benson vfw post 2503n.b5z.net/i/u/10066284/f/august_2017_newsletter.pdf · tom penke at...
TRANSCRIPT
POST &
AUXILIARY
MEETINGS
3RD Thursday,
both 7 p.m.
Benson VFW Post 2503 AUGUST 2017
www.VFWPost2503.org
POST 2503 OFFICERS 2017-2018
Commander: Ricky Johnson Sr. Vice Commander: Duke Humphrey
Jr. Vice Commander: Ross Winn Quartermaster: Ryan Sudbeck
Chaplain: Dennis Kerr Surgeon: Terrence White
Judge Advocate: Tom Penke Officer of the Day: Bill Fead
Adjutant: Tom Penke Guard: Ron Karn
AUXILIARY OFFICERS 2017-2018 President: Lynn Krause
Sr. Vice President: Pat Dembowski
Jr. Vice President: Judy Erb
Treasurer: Sue Stark
Secretary: Pat Dembowski
Chaplain: Nora Van Cleave
Conductress: Jan Brown
Guard: Jan Davis
Patriotic Instructor: Geri Brown
From the Commander
Greetings!
July has been a busy month and a hot weather one as
well. Kudos to the Honor Guard and the Color
Guard for performing their duties despite the
extreme temperatures. Speaking of hot days, come
out to the Sarpy County Fair Parade at 10 A.M. on
Saturday, August 5, in Springfield and cheer on the
Post 2503 Color Guard.
The Hamburger Nights on Wednesdays are still do-
ing well, and the Post is especially pleased when the
veterans from the Eastern Nebraska Veterans’ Home
join us. Last month, about 15 veterans from the
Veterans’ Home made the trek north for Hamburger
Night. In related news, Post 2503 has received the
Award of Excellence for “Outstanding Work” from
the Eastern Nebraska Veterans’ Home.
Not only has Linda Humphrey been doing wonder-
ful kitchen work for Hamburger Night, but also
Kathy and Dan Raabe have made the Post’s Taco
Thursday a big success as well. Congratulations to
all our kitchen volunteers. However, the Post is still
in need of more volunteers for Hamburger Night. If
you can work one night per month or every other
month please make an effort to join a kitchen crew
to keep Hamburger Night going.
Don’t forget to say HELLO to the Post’s new
kitchen manager Leslie Mason.
Finally, the Post has a new Membership Chairman:
Duke Humphrey; and a new Poppy Chairman: Ross
Winn; and a new Memorial Brick Chairman: Mike
Rosso. Congratulations to all of them for the vital
work they do for the Post.
Ricky L. Johnson
Commander
Honor Guard
Meeting
2nd Thursday
every month
7:00 pm
URGENT Because of normal
attrition, more volunteers
are needed for the kitchen
crews to assist in the kitchen
and the dining room for a
few hours each month. To volunteer please contact
Tom Penke at
402-330-6860
From the Auxiliary President
Hello Everyone,
The New Year has started and there are
changes being made. Let me start off with
the lowering in membership dues, this
pertains to VFW Auxiliary members.
For Life members, the $7.00 that you paid
every year, is no longer mandatory. A per-
centage of that money was sent to National
for Cancer Grants, which are no longer
necessary. Now if you still want to pay the
$7.00, we will send it to National as a
donation to the Cancer Grant fund.
For Annual members ( those members
who pay their dues yearly) the same
applies: a percentage of your dues went to
National again for the Cancer Grants.
Even though we no longer need to send the
money, Cancer Grants are still available to
members if the need should arise.
So what does this mean to you as Auxilia-
ry members? It means we can lower dues
for Annual and New members only. For
annual members (those who pay yearly)
the dues are now $19.00. For new mem-
bers just joining the Auxiliary, the fee is
$24.00. Hopefully, with the lower fees, not
only will we get some new members, but
also those who need to renew their
membership will do so. As for Annual
members your dues are due now.
As some of you know, we recently lost a
devoted member: Connie Liebsack passed
away. She was one of our Auxiliary Presi-
dents and Department President 98-99.
The family requested any memorials be
directed to our Auxiliary. John her
husband asked if the money could be used
for a Department Scholarship in Connie’s
—CONTINUED ON PAGE 2—
THE 33rd ANNUAL
NEBRASKA
VIETNAM VETERANS
REUNION August 10th to the 13th at the
Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln,
NE. For information call
402-435-0454
ANNOUNCEMENT
Please place any paper
suggestions for the Newsletter
in the Post Newsletter Box on
the south wall on the bar-top
or in the Suggestion Box by
the front door. For those with email access,
please email suggestions to the
Newsletter Editor at
LADIES OF THE AFTERNOON The Post 2503 Sewing Ladies always welcome new members to
create items to be distributed to the Eastern Nebraska Veterans
Home, the VA Hospital, Lutheran Family Service, and other nursing
homes and hospitals.
Assistance is welcomed for various sewing projects: Lap
Robes, Bibs, Fleece Cancer Hats, and Neck pillows.
Donations of cotton cloth materials are appreciated as
well as financial assistance to support the purchase of
needed sewing materials.
Please contact Nora Van Cleve at 402-571-5213 to join
in on the fun. It really is!
IN HONOR OF PURPLE HEART DAY AUGUST 7, 2017
The Ways of Men
The sky is dark, the stars shine bright,
A mortar round breaks the silence of night.
Again and again the rumble comes,
Enemy damage is now being done.
Young men look with fear in eyes,
Hoping the shrapnel didn’t take many lives.
They say “God Damn” to cover fear,
But deep down thinking, God please be near.
The second phase has now begun,
When men face men and guns meet guns.
Blood is spilled and lives are lost,
The enemy continues at any cost.
The blood is dry, the bodies cold,
Now the awful job comes,
Loved ones must be told.
The job is done and families cry,
Why, God, why, must young men die?
By Jon Jensen
August 21, 1969
Jon Jensen was a USMC corpsman in Vietnam 1967-69.
THE SAND-FLEAS NEW SEASON: AUG 14
VFW Post 2503 sponsors a Sand-Lot Volleyball
Team that plays games on Monday evenings (when
the Post is closed) at 6:30 and 7:30 at Tanner’s on
North 90th Street. Come out and watch our
Quartermaster and Bartender—Ryan and Candy—
and cheer them on to victory.
See the flyer in the Canteen for more information.
DID YOU CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS or EMAIL?
If so, please send the new information to
VFW Post 2503 by letter or email to
titled Attn: Post Membership
or Attn: Auxiliary Membership
Please provide full name and new address and email
TACO THURSDAY
IS BACK!
NEW RECIPE
STILL ONLY $2.50
PER TACO
August 10
5:30 PM
From the Auxiliary President—CONTINUED
name. At our July meeting, the membership unanimously
voted for this request. If anyone would wish to make a
donation towards this project, you may send the money to
the Post to the attention of Treasurer Sue Stark or Lynn
Krause President and earmark it for the scholarship.
A Big Thank You to Linda Humphrey, Nora Van
Cleave, Mardell Ludwig, and Ron Kerm who helped clean
out the pantry and Auxiliary room; your help was greatly
appreciated.
As Auxiliary President, behavior unbecoming of an Auxil-
iary member at meetings will not be tolerated. My goal is
to have a pleasant, cordial, and informative meeting. Our
Department President’s theme is STAY ON COURSE
FOR OUR VETERANS, and that is what we are about.
Loyally Submitted
Lynn Krause
Auxiliary President
Leo Harrington is the
Volunteer of the Month
Recently elected to the House Committee, Leo has been working very hard in reviewing Post contracts, and making long-needed repairs to the building both inside and out. One of his major accomplishments was terminating our janitorial service and hiring our current janitor, a savings of $900.00 per month. A life member of the VFW and a Vietnam Amy veteran, Leo is also a member of the Honor Guard. Please say hi to Leo when you see him working in and around the building.
THOMAS H. PENKE
Attorney at Law
Practice Limited to Estate
Planning and Probate
12020 Shamrock Plaza
Suite 200
Omaha, NE 68154
402-330-6860
Thank you to all the dedicated honor
guard members for their participation.
We are still looking for more
members for the honor guard.
All post members should be signed up
with the VA. This is a benefit we
have all earned.
If you need information on how to
sign up, ask one of the honor guard
members. We will help you.
Thank You for your service.
Ricky Johnson
Honor Guard Captain
HONOR GUARD
It is time a
gain
for th
e an
nu
al sa
le of th
e Vetera
ns o
f Foreig
n W
ars B
ud
dy P
op
pies. A
lthough y
ou m
ay n
ot b
e able to
help
with
the sale o
f
Budd
y P
oppies, w
e are sure y
ou w
ould
like to
contrib
ute to
this w
orth
y cau
se. Donatio
ns receiv
ed fro
m th
e sale of B
udd
y P
opp
ies are used
to h
elp n
eedy v
eterans an
d th
eir families.
Na
me to
be d
ispla
yed
on
Po
pp
y C
ard
:
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
__
___
__
__
__
___
__
__
__
__
__
________________________________
Yo
ur N
ame: _
__
__
__
__
___
__
__
__
___
__
__
__
__
__
________________________________
Telep
ho
ne N
um
ber_
__
__
__
__
__
__
___
__
__
__
__
__
___
Mem
orial? Y
es__
_ N
o_
__
Than
k y
ou
for y
ou
r warm
and
gen
erous d
onatio
n, V
FW
Post 2
503 B
uddy P
oppy C
hairm
an
AUXILIARY SISTERS! As the Hospital Chairwoman for 2017-2018, I need the
following information by meeting night each month:
Volunteer Hours at the VA Hospital, Non-VA Hospitals, the
Open Door Mission, Victory House, and other places.
Dollar Amounts of donated money or donated items; e.g.,
store-bought cookies.
Please call me prior to meeting night to provide any of the
above information at 402-391-2292.
Or better yet, get in and involved—
ATTEND A MEETING!
Connie Dohse Ross
Hospital Chairwoman
Like to Play Poker?
Post 2503 hosts a group of people, men and
women, who play every Tuesday from
4:30—9:30 pm.
Please call Mary Ryder,
(402) 614-5111 (Cell ) or
(402)-332-6086 (Home)
PURPLE HEART DAY
AUGUST
7th
PLEASE FLY YOUR FLAG
AUXILIARY SISTERS!
If you have any news regarding an Auxiliary’s illness
or death, please notify the Auxiliary Chaplain
Nora Van Cleave at 402-571-5213. Thank you.
2
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Non-Profit Org
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit #610
Omaha, NE
V.F.W. Post 2503
8904 Military Road
Omaha, NE 68134
NOTICE:
All articles should be in the Newsletter Box, IN WRITING, at the Post no later than August 23rd, for the August newsletter . If articles are not submitted by the deadline, they will have to wait for the next newsletter. Thank you.
From Your Honor Guard Captain
Ricky Johnson
MILITARY RITES: June, 2017
Military Members
Deceased Cemetery # Hours
06/01/2017 Jim Christensen Westside Church 8 24
06/05/2017 *Paul Knievel Calvary 16 48
06/07/2017 David Pratt Omaha National 6 18
06/08/2017 David Wade Omaha National 6 18
06/09/2017 Alfred Skar Calvary 6 18
06/12/2017 Thomas Upton Voss Mohr 11 33
06/12/2017 Francois Nick III Omaha National 11 33
06/13/2017 Ryamond Horky Resurrection 8 24
06/15/2017 Donald Byers Omaha National 6 18
06/15/2017 Hans Rath Omaha National 6 18
06/16/2017 Lawrence Smith Forest Lawn 11 33
06/19/2017 Edward Trudell Omaha National 9 27
06/20/2017 *Robert Fenton Hillcrest 12 36
06/21/2017 Robert Chin Forest Lawn 9 27
06/22/2017 William Bennett Omaha National 9 27
06/26/2017 Jack Smothers Omaha National 9 27
06/26/2017 *Andrew Anderson Forest Lawn 9 27
06/27/2017 Clyde Christian St Benedict Moor 10 30
06/27/2017 Clifford Fisher Omaha National 11 33
06/28/2017 Wayne Victor Calvary 7 21
06/30/2017 Charles Pittman Forest Lawn 9 27
*Post Member
Month Total: 21 Funerals, 190 Member Participation, 570 Hours
CANTEEN HOURS
Monday Closed
Tuesday thru Thursday 4:00 pm—10:00 pm
Friday 4:00 pm—10:00 pm
Saturday Noon—10:00 pm
Sunday Noon—8:00 pm
PHONE: 402-571-8397
Name_____________________________________________ Phone # ________________________________________
WORDS ON BRICK
Line 1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 Line 2 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 Line 3 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1
Checks Only—No Cash Return this form to the Post
The Post is selling Memorial Bricks around the
memorial walk and flag. Memorial Bricks are being sold by Post 2503 to be
put around the outside of the Memorial flag pole.
These bricks will cost $60.00 each. They will be for
VFW, Auxiliary, AMVET & Auxiliary members,
their families, and people they sponsor. They will be
memorials for living or deceased people. They will
be ordered once a year on April 1st, for installation
by Memorial Day each year. Max 16 spaces per line,
3 lines, and cost $60.00 per brick.
June 2017
All of our brave brothers and sisters who
have passed before us
SEE INSIDE FOR:
Volunteers needed in the Post Kitchen
Purple Heart Day
Five Hamburger Nights in August!
ROOM RENTALS Please keep in mind that the Post is available for your
meeting/party plans, Monday through Friday during
the day. Contact Geri Brown at 402-943-9067 to
reserve your date. Spread the word to your friends
and family. The Post looks great decorated for
weddings, birthdays, and graduation parties, too.