and inclement weather, the cap should not be doffed.

6. I n meetings, the cap should be worn except during the Pledge of Allegiance, prayer and while standing in silent reverence in memory of departed comrades, when it should be held with the right hand over the heart.

7. A Legionnaire wearing a cap should behave in proper accordance as to salutes, etc., the same as if wearing a military uniform. If not wearing a cap, observe ordinary rules of etiquette for civilian dress.

8. F emale Legionnaires should wear their caps in the manner prescribed for women in the armed forces. This is suitable for most situations, but taste and common sense should prevail. By American Legion tradition, a female Legionnaire may leave her cap on during the Pledge of Allegiance, the national anthem, prayer and meals.

9. L egionnaires wishing to attach decorations and/or other official insignia to their caps are advised of a National Executive Committee resolution on the subject, excerpted below."

Official American Legion caps The following regulations standardize the use of lettering, insignia, etc., on the official American Legion cap, as based on Resolution No. 58, adopted by the National Ex-

ecutive Committee, April 30 - May 1, 1964.

Post caps (members and officers) – All blue, piped in gold and lettered in gold with optional basic lettering (Style 1 or Style 2), and additional lettering and restrictions as indicated below: (a) S tyle 1 – Post numerals at right front between piping and front crease. Department name in full on left side beneath emblem. Lettering on emblem side to be in straight line.

Example: “20” (at right front) – “Illinois” (on left side beneath emblem). (b) S tyle 2 – Post numerals at right front between piping and front crease. Town name in full and department abbreviated on left side beneath emblem. Lettering on emblem side to be in straight line. Example: “20” (at right front) – “Minneapolis, Minn.” (on left side beneath emblem). (c) S tyle 2 – Shall not be used when the post town is not physically located within the recognized geographic and/ or postal boundaries of the department of which the post is a member. Example: Stuttgart, Germany, a part of the Department of France. Such a post may place its location and country on the right side of the cap, if desired. Example: “8” (at right front) – “France” (on left side beneath emblem) – if desired, “Munich, Germany” (on right side). (d) W here additional lettering is desired, it must be on the right side of the cap. Lettering restricted to name of post, such as “J.S. Jones,” or officer title, such as “Commander” or “Past Adjutant.” Where present or past officer cap insignia or badges are used in place of embroidered titles, these must be on right side of cap.

(Continued on Page 10)

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10 | MEMORIAL DAY 2017

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U N I F OR M C A P S

(Continued from Page 9) (e) C onsecutive membership insignia, membership stars and/or decorations (authorized American Legion or military services) must be attached to the right side of cap. Fraternal or civil organization insignia cannot be used on American Legion caps. (f) Names or nicknames of individual members cannot be used on caps. (g) A n individual member placing an order directly with Emblem Sales must provide the member ID number.

Restrictions (a) The left side (emblem side) of any American Legion cap cannot contain other than the official American Legion emblem, and lettering as set forth previously in this resolution for post, county, district, department or national caps. (b) N o member of any organization, such as drum and bugle corps, bands and so forth, sponsored by any post or intermediate organizations between the department and post levels, or by any department, shall wear the overseas caps having the color, or combination of colors, authorized for the sole use of county, district, department or national officers, when the members of uniformed groups are not appearing in the full uniform of their group.

Post 1000 Uniform Caps Post 1000 members are not eligible to purchase an American Legion uniform cap. Purchase of a uniform cap is reserved for Legionnaires registered in a local post.

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MEMORIAL DAY 2017 | 11

LOOKING FOR A DOCTOR YOU CAN COUNT ON? Our panel of physicians may include the doctor you already know and trust.

For a list of our physicians, call (661) 716-7100 4550 California Ave, Suite 100, Bakersfield, CA 93309

Contracted Health Plans: Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California, Blue Shield 65 Plus, Cigna, County of Kern EPO, Grimmway Basic Plans, Grimmway EPO Plus, Health Net, Health Net Seniority Plus, SunviewCare, UnitedHealthcare *Participation in some health plan products is limited.

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12 | MEMORIAL DAY 2017

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SIG N E D I N TO L AW

VIETNAM WAR VET RECOGNITION ACT Toomey and Donnelly's bipartisan Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act signed into law

W

Washington, D.C. — Bipartisan legislation authored by Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Senator Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.) permanently designating March 29th as National Vietnam War Veterans Day has been signed into law by President Trump.

The Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act represents the first federal statute recognizing the bravery and sacrifice of veterans who served during the Vietnam War. "In many cases, Vietnam veterans did not receive the warm welcome they earned when they came home," said Sen. Toomey. "Thankfully, in the years following the Vietnam War, people and organizations across the country took it upon themselves to right this wrong by honoring the sacrifice and dedication to service our Vietnam veterans displayed. Permanently designating March 29th as National Vietnam War Veterans Day is a small, yet significant step, in these efforts. My thanks go out to our veterans and my colleague, Senator Joe Donnelly for all their help to push

this legislation across the goal line."

"With this bipartisan bill signed into law, we can finally give our Vietnam veterans the additional recognition they deserve," said Sen. Donnelly. "These Americans sacrificed to protect our country - they are our family, friends, and neighbors, and it is important to honor and remember their patriotism, service, and sacrifice. I'm proud to work with my colleague, Senator Toomey, on this effort to mark Vietnam War Veterans Day." The Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act is supported by the Vietnam Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars.

"Thanks to Senator Toomey for his efforts to recognize our Vietnam Veterans. I'm proud to have sponsored similar legislation in the past and glad to see it cross the finish line. This bill encourages the commemoration and recognition of the sacrifices of these valiant men and women; they deserve no less than our enduring respect and honor on National Vietnam War Veterans Day-and every day.

THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS

We'll continue to stand with them for all they've done for our Nation," said Congressman Scott Perry.

"I want to thank Senator Toomey and his staff for their work to make the Vietnam Veterans Recognition Act a reality. For the past 27 months, I have worked on designating March 29th as National Vietnam War Veterans Day and words can't describe what the enactment of this bill means to me," said Sgt. Harold Redding, a Vietnam veteran from York, Pa. who came up with the concept of this legislation.

"The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States supports any recognition for veterans. This is certainly long overdue. Every day, as far as we're concerned is Veterans Day and the service and sacrifice of that generation of Americans certainly needs to be continually held in esteem," said John Biedrzycki, past Commander-in-Chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Vietnam veteran, and resident of Coraopolis.

(Continued on Page 13)

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R E C O G N I T ION AC T

(Continued from Page 12) "It's outstanding that Sen. Toomey is working to support and honor our Vietnam veterans. Sen. Toomey's overall work on behalf of veterans is commendable and we thank Sen. Toomey for all his efforts," said Steven Ryersbach, Past State Commander- AMVETS Department of Pennsylvania.

"The Pennsylvania State Council of Vietnam Veterans of America supports the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act, which recognizes the service and sacrifice of those who answered our country's call and served, with honor, in Southeast Asia. We appreciate Sen. Toomey and Sen. Donnelly for their leadership on this bill and their ongoing support for our Vietnam Veterans," said Tom Haberkorn, President of Pennsylvania State Council of Vietnam Veterans of America.

"All Vietnam War veterans deserve high honor and respect that many of them did not get when they returned home from war. Designating March 29th of each year to say ‘welcome home' and ‘thank you' to our Vietnam War veterans is a strong signal that America appreciates the service of these special patriots of freedom. The Pennsylvania VFW thanks Senator Toomey for his ongoing efforts to recognize veterans of all service periods including our brothers and sisters who served in Vietnam," said Thomas A. Brown, Pennsylvania VFW State Commander.

BACKGROUND: The Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act is the first federal statute that specifically provides for the honoring of Vietnam War veterans • Permanently designates March 29th annually as National Vietnam War Veterans Day • On March 29, 1973, the last combat troops were ordered out of Vietnam - While many troops remained behind before the fall of Saigon - March 29th holds great meaning for many Vietnam veterans • Includes March 29th as a day "the flag should be displayed" The Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act was passed unanimously by both chambers of Congress • Introduced in the Senate by Senator Toomey and Senator Donnelly on February 3, 2017 Passed Senate unanimously on February 8, 2017

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NAT IONA L C OM M A N DE R :

DISARMING POLICY MUST GO A

An op-ed written by American Legion National Commander Charles Schmidt appeared on Newsweek's website Thursday. In the piece (see below), Schmidt expressed the Legion's support for Veterans Second Amendment Protection Act.

Current Department of Veterans Affairs policy unfairly imposes upon the Second Amendment rights of veterans who are experiencing financial difficulty and require VA assistance in managing their money.

Under current VA rules, all such veterans are considered incompetent forcing officials to report them to the FBI to have their names listed on the National Instant Criminal Background Check (NICS) System.

All persons on the NICS list are ineligible to purchase firearms.

Unfortunately and unfairly, veterans who are capable of safely operating firearms have been restricted from exercising their constitutional rights.

More than 167,000 veterans are currently affected by this policy.

Today, veterans can lose their Second Amendment rights for life simply because a VA appointed fiduciary assumed control over their checkbook during a period of temporary mental stress.

The American Legion opposes this policy and seeks to rectify this injustice through passage of the Veterans Second Amendment Protection Act which would prohibit VA officials from stripping veterans of their rights to own firearms while preserving the authority of magistrates and other judicial officials to protect the public.

Under the Veterans Second Amendment Protection Act, if a judge fairly rules that a particular veteran represents a danger to society based on exhibited mental or criminal behavior, they are free to rule to restrict that veteran from owning firearms. It is clear that this decision should be made by the courts, not VA employees.

During their military careers, all veterans have received training in the safe use of firearms.

They have also sworn to defend the Constitution with their lives, if necessary. It is only right that due process be followed for the defenders of our Constitution.

The new legislation merely transfers the authority to strip a veteran of their Second Amendment rights from VA to the courts.

In fairness to VA, the department is doing what current law unfairly dictates.

The question is: Who decides who is competent to possess and own a firearm? The American Legion’s position is that decision should rest solely within the jurisdiction of the court.

That is why we support the Veterans Second Amendment Protection Act.

WE SALUTE OUR

VETERANS (661) 589-9661 • LACKEYDRILLINGINC.COM

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MEMORIAL DAY 2017 | 15

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At United Wholesale Lumber Company the customer is number one, because when you succeed we succeed.

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16 | MEMORIAL DAY 2017

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GENERATION WORT H C E L E B R AT I N G

BY NATIONAL COMMANDER CHARLES E. SCHMIDT

T

They called it the Great War. It was the bloodiest conflict the world had ever seen – no small feat – and by April 1917 millions were dead or wounded, and much of Europe was in ruins.

For more than two years the United States had sought to stay neutral, but Germany’s repeated aggressions demanded action. Americans understood that if the world was to be made “safe for democracy,” as President Woodrow Wilson declared, they must fight.

More than 4,700,000 people were mobilized, half of whom served overseas. That was a huge commitment for the United States, whose military was decades away from the height of its power. But when the guns at last fell silent, the world could not deny America’s doggedness in battle and willingness to share in the sacrifice for freedom. Across France and Belgium, thousands of gravestones testify to that sacrifice.

The “war to end all wars” was, of course, no such thing, and its horrors were soon eclipsed by an even bloodier, costlier conflict. World War II is fresher in our collective memory, partly because we still have nearly 1 million of its participants among us. But the First World War deserves far more attention than it receives in our classrooms and national remembrances.

Its centenary is an opportunity to elevate its story in the context of our American journey and a challenge to do better by those who died fighting for the freedom of others, thousands of whom are honored namesakes of American Legion posts worldwide.

The U.S. World War One Centennial Commission is raising awareness through social media and other channels about the personalities, places and effects of the Great War. Working with the Library of Congress, the National Archives and others, it has built an incredible online resource center for educators, ready for use.

The commission, by resolution, has The American Legion’s support. Among its key initiatives is the creation of a long-awaited National World War I Memorial at Pershing Park in Washington, D.C. Plans call for starting construction this winter, and a dedication on Nov. 11, 1918.

“I want to express my sincere gratitude to those brave patriots who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our great nation. Their bravery and courage will not be forgotten.”

There’s also 100 Cities/100 Memorials, a project of the commission and the Pritzker Military Museum & Library to encourage restoration and maintenance of World War I monuments nationwide. Matching grants of up to $2,000 are available, an opportunity for American Legion posts that want to repair and maintain local memorials. Several have submitted grant applications ahead of the June 15 deadline.

Those of us who serve or have served in the military owe a debt to our Great War predecessors. They broke the dawn of air and undersea combat. They pioneered military technology that we take for granted today. More, they recognized that the struggle to stay free isn’t just an American one, but a human one.

The men and women who went to war 100 years ago founded The American Legion before they even left Europe, to preserve the bonds of service and to support their fellow veterans and their communities. In uniform and out, we benefit from the World War I legacy every single day. It is a generation worth celebrating, now and forever.

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www.McCarthyforCongress.com Paid for by Kevin McCarthy for Congress

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MEMORIAL DAY 2017 | 17

A M E R IC A N L E G ION A DVO C AT E S F OR V E T E R A N E N T R E P R E N E U R S

ACCESS TO CAPITAL

BY JOE PLENZLER

T

The American Legion testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Small Business Subcommittee on Contracting and Workforce today to represent the views of entrepreneurial veterans and press for additional assistance for veterans who want to start small businesses.

Joe Sharpe, director of the Legion's National Veterans Employment and Education Division, urged members of Congress to give veterans the resources they need to start businesses in order to further stimulate the nation's economic recovery.

Sharpe said, "Veterans, when compared to their civilian counterparts, are more likely to start a business and are generally more successful at creating a lasting small business."

One of the top impediments facing entrepreneurial veterans is access to capital to develop a minimally viable product or service, create a market, and scale their businesses. "One of the leading barriers to small business financing is requiring that debt be secured by equity in fixed assets," said Sharpe.

Most veterans leaving military service lack the equity necessary for traditional bank loans.

Sharpe said, "One solution is to re-introduce legislation such as S.1870 - The Veterans Entrepreneurial Transition (VET) Act of 2016," that the American Legion spearheaded last Congressional session.

U.S. Sens. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., and Jon Tester, D-Mont., sponsored the bill and successfully navigated it through the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship last year, but was canceled with the end of the 114th Congress last November.

The 2016 VET Act would have created a pilot program to enable veterans who did not desire to go to college to use money from their G.I. Bill benefit to start a small business.

Committee chairman Rep. Steve Knight, R-Calif., expressed interest in the Legion's VET Act legislation and requested more information.

"It's ideas like this that drive our economy forward," Sharpe said. "It is veterans who will lead the way."

THANK YOU THANK YOU

VETERANS! THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS

18 | MEMORIAL DAY 2017

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MEMORIAL DAY 2017 | 19

BA N N E R S

HONOR VISALIA’S BRAVE

BY JOE PLENZLER

A

As her banner was installed, Military Police Officer Mikah Leyvas watched in awe.

She stood nearly motionless at attention. She wiped her eyes as tears rolled down her cheeks.

When she finally moved, it was to smile back at her mother, who watched her daughter’s banner lifted high on Akers Street.

“This is a very proud mom moment,” Socorro Jenkins said.

Leyvas, 19, and an El Diamnate graduate, was one of several active service members to be honored with a banner along Akers on Wednesday. With Wednesday’s addition, there are now 130 Brave Project banners celebrating the lives of those local men and women serving their country.

“I was 12 when I knew what I wanted to do. I grew up listening to stories of World War II and Vietnam,” she said. “To be the first female in my family to join the service, it’s an honor.”

BRAVE is an acronym that stands for; “Banners recognizing and Acknowledging Visalia’s Enlisted.”

The idea for the Visalia banner project began with Jana and Gary Cole, who said they always had an admiration for those who serve their country.

In 2012, when they saw banners hanging on light posts on streets in Glendora to honor men and women currently serving in the military, they knew they had to bring the idea back home to Visalia.

Later, when her son, Brandon Hall, enlisted in the Army, Jana was determined to make it happen. The banners cost about $300 a piece and are typically funded by each family.

The program has grown ever since. As more Visalian’s enlist, they’re running out of space.

They’re hoping to expand east on Goshen Avenue and possibly along Ben Maddox Way. For the parents who watched banners go up without their son or daughter next to them, they absorbed the moment. The Shelton’s took cell phone photos, selfies and brought friends to help capture the moment on video.

Diane Shelton tried to hold back tears, but the honor for her son, Jeffery Shelton, was too much too hold back emotion. She spoke highly of program the Coles started and the city for supporting it.

“I pass these banners and I pray for each person up there, individually. It’s a whole family unit,” Shelton said. “You have concerns that come along with serving, but you also have pride.”

The blue star mother said she can’t wait until Christmas, likely the next time Jeffery will be home.

His father, Mark Shelton, applauded the city’s effort to help make this happen.

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SALUTES OUR VETERANS!

“It’s a sense of pride for Visalia,” he said. “It makes us feel like a small town.”

Mayor Steve Nelsen said support for the program, which is linked to American Legion Post 18, has come with no hesitation.

“It means the citizens of Visalia, the city of Visalia, are made of sound values. We are a proud city,” Nelsen said. “Those values run deep and that speaks volumes.”

For more information, call 855-272-8344 or visit www.TheBraveProjectVisalia.org.

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20 | MEMORIAL DAY 2017

T H R E E L O C A L M I L I TA RY V E T E R A N S TO

RECEIVE RECOGNITION

BY STEVEN MAYER

T

Three military veterans from Bakersfield will be among more than 100 honored Sunday at an event in Sacramento designed to recognize former soldiers, Marines, sailors and airmen who now serve the needs of veterans in their own communities.

David L. Jackson, Deborah K. Johnson and Wayne Wright — each of whom work in veteran assistance or support capacities in Bakersfield — will be honored at the sixth annual “Spirit of Veterans Day — Saluting Community Service Excellence” Ceremony. Held at the B.T. Collins Army Reserve Center, the annual gala was established in 2011 by what is now the VFW Auxiliary, Post 67 with the assistance of Rep. Doris O. Matsui, D-Sacramento.

It’s about honoring those who give back to the community after leaving the military, Candace Hamilton, chairwoman of the ceremony’s organizing committee, said in a press release.

“These annual ceremonies are dedicated to perpetuating the legacy of the honorees through awareness, outreach and education,” Hamilton said.

“They are also dedicated to perpetuating the personal significant contributions of the recipients locally, and in some cases, far beyond, in order to inspire generations of America’s young and old. ”All of the recipients will be honored in the congressional record for their “outstanding and invaluable public service.”

A decorated Army veteran, David Jackson has worked in many roles with the Military Order of the Purple Heart, including national adjutant, a role that, until recently, took him to the Washington, D.C. area.

Jackson handled the day-to-day operations of the congressionally chartered veteran’s service organization. Jackson previously served as commander, adjutant and judge advocate for Chapter 604 in Kern County and in various positions at the state and regional level. He was just 17 when he enlisted in the Army in 1966 and was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Ky.

By December the following year, Jackson was serving in Vietnam with the 187th Infantry “Rakkasans.” He was wounded during a rocket attack in March 1968. It was enough to earn him a Purple Heart, but the injury didn’t take him permanently out of the fight.

Jackson returned to his unit and participated in several combat campaigns, including the infamous Battle of Hamburger Hill in May 1969, a deadly frontal assault on a heavily fortified enemy position. In addition to his Purple Heart, Jackson was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Star with V for valor and other commendations.

Johnson has long served as president and chief executive of the California Veterans Assistance Foundation, a nonprofit in Bakersfield that addresses issues of homelessness, poverty and other problems faced by many veterans in Kern County. Although women weren’t supposed to see combat during Johnson’s years of military service, she did experience combat when she was deployed with the Wisconsin Army National Guard as part of Operation Desert Storm during the Gulf War. Johnson, a longtime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, currently serves as California state surgeon. Not a physician’s position, a state surgeon’s duties include promoting health programs for the benefit of members across the state and the community.

Neither Johnson nor Wright could immediately be reached for this story. But Dick Taylor, a Marine veteran and director of the Kern County Veterans Service Department, knows all three of the honorees.

(Continued on Page 21)

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POST 20

MEMORIAL DAY 2017 | 21

PIN INCENTIVE PROGRAM A

American Legion National Commander Charles E. Schmidt will award his national commander pin to any Legion member who obtains three new members into the Legion. A new member is any eligible person joining for the 2017 membership year who was not a member of The American Legion during the 2016 membership year.

Each member listed must be eligible for membership in The American Legion.

Please forward names of SAL members or Auxiliary members to your detachment or unit for use in their respective incentive programs.

To maintain the integrity of the national commander's pin incentive program, only one pin will be awarded per individual.

Upon receipt, national membership staff will confirm the names and mail the pin directly to the person who earned it. Commander Schmidt's incentive program will end June 30, 2017, or when supplies are exhausted.

V E T E R A N S TO R E C E I V E R E C O G N I T ION

(Continued from Page 20)

Wright, he said, is a U.S. Navy veteran, who retired at the rank of commander. His bio is extensive, Taylor said, and has included several years of service in many different capacities. He currently serves as the VFW’s Department of California Senior Vice Commander.

“Each one of these individuals has a servant’s heart,” Taylor said of the three local honorees.

Not only did they serve with distinction in the nation’s armed forces, they have continued to serve the needs of veterans long after they left military service.

“They care about veterans,” Taylor said. “They want to see veterans recognized for their service.”

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22 | MEMORIAL DAY 2017

POST 20

ED FLORY Legionnaire Ed Flory from Post 20 in Porterville was awarded the Porterville Quilters “Quilt of Valor” and the following is a copy of the award letter presented to him along with the Quilt.

L

Mr. Flory is a Porterville native born November 13, 1924.

He is a farmer now. He has worked as a roadway agent for Tulare County for 18 years and retired in 1984 then worked for State insurance in Fresno and AAA insurance.

Mr. Flory attended Rockford school and graduated in 1938 and went on to Porterville high school graduating in 1942.

He attended the University of Southern California for a short time and returned to Porterville in 1949.

Mr. Flory enlisted in the Army and served from 7/28/2943 till 1/6/1946. He was in the 271st Infantry, 69th Infantry Division, 22nd AFA BN, 4th Armored Division. He served in England, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and Czechoslovakia. He was a part of the following campaigns: Normandy, North France, Battle of the Bulge, Rhineland and Central Europe.

Mr. Flory was a CPL(T-5) and served under General George Patton in the Battle of the Bulge. Ed was a machine gunner, rifleman and linesman.

Mr. Flory is an active member of the American Legion with over 70 years of service. He was Commander 1965-67, 2003-2004 and as remained active as a member of the excretive committee and Judge advocate. He began working on the veteran’s day Parade in 1954 and has been in charge since 1970 till this day. He was the Grand Marshal; in 1995.

Mr. Flory is the driving force behind the annual Flag Day Ceremonies as well.

Mr. Flory was the 21st recipient of the Porterville Wall of Fame in 2010 and also named “Man of the year” that same year.

Mr. Flory has been active in Rockford School and began serving as a board member on 4/16/1963 and continues to this date as he was re-elected this year. He was one of the first people starting the Rockford School Annual Chicken Dinner and has been cooking this himself for many years with his “SECRET” recipe of chicken.

Larry Duysen presenting Ed Flory his quilt from the Post 20 executive committee

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We are proud to support our veterans and active duty service members.

Thank you for your service to our country.

MEMORIAL DAY 2017 | 23

NAT IONAPLOC S OM T 2M 0 A N DE R ' S

LETTER OF APPRECIATION

Col. Womack from the local Cadet Corps presents Post 20 with letter of appreciation for POST 20 support during local competition for drilling and essay's that cadets wrote

B A K E R S F I E L D • F R E S N O • SA N D I E G O • K L E I N L AW. C O M

District 15 Commander at Visalia Post with District Vice Commander

Mildred Wright-Pierson attends Visalia post

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24 | MEMORIAL DAY 2017

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POST 20

SOUP IN

Post 20 "soup in" attended by almost 100 hungry legionaries, family and friends

POST 20

BOYS AND GIRLS STATE REPRESENTATIVES Karen Hererra and Commander Art Samora with the Boys and Girls state representatives from Post 20

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MEMORIAL DAY 2017 | 25

DI S T R IC T 1 5

PHOTOS

Don Dowling (vice commander and Vietnam veteran with purple heart) was the Grand Marshal at Porterville Veterans Days Parade

DI S T R IC T 1 5

MEETING State Auxiliary President visits District 15 Meeting

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Santa Claus is joined by Ms. Claus for our annual Christmas where we gave out gifts to over 25 children

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26 | MEMORIAL DAY 2017

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NAT IONAPLOC S OM T 2M 0 A N DE R ' S

PHOTOS

Post 20 members visit local Church of Christ to celebrate the Four Chaplains

This Memorial Day, take a moment to remember the brave men and women who served and sacrificed for our freedom.

District Commander David Graham has meeting at Post 26

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MEMORIAL DAY 2017 | 27

E A R LY OB SE RVA N C E S

MEMORIAL DAY E

EARLY OBSERVANCES OF MEMORIAL DAY The Civil War claimed more lives than any conflict in U.S. history, requiring the establishment of the country’s first national cemeteries. By the late 1860s Americans in various towns and cities had begun holding springtime tributes to these countless fallen soldiers, decorating their graves with flowers and reciting prayers.

Each year on Memorial Day a national moment of remembrance takes place at 3:00 p.m. local time.

It is unclear where exactly this tradition originated; numerous different communities may have independently initiated the memorial gatherings. Nevertheless, in 1966 the federal government declared Waterloo, New York, the official birthplace of Memorial Day. Waterloo—which had first celebrated the day on May 5, 1866—was chosen because it hosted an annual, community-wide event, during which businesses closed and residents decorated the graves of soldiers with flowers and flags.

DECORATION DAY On May 5, 1868, General John A. Logan, leader of an organization for Northern Civil War veterans, called for a nationwide day of remembrance later that month. “The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land,” he proclaimed.

The date of Decoration Day, as he called it, was chosen because it wasn’t the anniversary of any particular battle.

On the first Decoration Day, General James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, and 5,000 participants decorated the graves of the 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers buried there. Many Northern states held similar commemorative events and reprised the tradition in subsequent years; by 1890 each one had made Decoration Day an official state holiday. Many Southern states, on the other hand, continued to honor their dead on separate days until after World War I. EVOLUTION OF MEMORIAL DAY Memorial Day, as Decoration Day gradually came to be known, originally honored only those lost while fighting in the Civil War. But during World War I the United States found itself embroiled in another major conflict, and the holiday evolved to commemorate American military personnel who died in all wars.

For decades, Memorial Day continued to be observed on May 30, the date Logan had selected for the first Decoration Day. But in 1968 Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which established Memorial Day as the last Monday in May in order to create a three-day weekend for federal employees; the change went into effect in 1971.

The same law also declared Memorial Day a federal holiday.

MEMORIAL DAY TRADITIONS Cities and towns across the United States host Memorial Day parades each year, often incorporating military personnel and members of veterans’ organizations. Some of the largest parades take place in Chicago, New York and Washington, D.C. Americans also observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries and memorials. On a less somber note, many people throw parties and barbecues on the holiday, perhaps because it unofficially marks the beginning of summer.

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28 | MEMORIAL DAY 2017

A M E R IC A’ S E N T RY I N TO W W 1

100 YEAR ANNIVERSARY M

My great grandfather, Claude Clayton Camp, was off to war as the USDA sent his brother, Wofford Benjamin "Bill" Camp, from South Carolina to Kern County to perfect the growing protocol for cotton (and potatoes).

The war effort was greatly dependent on this agriculture commodity, for uniforms, bandages, and canvas. Even the newly developed airplanes were covered in canvas.

At the end of the war, my great Grandfather came to Kern County to join his brothers. The experience had its adverse effects on him and he didn't realize the financial success of his brothers, but he DID serve the American Legion for nearly 40 straight years and I possess the providence in a box in my bedroom.

I am very proud to be the great-grandson of C.C. Camp, and his service to our country and to the Veteran community is the motivation behind my involvement in the organization.

As proud as I am of my great-grandpa's service, I am also proud of my new family at the American Legion Post 26. In memoriam of C.C. Camp on behalf of our SAL squadron, I am presenting to Post 26 this beautiful picture my dear friend James Ary made for us, as we "preserve the memories of...our forefathers in the Great Wars."

May God bless America, those who defend our values, and our American Legion Post 26.

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MEMORIAL DAY 2017 | 29

PROUD SUPPORTER OF OUR LOCAL VETERANS AND ARMED FORCES. Strong veterans make strong communities.

Bankof theSierra.com © 2017 Bank of the Sierra. All rights reserved.

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30 | MEMORIAL DAY 2017

NAT IONA L

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HOW TO

POPPY WEEK

CARE FOR A FLAG

COMPOSED AT THE BATTLEFRONT ON MAY 3, 1915, DURING THE SECOND BATTLE OF YPRES, BELGIUM

O

On May 2, 1915, John McCrae’s close friend and former student Alexis Helmer was killed by a German shell. That evening, in the absence of a Chaplain, John McCrae recited from memory a few passages from the Church of England’s “Order of the Burial of the Dead”. For security reasons Helmer’s burial in Essex Farm Cemetery was performed in complete darkness.

O

The next day, May 3, 1915, Sergeant-Major Cyril Allinson was delivering mail. McCrae was sitting at the back of an ambulance parked near the dressing station beside the Yser Canal, just a few hundred yards north of Ypres, Belgium.

As John McCrae was writing his In Flanders Fields poem, Allinson silently watched and later recalled, “His face was very tired but calm as he wrote. He looked around from time to time, his eyes straying to Helmer's grave."

Within moments, John McCrae had completed the “In Flanders Fields” poem and when he was done, without a word, McCrae took his mail and handed the poem to Allinson.

Only flags made specifically for exterior use should be displayed outdoors.

Do not expose your flag to rain, snow or abnormally high winds. These conditions will shorten its life considerably.

Do not fly a wet flag. Flying a heavy, wet flag in the wind puts excessive strain on the fabric and stitching, and will greatly reduce the life of your flag Should the flag become wet, it should be spread out and allowed to dry completely. Do not fold or roll-up a wet or damp flag.

To keep its rich colors looking bright, clean your flag regularly, before soiling and discoloration from dirt, smoke, dust and other airborne contaminants “set” in the fabric.

Outdoor flags can be hand-washed with warm water and a mild soap, then thoroughly rinsed and spread out to dry.

Professional dry cleaning is recommended for indoor/parade flags. Incidentally, some establishments will clean Old Glory free of charge.

Do not place the flag where the wind will whip it against rough surfaces, tree branches, wires, cables, etc. The smallest tear can soon result in a tattered flag.

Keep pole surfaces free of heavy dirt, rust, scale and corrosion that could damage your flag.

Inspect your flag regularly for signs of wear. In particular, look for “normal wear” fabric or thread breaks which may occur in the “fly” end (the end farthest from the pole). Trimming off and re-hemming torn or frayed ends will help extend the life of your flag.

Allinson was deeply moved: “The (Flanders Fields) poem was an exact description of the scene in front of us both. He used the word blow in that line because the poppies actually were being blown that morning by a gentle east wind. It never occurred to me at that time that it would ever be published. It seemed to me just an exact description of the scene."

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ABOUT

MEMORIAL DAY 2017 | 31

A M E R IC A N L E G ION P O S T 2 6

VETERANS CRISIS LINE

VETERAN SUPPORT STORE

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The caring responders at the Veterans Crisis Line are specially trained and experienced in helping Veterans of all ages and circumstances. Some of the responders are Veterans themselves and understand what Veterans and their families and friends have been through and the challenges Veterans of all ages and service eras face.

Since its launch in 2007, the Veterans Crisis Line has answered nearly 2.8 million calls and initiated the dispatch of emergency services to callers in crisis nearly 74,000 times. The Veterans Crisis Line anonymous online chat service, added in 2009, has engaged in more than 332,000 chats. In November 2011, the Veterans Crisis Line introduced a text-messaging service to provide another way for Veterans to connect with confidential, round-theclock support, and since then has responded to more than 67,000 texts.

In 2011, the National Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline was renamed the Veterans Crisis Line to encourage Veterans and their families and friends to make the call. People who know a Veteran best may be the first to recognize emotional distress and reach out for support when issues reach a crisis point — and well before a Veteran is at risk of suicide.

To make sure all Veterans and their loved ones are aware of the Veterans Crisis Line, VA is coordinating with communities and partners nationwide to let Veterans and their loved ones know that support is available whenever, if ever, they need it.

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Our Veteran Support store has been closed for some time, but recently reopened on December the fifth 2016, with the help of Post volunteers Frank Vail his wife Jeannie, and Max Perez his daughter Christina all Post 26 Legion members and Auxiliary. The immediate focus was to reopen the store as soon as possible, but more importantly, to clean up and reorganize the displays to be more customer friendly. So after several weeks of cleaning, painting, and organizing products; the store was able to reopen.

The hard work of our volunteers has paid off with astounding results. The store sales were immediately positive generating an additional revenue stream for the Post, but more importantly through our volunteers efforts they have reached out to our local veteran community. Determining where, and how and we can best use our resources to serve our veteran community.

Primarily we offer free clothing to needy veterans. We have reached out to other local veteran organizations so that when they have a veteran in need they can issue a clothing voucher. The vouchers are not just limited to clothing. Recently we have formed a new relationship with Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) by providing furniture to the homeless veterans that now have housing. Our volunteer’s deliver these large items, and help set them up. The store also has limited medical supplies.

Items such as wheel chairs canes, and walkers, and these items are given free to veterans with proper ID Also excess inventory is donated to other local charities.

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Legionnaire Tom Hester gets a thank you and pins as a Vietnam veteran from the Local DAR group

Legionnaire Brian Adams with his wife Rebecca visit Clovis Veterans building to receive plaque and pin for service during Vietnam

Vice Commander Don Dowling presents the queens court our veterans day parade Queens court Queen Caitlin Kelly from PHS, Senior princess Jaybree Lopez from PHS, 1st attendant Emma Lusk from Harmony school, 2nd attendant Thank youfrom Veterans!

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Michaela Fields MHS and 3rd attendant Carrera

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W H I S T L E B L OW E R S

VETERANS CHEATED OUT OF BENEFITS T

The Veterans Benefits Administration provides $95 billion of entitlements each year to veterans, including disability money, pensions to vets and their surviving spouses and death benefits -- even American flags at veterans' funerals.

But a CBS News investigation has found widespread mismanagement of claims, resulting in veterans being denied the benefits they earned, and many even dying before they get an answer from the VA, reports CBS News correspondent Wyatt Andrews.

The problems at the Veteran Benefits Administration have been uncovered in the wake of last summer's scandal at a Phoenix VA hospital that rocked the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Dorrie Stafford said a letter, obtained by CBS News, shows how badly the VA claims system is broken.

It's dated July 29, 2014, and thanks Dorrie's husband Wayne — an Army veteran — for the disability claim he filed in July

of 2004. The decade-long delay is just one problem; the other is that Wayne died in an accident seven years ago, without hearing a word from the VA. "It upsets me," Dorrie said. "Why would you suddenly, after all these years, send a letter to a dead man?"

Five whistleblowers at the Oakland, California, Veterans Benefits office told CBS News that Stafford's claim is one of more than 13,000 informal claims filed between 1996 and 2009 that ended up stashed in a file cabinet and ignored until 2012.

Informal claims are letters from veterans expressing a desire to apply for benefits, and by law, the VA must respond with an application.

"We were getting letters from elderly veterans and from widows who were literally at the end of their life, begging for help," Rustyann Brown said.

She was part of a team finally assigned to process those

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claims two years ago and the job began, she said, with a disturbing discovery.

"Half of the veterans were dead that I screened. So almost every other piece of paper that I touched was a veteran who had already passed away," Brown said.

She said that means they died waiting for their first answer from the VA. But whether the veteran was dead or still alive, brown said VA supervisors in Oakland ordered her team to mark the claims "no action necessary" and to toss them aside. Whistleblowers said that was illegal.

"The VA didn't help them. The VA didn't care about them.

They took them, they put them in a file, and they stuffed them away," Brown said.

There were 13,184 veterans who were, Brown said, "begging for help."

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V E T E R A N S TO R E C E I V E R E C O G N I T ION

(Continued from Page 35)

Thank You

Veterans!

When she raised her concerns, she said she was taken off the project. Then, this past summer, Brown and former VA employee Tony Silviero found a cart full of these same claims, ignored, yet again.

"We pulled 15 indiscriminately to look at; just 15," Brown said. "Eight of them were owed money. One was owed $36,000."

She said that was just a few months ago.

Last week, the VA inspector general confirmed that because of, "poor record keeping" In Oakland, "veterans did not receive... benefits to which they may have been entitled." How many veterans is not known, because thousands of records were missing when inspectors arrived.

Lost claims and missing records are a problem nationwide. In the last year, the inspector general has found serious issues in at least six VA benefits offices, including unprocessed claims documents in Philadelphia, 9,500 records sitting on employees' desks in Baltimore and computer manipulation in Houston to make claims look completed when they were not.

Dorrie Stafford now lives with friends in the mountains of Northern California, in a home with no electricity.

"They owed him an answer," she said.

It's an example of what happens when the VA conceals a file. It doesn't just harm the veteran, it could also hurt the family. Typically a surviving spouse is offered an American flag, help with burial expenses or even a modest pension. But none of that happens if there's no file.

"I wasn't even aware there were widow benefits, I really wasn't," Dorrie said.

Even if it was a modest pension of $400 a month, she said it would help.

To the whistleblowers, the lost files also raise serious questions about whether the VA is accurately reporting the true number of disability claims it receives.

Brown said many of the claims she discovered never even made it into the official backlog, and that was a deliberate attempt to hide them -- to make sure they never even appeared in the system.

The VA declined CBS News' repeated interview requests. It did admit to widespread problems in the handling of claims, but blamed that on the transition from a mail based system to a new electronic system. The VA said in a statement, "...electronic claims processing [has] transformed mail management for compensation claims ... greatly minimizing any risk of delays due to lost or misplaced mail."

As for the backlog, the VA promised to fix any problem that comes to its attention.

"For any deficiencies identified, steps are taken to appropriately process the documents and correct any deficiencies."

Veterans service organization Veteran Warriors, which advocates for veterans who are having difficulty with their claims, said in a statement: "Too many cases have come to light, wherein the VA leaders have destroyed, deleted, hidden and manipulated veterans claims - their very access to benefits and services - and NOT ONE OF THEM has been criminally charged. It is time for our nations' leaders to stop listening to the endless "lip service" of accountability and demand answers. If they do not get them, it is time for repercussions to be felt by those who obviously believe they are above the law and insulated from prosecution."

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600,000 VETERANS

WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE 600,000 Veterans May Go Without Health Insurance Next Year

BY MAGGIE FOX

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More than 600,000 veterans will go without health insurance next year unless 19 states stop holding out against expanding Medicaid, researchers said Wednesday.

Even with Medicaid expansion, hundreds of thousands of vets are going to go without a way to pay for medical care, the report from the left-leaning Urban Institute finds.

But 327,000 of those who will go without health insurance live in the 19 states — all with Republican governors — that have not expanded Medicaid, the researchers said.

It finds more than 120,000 of this fall into the so-called "Medicaid gap" — they are not poor enough to qualify for Medicaid, but they make too much money to qualify for federal subsidies to buy health insurance on the Obamacare exchanges.

And they don't all get or qualify for care by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

"Some uninsured veterans may qualify for VA care, but not all take up the available coverage or meet the eligibility requirements, which are based on service-connected disability status, veteran discharge status, income, and other factors"

That's still down from 2014, when more than 700,000 veterans went without health insurance, the report found.

"If Medicaid expansion decisions do not change between now and 2017, we project that approximately 604,000 veterans will be uninsured in 2017 and that 54 percent will be living in states that have yet to expand Medicaid," the Urban Institute report reads.

Even in states that have expanded Medicaid, 84,000 veterans will fall into the coverage gap, the report found. But there are many more in states that still restrict who can get Medicaid.

"The number of veterans in the assistance gap varies across the selected states, from a projected 8,000 in Virginia to more than 20,000 in Texas and Florida," the report reads.

The 2010 Affordable Care Act was designed to get health insurance to more people in part by creating online exchanges where people could buy health insurance and, often, get federal subsidies to help pay for the premiums.

It also ended health insurance industry practices that shut many out of care, such as refusing to cover "pre-existing conditions" and capping coverage once people spent a certain amount.

And, it planned to expand Medicaid, the joint state-federal health insurance plan for lowincome Americans.

"By mid-2014, 26 states (including Washington, D.C.) had expanded Medicaid, with 32 expanding Medicaid by 2016," the report reads.

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V E T E R A N S TO R E C E I V E R E C O G N I T ION

(Continued from Page 36) But many Republican-controlled states refused to do it, leaving many of their residents in what's now called the "Medicaid gap."

The latest Census Bureau data shows it's worked. The percentage of the U.S. population without health insurance has plummeted from 16 percent in 2010 to 9.1 percent last year. The Health and Human Services Department estimates 20 million Americans gained health insurance coverage between 2010 and 2016.

Veterans have also benefited, the report found.

"Between 2013 and 2015, the uninsured rate for nonelderly veterans fell by an estimated 42 percent, declining from 11.9 percent in 2013 to 8.5 percent in 2014, and falling further to 6.8 percent in 2015, according to the National Health Interview Survey," the team wrote.

"Over this time, veterans also experienced fewer unmet health needs, suggesting that increased coverage translated into improved access to care."

But that still leaves hundreds of thousands without health insurance.

"There is a tendency to think that all veterans get health coverage through the VA, which is far from the case," said Kathy Hempstead of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which helped pay for the study.

"While the coverage situation for vets has improved a great deal, hundreds of thousands of veterans remain uninsured, many of whom would be eligible if their states expanded Medicaid."

Thank You

Veterans!

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TOP T H R E E OR ATOR IC A L C ON T E S T F I N I SH E R S

EARN SPOT IN NSDA TOURNAMENT THE AMERICAN LEGION

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Ashwath Kumar (pictured left) won The American Legion’s National Oratorical Contest, “A Constitutional Speech Contest,” in 2014 for his oration titled “This Great House.”

Besides earning an $18,000 college scholarship for his first-place finish, Kumar, of Columbia, Mo., earned an automatic berth into the tournament of the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA).

Kumar’s opportunity to compete in the NSDA tournament alongside 5,000 of the top orators in the country - and earn further scholarship aid - is thanks to the relationship between the NSDA and the Legion that formed in 2010. Through the relationship, the top three finishers in the Legion’s National Oratorical Contest qualify to enter into the NSDA’s original oratory or United States extemporaneous speaking category.

“Together, The American Legion and the NSDA foster numerous opportunities across the country for students to become engaged citizens, skilled professionals and honorable leaders of our global society,” said Steve Schappaugh, director of community engagement for NSDA. “While the NSDA trains coaches and students, The American Legion inspires these students with the opportunity to apply those skills in its Oratorical Contest. Students in speech and debate become better thinkers and, as a result of the Legion’s Oratorical Contest, advocates for patriotism and honor.”

Kumar competed in the extemporaneous category, and said both the Legion and NSDA’s competitions encourage competitors “to analyze and present a topic in a novel and comprehensible way that forces you as a speaker to think in a completely different way,” said Kumar, who is currently attending the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine. “Nevertheless, competing in The American Legion’s contest provided invaluable experience on speaking and speech crafting.”

The inspiration for Kumar’s winning Oratorical Contest speech came when he looked into his backyard and saw the construction of a new home from its “simple foundation to full structure. I drew a connection between the simple but solid foundation of a house and that of our nation, the U.S. Constitution,” he said. “That analogy became the cornerstone of my speech.”

With the foundation of his prepared oration set, Kumar knew that “perfection in speaking would not set him apart so much as the message,” he said. “I focused on selecting the right historical examples, analogies and mannerisms that would punctuate my unique points to the audience.”

Kumar also gathered a greater understanding of what expectations were like at the national level by watching online videos of past Oratorical Contest winners. “While I always set out to have my own voice, past videos helped me understand the general setting and structure of the contest in ways that words alone could not,” he said.

The American Legion’s 2017 National Oratorical Contest is April 22-23 in Indianapolis, where 53 high school orators, who will be representing their respective Legion departments, will compete for a top-three finish and $48,000 in scholarships - as well as, for those top three, an opportunity to compete in NSDA’s tournament June 18-23 in Birmingham, Ala. For more information about the NSDA, visit www.speechanddebate.org.

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L E G ION OF F E R S

SUPPORT Legion offers support for student veterans at ACICS schools THE AMERICAN LEGION

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The U.S. Department of Education announced its decision to withdraw the American Council of Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) recognition as a federally recognized agency in December 2016. ACICS appealed but on Feb. 21, 2017, a federal court sided with the Education Department, allowing it to terminate federal recognition. This affects hundreds of online and for-profit schools nationwide. A complete list of schools accredited by ACICS is available here.

How does this impact me?

Recent legislation allows the Department of Veterans Affairs to continue paying GI Bill benefits for up to 18 months following the withdrawal of recognition of an accrediting agency, as in the case of ACICS, while the school seeks alternate accreditation or program approval.

Students should be aware that if their schools do not achieve new federally recognized accreditation or receive approval from the State Approving Agency as a non-accredited educational institution, they will not be able to use Federal Student Aid and GI Bill benefits at the school within 18 months.

Students may want to consider their education goals and decide whether their current schools and programs will meet their needs. Remember, even if schools remain approved for GI Bill benefits, they may no longer be accredited by a federally recognized accrediting agency. This may affect students’ ability to transfer credits to another institution or site for state licensing exams, as well as other potential impacts. Students should keep in mind details such as whether other schools will accept credits, what kind of accreditation (regional or national) another school has, and whether that school provides the flexibility necessary for career goals.

Where can I go for help?

• The American Legion has service officers in every state who can provide answers to questions about education benefits, federal student loans and credit transferability.

Find a service officer near you at www.legion.org/serviceofficers.

• P earson Education is working with The American Legion to help build alliances on behalf of the ACICS student veterans with not-for-profit, regionally accredited institutions.

Students interested in learning about options for completing or continuing their education should register at www.pearsoned.com/forms/acics-student-veterans/.

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VETS MUST PAY BACK

1 0 , 0 0 0 C A L I F OR N IA V E T E R A N S OR DE R E D TO PAY BAC K E N L I S T M E N T B ON U SE S

BY MEG WAGNER, NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

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Nearly 10,000 California veterans must pay back hefty reenlistment bonuses they earned a decade ago when they signed up to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Pentagon has ordered.

Many of the California National Guard soldiers received more than $15,000 to reenlist in the mid-2000s, when the country was struggling to fill the force as two overseas wars raged on, the Los Angeles times reported.

But Pentagon investigations determined the California Guard handed out bonuses too liberally, giving them to many soldiers who didn’t qualify, as state officials faced difficulties meeting enlistment quotas.

And instead of forgiving the overpaid soldier, many of whom served multiple tours of duties overseas in exchange for the funds, the California Guard has asked for the cash back.

“I feel totally betrayed,” said Susan Haley, a former Army master sergeant who was deployed to Afghanistan in 2008 after she was improperly given a $20,500 bonus for her six-year reenlistment. She now pays the Pentagon $650 a month to slowly chip away at her debt.

“They’ll get their money, but I want those years back,” she said.

The California Guard has asked about 9,700 soldiers and veterans to pay back their bonuses. Those who don’t will face interest charges, tax liens and wage deductions.

Officials admitted the request is financially devastating for many of the veterans — but said they can’t do anything about it.

“At the end of the day, the soldiers ended up paying the largest price,” Maj. Gen. Matthew Beevers, deputy commander of the California Guard, told the newspaper “We’d be more than happy to absolve these people of their debts. We just can’t do it. We’d be breaking the law. ”So far, the guard has recovered more than $22 million from overpaid soldiers.

The problem came to light in 2010, after federal officials launched an investigation into reports of improper bonus. Last month, auditors hired by the California Guard wrapped up their work reviewing the enlistment bonuses given to 14,000 soldiers in the mid-2000s.

In 2011, amid the investigation, the California Guard’s incentive manager Army Master Sgt. Toni Jaffe pleaded guilty to filing false claims for handing out more than $15 million in bonuses to ineligible soldiers. She is serving a 30-month prison sentence.

Many indebted soldiers and veterans have filed appeals hoping their debts will be absolved. However, during the long, guarantee-less process, interest accrues and jacks up service members’ debt even further.

Robert Richmond said he earned a $15,000 bonus when he reenlisted. The Army sergeant first class — who suffered permanent brain and back injuries when he was hit with a roadside bomb during a 2007 redeployment — now owes $19,694.62 thanks to the interest and penalties he’s incurred as he filed appeals.

“I signed a contract that I literally risked my life to fulfill,” Richmond said. “We want somebody in the government, anybody, to say this is wrong and we’ll stop going after this money.”

Proud to support our Veterans!

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C OM M A N DE R’ S P ROJ E C T H E L P S N E E DY

CHILDREN & SERVICE OFFICERS American Legion service officers today are helping more than 700,000 veterans and their families, free of charge, file disability claims, benefits applications and other forms of assistance. Meanwhile, military and veteran families with minor children at home, when struck with unexpected costs that leave them unable to pay for basic household needs, receive more than $500,000 in emergency funding a year from The American Legion’s Temporary Financial Assistance program.

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Both programs depend on charitable contributions to offer the free assistance.

That’s why American Legion National Commander Charles E. Schmidt has made service officer training and Temporary assistance for needy families with children at home the focus of his fundraising project this year.

Proud to support our Veterans!

To make a tax-deductible contribution to help National Commander Schmidt reach his goal of $1 million for service officer training and $1 million for Temporary Financial Assistance before the 99th American Legion National Convention in Reno in August, checks can be made payable to American Legion Charities (write “Commander’s Charity Fund” on the memo line) and mailed to: The American Legion National Headquarters 5745 Lee Road Indianapolis, IN 46216 Safe and convenient online giving is also available for those who would like to help the commander reach his goal of assisting needy children and service officers. To make an online donation, visit www.legion.org and send your gift using a credit or debit card. It is also possible to make an online donation a recurring donation.

Those who have questions, or would like to make a contribution by phone, can call 1-800-433-3318.

All donations to the Commander’s Charity Fund are processed through American Legion Charities, which has tax-deductible 501(c)(3) status. One-hundred percent of all gifts to the Commander’s Charity Fund goes directly to help service officers and needy families.

Thank You

Veterans!

"Our post motto is veterans first, so we believe in Commander Schmidt’s project of supporting TFA and service officers,” Newport Beach, Calif., American Post 291 Commander Douglas Nye said recently after his post presented the commander with a check for $5,000 to help. “And we believe in what The American Legion does. His fundraising project hits home because we have a lot of vets … that need our help."

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PROOF SAPUTO Production Facility

Saputo Dairy Foods USA, LLC 605 North J Street Tulare California 93274 USA Tel.: Fax:

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559-686-2876 559-688-4857

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E X PA N SION

MENTAL HEALTH CARE VA Secretary Announces Intention to Expand Mental Health Care to Former Service members With Other-than-honorable Discharges and in Crisis

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WASHINGTON – Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Dr. David J. Shulkin while testifying in a House Veterans Affairs Committee hearing on March 7, 2017, announced his intention to expand provisions for urgent mental health care needs to former service members with other-than-honorable (OTH) administrative discharges. This move marks the first time a VA Secretary has implemented an initiative specifically focused on expanding access to assist former OTH service members who are in mental health distress and may be at risk for suicide or other adverse behaviors.

commitment to our nation’s Veterans and for helping me better understand the urgency of getting this right.”

Veterans in crisis should call the Veterans Crisis Line at 800-273-8255 (press 1), or text 838255.

“The president and I have made it clear that suicide prevention is one of our top priorities," Shulkin said. “We know the rate of death by suicide among Veterans who do not use VA care is increasing at a greater rate than Veterans who use VA care. This is a national emergency that requires bold action. We must and we will do all that we can to help former service members who may be at risk. When we say even one Veteran suicide is one too many, we mean it.”

It is estimated that there are a little more than 500,000 former service members with OTH discharges. As part of the proposal, former OTH service members would be able to seek treatment at a VA emergency department, Vet Center or contact the Veterans Crisis Line.

“Our goal is simple: to save lives,” Shulkin continued. “Veterans who are in crisis should receive help immediately. Far too many Veterans have fallen victim to suicide, roughly 20 every day. Far too many families are left behind asking themselves what more could have been done. The time for action is now.”

Before finalizing the plan in early summer, Shulkin will meet with Congress, Veterans Service Organizations and Department of Defense officials to determine the best way forward to get these former service members the care they need.

“I look forward to working with leaders like Congressman Mike Coffman from Colorado, who has been a champion for OTH service members,” Shulkin added. "I am grateful for his

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ONLINE MARKETPLACE

N E W O N L I N E M A R K E T P L A C E T O F E AT U R E WA R E S F R O M V E T E R A N S , M I L I TA RY S P O U S E S THE AMERICAN LEGION

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A new website will serve as a “one-stop shop” for those seeking to buy goods and services from veterans and military spouses.

The Veteran Market is an e-commerce platform where verified veterans, military spouses and businesses can sell their products online. Co-founders Mike Phipps and Scott Davidson said the site grew from the notion that there was not a centralized, verified marketplace for veterans and military spouses to sell their wares.

“The idea developed that we would create a market online, tailored to the general public, where they can go buy from verified veterans and military spouses online,” said Phipps, managing director of The Millennium Group Int’l and a founding member of The American Legion Business Task Force.

While sites such as Etsy, give military spouses an online forum to sell their wares, the founders of The Veteran Market

say their site will provide a centralized online location for selling products while ensuring that sellers don’t need to understand technology to set up their own business sites.

The Veteran Market can be used by all types of businesses, ranging from home-based entrepreneurs to established businesses.

Sellers can also use the website to cultivate partnerships with other veteran-owned businesses. For example, Ranger Up currently stocks several products that are outsourced to other veteran-owned small businesses such as Liquid Metal Signs. The Veteran Market will establish a forum for business owners like these to collaborate.

Once sellers have created their space on the Veteran Market, they also can connect their social media accounts (Face book, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram) to promote themselves.

While the site is already open to seller registration, it is scheduled to open to the public on April First.

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The simple registration process not only helps the sellers establish an online presence, but also verifies their veteran or military spouse status through a process they have dubbed “Verified.”

By leveraging open source information from organizations such as The American Legion, Department of Veterans Affairs, and Dun and Bradstreet, The Veteran Market can “verify” sellers while minimizing the burden of sending personal identifiable information to prove military service. The process takes less than 24 hours and no personal information is kept.

“It’s a really short process to get verified. It’s one page, you can immediately start uploading the product information that you sell,” Phipps said.

The enrollment process will also include a link to allow qualified individuals to join The American Legion if they’re not already members, they said.

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Thank you Veterans!

24 South Cobb Street, Porterville (559) 781-3792 | JRMeatCompany.com

MEMORIAL DAY PRAYER O Lord, we pause to remember this Memorial Day the men and women of our Armed Forces, who have served this country at home and abroad during these 238 years of our nation’s independence. It is a great and sacred trust that brings us together, Lord, on this day set aside for remembrance. It is a remembrance worth making — a day of tribute to those who gave their lives in defense of all that America stands for.

To memorialize the dead is to pay homage not only to the fallen, but also to their spirit of sacrifice and valor. The loss of these valiant men and women tears the very fabric of the family and the nation.

We pray for all veterans, those in good health and those wounded still in hospitals around the world fighting to regain their health.

We pray for those still held a prisoner of war on foreign soil, or who are listed as missing in action. Truly all of these veterans are America’s first and finest citizens — they’ve proven it. We commend them to You, Heavenly Father, those who have left for us a priceless heritage which serves as part of the life and freedom we now enjoy. We ask this in Your Name. Amen.

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DEL TORO T RU C K I NG 5516 Weedpatch Hwy, Bakersfield, CA 93307 (661) 845-7177

WE SALUTE OUR VETERANS!

Scott P. Erwin, MBA,CPA,CFE Principal 2100 E Street Bakersfield, CA 93301

Office: 661.327.4511 Other: 661.412.3885 Scott@ScottErwinCPA.com www.ScottErwinCPA.com

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HISTORY CONTEST

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T H E S E A S O N I S N O W F O R N AT I O N A L P O S T H I S T O RY C O N T E S T E N T R I E S THE AMERICAN LEGION

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Post historians who have been chronicling the activities of their post over the last membership year should start finalizing their entries for the first round of judging in the National Post History Contest, which will take place during department conventions this spring and summer.

Entries in the One-Year Post Narrative and One-Year Post Yearbook categories will be judged by the department historian during the convention. The first-place finisher in each category, certified as such by the department historian, will be sent to National Headquarters in Indianapolis where it will be judged by a group of past and present department and national historians during Fall Meetings, Oct 9-12.

All department-winning entries must arrive at National Headquarters by Sept. 15.

Contact your department historian for more information; a directory of departments can be found www.legion.org/departments The National Department History Contest, for the best narrative and yearbook entries by department historians, will also take place during Fall Meetings, and those entries must arrive by Sept. 15 as well.

Now is also a good time to start planning a narrative or yearbook for the next membership year. They can serve as references and templates for future post members to continue the activities and community service that make your post special. Guidelines and advice can be found in the Post Officer’s Guide, beginning on page 147.

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48 | MEMORIAL DAY 2017

“Saluting Kern & Tulare Counties”

15th District Legionnaire

FREEDOM IS NEVER FREE. Thank you to all the men and women of our Armed Forces.

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