WI VFW News September 08

Page 4 Bill Crowley to head National Vets Homes Page 6 Va Hospital employees Honored Page 15 Remembering a Wonderful King Day Vol. 26 no. 2 turn to for Veterans september 11, 2008 Tommy Tradewell - One More Step! Wisconsin, along with native son Tommy T. Tradewell, is moving closer and closer to the epicenter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. As expected, at the recently completed VFW National Convention in Orlando, Tommy Tradewell took office as Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief. Tradewell will have a busy year of travel and VFW activities on behalf of the members and all veterans. Tradewell’s name was put into nomination by his long-time friend and supporter Walter G. Hogan, a Past National Commander-in-Chief. The seconding speech was delivered by current Department Commander Gary Erickson. Following the nominations, as is traditional, the home state of each candidate leads an impromptu march of all states from the candidate’s conference around the hall. The formal installation ceremony commences at the Orlando VFW Convention. The installing officer prepares to administer the oath of office to Commander-in-Chief Gardner, Sr Vice Commander-in-Chief Tradewell, and Jr Vice Commander-in-Chief Richard Eubank, of Oregon. This adds a celebratory and almost “festive” feel to the event. Wisconsin can be proud to have this outstanding candidate moving up through the national ranks. By this association, we, as a state, will be looked at even more closely than in the past. This is a great time to kick it into high gear and deliver an outstanding performance so that we can help Tommy lead the way to a better, stronger Veterans of Foreign Wars. For more National Convention highlights, see pages 8 & 9. tommy t. tradewell, left, addresses one of the conferences on the first day of the convention. This is when all the candidates and their supporting team visit each of the conferences to make a campaign presentation. Positions are explained, questions taken and endorsements sought. Every conference endorsed Tradewell for Senior Vice Commander. At right, Wisconsin VFW Commander Gary Erickson takes center stage at the National Convention as he seconds Wally Hogan’s nomination of Tommy Tradewell for Senior Vice Commander. Vfw fort McCoy 2008-2009 raffle income is building Our VFW income is First, mentioned, get picnic draws crowd ing along, butRaffle need to kickcom- sold andasthe money mailedyourtotickets we all into in State On August 20 and 21, 2008, the Department of Wisconsin Veterans of Foreign Wars hosted a picnic for Army National Guard Troops just completing three weeks of training at Fort McCoy in West Central Wisconsin. The 3,400 troops training there are something special to us since they are comprised of men and women from 38 Wisconsin communities and will be deployed to Iraq in early 2009. Armed with ice cold drinks, Johnsonville brats, hamburgers, potato salad and beans and chips, approximately 175 VFW and Auxiliary members and other volunteers led by Pete Breed (Chetek Post 10331), gave the Army cooks a break and served over 7,000 meals in back-to-back events over these two days. See Fort mccoy, PAge 16 high gear and get our personal tickets mailed in now! Remember: There’s no harm in asking friends or neighbors to buy one or more of your personal tickets. All of us are watching our budgets, and that’s okay. Just remember that every time you buy cookies, popcorn, greeting cards, or raffle tickets from a co-worker, neighbor or friend for their, or their youngster’s organization, you’ve created a contact that by all rights should be willing to reciprocate! Don’t be bashful. Total revenue combined for the VFW and Auxiliary now stands a little north of $50,000, and receipts for the Purple Heart Raffle are now at about $5,500. We can do better, and you can play an important part in a couple of ways. Headquarters as soon as possible. Second, if your Post is not yet participating in the 50/50 Revenue Sharing aspect of our State Raffle, speak up and get them involved today! This program is voluntary, and has the potential to help your post raise serious money that can be put into your General Fund, Relief Fund or any other account your members may decide. Participating Posts are able to keep one-half of all the cash received through the sale of these specially-designated tickets. In addition, if they are the top-producing Post in their division (small, medium or large Posts), they will win back the money they already sent in to State! See RAFFLe, PAge 11 official publication: Wisconsin Veterans of foreign Wars Phone: (608) 255-6655 • Fax: (608) 255-0652 Website: www.vfwofwi.com • wivfw@tds.net VFW Department Headquarters Editor: William Knudson Phone: (715) 384-2500 E-mail: vfwnews.wi@verizon.net Page 2 sePt/oct, 2008 Wisconsin Veterans of Foreign Wars News state offiCers Comrades, We are approaching the end of summer tom and heading for, hopefully, a mild winter lemmer season. National Convention is over and I State Jr. Vice think anyone that went is tired of Fay. As we march forward, we need to conCommander tinue with our Raffle ticket sales and get262-369-5905 ting out to our fellow veterans and the general public. On a recent Saturday, my jrvicecdr@wi.vfwwebmail.com Post members held a brat fry and sold raffle tickets at a local Pick and Save store in Sussex. The weather was beautiful and store management was extremely accommodating, even donating items we needed for the brat fry. Best of all, raffle ticket sales went well, and as you all know, 50% of ticket sales are kept by the Post. What a great way to get to know your local neighbors and let them know you are in the community while helping your Post at the same time. Raffle tickets were not difficult to sell. We let them know that the proceeds went to help fellow veterans through our service office and most were very happy to purchase them. Comrades, we need to “Turn To” and continue to sell, not only for the Post, but to enable us to continue serving our veterans by enhancing the State budget. Thank you to all that have returned their tickets and thanks to all that have sold tickets to date. Let all of us band together and have a very successful raffle. If anyone has suggestions or comments regarding the raffle, please let your Department officers know, we want to improve and tweak it so we can achieve maximum success now and in the future. Let’s “Git ‘er Done.” Tom Lemmer State Jr Vice Commander Comrades and Sisters, here it is September. The summer, and all the meetings and events are behind us. We started Steve Lawrence with our State Convention in June. Then State Adjutant July brought the Flying Squadron meetQuartermaster ings in Chicago. We had our Council of Administration meeting and Officer 608-255-6655 Training at Wisconsin Rapids and our qm@wi.vfwwebmail.com King Day on that Sunday. During August we traveled to the National Convention in Orlando. Many new ideas came out of these meetings. At our National Convention, our newly elected Commander-in-Chief, Glen Gardner, set out a new direction in his acceptance speech. Gardner, who served in the Marine Corps from 1966-1970, reminded us that to remain a vibrant organization, the VFW must be attractive to today’s generation of military service men and women, so they can assume more leadership roles within the organization at the local level. “We can’t hold onto the concepts of another era and expect to survive,” he said, “Young veterans are not looking for a social club to belong to – they want to belong to an organization that provides services to active-duty military, veterans and their families.” Gardner added that he would like to add 175,000 new members to the membership rolls during his leadership year, as well as increase post participation in the VFW’s core programs: Voice of Democracy, Patriots Pen and Teachers Award. Recognizing the need for help and assistance to active-duty military and their families, Gardner, who has chosen as his theme “Honor Sacrifice and Service,” said he plans on visiting more stateside military bases to better gauge what services military units need and how the VFW can enhance its traditional military services programs such as Unmet Needs, Operation Uplink and military assistance programs. So we have our marching orders. Please make sure and review the Programs Book that you received from Department. Bill Knudson and Gary Erickson spent many hours putting that book together to reflect the new direction for the Veterans of Foreign Wars. “Turn to for Veterans” is our State Commander’s theme for this year. I want to remind you about all the solicitations you receive in the mail. Sometimes I am sure you feel inundated with these items. The calendars, the notepads, the address labels and other items are important. The funds raised from these items supports the programs that are so vital to helping our troops, their families and our veterans. Please consider donating what you can afford to assist. If you are receiving these items and wish to be removed from the mailing list, send me a letter with your name and address as it appears on the mailing, and I will have your name removed. There are many ways that you can help in providing a sound financial future for the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The “Legacy Life Membership” program is one way. (See feature article). Another, more immediate way, is through our department raffle. It is in full swing right now. Have you returned your tickets? Is your Post participating through direct sales to the general public? Please support this program!! Comrades and Sisters, thank you for the good work you do each day for veterans and their families. If you would like to contact me, I can be reached by e-mail wivfw@tds.net or by phone (608) 835-7494 evenings, or by mail: Steve Lawrence, P.O. Box 23, Oregon, WI 53575-0023. Comrades and Sisters, National convention is behind us. It was wet and windy, but being from Wisconsin, Tropical Storm Fay didn’t stop us! Congrat- Gary Erickson ulations to Tommy T. Tradewell on being State Commander elected to the high office of Sr. Vice Com608-723-7373 mander-in-Chief. It was a great honor for cdr@wi.vfwwebmail.com me to second Tommy’s nomination for Sr. Vice Commander. I know next year he will make an outstanding Commander-in-Chief and make Wisconsin proud. Thank you to everyone who helped with the all conference hospitality at the fair grounds in Orlando and with the hospitality room in the Peabody. We need HELP. If each post would donate one dollar per member for our service office, it would help take a burden off our budget this year. We would appreciate a donation from the Districts also. Send checks to Department of Wisconsin and earmark it service office. Bus trip to National Home Chief-of-staff Bill Knudson has done an excellent job of getting not one, but two buses! to go to our National Home in Eaton Rapids on Oct. 24-Oct. 26 for the Halloween Party. If you are unable to walk the tour, they have golf carts that you can ride. Remember, Wisconsin hosts the Fall Festival (Halloween Party) this year. I have taken this trip many times and each time it is better than the time before. It is nice to see what condition our home is in, or if we need to do something to make the home better for the family that lives in our house. Thank you, Knoot, for arranging the bus trip. We will have an early issue of the newspaper next month. It will be our election issue. If anyone knows of a politician running for office that would like to put an ad in our VFW News, please contact Bill Knudson. Remember our four priority programs this year. • Membership: We need to be at 100% • Program reporting: Need to be 100% reported • Trust Fund: Don’t forget to make your donations to the trust fund • Raffle: We need you to turn in the money for your personal raffle tickets you received in the mail. I hope that the post will sell the tickets also. Remember, the post can keep half of the proceeds from the tickets sold by the post. We need the income from the sale of the raffle tickets so the Department can continue to run. Hope to see all of you at the Council of Administration and the Joint Testimonial for Marla and myself that will be held in Platteville on Oct.11. Best wishes and safe travels “Turn to for Veterans.” Gary Erickson VFW State Commander There are lots of changes to our programs this year, so Post Commanders and Quar“Twiggy” termasters, take heed: Open your Quarterly Johnson Mailing and READ YOUR 2008-2009 Program and Membership Guide. The old State Sr. Vice program report forms are gone, and a whole Commander new reporting system is in its place. This is 920-766-1491 to conform to what National is doing. There are important changes taking place through- srvicecdr@wi.vfwwebmail.com out the VFW, and Wisconsin is changing with the times. There is a new and important emphasis on what your Post does for veterans, for your community and for our active duty military. Membership remains the backbone of this organization. To be a member of this great organization, Veterans of Foreign Wars is a great honor. Ask everyone in your community whether they are a combat veteran. When they say yes, tell them that you will be proud to make them a member of your VFW Post. If you ask, they will join. They are out there. Membership is very important because there is strength in numbers. The more members we have, the more influence the VFW has in Washington D. C. in the fight for ALL veterans needs. We are constantly arguing to get more money into the V A system. We have actually accomplished a great deal in recent years. But there is more to do. We will not rest until we have secured permanent funding for the VA System. We also need members to help take care of veterans at our V A Hospitals and even those that are home but still need care. Our Youth Programs - Voice of Democracy, Patriot’s Pen and the Teacher of the Year programs make a positive difference in our local communities. It takes an active member base to make these programs work. I am excited about this, year’s membership program. I want YOU to be excited about it, too. WITH EVERYONES HELP, THIS STATE WILL BE 100%. We are continuing to make progress on the sale of our State Headquarters Building and the relocation of our offices. Commander Gary has appointed me chairman of the Building Committee, and we are already looking at potential locations and examining all options. Our committee is comprised of members with considerable real estate, construction, development and financial experience, so I’m confident we will achieve a successful conclusion to our efforts. Wilfred “Twiggy” Johnson State Sr. Vice Commander ❏ Don’t Delay, Subscribe Today! one year Subscription addRESS CHANGE Please note I have changed my address to: (Please print.) Name _________________________________________________________ Street _________________________________________________________ City __________________________________________________________ Zip Code ________________________ Post No.______________________ Mail Address Change to: VFW Circulation Department 406 West 34th Street Kansas City, MO 64111 Name ________________________________________________________ Street ________________________________________________________ City __________________________________________________________ Zip Code ________________________ Post No. _____________________ only $6/year Send this form along with payment to: VFW State Headquarters P.O. Box 1623 Madison, WI 53701-1623 state offiCers VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS DOES NOT ENDORSE POLITICAL CANDIDATES FOR ANY POLITICAL Michael Borg OFFICE. Judge Advocate We are now in the midst of our Presidential Election process. Each of the ma920-739-5730 jor parties has nominated their candidates judge@wi.vfwwebmail.com at National Conventions. With that acknowledgement, our political parties are asking our Posts for endorsements on behalf of their candidate. We must look to our National Bylaws which state as follows: “Bylaws Article VII – Miscellaneous Provisions, Section 702 – Politics. No officer or member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States shall in any manner use the Veterans of Foreign Wars for partisan politics and no discussion of partisan questions shall be permitted at any meetings nor shall any nominations, recommendations or endorsements for political office be made, provided this shall not apply to discussion of policies of any organization that seeks to alter our present form of government by force, violence or other unlawful means. Participation in activities supporting or opposing legislation or administration of laws for veterans’ welfare or relating to other matters pertaining to the purposes of the organization shall be permitted. Such participation shall be consistent with the legislative and welfare programs and policies approved by the National Convention. No Post, County Council, District or Department shall participate in a labor dispute, either on behalf of labor or management. No member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States shall wear the Veterans of Foreign Wars uniform or Veterans of Foreign Wars cap in any plant or picket line or meeting of employees where a labor dispute arises. Nothing contained in this Section shall prevent the organization of a lawful political action committee to further the purposes of the Veterans of Foreign Wars as set forth in Section 3 of the Congressional Charter, nor prevent any discussion of the activities of such a committee.” Section 702 – Politics, clearly states that our National organization leaves the matter of endorsements to our National Political Action Committee. The presidential candidates of the two major parties were given the opportunity to address our recent National Convention in Orlando, Florida. Even our newly elected National Commander-in-Chief Glen Gardner addressed this issue of endorsements at our 109th National Convention in Orlando. “We must remember that the Veterans of Foreign Wars organization is a 501(c)(19) nonprofit Veterans service organization that is prohibited from endorsing political candidates. We do, however, encourage all 1.9 million members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and our Ladies Auxiliary to get involved in their communities and to vote for their candidates of choice.” Our National Political Action Committee, and it alone, is responsible for endorsements based solely on the individual’s service on key committees that has direct influence over veterans’ affairs, national security and readiness issues. Such endorsements do NOT speak for our Veterans of Foreign Wars Organization at any level. In political years, emotions run high. Remember that these endorsements are advisory only, and are not intended to restrict you from voting for the candidate of your choice. As your State Judge Advocate, the most common politically-related question I get is: Can a member wear his VFW cap and be a part of a backdrop for political events? The answer is: Yes, because by doing so you are only identifying yourself as a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and showing your personal support for that candidate. This does not represent an endorsement of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States of America. Our members tend to be better-informed on the issues of the day and active participants in the voting process. We vote positions across the political spectrum and tend to be independent thinkers. Remember to make your vote count and vote for your candidates of choice. If you still have major issues in this regard, express them to our National Organization Political Action Committee at www.vfwdc.org. I am here to help you in any way in regard to the Bylaws at all levels, but if there are conflicts or problems within your Posts, your State Commander Gary Erickson has requested that all those requests go to him for action. He will determine if the State Judge Advocate Office shall be brought into this issue. Thank you. My e-mail address is judgeadvo@tds.net. Wisconsin Veterans of Foreign Wars News Page 3 sePt/oct, 2008 The Cracked Pot - A parable we can all learn from . . . Charlene Cobb A water bearer in India had two large pots, one hung on each end of a pole which State Chaplain he carried across his neck. One of the pots 262-882-6022 had a crack in it, but the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of chaplain@wi.vfw water at the end of the long walk from the webmail.com stream to the master’s house, while the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his master’s house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was very ashamed of its imperfection, and was miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do – or so it thought. The cracked pot, after two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. “I am very ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you.” “Why?” asked the water bearer. “What are you ashamed of?” “For the past two years, I have only been able to deliver half of my real capacity, because this crack in my side allows water to leak out all the way back to the master’s house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don’t get full value from your efforts,” the cracked pot said. The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and compassionately said, “As we return to the master’s house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path.” As they went up the hill, the old cracked pot did notice the sun shining on the beautiful wildflowers growing along his side of the path, and this cheered it some. However, at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had again leaked out half its load, and so it apologized to the water bearer for its failure. The bearer said to the pot, “Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot’s side? That’s because I have always known about your flaw, and put it to good use. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path (for the return trip), and every day while we walk back from the stream, you’ve watered them. For over two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master’s table. If you weren’t the way you are, he wouldn’t have the flowers for his house.” Each of us has our own unique flaws. We’re all cracked pots. But if we will allow Him, the Lord will use us, in spite of our flaws, to grace His Father’s table in some way. In God’s great economy, nothing goes to waste. So as we seek ways to minister, and as God calls you to the job He has appointed for you, don’t be afraid of your flaws. Acknowledge them, and allow Him to use them, so you, too, can help add beauty along the pathways He has chosen for you. 2 Timothy 2:21 -“If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.” an ad is not an endorsement During any election period, it is not uncommon to see ads for issues and candidates of any stripe appearing in our newspaper or on line on the VFW WebCOM. All candidates are welcome to advertise. They pay for the privilege. Ads are screened so as to avoid an unwarranted insinuation that the VFW “endorses” them. The revenue from these ads helps support our newspaper and website. Because you are an active voter, these candidates are anxious to get their story to you. If you want your favorite candidate to reach your comrades in the VFW, contact their campaign committee and tell them to get in touch with the VFW News! Have them e-mail: vfwnews.wi@ verizon.net and their inquiry will be promptly responded to by our ad representatives. replica M-16 Plaque Presented to Phil Jones for Continued support Legacy Life Membership available to Life Members The VFW’s Legacy Life Membership provides an opportunity for Life Members to leave their mark on the nation’s largest combat veterans’ organization. Available only to current Life Members, the new Legacy Life Membership not only offers expanded and exclusive benefits, but also helps ensure that the VFW’s good work will continue for generations to come. Legacy Life Members can select from three membership categories: Gold, Silver or Bronze. Each offers a selection of exclusive benefits. Once activated, your membership will endow additional income – made in your name – that will provide a stable financial foundation for both your Post and the VFW. Here are some of the benefits of becoming a Legacy Life Member: • A one-time (or annual) endowment will be made in your name to the VFW. • Your personally engraved Legacy Life Membership card. • An official Legacy Life Membership certificate. • A Legacy Life Membership lapel pin. • Recognition at the VFW Memorial Building kiosk, in Washington D.C. • Recognition at the VFW National Headquarters Museum. For more information on this program, check with your Post Quartermaster or Department Headquarters. Choose the endowment: a. One-time Endowment payment: Upon your death, the principle amount of your Legacy will be paid in equal amounts to your Post, Department and the National Organization, as applicable. b. Annual Endowment: The Legacy payment will continue annually after your death. Leave a legacy that keeps on giving. Call the VFW Membership Dept at 816-7563390 for more information. Each year, Phil Jones [L] of Elkhorn WI, restorer of military vehicles, arranges to provide a military vehicle for VFW Post 5470 of Whitewater for use in the 4th of July parade. Commander Evan Wynn [R] is pictured presenting a replica M-16 plaque to Phil, a marine veteran, for his continued support of Post 5470. This year a 3/4 ton weapons carrier was used to transport members of the post in the annual parade, preceded by a color guard composed of VFW, Am. Legion, dAV, Marine Corps League members and the UW-Whitewater ROTC. (Photo/Story Courtesy John Newhouse, QM Post 5470) Page 4 sePt/oct, 2008 Wisconsin Veterans of Foreign Wars News wdVa uPdate I want to follow up regarding the benefits of physical activity and how to achieve them. In addition to heart related benefits, it is important to note that people who are more physically active are less likely to develop dementia, less likely to have problems with gallstones and less likely to develop diabetes. Some form of exercise is an important part of the treatment program when people try to stop smoking, control their blood pressure or blood sugar or recover from a heart attack. There is even evidence that exercise can prevent breast, colon and prostate cancers. These benefits are available throughout one’s life – nursing patients over 80 years of age are known to benefit from strengthening exercises by having fewer falls and better ability to function. These are not as well known as the benefits I mentioned last time – weight loss and improved heart health – but they may be more important for some people. So, with all these benefits, how come everyone is not out there walking? There are a lot of reasons, but here are some tips to make it easier to exercise regularly. First, set some concrete goals – people who plan to walk “more” are not nearly as likely to be successful as people who plan to walk for 30 minutes at 7 a.m. on every Tuesday and Thursday for the next two weeks. Goals should not take too long to accomplish (two weeks is usually a good time frame) and you should be able to tell if you met the goal. At the end of that two weeks, if you were able to meet your goal, you should decide on a goal for the next two weeks. Second, find a partner. In general, if someone will be looking for you on Tuesday at 7 a.m., you are more likely wdVa to host women Vets How to become more active Conference at fort McCoy Jeff Whittle, (MADISON) – The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs will host, “Home, Work, and School,” the 2nd Annual State of Wisconsin Women Veterans Conference, beginning Friday, September 26 through Sunday, September 28, 2008 at the Wisconsin Military Academy at Fort McCoy, Wis. The conference will feature presentations, workshops, and static displays, and will provide information for and about women veterans, including federal and state benefits, programs, and services for veterans and topics of interest including employment, education, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and reintegration. Among the prominent guest speakers will be Brigadier General Wilma Vaught, USAF (Ret.), President of Women in the Military Service for America Memorial Foundation, and Kenneth B. Black, Acting Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs, both on Saturday, Sep. 27. Former U.S. Marine Corps Corporal Lisa N. Wolford, President and CEO of Client/Server Software Solutions, will speak on Sep. 28. Several workshops will be held, with topics including “How to Market Yourself to Success,” small business administration, the MyersBriggs Aptitude Test, the VA Move Program on exercise, diet and weight, and more. Representatives of the UW Systems, Colleges and UWExtension, along with Wisconsin Private Colleges and the Wisconsin Technical Colleges System will present information on education programs. Bus and walking tours of Fort McCoy will also be available. Registration sign-in will take place at the Wisconsin Military Academy at Fort McCoy from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday, September 26 and from 7 to 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 27. Registration forms are available online (or can be mailed to those calling to register) and must be returned to WDVA by September 13, 2008. For more information, visit the WDVA Women Veterans webpage to access the conference agenda and register online at www.WisVets.com/womenvets, or contact WDVA’s Women Veterans Coordinator Gundel Metz at (608) 266-1312. For information on WDVA programs and services, visit our home page at www. WisVets.com or call toll-free 1-800-WISVETS (1-800-947-8387). Md, MPH Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center to stick to your plan to walk then. Since one partner might get sick or go on vacation, I usually recommend you have a couple partners. Those of you who go to your VFW post every month should have an automatic set of walking partners, at least for that one day of the month. If one partner is more or less fit, it might be a good idea to handicap them – if you are walking, the stronger walker can wear ankle weights, or carry a 20 pound backpack. Third, try to find an activity that you and your partners all enjoy. Finally, keep track of your progress. One reason Weight Watchers is successful is that there is a weekly weigh in. You should also assess your physical activity every week. You can use a calendar to record the days you plan to do something and the days you actually do it. Just like in Weight Watchers, this works best if some of your friends are aware of what your goals are and whether you are making them. Related to this, you should think of ways to reward yourself for success. It may be that you and your partners meet at a favorite restaurant and then stop there and have a cup of coffee after each walk. But try to avoid the flavored coffee that has 500 calories!!!! Dr. Jeffrey Whittle ‘Voyage to Vietnam’ soldier art highlighted in new traveling exhibit (MADISON) – The Wisconsin National Guard Museum, located in Camp Douglas, will open “Marking Time: Voyage to Vietnam,” a new traveling exhibition on Monday, September 15, 2008. The exhibition was developed by the Vietnam Graffiti Project in partnership with the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities and will run through November 15, 2008. During 1967 and 1968, thousands of American soldiers and Marines shipped off to Vietnam aboard transport ships like the General Nelson M. Walker. The Walker was able to carry as many as 5,000 troop passengers. The voyage, which took 18 to 21 days, was an arduous one, and the troops spent much of their free time drawing on their canvas bunks in the berthing compartments. These remarkable canvases, which highlight the culture and politics of the Vietnam era, were discovered in 1997 while the ship was moored in the “Ghost Fleet” (James River Reserve Fleet, Virginia). In 2005, while the ship was being scrapped in Texas, canvases and other artifacts were recovered for this exhibit by volunteers from the Vietnam Graffiti Project, Keswick, Virginia. The exhibit features nearly a dozen actual canvases from the Walker. Many of the featured canvases have ties to Wisconsin. Also featured are a number of artifacts from the Walker, including an actual berthing compartment. For more information on the exhibit, contact Jeff Kollath, Curator of Programs and Exhibitions, at (608) 261-0541 or Eric Lent, Site Curator, Wisconsin National Guard Museum, at (608) 4271280. The Wisconsin National Guard Museum is a free public educational activity of the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs and is located at Volk Field, at Camp Douglas, Exit 55, I-90/94. The Wisconsin National Guard Museum is open year-round, Wednesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Wisconsin VFW News Wisconsin Veterans of Foreign Wars News is published six times per year by the Department of Wisconsin Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, 214 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI 53703. Periodical Postage Paid at Madison, WI and additional office: Greenville, WI. Subscription rates $6.00 per year for non-members, $.60 per year membership dues is for the official publication Wisconsin Veterans of Foreign Wars News. Postmaster: Send address changes to: V.F.W. Circulation department, 406 West 34th Street, Kansas City, MO 64111. I.S.S.N. #1061-4591 U.S.P.S. #007787 Wisconsin Veterans of Foreign Wars committee: Robert Bolz - Post 1691, News Chairman Roger Boeker, Post 1318 Charlene Cobb, Post 10173 Bernie Olson, Post 10510 Tom Lemmer, Jr.Vice Cmdr., Post 6377 Lisa Kimmel, Post 10262, Ladies Aux. Liaison editor: William Knudson 505 S. Apple Ave., Marshfield, WI 54449 Phone: 715-384-2500 vfwnews.wi@verizon.net deadline FIRST OF THE MONTH OF PUBLICATION King Commandant Bill Crowley receives a $1,200 donation from the Wisconsin VFW Ladies Auxiliary, presented by Auxiliary President Marla Morgan during an August 27 meeting at Marden Hall on the King campus. King Home Commandant to head national veterans homes (MADISON) – The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs announces that Bill Crowley, Commandant of the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King, has been selected as the 2008-2009 president of the National Association of State Veterans Homes (NASVH). Crowley will be installed as the organization’s president at its annual conference August 9-13, 2008 in Clearwater Beach, Florida. At the conference, NASVH members will participate in numerous briefings and presentations by the federal VA, partner organizations, and leading health care providers and will share best practices in providing long-term care for veterans. “Commandant Crowley will do a fine job leading NASVH,” said Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary John A. Scocos. “Under his leadership during the course of the last five years, the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King has greatly improved in its care for veterans. This experience will add great value to NASVH during his year as president.” Crowley was appointed as Commandant of the Home in May of 2003. Prior to that he had served for six years on the Wisconsin Board of Veterans Affairs, including one year as board chair. He served as a County Veterans Service Officer for nearly 15 years. Crowley is a veteran of 30 years of active and reserve military service, including a tour of duty in Vietnam with the U.S. Marine Corps. Founded in 1887, the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King is one of the founding members of the National Association of State Veterans Homes. The King Home, with 749 veterans, is one of the largest in the nation. auxilary Moose Memo Subject: We “kick it up a notch!” Marla J. Morgan To: The Sisters of the Department of Department Wisconsin President From: Marla J. Morgan, Department President 715-384-2500 BAM! At one time or another, most of marla.aux.wi@verizon.net us have seen Chef Emeril Lagasse preparing one of his Cajun/Creole inspired recipes, exhorting us to “kick it up a notch”! “BAM!” he shouts as he sprinkles just a little bit more spice. Sisters, I challenge all of you to KICK IT UP A NOTCH! YOU are the spice and the flavor in our LAVFW, Department of Wisconsin. YOU distribute the Poppies; serve the fish fries; sell the Raffle Tickets and pack the boxes for our deployed troops. YOU march in our parades and visit our hospitalized veterans with a cheerful smile and a joke or two. YOU teach our school children the Pledge to the Flag and encourage our scholarship program entrants. And YOU sign up the new members to carry on the traditions of our great organization. At this writing, we are nearly three months into our “Taking Care of Business for Our Veterans” year. Summer has faded away and the crisp fall mornings herald one of the busiest periods in our Auxiliary year. As we attend our monthly meetings, gather in our Districts and plan our various fundraisers and special events, let us ask ourselves, “What can I do to kick it up a notch?” Have I signed at least one new member so far this year? Have I called an Auxiliary member that I haven’t seen in awhile and offered her a ride to the next meeting? Have I taken advantage of training opportunities like the Secretary-Treasurer Workshops? Have I asked a neighbor or co-worker to support our Department Joint Raffle? Sisters, NOW is the time to “kick it up a notch” for our veterans! Our Department needs a substantial dose of Membership, a generous portion of donations and an OVERFLOWING measure of time and talent to ensure the success of our programs and the well-being of our veterans, their families and our communities. “Let all our actions be for the greater glory of our cause.” Live Well, Love Much, Laugh Often Wisconsin Veterans of Foreign Wars News Page 5 sePt/oct, 2008 Draping of the Charter District Person’s Name City Auxiliary 1 Emma Jean Moore* Kenosha 1865 1 Della Simpson Kenosha 1865 1 Vita Ross Beloit 2306 1 Irene Phillips Beloit 2306 1 Marilyn M Fuller Kansasville 7924 1 Bonnie Brown Silver Lake 8375 2 Frances Thorson* Stoughton 328 2 Arlene Hickcox Stoughton 328 2 Bonita Waring Stoughton 328 2 Margaret M. Olson* Waukesha 721 2 Rosalie Betzold* Jefferson 3589 2 Clara A Butle* Madison 7591 2 Florence A Nyborg Madison 7591 2 Margaret Oestreich* Horicon 8057 2 Delores Stuczynski Madison 8483 3 Elaine Fleming* Richland Center 2267 3 Ella Hanawell Richland Center 2267 3 Opal P Strauman* Platteville 5274 4 Laverne Lange* South Milwaukee 3742 4 Regina Zych* Milwaukee 7485 5 Helen M Andree* Milwaukee 2923 5 Elaine B Smittinger* Milwaukee 2923 6 Josephine Lieske Ripon 5278 7 Nora Motelet Colby 2227 7 Marion Kaiser Stratford 6352 7 Lillian P Simmons* Mosinee 8280 7 Joann Krause Neshkoro 10892 8 Lillian L Smith Kewaunee 3392 8 Romaine Heiner Kiel 6707 8 Ruth Richart Kiel 6707 8 Zundora Carrier Duck Creek 7534 8 Mildred Van Rite Bellevue 9677 9 Evelyn M Hartung* Eau Claire 305 10 Noreen F Broten* Ladysmith 2490 10 Bonita Ohlfs Ladysmith 2490 10 Ann Loda* Weyerhaeuser 5780 11 Lee Capps Baraboo 987 11 Thora Pfaff LaCrosse 1530 * Life Member “Christ has died, Christ has risen and I am at his side” 2008-2009 auxiliary Membership Sisters, your help is needed recruiting members for our organization. Membership is not just the job of the President and Membership Chairman – it takes your whole Auxiliary working together to achieve 100% membership which is our goal for this year. Special congratulations to those Auxiliaries who are already 100%. • National would like every Auxiliary to do a special recruitment event during the month of November. • Get some Auxiliary sisters together, set up a table at a local mall, sporting event, or grocery store. • Your District President and Membership Chairmen have samples of literature that is available free from National Supply. • Publicize our organization in your local paper – invite eligible members to join. Be a “proud” Auxiliary member and “brag up” our organization everywhere you go – make prospective members aware of all we do for our veterans, youth and communities, and of all the benefits available to them as a member. Recruit, reinstate and retain members so that your Auxiliary can reach 100%. With your help, we can make Wisconsin 100% this year and fulfill President Marla’s dreams of “TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS FOR OUR VETERANS.” Judy Borg, Membership Chairperson 1809 N. Oneida St, Appleton, WI 54911 920-739-5730 • judybee@tds.net Turn everyday purchases into Cash for your Post! Introducing the VFW Gift Card fundraising program. A virtually effortless way to help raise funds for our post! Order gift cards to use for your everyday purchases such as gas, groceries, clothing, or dining out at the businesses you already patronize and our Post receives a donation from the card issuing merchant with each gift card purchased! The gift card merchants make the donation and you still spend the full value of the gift cards, just like cash! 4 These are the same gift cards you buy in the store, but when purchased through VFW Gift Cards, our Post receives a donation from the merchant. 4 Gift cards are delivered directly to your home in about 7 business days. 4 Order anytime, there are no deadlines! 4 100’s of gift cards to choose from. 4 Friends and families can participate, too. 100’s of cards to choose from! LAST CHANCE to attend a Secretary-Treasurer’s Workshop for 2008-09! saturday, OctOber 4 • 10 am-12 NOON Hosted by Aux. 6498 at Hart Park, 7300 Chestnut St. in Wauwatosa, WI RSVP to Dept. Secretary Diane Hogan (414-425-6123) or Dept. Treasurer Margie Saucerman (262-889-4246) This session is open to ALL members - DON’T MISS IT! THANK YOU • THANK YOU • THANK YOU To all the Comrades and Sisters, Department Officers, District Presidents, Past Department Presidents and Chairmen that served this past year as “WISCONSIN AUXILIARIES SERVING VETERANS” Thanks for all the Gifts, Blessings and Friendships that made my year as President a year to remember. Love and Friendship PDP Joyce Hoffman Purchase your gift cards today...Easy ordering anytime! 3 Ways to Order: 1) Order on-line at www.fvwgiftcards.com. 2) Order by mail: Complete the form on Page 7 and mail in with your check. 3) Call in orders, 1-800-514-1891. www.vfwgiftcards.com Questions? Contact Customer Service 1-800-514-1891 Page 6 sePt/oct, 2008 Wisconsin Veterans of Foreign Wars News news froM the state vso because you waited those three months. OH YES!! By the way: That money is tax free. Please don’t make that mistake. And Third: I want to strongly emphasize that you need proof. Get current medical evidence that documents every disability you are claiming, or that you plan to claim. The VA cannot, may not and will not take your word for anything. The majority of veterans who file claims for disability benefits are not doctors. If you are, great! You would then be able to write your own medical opinion. However, the rest of us must rely on current medical evidence in service medical records and/or private treatment records. In closing, remember the VA is not the bad guy. With the enactment of the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000, they have the duty to assist the veteran in the preparation and prosecution of the claim. The State Service Office will assist you all the way through the claims process. The next article will take you through the development stages and the compensation and pension examinations. Lee Guerrero, VFW State Service Officer va hospital employees honored On June 18 Past State Commander Ed Stockel, on behalf of the State Junior Vice State and Hospital Chairman Wilfred Johnson, presented plaques to three outstanding VA employees. These employees all work in the “A” clinic at the Wm. S. Middleton VA in Madison. PSC Stockel praised the employees for their teamwork, patience and professionalism shown to VA patients who come through the “A” clinic stating that they make a big difference in making the Madison VA facility the great place that it is. Shown below are the three receiving the VFW award for Outstanding VA Employee. what do we really know about the va Contrary to the local jailhouse lawyer, or the disgruntled veteran at the local watering hole, the VA is not the BAD GUY. Actually, the VA will bend over backwards or provide as much latitude as possible to grant benefits to all veterans. Just as a business owner will not arbitrarily give his merchandise without some proof the customer has sufficient income to make the necessary payments, the VA will not grant benefits without proof that the claimed disability exists and can be linked in some way to his/her military service. In this and the next several articles, I will give you information on how to prepare for your VA claim and the claims process. Having been a Veterans Service Officer for a few years, I would like to share some of my experiences and knowledge with those who are either thinking about filing a claim for VA benefits, or who already have a claim pending in the system. There are three things I would like to pass on. First and foremost: This is your claim. Veteran Service Officers, whether from the American Legion, DAV, PVA, WDVA, even the VFW, or any of Lee Guerrero the other fine veteran service organizations, and County Veteran Service Officers will assist you with the preparation and prosecution of your claim for benefits. However, they cannot do it all for you. There are things that you must accomplish yourself. What the service officers can do, though, is advise and guide you. Second: I will always recommend that a veteran submit his/ her claim as soon as possible. The reason is to protect the effective date. If you wait and submit your claim say three months later and you are granted a rated disability at 40%, you lost $1,536 Pictured are (left to right): Ed Stockel, PSC, Jean Markgraf, Tracy Byrd, VA Administrative Officer and Richard Brye, VAVS Rep. Beware of ‘fee for service’ companies There are companies that are distributing misleading information to places such as Assisted Living facilities and Nursing Homes soliciting to assist veterans in obtaining Veterans Administration (VA) benefits for a fee. The fee can vary from around four hundred dollars ($400) to seven hundred dollars ($700) or more. This is a huge disservice to our veterans and barely within the law. Each county in Wisconsin has a County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO). The job of the CVSO is to assist military veterans to apply for benefits from the Veterans Administration (VA). The assistance provided by the local CVSO is without cost to the veteran or the veteran’s family, guardian, POA, or other persons representing the veteran’s interests. There are several different companies around the country participating in this type of activity. As an example, two companies currently known to be sending misleading information are: Kneifel and Associates in Avoca, WI and Alliant Associates, LLC based in Kearney, Nebraska, with affiliations in Madison, WI. The companies remain marginally within the law by taking advantage of a loophole that does not allow them to charge the veteran directly but does allow them to charge what is referred to as “Disinterested Third Parties,” such as family members, guardians, POAs or other persons representing the veteran’s interests. Once these companies have contact with the veteran or persons representing the interests of the veteran, they are leading them to believe that they can work more effectively in the veteran’s behalf by getting the VA claims through the system faster and with a higher rate of success than the local CVSO. They are also intimating that they will give more hands-on assistance. However, no matter who files the VA claim or how quickly the claim is submitted, once it reaches the VA it is subject to VA’s processing time frame, current backlogs, etc. CVSOs are trained and accredited to assist veterans with all aspects of State and Federal VA benefits. In addition, they receive many hours of continuing education each year to maintain the ability to assist veterans with a high degree of efficiency, accuracy and success. Veterans should never have to pay to apply for VA benefits to which they may be entitled. Nursing Homes, Community Based Residential Facilities (CBRF’s) and other service related providers, as well as the general public, can help to keep veterans from being taken advantage of by these unscrupulous companies and do them a great service in the future by referring veterans, their families, guardians, POAs or other persons representing the interests of the veteran to the County Veterans Service Officer (CVSO) in their county. In that way, veterans will receive accurate and efficient hands-on service that does not come with a fee. The local CVSO is listed in the telephone book under County Government or may be found by logging on to the following website: www.wicvso.org. Pictured are (left to right): Ed Stockel, PSC, Jo Ellen Uptegraw, Tracy Byrd, VA Administrative Officer and Richard Brye, VAVS Rep. Pictured are (left to right) Ed Stockel, PSC, Miriam Ylvisaker, Tracy Byrd, VA Administrative Officer and Richard Brye, VAVS Rep. hungry highground Bikers • Raffle Tickets • Posters • Newspapers • Letterheads • Envelopes • Business Cards • Manuals • Newsletters • Booklets • Brochures • Forms When you’ve been out biking all day, there’s no better place to chow down than at Plover’s VFW Post 10262. Here the happy volunteers of the Plover Ladies AuxilHere’s another view of the hungry crew iary laugh it up with some hungry bikers. of Highground Bikers at Plover Post 10262 From left, the ladies are: Ann Boyer, Leona Clubhouse. Everyone enjoyed the day, and Wiernik, District 7 Auxiliary President Mary the great time at Plover. Kimmel, and Joyce Hanson. vfw Gift Cards Wisconsin Veterans of Foreign Wars News Page 7 sePt/oct, 2008 vfw Gift Cards offer easy income! We are in the second full month of the easiest ongoing fund-raising program we’ve ever come across, and if you haven’t taken advantage of it, do it today! This issue of the Wisconsin VFW News contains a convenient Order Entry Form to mail or fax. You can also buy these cards by phone or on line at www.vfwgiftcards.com. (There is a convenient link to the VFW Gift Card Store on our State Weblog. If you drive a car, you know that it’s easy to go through $100 worth of gasoline a month. So why not buy a gift card good at your favorite gas retailer or convenient store? Keep the card in your car and use it to pay for your gasoline. The same goes for groceries, hardware, building supplies, clothes, restaurants, appliances… You name it; we probably have a Gift Card for it! When you buy your Gift Card, simply designate the Post you’d like to help. Each quarter, a check will come to that Post’s Quartermaster computed at anywhere from 2 or 3 percent up to 6 percent or maybe more. And your Post doesn’t even need to do anything but cash the checks! And don’t forget: Christmas is coming and one of the most popular gifts these days is: Gift Cards! So before you go directly to a store to buy them, use the VFW Gift Card store instead! Help yourself, help the VFW (both your Post and the State!), and, in the process… Help Veterans! A Simple Program Earns Big Bucks For Your Post & Department - At No Additional Cost To Participants! VFW GIFT CARD ORDER FORM ladies military service to be honored at the wall The Vietnam War was a long time ago, but the legacy of the ladies that served there and in all our countries wars is alive and well. Ladies military service will be honored in Princeton Wisconsin on Saturday October 11, 2008 at 3:00pm. “We are looking for lady veterans from all wars especially Vietnam,” said event chairman Sam Hennessee. He went on to point out that there also have been women serving stateside as well as overseas from WWII through Korea and up to the present. The Veterans of Foreign Wars has a great admiration for everyone that has served our nation, especially the brave ladies that have worn the uniforms. The Vietnam War Memorial “The Moving Wall” will be on display at Princeton Public School from October 9th to 12th, with ceremonies daily at 6:00pm. October 9th is the Opening Ceremony. The 10th is for POW/MIA. The 11th Honors Gold Star Families and the 12th is Closing Ceremonies. A special Saturday afternoon ceremony honors Women Veterans and may be the first of its kind. We hope to see many Women Veterans participate. Our event theme is “Freedom is not Free.” This Moving Wall event is produced by a coalition of 11 Veteran groups including five VFW Posts. The names of the heroes on the Wall will be read continuously except when a ceremony is in progress. Conditions permitting, a “fly over” is being planned as well as static military displays. There’s sTill Time! Submit your election ad for the November issue of Wisconsin VFW News. General elecTion - november 4, 2008 The November issue will be published the last week of October. Ad deadline is Wednesday, October 1, 2008 There’s sTill plenTy of Time To inform The voTers! Page 8 sePt/oct, 2008 Wisconsin Veterans of Foreign Wars News 2008 national Convention A beaming Tommy T. Tradewell visits with the Wisconsin delegation just prior to the Installation Ceremony at which he was sworn in as the National Senior Vice Commander-In-Chief. Shown with Tommy are State Commander Gary Erickson, to the left, and State Adjutant/Quartermaster Steve Lawrence. Wisconsin Auxiliary President Marla Morgan and PDP Joyce Hoffman share a laugh during a luncheon at National Convention in Orlando. The convention schedule was jam-packed, but fortunately, the convention complex and hotels were close at hand. This was especially helpful as Tropical Storm Fay roared outside! Also receiving the Hall of Fame Award was Mickey Rooney, shown here visiting with banquet guests after the banquet. “I did not go to war as part of the USO,” Rooney said. “I was attached to units such as the 82nd Airborne.” He said to forget about ‘celebrity’. “I am a soldier who loves his country.” Before leaving the stage, he did want to express some opinion on the current election: “Vote for the best interests of our country!” it rained in orlando, but it never dampened our spirits! If you’ve never been to a VFW National Convention, you should put it on your “must do” list. They are big affairs, with delegates from all 54 Departments across the country and spanning the globe. The opportunities to visit with comrades from all over the world is unbeatable. We visited with members from Germany, England and Taiwan, to name just a few far-flung places. Amazingly, you’ll find yourself making acquaintances that blossom into long-distance friendships, and it is not all that uncommon to discover a long-lost comrade-in-arms who you haven’t seen or heard from since you were wearing a helmet in a foxhole! All large gatherings of VFW members bring the potential to share ideas, learn new things, and make or renew friendships. District meetings, State conventions and conferences, Big 10 gatherings and, of course, the Big One, our National Convention, give you a better perspective on what our organization does, how it does it, and how you can bring good ideas back to your local Post. This year’s National Convention was no exception. It took place in Florida’s family playground: Orlando. All the convention hotels were very conveniently located close to the enormous Orange County Convention Center, which housed not only our convention but also a boat show with room left over for probably two or three more conventions! Florida in the summertime: Hot, humid, sweaty, right? And despite the proximity of America’s favorite amusement parks, who bothered to use them? Well, the simple fact was that there was a noticeable increase in the number of younger veterans who brought their families to play while they took in the convention events. (There’s a lesson in there, somewhere!) Of course, in addition to the business of the conventions, there were other “distractions” from the routine stuff besides the amusement parks: We had two presidential candidates (and their tight security details!) pay visits: McCain on Monday, Obama on Tuesday, and a farewell visit from President Bush on Wednesday. Monday night’s Distinguished Guest Banquet saw two entertainers receive VFW “Hall of Fame” Awards: Ann-Margret and Mickey Rooney, honored for their years of service to veterans. At that same banquet, Retired Marine General Peter Pace, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also received the prestigious Eisenhower Award. The entire room was stirred by his heartfelt words and the vivid memories of comrades lost that he evoked. One more big name visitor was a gal named Fay. One could be excused for thinking of her as pretty much a big “windbag.” And that’s not a derogatory remark. Fay was a Tropical Storm for much of the time she hung around Orlando and Central Florida, but periodically was upgraded to hurricane status. Her impact made everyone extremely grateful for the close proximity of the hotels to the convention center! Amazingly, although there was considerable flooding elsewhere in the Central Florida area, Orlando itself came through in pretty good shape. One “casualty” of the storm was the traditional “All-Conference” outing held on Wednesday night. This gathering is all social and great fun. And it is normally held in an outdoor venue. Virtually all the Departments in attendance bring food and beverages, most unique to their state or region, and free sampling is heartily encouraged. As the storm became more and more of a factor, plans for this event were in doubt. By Wednesday morning, however, arrangements were finally made to change the venue: The whole party was moved indoors to a large exhibition building at the Orlando fairgrounds, where it had originally been scheduled as an outdoor affair. It was crowded, the rain was pounding down outside, but it was a great time, nonetheless. There were some special recognitions as well: Post 1904, Fond du Lac and the Post and Ladies Auxiliary of Post 10818, New Richmond, received National Honors for Outstanding Community Service Projects. (These will be featured in our next issue), and De Witt “Woody” Woodward, of Post 1530, LaCrosse, was awarded All-American Post Commander – The only such honor for Wisconsin this year! And then there’s our own Tommy T. Tradewell, who is, as our front page says, just one more step away from being Commander-In-Chief of our entire National organization. Watching Tommy mix and mingle with far-flung members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars; seeing the respect and good will he has earned; and realizing that he really does eat, sleep and breath VFW, gives one and all a great expectation of what he will bring to the job. Tommy is working closely with our new Commander-in-Chief, Glen Gardner, to refresh and update our whole approach to the longterm health of our organization. You can look forward to seeing Tommy dig into the task at hand and support Gardner’s plan, and when it’s Tommy’s turn next year, see that plan refined even further. Next year’s convention? It’s in Phoenix. We predict warm weather, hot times, conviviality, comradeship, new ideas and an almost zero chance of hurricanes! Oh, and don’t forget: That’s the one where Tommy T. Tradewell will come into his own as Commander-in-Chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. In the meantime, let’s show the whole outfit what a great job Wisconsin can do! Tommy T. shares a moment with Ann-Margret at the Monday evening Awards Banquet. Ms. Margret received the Hall of Fame Award in recognition of participation in Bob Hope’s celebrated USO Tours. She went to Vietnam twice (in ‘66 and ‘68), bringing good cheer and a much-needed morale boost to the troops. “You represent the soul of this nation,” she said. “We are eternally grateful. I give you my deepest respect and admiration.” She spoke movingly of her recollections of such young boys doing “a man’s job” in that war. She also expressed pride in her daughter, who is a psychologist at a VA Hospital in Wisconsin where she treats veterans with PTSD. She received rousing applause. Above, she shares some “Wisconsin talk” with our own Tommy T. Tradewell. Mega-recruiter “Woody” Woodworth was proud to wear the new hat he picked up at the Convention. Woody was the only Wisconsin member to leave with an All-American Cap. It was in recognition for his achievements in membership. Congratulations, Woody! Capstone of the Monday night Awards was the presentation of the VFW Eisenhower Award to former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), General Peter Pace, USMC (Ret). In his acceptance speech, Pace spoke movingly of his service in Vietnam, naming those Marines who died following his orders. Pace specifically mentioned one Marine who took a sniper’s bullet meant for him near Liberty Bridge on August 18, 1968, saving his life. Pace expressed personal astonishment at the fact that he spent 13 months in combat “without ever getting a scratch.” When discussing our current conflicts, Gen. Pace said “It is about fighting so our children and grandchildren also have something worth fighting for.” He pointed out, “The enemy has declared war on us. The question is, where will he take a stand?” Pace donated his $15,000 honorarium to the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation. Every penny of the money given to this foundation benefits the children of Marines killed in the line of duty, he said. 2008 national convention Wisconsin Veterans of Foreign Wars News Page 9 sePt/oct, 2008 Republican Presidential Nominee John McCain was the first to speak to the assembled VFW delegates, on the Monday of Convention Week. His speech got a warm reception, and many delegates crowded in for a chance to shake the hand of this celebrated ex-P.O.W. The VFW does not play favorites at campaign time. On Tuesday, Democratic Presidential Nominee Barack Obama did the customary meet and greet following his remarks to convention delegates. He, too, was well received. President Bush took advantage of his last opportunity as President to visit our VFW National Convention. His speech was upbeat and well received. Following the talk, the President worked the crowd for more than half an hour. Here he looks very serious, but he was actually trading light-hearted banter with an admirer.... ...Moments later, Auxilary President Marla stuck out her hand to greet him and he playfully put an ink dot on her finger with a pen he was using to do autographs. He then squeezed her hand and grinned broadly. Marla beamed, and the dot, which ultimately gave way to routine sanitization, is recorded photographically for posterity! Commander Gary Erickson and Auxiliary President Marla Morgan flank National Buddy Poppy Child (08/09) Marie Strefling, an 11-year-old sixth grader and resident of the Florida House at our VFW National Home for Children in Eaton Rapids, MI. A surprise happening at the Tuesday night Patriotic Rally in Orlando was the swearing-in of more than 100 new Army recruits, who marched up onto the stage, stood in formation, and took their oath as new soldiers. Once they were finished, they boarded buses headed for the nitty-gritty beginning of their great experience: Basic Training! Remember that, comrades? Veteran SerVing VeteranS Panama – 1989 Green Bay – Today Estate Planning, Business, Real Estate, Contracts, Litigation Past and present Wisconsin Auxiliary Line Officers gather around immediate Past Auxiliary President Joyce Hoffman following the National Presidents Luncheon at convention. The flowers were a token of appreciation from the Department for a year well done. From left, Senior Vice President Linda Moran, PDP Shirley Anderson, PDP Lucetta Jasinski, Junior PDP Hoffman, National Council Member (Dist 11) and PDP Carla Stockel, National Chief of Staff and PDP Rita Byers, and current Department President Marla Morgan. marquette law – attorneys, s.c. 1830 west mason street, suite 3 Green Bay, wI 54303 www.mmarquettelaw.com PH: (920) 494-3077 FaX: (920) 494-3049 email: mmarquette@mmarquettelaw.com Page 10 sePt/oct, 2008 Wisconsin Veterans of Foreign Wars News operation fan mail post 568 Honors Jailers veterans memorial Bicycle ride held the 24th annual Highground Veterans memorial Bicycle ride for the northern route for 50 riders came together on thursday, august 7 in Hayward and ended at the Highground on sunday, the 10th of august. the northern route from Hayward to the Highground covered about 180 miles. Bikers from five other routes from within wisconsin also gathered at the Highground on sunday for pictures after completing their rides. over 100 riders plus many support people participated in the ride. the annual event raises money for the Highground Veterans memorial Park and is also an ongoing effort to bring attention to veterans of all wars and conflicts. the Highground is a special and spiritual place and as the liberty Bell tolls at the conclusion of the ceremony, when the names of all 99 of wisconsin’s fallen comrades from the current Persian Gulf conflict are read, it is a “gut check.” the bike ride is one of the major fundraisers for the high- Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 568 honored two jailers in the Portage County Sheriff’s Department Friday, Feb. 8, for foiling a Nov. 29 escape of two juveniles from the Portage County Juvenile Detention Center. From left are Andy Suchon, Post 568 commander; jailer Debra Martin; jailer Sean Houlihan; and Mike Pohl, Post 568 adjutant. Houlihan said both jailers felt they were just doing their job when they encountered the juveniles and they had control of the situation within a minute or two. Afterward it was more stressful than the event itself, he said. “It’s just part of our job there, that type of thing can happen and does happen,” he said. (Portage County Gazette photo) Norb Strasser, 72, of the Plover VFW Post 10262, on the right and John Southworth, 71, of Stratford VFW Post 6352 and his two granddaughters, Breanne LaCamera of North Carolina and Karissa Kaiser of Stratford, were participants. ground. the northern route raised over $15,000 while the total raised by the six routes was just short of $46,000. many thanks to the donors in the stevens Point and Plover area who helped make this ride a huge success. the bike ride, while a fundraiser, is also a fun ride and a great opportunity to meet riders from throughout wisconsin and surrounding states. ‘operation fan mail’ returns for 2008 season Packers, Festival Foods to recognize military families the Green Bay Packers and Festival Foods, this season again, will be recognizing military families at each home game with the program, ‘operation Fan mail.’ the program, which debuted in 2007, is designed to recognize families with a member who is on active duty. the Packers and Festival Foods will host a family at each 2008 home game and recognize them on the field during pregame activities. “we’re excited to continue to recognize military families at lambeau Field,” said Packers President/ceo mark murphy. “our fans enjoyed saluting them prior to our games last season, and we all look forward to again giving them a show of support for the sacrifices they make on behalf of our country.” “Festival Foods is proud to be able to bring operation Fan mail to lambeau Field with the help of the Packers,” said mark skogen, owner and ceo of Festival Foods. “It allows us to recognize a soldier and his or her family who all give up so much to ensure the freedoms that we have. we hope that this helps people realize everything that is given up to serve our country.” to choose families, the Packers and Festival Foods are asking interested families, or friends of eligible families, to submit an essay, 500 words or less, on why a particular family should be saluted. essays can be sent to: operation Fan mail, P.o. Box 10628, Green Bay, wI, 54307-0628. essays also can be submitted online at www.packers.com. Families intended for recognition are those that have a member serving on active duty. the family member can be a mother, father, son, daughter or sibling. In addition to being recognized on-field prior to the game, selected families will receive four tickets to the game and a $100 gift certificate to Festival Foods. vfW post 7232 pig roast on august 9, 2008 VFw Post 7232 held its 4th annual Pig roast and corn Feed. It was super successful - aGaIn!!! thank you to everyone who came, who helped and who supported us! mother nature was generous to us this year and gave us absolutely perfect weather! It was just beautiful! we had a DJ who really kept things hopping! there were games, including a dunk tank - thank you to the participants of all games and festivities! we were able to send $1,200.28 to operation uplink! again, a huge thank you to everyone who came and to everyone who made this Pig roast a wild success. ATTENTION: V.O.D. CHAIRMEN! VFW NATIONAL HAS RAISED THE PRIZE AMOUNTS FOR STATE WINNERS ADVANCING TO NATIONAL! THE $1,500 NATIONAL PRIZE AMOUNT HAS BEEN INCREASED TO $2,000 That means a State Winner will now collect a total of $3,500 combined from State and National! ALL V.O.D. AND PATRIOTS PEN MATERIAL IS IN YOUR QUARTERLY MAILING Bob Burgess (left) and Commander Vern Ashwell (right) on the day of the Pig Roast. Burgess coordinates the event - with enthusiasm! GeT The Word ouT NoW! CoNTaCT your area youTh! Gross-Yaksh Post 6498 Home Post of National Sr. Vice Commander-in-Chief Tommy T. Tradewell SupportS the VFW NeWS The Albert H. Groska Past “All-State” Junker-Ball VFW Post 1865 and Ladies auxiliary PuBLiC BaR OPEns 9 a.m. 7 days a WEEk Visit us at 6618 39th avenue Kenosha, wI Check our web site! www.vfw1865.org • Daily Food specials • 2 Halls for rent • complete catering VFW Post 7232 Eau Claire’s “Other Post” 2 Blocks west on Folsom st. off north clairmont ave. Bar Open to the Public Hall Rental Available 4/08 PEWaukEE mEmORiaL POst 9537 meetings on the 3rd wed. of the month Post is open 4 til 8 p.m., mon.-Fri. hOmE OF thE statE hOnOR guaRd The greatest little post in the state 1/08 VFW Post 8320 Phone: 262-652-2751 8/08 The Wisconsin VFW News salutes these local Wisconsin Posts and thanks them for their patronage! calendar of events sEPtEmBER 13 District 9 Fall meeting, Post 305, eau claire, (round table, lunch, then meeting), 9:00 a.m. quartermaster & commander training & also for trustees 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 20 District 10 Fall meeting, Day 1: cooties and social – Post 10197, Iron river. 21 District 10 Fall meeting, Day 2: VFw meeting, Post 10197, Iron river, 9:00 a.m. District 1 Fall meeting, Post 1865, Kenosha, 10:00 a.m. District 8 Fall meeting, stone Harbor resort, sturgeon Bay (lunch, then meeting), 11:30 a.m. District 7 Fall meeting, Post 2653 antigo, (lunch, then meeting), 12:00 p.m. District 4 Fall meeting, the Bunker (waterford), 1:00 p.m. 28 District 2 Fall meeting, Post 328, stoughton 9:00 a.m. District 3 Fall meeting, Wisconsin Veterans of Foreign Wars News Page 11 sePt/oct, 2008 Post 9336 arena 10:00 a.m. District 5 Fall meeting, Hart Park, wauwatosa 1:00 p.m. 30 QM’s Note: eNd Of QuARteR. OCtOBER 4 District 11 Fall meeting, Post 987, Baraboo (at emanual church), 8:00 a.m. 11 councils of administration (VFw & laVFw) 1:00 p.m. followed by Department commander & President’s celebration (testimonial) – Platteville, wI, 6:00 p.m. 24 charter bus trip to VFw national Home, eaton rapids, mI. 25 charter bus trip to VFw national Home, eaton rapids, mI. Halloween Party at VFw national Home (wisconsin sponsors), 3:00 p.m. 26 charter bus trip to VFw national Home, eaton rapids, mI. 31 QM Quarterly Audit due today (July 1-September 30). levandowski and roger Boeker, among others for the photos and stories! on the chief of staff side, I want to first of all express my sincere appreciation to all of you who sucked it up and boldly went forth with our new program and reporting system. these first few weeks, as expected, found some of the kinks in the system and bumps in the road. those of you who use our online reporting have noticed a further change to the way we are taking information. this change came when a national vendor made a whole new service available to us. we are adapting nicely and seeing good use of the system. your comments are also helpful (for the most part) and we are working with the vendor to smooth out some aspects of the system. thanks for bearing with dECEmBER 7 District 6 mid winter Post 5612 Plymouth 1:30 p.m. JanuaRy 18 Distirct 5 meeting - Hart Park wauwatosa 1:00 p.m. 25 District 2 mid winter meeting Post 3709 watertown 9:00 a.m. District 1 meeting - Post 1621 Janesville 10:00 a.m. District 3 meeting - Post 5274 Platteville 10:00 a.m. us as we build what is going to be a great program report system. also, “thanks!” to the 90 people who have signed up for the bus trip to the VFw national Home. with the addition of the second bus, we will now be able to be more flexible with routing. In a few days you will receive your confirmation and proposed pickup location. we will appreciate final payment on october 1. to date, all who sent in reservations are guaranteed seats. we still have room for just 10 more. there’s a reservation form in this edition of the Wisconsin VFW News. our november edition will actually come out in the last week of october in order to try and garner some political advertising revenue. remember: a paid ad is not an endorsement. urge your favorite candidate to advertise in our pre-election edition! post 2751 recognition NOTES FROM The Editor’s Corner Adam Wieigat is no ordinary “old-timer.” Adam was born in 1908 in Poland. In his native country, Adam completed military officer training and served as a Sherman Tank Commander with the Polish 2nd Armored Division, the British 8th Army and the 5th U.S. Army under General Mark Clark. He fought at the Battle of Monte Cassino, Italy, that opened the road for the 5th Army to liberate Rome. On May 28, 1949, he married Wanda Wieigat in Falerford, England. They have two children: Gerry Wieigat of Kenosha, and Eva Wieigat-Barnes of San Diego, and three grandchildren. He has lived in Kenosha for 53 years, is retired from the Leblanc Corporation, a member of the Polish Army WW II Association and is a proud member of VFW Post 2751, Somers. Congratulations, Adam! what a whirlwind! we hit the ground running at state convention and I can’t remember the last time we had any time to sit and relax. I can guarantee this: wearing “two hats” makes you sweat no matter wHat the outside temperature is! at any rate, I’ll try and make this column brief and, at the same time, cover the high points of both my jobs. Here goes… on the news side, thanks for the great news articles and pictures. thanks especially to: wally Bandomir, Dave Behrend, mark rita Byers appointed national chief of staff Nicole Sprader, former volunteer coordinator at the Homes in Union Grove, WI, received special recognition recently from VFW Post 2751, Somers. Here is Nicole, center, on the left, Julius Mianecki, QM, and Post Commander Dave Hart. Past Department President Rita Byers, who has been appointed National Chief of Staff by National Auxiliary President Dixie Hild, poses with Wisconsin Commander Gary Erickson, National Commander-in-Chief Glen Gardner, National President Dixie Hild and State President Marla Morgan at Gardner’s post installation party. Congratulations to Rita on her appointment, and best wishes to one and all for a great year ahead! raffle Continued from Page 1 contact state raffle chairman Frank Parker, Jr, at 414355-3179, or Vice chairman Kerm adank at 715-828-0511. they will get you all the tickets and supplies you need. there are some doubters who feel that raffle ticket selling is difficult. It really doesn’t have to be, and it really doesn’t even involve “hard” selling. Here are some tips that successful participants have employed to their benefit: • Go where the people are! the original idea of getting tickets out early was so that you would have the opportunity to set up your raffle ticket sales at any of the many public events (Fairs, Picnics, Festivals) that occur all summer. some Posts took advantage of these events and have done well. But there are other great places with shopper traffic that lend themselves to a public sale: Grocery stores (#1 sales Places so far!), big-box stores (wal-mart, menards, Fleet Farm, etc.), shopping malls. • Don’t “sell” the ticket – sell what it does! one very successful participating Post pointed out that the tickets are hard to sell if you “pitch” them as “Buy a ticket to win $20,000.” Instead, this member taught his comrades to say, “Buy a ticket to help Veterans!” the result? a 10 to 1 increase in people pulling out a $5 or $10 bill to buy the tickets, and a corresponding increase in cash received. on a single day, this post earned over $350 this way! • show your “colors.” when you go someplace to sell your VFw state raffle tickets, wear your cap, your VFw shirt and/or jacket and make sure the people you meet know you are a VFw member and veteran. our friends and neighbors, by and large, like the idea of supporting veterans. Give them the chance to do that! and one more thing: our ladies auxiliary is now fully participating in this Joint raffle. ladies, if your Post is not selling tickets through the 50/50 revenue sharing program, tell them you want to. you’ll just have to report the 50/50 sales through the Post, but the money stays with your auxiliary, and all revenue received from all sales is split with the state ladies auxiliary. and, if your Post Is participating, jump on in and help them out. you and your Post can split the money earned whatever way you all decide to split it. the wisconsin VFw and ladies auxiliary Joint raffle: a great way to help yourself while helping Veterans! post 10388 donates Gps Post 10388 in Caledonia/Raymond donated a Garmin GPS to the Physical Therapy department of the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center. The unit will be used by therapists performing outreach home care. From left to right: Michael Kieck, Chaplin; William Wenninger, Program Manager; John Kreuzer, Junior Vice Commander and Shannon Shillin, DPT/ Home Care Physical Therapist. Page 12 sePt/oct, 2008 Wisconsin Veterans of Foreign Wars News taps POST # 6498 6711 6856 6858 6903 7345 7444 7534 7534 7852 7852 8216 8216 8216 8262 8262 8280 8280 8329 8329 8329 8342 8375 8447 8478 8478 8478 8718 9057 9060 9202 9403 9438 9469 9469 9469 9469 9469 9469 9469 9665 9665 9677 9677 9677 9677 9948 10187 10272 10406 10406 10604 11038 11156 11156 15051 Last Name SCHRAML GIFFORD BURTT PETERSON THOMPSON RICKEY DUDA COTA MARESH BARRETT SCHUENEMANN GANNON PAULSON TROTTA DAINES SR. FRONK LUCZAK ZIECH BOYER HEGG ROHDE NEVENDANK SNYDER FRIEDLUND TRAVIS ZIMMERMAN ZORN GRAY BURZYNSKI FERAN SEDLER MANOGUE WILSON BUCHOLZ KOCH MALLAK PASCHAL RASH SCHARNOWSKI YOUNGER PETERSON PETERSON BROSIG GERLIKOWSKI HINKHOUSE ROUSSEAU SINGSTOCK DINS GRAY BECKER KANNEL MATTKE TAMBLYN EKERN TRAUB WELSH First Name ROBERT RICHARD TYLOR DEAN RICHARD LAWRENCE JOHN ROBERT ALLEN HAROLD PAUL FRANCIS DONALD RICHARD RUSSELL ERVIN EDWARD REINHOLD WESLEY RUSSELL WILLIAM OTTO RAYMOND BERNARD ROBERT CARL NILES DONALD MARION EDWARD JACOB JOHN GLEN ORDWAY JOSEPH CLARENCE GEORGE LLOYD ROBERT ALOIS THOMAS THOMAS BERNARD NORBERT RONALD DOUGLAS WALTER RUDOLPH WILLIAM BOYD JAMES WILLIAM EARL HENRY GUSTAVE JOHN MI R C A V J P J D A G. E R C A R J A C R B M T M M R G F W W F J K K. A J J M T W J D M L L M City MILWAUKEE MONDOVI BALSAM LAKE BRODHEAD FREMONT RIDGEWAY GOODMAN MUNISING, MI GREEN BAY WATERTOWN WATERTOWN CROSS PLAINS WAUNAKEE MARSHALL SO. ENGLISH, IA HILLSBORO ARLINGTON HGTS, IL SCHOFIELD WASHBURN GORDON BARNES WESTON BURLINGTON MC FARLAND AUGUSTA OSSEO EAU CLAIRE WESTFIELD CHIPPEWA FALLS LA CROSSE MENOMONEE FALLS MILTON WHITE LAKE MILWAUKEE MILWAUKEE MILWAUKEE MILWAUKEE BROOKFIELD EAST TROY GREENFIELD WASHBURN WASHBURN GREEN BAY GREEN BAY GREEN BAY GREEN BAY RACINE EDGAR OREGON COCHRANE COCHRANE HELENVILLE WATERFORD GALESVILLE GALESVILLE FENNIMORE TAPS TAPS TAPS TAPS TAPS TAPS TAPS POST # 388 388 388 388 388 568 659 690 721 721 1037 1248 1318 1464 1530 1530 1530 1530 1530 1691 1865 1865 1904 1916 1959 2037 2113 2115 2115 2119 2219 2227 2267 2273 2306 2312 2312 2925 3071 3589 3589 3709 3709 5828 5828 6186 6352 6498 6498 6498 6498 6498 6498 6498 6498 6498 6498 Last Name FOCHS HEINZ KOSKEY NIEMUTH SHULTA DUDA STREUBEL DEBRIYN FRYE VANDERHEI KNUTSON COENEN BEECHER HOLLAND ALLEN GANTERT MAHONEY MC MULLIN UHER SCHROEDER COSSETTE KALBERG BIRSCHBACH KING BUE GINGLE WATRUBA BLIHOVDE SWANSON CARLSON LUEDER APFELBECK FLEMING JELICH MANTHEY DEPPELER HELLAND WILSON LOBERGER HESSEL LAZOTTE GAUGERT SENN IVERSON LUTZ PURKAPILE BECHER ANDERSON ANGELO AYARS CARTER CHRIST FOX KOLODRUBETZ MIER RUDDY SARNOWSKI First Name HUBERT ORVILLE LEONARD TOM LEONARD HENRY PAUL JAMES ROBERT ERVIN MERVIL EMMETT EARL MICHAEL RICHARD ALBERT PAUL REGINALD LEO LEROY ROBERT KENNETH CHARLES BOBBY RAYMOND FRANCIS WILLIAM ARGYLE ROBERT CARL LOREN JOSEPH JOHN FRED AMBROSE ALBERT DUANE LESTER HERBERT HAROLD ROBERT VERNON HAROLD ORVILLE DENNIS RAYMOND WALTER FRANKLIN GARY CAMILE FRED THOMAS DAVID MICHAEL GEORGE WILLIAM GEORGE MI J W P W W H L L A L R B W P J W M L M F N E. L M L G C G R E P H N G G A K L J D D J J D City KING WAUSAU WAUSAU SCHOFIELD WESTON JUNCTION CITY MANITOWOC ASHLAND WAUKESHA WAUKESHA WAUPACA TWO RIVERS PORT CHARLOTTE, FL KING ONALASKA LA CROSSE LA CROSSE LA CROSSE LA CROSSE WAUKESHA KENOSHA KENOSHA ELDORADO PRAIRIE DU CHIEN BLACK RIVER FALLS GREEN BAY DE PERE MESA, AZ RIVER FALLS TOWNSEND FORT ATKINSON COLBY RICHLAND CENTER MILWAUKEE BELOIT MONROE JUDA BERLIN OCONTO HELENVILLE JEFFERSON JOHNSON CREEK WATERTOWN AMERY AMERY GILMAN MARSHFIELD MILWAUKEE MILWAUKEE OAK CREEK MILWAUKEE WAUWATOSA WEST BEND MILWAUKEE MILWAUKEE MILWAUKEE MILWAUKEE TAPS TAPS TAPS TAPS TAPS TAPS TAPS tOm tRadEWELL “WisCOnsin - LEt thE gOOd timEs ROLL” hOmECOming sEPtEmBER 10-13, 2009 COngRatuLatORy BOOk the “wisconsin-let the Good times roll” Homecoming committee would like to invite you to place your congratulatory ad in commander-in-chief tom tradewell’s Homecoming Book. the book will be 8-1/2x11. to place your ad or congratulatory messages attach your camera-ready ad to this page along with any artwork, photocopy, or photos. Please indicate what size ad: ______Full Page ______1/2 Page ______1/4 Page 8-1/2x11 8-1/2x5-1/2 4-1/4 x5-1/2 $250.00 $150.00 $ 90.00 wisconsin will host tom tradewell’s “let the Good times roll” Homecoming celebration one year from now. that seems like a long way off, but hosting visitors from all 50 states plus foreign territories with VFw Posts, takes a lot of planning and fundraising. this is a large undertaking and will require a lot of volunteer help and funds to make it a second to none event. this is wisconsin’s chance to host an event to remember. at this time, we are working on the congratulatory book. this is your chance to show tom tradewell how proud we are of him tom tradewell Homecoming and his accomplishments. we would like each post and auxiliary to purchase an ad. these funds will support the homecoming expenses. Included in this paper is an ad form. If your post needs help setting up an ad, please contact carla stockel at 608-732-1430 or e-mail lucas66@live.com for assistance. she will be glad to help lay out an ad for your post or auxiliary. the sooner we get the ads in, the better. we need to stay on track to make the Homecoming in september of ’09 a success. thank you to those who purchased raffle tickets and shirts at our state convention. you are most appreciated. dEadLinE FOR ads is JuLy 15, 2009 name:_______________________________________Phone________________ address:__________________________________________________________ city____________________________state______________Zip_____________ make checks payable to: VFw Post 6498 earmark-tradewell Homecoming mail ad material and check to: carla stockel 2574 Honey creek circle #232 east troy, wI 53120 correcTioN To VFW direcTory Our listing of Past State Commanders inadvertently marked the name of Jim La Sage as deceased. He is not. He is alive and well and living in Waupaca. We regret the error. NatioNal home bus trip Wisconsin Veterans of Foreign Wars News Page 13 sePt/oct, 2008 VFW post 7784 oneida honor Guard Classified Listings For Sale The Oneida Nation Veterans of VFW Post 7784, Oneida, are proud to serve as Honor Guard throughout Wisconsin and the Nation. Recently, the Post’s Honor Guard participated in the signing of a new 15-year “Feefor-services” agreement that will be the foundation for future cooperation. Through the agreement, the tribe will give the county about $500,000 annually. Here you see the distinguished Honor Guard participating in that ceremony. Notice the unique and colorful vests they wear, blending the Native-American culture with the rituals and traditions of the VFW. J & R MILITARy SuRPLuS Thursday thru Monday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed holidays. Hwy. 35, De Soto, WI 54624. Toll free (877) 315-8773; (608) 648-2112. www.jrmilitarysurplus.com Real U.S. military surplus! (No catalog.) 4/09 Oneida Post 7784 recently honored George Kampes, who works in Social Services in the Oneida area. He was recognized for his outstanding assistance to veterans suffering Post Traumatic Stress and other disorders. Here, George is being congratulated by members of the Post Honor Guard. Wanted to Buy WAR RELICS WANTEd: VFW member will buy your relics for cash – any country, any period. Craig Luther, P.O. Box 63, Oak Creek, WI 53154-0063. (414) 750-6589. 12/08   CLASSIfIEd LISTINgS INfORMATION: You get up to 25 words for $25.00 in 3 issues (over 45,000 circulation each) of our newspaper, plus a 3 month listing on our web site http://www.vfwofwi.com. We are accepting listings for: • for Sale – Autos, trucks, boats, motorcycles, furniture, etc. • Rentals – Homes, apartments, equipment, storage, commercial, etc. • Service – Repair, cleaning, roofing, heating/cooling, painting, etc. • Notices – Meetings, Professional, Auctions. Travel, etc. • Want to Buy – Merchandise, homes, equipment, etc. • Want to Rent – Apartments, equipment, etc. • Employment – Help wanted, work wanted by job type. Sorry, no personals. Please include a phone number, ad copy, typed or printed and a check for $25.00 per ad and send to: Veterans of Foreign Wars, Dept. of WI Newspaper / classifieds P.O. Box 1623 Madison, WI 53701-1623 Deluxe Motorcoach leaves Central Wisconsin (Abbotsford) early Friday Pickups as needed along the route via Wasuau, I-39 south through Portage, Madison, Milwaukee and I-94 to the Illinois line Prices include: Round-Trip Deluxe Motorcoach and shuttle from hotel to National Home (and Charlotte VFW for afterglow Saturday night)  2 Nights Accomodations at Comfort Inn, Charlotte, MI   (Hotel features Continental Breakfast both mornings)   Coffee & snacks on board Friday Morning     Cocktails & Fun en route         Lunch Stop at Old Country Buffet (on your own)                Ample parking at your pickup point  Return drop at your boarding point.   Costumes optional - Your choice to join the fun! If you have never been to our VFW National Home, this is the perfect time to visit! To see what our great organization provides is to gain a new understanding and respect for the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Give yourself a mini-vacation with VFW friends and family, and come home with memories to treasure forever! Please reserve your place today! Reservations Deadline: September 20th. Fill out this information and send it to: NATIONAL HOME TRIP, PO Box 223, Marshfield, WI 54449 Name_______________________________________________ Phone__________________ Address_____________________________________________________________________ City________________________________________________ Zip____________________ Number of persons in room: [ 1 ] [2] [3] [4] Representing Veterans in Northeastern Wisconsin for over 50 years Social Security Disability (Including PTSD) Workers Compensation • Personal Injury • Family Bankruptcy • Wills/Trusts/Estates Contact: William B. Kulkoski, Esq. Lawrence g. Vesely, Esq. Walter N. Neta, Esq., CPT (Retired) 416 S. Monroe Ave. Green Bay, WI 54305 Office: 920-437-5405 Fax: 920-437-5917 www.okgv.com Include check as deposit: $50. (Refundable if tour is cancelled) Payable to VFW of Wisconsin Page 14 sePt/oct, 2008 Wisconsin Veterans of Foreign Wars News kiNG day madison members trek to king day blue skies, bright eyes, warm memories: a great king day! Blue skies, warm weather, a picnic, a parade, a band concert and monetary tokens of veterans’ appreciation of other veterans: What could be more fun? Post 1318 Commander Ray Doucette, Department Surgeon Gundel Metz and Department Men’s Auxiliary Chairman Roger Boeker attended King Day at the King Veterans Home on Sunday, July 27. Already on site was King resident Ed Odell of Post 1318 - remember the story a few months back about the wooden shoes from a German prison camp? Ed was visited three times that day - once by the roving group of VFW comrades attending and distributing coupon books and twice by his VFW nephew. Later, Ray Doucette escorted a Mukwonago Post member and King resident and they looked for other post members. They did find several men from Genesee Depot - virtually a next door neighbor. During the parade, Gundel Metz marched with the assembled staff of new State Commander Gary Erickson. The parade was led by the Department Color Guard followed by the Oshkosh VFW Band. Clowns in carts and clowns with hula hoops danced behind the marching units. The parade was tailed by a black sedan with many stickers and flags driven by Roger Boeker. After the parade, the Oshkosh VFW Band gave a concert of patriotic music. It opened with These Madison Area members made the trek to King Day and helped make a great time all that much better! Pictured from left to right is Rose Stuvetraa, Linda Schluter, Dolly Jenkins, Lois Butt, Sharon Oliver-Schaffer, Bev Ellis, Post 7591 QM Joe Ellis, Pat HolzhueterRoth, Post 7591 Commander Pete Storch, King Veteran’s Home Member, Vincent Sroka, and Helen Storch, Post 7591 Auxiliary President. (Missing from the picture is Sue Lawrence. Any guess who took the picture?) Couple Joins Waupun post Front - Mukwanago comrade, Back: Ray Doucette, [escort], Gundel Metz and Roger Boeker - [treat fetchers and neighbor finders] a solo of the ‘Star Spangled Banner’ by the VFW Ladies’ Auxiliary vocalist. The program ended with everyone singing, ‘God Bless America’ in unison. Then the State Staff assembled at the podium for mercifully short speeches and introductions by the King Commandant, the State Commander, Ladies’ Auxiliary President and the King Day Chairman. The Commandant received the checks from posts attending. Several thousands of dollars were given to special funds for the resident veterans’ recreation. Good food, good entertainment and good gifts were the order of the day and our VFW completed that mission for the Cranefield Post. Support Our Troops Bentley-Hull VFW Post 6709 in Waupun is honored to have onboard a couple, Thomas and Nancy Behlke. They met while serving in the Army in Southwest Asia during the ‘Desert Storm’ conflict, where Nancy was a diesel mechanic and Tom repaired generators. Nancy immediately joined the Post as a VFW ‘Life’ member. Shortly after joining the Post, Tom was elected to, and is presently the new Quartermaster of the Waupun post. The couple lives in the Brandon area and have a 7-year-old daughter, Marisa. (story/photo by Larry Duer, Post 6709) Glory and Honor Presenting the new 2009 VFW Calendar, arriving soon in your mailbox! dO yOu KNOW A HOMELESS OR “AT RISK” VETERAN? WISCONSIN VETERANS Stand down Rally Wisconsin National Guard Armory Where? When? 4108 North Richards Street Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53211 Saturday September 20, 2008 7:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M. Veterans Helping Veterans A Hand Up - Not A Hand Out - federal and State Veterans Information - drug and Alcohol Treatment Information - Employment Information - Together Then - Together Now for more information contact: WI Stand Down Voice Mail (Greg Jacobs): 902-5729 Milwaukee County Veterans Service Office: 382-1727 Vet’s Place Central: 342-5000 Wisconsin Dept. of Veteran Affairs (Fernando Rodriguez): 382-1756 Veterans Job Service Representatives: Milwaukee Northside: (Stan Kogutkiewicz) 267-3233 Milwaukee Southside: (Greg Williams) 389-6293 WISCONSIN VETS STANd dOWN WEBPAgE: http://www.war-veterans.org/Stddwn.htm (Donated & Maintained by Jeff (Doc) Dentice) Welcome in the new year and support your Department programs! Watch the mail for your 2009 VFW Calendar.The dramatic, eye-catching photography makes it the 2009 calendar you will want to proudly display in your home or office this year! Veterans Pick-up Points Milwaukee Public Library - 10th & Wisconsin Avenue - South 11th/Mitchell - South 16th/National - Teutonia & Capitol - Burleigh & 27th Street - Atkinson & Capitol - North Ave & fond du Lac -North Ave & Martin Luther King dr. - Silver Spring & green Bay Rd - Burleigh & 24th Street (Moody Park) Pick-up Only from 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. testimoNial CelebratioN Wisconsin Veterans of Foreign Wars News Page 15 sePt/oct, 2008 Goldsmith to post 3153 presents Flag be department representative 2113 rededicates Flagpole An old friend of Wisconsin, Past National Commander-inChief Jim Goldsmith, will be representing our National organization at the upcoming Commander and President’s Joint Testimonial Celebration October 11 in Platteville. Goldsmith served as VFW Commander-in-Chief in 2001-2002, taking office at the 102nd National Convention in Milwaukee. PNC Goldsmith earned his eligibility to join the VFW serving as a Combat Engineer in Vietnam in 1966/67. A native of Michigan, he joined Post 5666 in 1967, and by 1978 was named “Young Veteran of the Year” in 1978, after earning many accolades as he worked through Post and District offices. In 1980, he became the first Vietnam Vet to take office as his State’s Junior Vice Commander. Through his career at AC Spark Plug Division of General Motors, Goldsmith was instrumental in establishing a veterans committee in UAW Local 651, which he chaired for 17 years. Goldsmith is a member of the American Legion, Moose Lodge, Lapeer Eagles and a Life Member of the Military Order of the Cootie and of VFW Post 4139, Lapeer, MI. He has two sons and three grandchildren. Throughout his VFW career, Jim Goldsmith has earned a welldeserved reputation as a staunch advocate of veterans causes. He is widely traveled and has maintained many friendships throughout the VFW, especially here in Wisconsin. We look forward to seeing him next month. Members of Calumet County VFW Post 3153 presented a flag and conducted the flag and flagpole dedication at the newly created Heritage Hill Park near Chilton. The flag, displayed here by Post members, was donated by Calumet 3153. VFW 2113 De Pere in action again. St. Francis pastor, Father John Harper, requested our Post to rededicate a flagpole donated shortly after WW 2 by the De Pere Post. The flagpole had to be relocated due to road construction. Pictured (L to R): Color Guard members Wilbert (Bud) Albers, Lester Krug, Leon Jansen and Harold (Butch) Zelten, the bugler. Foreground is Father Harper and by the flagpole is an American Legion member, Jim Bergman, and another Legion member.     Saturday, October 11th 300 Hwy 151 (BR) - Platteville, WI                          DiD You Know... The State of Wisconsin VFW News received DINNER RESERVATION Name:_______________________________________________________________ Phone________________________________ Post__________________________ 2Nd PLACE at this year’s National Publication Contest? The Wisconsin VfW News Getting The Job Done! Editor: William Knudson 505 S. Apple Ave., Marshfield, WI 54449 Phone: (715) 384-2500 E-mail: vfwnews.wi@verizon.net Number in Party __________ @ $25 = $__________________ Meal Preference: ________Chicken ________ Roast Pork Tenderloin Please make check payable to: VFW DEPT OF WISCONSIN Mail to: Genevieve Hale, 730 N. 4th St, Platteville, WI53818 Page 16 sePt/oct, 2008 Wisconsin Veterans of Foreign Wars News Fort mcCoy piCNiC A gathering of like minds: Left to right - Captain Joshua P. Carlisle; Mike DeRosa of Burger King, Dave Winkler, VFW, Leroy Jansky, VFW, SPC Jacob D. Stafford and his father, Daniel Stafford, VFW (barely visible behind him), SFC Robert F. Boozer; Gene Hatfield of Burger King, Pete Breed, VFW and Tom Suleski of Wal-Mart. Day one and Butch Duerr of Marshfield Post 1866 got set to slice some watermelon. He and his comrades lost count of how many melons they prepped! The crowd gathered and chowed down on good food and good times. Over the two days, 7,000 meals were served! Fort mcCoy Continued from Page 1 The well planned events got started at about 1100 hours and included both lunch and supper each day. It was almost dark each evening when things were finally shut down and cleaned up. The first day started out foggy and cool but was soon sunny and warm. A perfect day for a picnic! Day two was cooler and cloudy with a few drops of rain. However, that didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits. What do you expect when you plan for a picnic in Wisconsin? Yes, the weatherman is always wrong! It didn’t matter anyway, since after three weeks of training in the field, the troops and their commanders really appreciated this special break. We received hundreds of personal thanks from soldiers as they passed through the mess line or while we visited with them during the meals. Live music was provided for about six hours each day by “The Gators” from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, a terrific twosome who performed almost nonstop for our troops with a variety of music. They played many requests, too. Gator Band musicians Larry Gates and Roxie Raykovich both got a bit sunburned the first day but performed under a tent on the second day. They played for a price low enough to just cover their expenses, effectively donating over $600 to the event. This was not planned as a recruiting event but VFW information was distributed and membership applications were always available. It was a time, however, to share experiences, explain VFW programs and our mission, and to generally kick back and relax. Amy White, a manager of the Military Assistance Program (MAP) at VFW National Headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri, helped put together a $12,000.00 MAP grant to help fund this proj- Comrades! Lay down your arms and pick up your brats! ect. However, the entire project was expected to cost much more. To make up the difference, the Department of Wisconsin received invaluable support from local retailers and manufacturers such as Wal-Mart, Burger King, Premium Waters, Dr. Pepper, Sara Lee Bakery and others. In fact, many Wal-Mart and Burger King employees volunteered to help out at the picnic with food and drink serving. Wal-Mart Corporation greatly assisted us with equipment, personnel and products including the use of a refrigerated semi-trailer to keep food properly chilled onsite. Mr. Tom Suleski from WalMart store #1446 in Rice Lake, Wisconsin was our point of contact and offered substantial help and support. Tom also attended the picnic for two days and supervised the 23 Wal-Mart employees who volunteered to work at the picnic and put in a total of 202 hours valued at $2,227.00. In all, Wal-Mart donated 360 pounds of potato salad, a large denomination gift card, a refrigerated semitrailer and employee time worth $3,687.00. Right from the start, a local Burger King franchise owner, Mike DeRosa, was excited about the project. He attended several meetings and coordinated the donation of Burger King products and volunteer personnel. Mike is very familiar with the VFW Military Assistance Program having donated funds in the past and wanted to help again in any way he could. He was indeed a huge help as he promoted our picnic to other Burger King Franchises and food/product vendors he knows. That wasn’t all he did. Mike also rolled up his sleeves and worked at the picnic both days contributing greatly to the smoothly run operation. The donations by Burger King included 2,000 each of burger and brat buns, 2,000 bottles of water, 8,000 bags of chips, 5,376 cans of soda, and 70 hours of employee time for a total donation of $5,388.00. A special donation of 10,368 twenty-ounce bottles of spring water, courtesy of Bill Mercer at Premium Waters of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, did a lot to quench the thirst of the soldiers who were more than happy to cast off their Camelback hydration packs. Their donation would The Gators, a popular Eau Claire musical duo, turned a 3-hour gig into a two-day labor of love! We thank them for their generosity of spirit and talent! normally retail at over $7,000.00. The budget got another boost from the Sara Lee Bakery of Tomah, Wisconsin, and point of contact Lee Davis. Sara Lee Bakery donated 6,200 buns valued at $873.00. Dan North at Triad Plastics of New Auburn, Wisconsin made sure there were enough plastic table coverings and donated table cloths valued at $300.00. Dan also attended the picnic on the 20th working the entire day cooking and helping out anywhere a hand was needed. Lastly, the Wisconsin Army National Guard contributed food products and equipment valued at $7001.66, and man power to unload all the food items, numerous tables and trash cleanup. The Department of Wisconsin budgeted funds for the band and distributed business sized thank you cards to the troops. Everything pretty much went without a hitch, according to Pete Breed, even though he had concerns about cutting up 400 watermelons and opening 280 #10 cans of pork and beans. Overall, the total cost of this event was $37,530.83 of which $26,913.50 was by donation. Because of the high level of local support, MAP will get a little rebate since we only used $10,617.33 of the $12,000.00 grant. Pete says he was very much impressed by all the VFW and Auxiliary help that showed up at the fort and by the courtesy and patience of the soldiers he talked to each day. Many of the volunteers Pete spoke to felt so good about this troop support project that they want to do it again and will tell their comrades back at the Post what they missed. Pete Breed and the other organizers of this Wisconsin style troop support event salute our volunteers who helped serve, cook, clean up, and interact with the troops, and give special thanks to the many dedicated sponsors who donated money and products mentioned in this article. All sponsors have been invited to attend the Department of Wisconsin Ninth District Conference on September 13, 2008 where they will be recognized by Department Commander Gary Erickson with a certificate and letter of appreciation for their contributions to the Fort McCoy Picnic. Left to right: Col Steven J. Bensend, 32nd IBCT (Infantry Brigade Combat Team) Commander and Col. Mark R. Greenwood, 32nd IBCT Deputy Commander and Event Coordinator Pete Breed discuss the event. Merlin Kosmosky of Altoona Post 10405 greets arriving troops. The volunteers who didn’t have food prep or serving chores made sure they mixed and mingled with the troops. The visits were appreciated as was the food! Volunteers from the VFW, the Auxiliary, WalMart and Burger King all put in time helping to serve these hungry soldiers. The cameraderie was high and the memories are indelible. Nearly everyone says they’re ready to do it again!