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VFW Post 8870 and

Ladies Auxiliary

Edmonds, WA

www.vfw8870.org

Upcoming Events Calendar

Jan. 2013

Vol. 9 Issue 1

Please take time to review the calendar and if there

are additions that are necessary, please contact the

Quartermaster at quartermaster@vfw8870.org or

call Elizabeth Mather at 425-672-0279.

January 5th District Meeting– Alderwood

Boys & Girls Club– Award

Ceremony for Youth Essay

Contests & Teacher Awards

January 8th Staff Meeting—Traner’s

Office 09:15 AM

January 11th Post Meeting – Edmonds

Senior Center—Lunch 11:30

AM—Meeting 12:30 PM

January 19th Midwinter Convention—

Yakima

March 1st Deadline—Scout of the Year

Award

March 30th District Meeting-Alderwood

Boys & Girls Club (Memorial

Service)

May 18th District Convention—

Alderwood Boys & Girls

Club

June 6th—8th Department Convention—

Yakima

July 20th-24th National Convention–

Louisville, KY

District 1 Raffle

I’m happy to report that the raffle was very success-

ful. We grossed $2,320 and after expenses netted

$1,720. The winner was Karen Huggin from Monroe

and when I called her she was in utter disbelief. Her

husband called the Post back to make sure someone

wasn’t pulling her leg. I want to thank everyone who

helped with the raffle. The result of a successful raf-

fle means we will be able to fully support our Teach-

ers of the Year and the Voice of Democracy, Patriots

Pen, and Youth Essay contests.

Susan Newman, Post 8870’s Teacher oif

the Year Selected as Department ‘s

Elementary Teacher of the Year

Susan Newman, has been named as the state’s Ele-

mentary Teacher of the Year. Susan, who is a 5th

grade teacher at Oak Heights Elementary School

had been nominated by her Principal, Susan Ardis-

sono and sponsored by VFW Post #8870. She was

previously named District 1 Teacher of the Year,

which qualified her for Washington State considera-

tion. Susan was selected for this honor from nomi-

nees submitted by local VFW Posts throughout the

state. Susan is being recognized for her on-going

efforts to promote American history, traditions and

its institutions, teach and reinforce citizenship edu-

cation topics, and promote democratic values and

beliefs. She is the daughter of a retired Army of-

ficer. Her passion for American history is evident in her classroom and the learning activities in which

her students are engaged. For the past 20 years,

Susan has been the driving force behind the annual

Veterans Day assemblies at Oak Heights. These

programs honor veterans as well as active duty per-

sonnel in the Oak Heights school-community and

feature student participation in a variety of skits,

plays, essays, poetry, and patriotic music. She also

spearheads letter writing campaigns to local VA

hospitals and active duty personnel. Susan has

taught for over 40 years and is a graduate of the

University of Alabama where she earned both her

Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees.

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Mid-Winter Conference Notes by District Cmdr. Jim Traner

I made a report to the Post Commanders of pertinent information that I learned at Mid-Winter but I thought

I would pass along information that may be of interest to individual Post members.

We had a fair representation from District 1 at Mid-Winter this year. Don Wischmann, Post 2100;

Denise Watkins-Calosso, Post 9417; Ron Haley and John Beam, Post 1040; Jim Traner and Don Whedon,

Post 8870; and Danny Houghton and Elmer Johnson, Post 921, It was actually and enjoyable conference.

One day long, concise (for the most part) reports by committee chairs, and, of course, recognition of the

Voice of Democracy winners and Teachers of the Year including Susan Newman from District 1.

The big news is a proposed $10 increase in annual dues which will be voted on at the National Con-

vention in July. The motivating factor is to increase support of the Departments’ Service Officers. I have

mixed emotions on the increase and will need a lot more facts before coming to any conclusion. However,

once an increase is on the table, you know it will eventually pass in some form at some time. They simply

don’t go away. It may be time to to sign up for a Life Membership.

There will be another “Heroes in the Ballpark” game at Cheney Stadium in July. VFW is trying to

bring 500 Wounded Warriors and their families to the park free of charge and asks each Post to consider a

$100 contribution to the project. If you want to participate, send your donation check made payable to

VFW Heroes in the Ballpark and Department HQ’s in Fife and for $15 bucks you can attend the game. If we

have enough interest we could form a carpool. Since it’s a day game it may be a fun outing. I haven’t been

down to the stadium in Tacoma since it was renovated a few years ago.

The new themes for VOD, PP, and Youth Essays are published. VOD will be “Why I’m Optimistic

About our Nation’s Future”, PP is “What Patriotism Means to Me”; and the Youth Essay is “My American

Hero is …….” The essays don’t need to come from the schools. If you have children or grandchildren who

would like to participate, let Rock Roth know and he can help you with the paperwork.

Ted Streete, our incoming Commander for 2013-14, has some very nifty blue denim shirts with the

Marine Corp monument as a patch. I have to admit, even though I am Army, it isn’t a bad looking shirt and I

would expect a lot of you Marines want to order one. The cost is $28 with $4 if you wish your first name to

be added. Let me know if you have an interest and I’ll get the flyer to you.

A good program not being supported this year by VFW, is Special Olympics. The past Committee

Chair can no longer be involved due to health issues. If anyone has a desire to take the position, contact De-

partment.

Consider becoming a Life Member of VFW National Home for Children. It’s relatively inexpensive

($35) and is certainly a great cause.

Last, and not least, is membership. The goal in membership is to achieve 95% by Mid-Winter. Only

one Post, 7511, has done that and as a whole, our membership numbers are down from last year. As I watch what Congress is doing (or, more specifically, not doing), organizations like VFW and American Legion

need to be protecting benefits earned (no given) to veterans. They can only do that through strength in

numbers.

I realize that most members will never attend Mid-Winter but the highlight of the conference is the

introduction of the District Voice of Democracy winners and the selection of the Department’s winner from

the 16 candidates. Without exception, these are the leaders of tomorrow. Three candidates were missing. One was trying out for the U or W Varsity Soccer team, another was attending a banquet at Seattle Pacific

where she was being awarded a scholarship, and the third individual was playing the violin with a Symphony

Orchestra in Tacoma. The other 13 candidates were equally impressive. I always walk away with the feeling

that America is in good hands for the next 40 or 50 years.

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New Members

Amos B Chapman

Nick is from Seattle and enlisted in the Army in 2002.

He served for 9 years in the infantry with four deploy-

ments to Iraq, three of them with the 101st Airborne

Division. Stateside posts included Fort Campbell, Ken-

tucky, Joint Base Lewis-McChord with a Stryker Bri-

gade and Fort Sill, OK. Awards include The Army

Commendation Medal, Achievement Medal and Good

Conduct Medal. Nick and Dawn and four sons reside

in Lynnwood.

Amos grew up in Toppenish, WA but also lived in

Seattle and graduated from Franklin HS. He joined

the US Navy in May, 1943, just a couple months

before turning 18. He served aboard the USS

Killen (DD-593) in the Pacific as a Fire Controller.

The Killen was a new destroyer built in Bremer-

ton. It provided convoy escort, shore bombard-

ment and antiaircraft screen. It participated in ac-

tion in the Surigao Strait. The Killen was attacked

by 9 Japanese Aircraft off of Leyte and was heavily

damaged by a bomb, killing 15 crewmen. Amos re-

sides in Edmonds. Amos retired from the US Post-

al Service Seattle. He has 3 daughters, 7 grandchil-

dren and 7 great grandchildren.

Nick Rogers

Ten time Emmy Award winner, Bryan Johnston, attended the January 11 meeting of VFW Post #8870 to

provide Post members with a preview of his newly published book, Man With a Gun. For nearly three dec-

ades, Bryan was a television and video writer/producer, and he is the author of three books. In his latest

book, which was just released in December, Bryan weaves several historically accurate military operations

and events into a compelling modern day mystery/thriller. A disgraced Marine Corps sniper, Web Weller,

attempts to start a new life in a small Minnesota town, made up by a disproportionately large number of vet-

erans. Gradually, Web begins to uncover clues that just might identify John F. Kennedy’s assassin. Bryan has

performed an incredible amount of research into the life of a Marine Corps sniper, military history, and the

Kennedy assassination, and woven that information into a spell binding novel.

To honor our active duty military personnel, Bryan will donate $1.00 from every sale of his book to the Fall-

en Heroes Project (www.fallenheroesproject.org) . Bryan lives in Lake Forest Park with his wife, two chil-

dren, and two large dogs. To learn more about Bryan and his book or to purchase a copy of this exciting

thriller, you can visit his web site www.bryanrjohnston.com .

Local Writer Addresses Post

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Helping the Post by Paying your Dues

This is a blatant plea for everyone who is a continuous member to pay their dues. Dues are $25 for a year

and while you are not officially delinquent (and no longer a VFW member) until the end of the year, you

would make life much easier on Quartermaster Tom and Commander Fred if you would drop a check in the

mail. If you are unable to pay your dues due to financial difficulty, let the QM know and we will make allow-

ances for your circumstances. Also, students and active duty members of the military are exempt from dues.

Also, consider a Life Membership if you are a continuous member. Dues are going to be increasing and it’s a

great opportunity to support VFW and remove the burden from your Post to send out reminder notices

each year. Please consider it seriously.

Post Provides Training for Girl Scout Troop

.On Sunday, January 13, members of Post #8870 presented an educational experience for the members of a

local Girl Scout Troop. At the invitation of one of the Troop’s leaders, Elena Gordon, Commander Fred

Apgar and Officer of the Day Jim Collins spoke to the girls about the symbolism of the American flag, flag

etiquette, and explained the flag folding ceremony that is performed at the funerals of veterans.

Thanks to the arrangements made by Senior Vice Commander Chris Edwards, two members of the Wash-

ington Army National Guard Honor Guard (WAARNG) Program attended the session and provided im-

portant information regarding the flag folding ceremony. Sgt. Ray Hayes and Sgt. Misty McFarlane demon-

strated the ceremony, while Jim Collins explained the meaning of each of the thirteen folds. Following a

question and answer period, members of the Girl Scout Troop were given the opportunity practice the flag

folding ceremony under the guidance of the two members of the Army National Guard. VFW Post # 8870

is indebted to the WAARNG and the State Coordinator, Mr. Charles Einarson, for making members of his

Honor Guard available to the Post and the Girl Scout Troop.

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In last month’s newsletter, I shared with you my thoughts and feelings regarding the recent resignation of

David Petraeus, subsequent to the revelation of his extra-marital affair. Sadly, his egregious behavior is just

another example of unethical conduct by more than just a few field grade and general officers. No doubt, all

professions have its share of miscreants, but for me, the misdeeds of high ranking military officers are magni-

fied because the military is an institution based on virtue, ethics, and long standing values. Consider the fol-

lowing:

Gen. Kip Ward was recently stripped of a fourth star amid allegations he spent thousands of govern-

ment dollars on personal luxury travel;

Gen. Jeffrey Sinclair is under investigation for forcing subordinates into having sex;

Lt. Gen. Patrick O’Reilly is being forced into retirement for bullying staff;

Gen. Stanley McChrystal was forced to retire because of ethical lapses and criticizing the White

House;

Gen. John Allen has been caught up in the Petraeus scandal;

Col. James Johnson III was recently convicted of fraud and bigamy;

Col Avanulas Smiley was relieved of duty because of an adulterous affair; and

Over the last few years, at least 20 Navy officers were relieved of command, many for personal con-

duct.

This is a disturbing trend that erodes public confidence in our military leaders and most certainly negatively affects the morale of junior officers and enlisted personnel. Last month, the Pentagon launched a sweeping

review into the misconduct of senior officers. The Defense Department’s Inspector General indicates that

the number of substantiated allegations of wrongdoing by senior officers has risen steadily in recent years. In

fact, the rise has been so dramatic, that the IG has had to hire additional investigators. It is hoped that the

Pentagon review will shed some light on the causative factors for this rise in misconduct.

A fear of mine is that such behavior might be systemic and represents a reflection of how the values of our

society have deteriorated, and we have come to accept a “new normal” as it pertains to ethical behavior.

The Last Word—Commander’s Column

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