NOVEMBER 2011
COMMANDER:
Greetings Legion Family. As the weather turns a bit colder,
we are headed into the holiday season.
Thoughts turn to Thanksgiving and Christmas, both
holidays that tend to remind us to think of those less
fortunate. Many
choose to make financial contributions in support of their
favorite charities or perhaps direct contributions to
someone deserving of some assistance.
Volunteering of your time and talents is another way
to contribute, and many of you choose to support the 327
Family in this way.
On behalf of the Post and the programs we serve, I
offer sincere thanks for your time and efforts.
However, more needs to be done.
Often we see the same volunteers repeatedly
supporting our volunteer dinners, breakfasts, picnics,
ticket weekends, honor guard activities, and more.
As the Legion Family continues to take on more
projects, it would be unfair to ask these same volunteers to
contribute more of their time.
So I ask you, if you are in the local area, and could
spare a few hours of your time, won’t you explore which
projects and positions are worthy of your time?
If you need information on where you could make a
difference, please e-mail or call me.
Dept. Fall Conference is 4-6 November in
Williamsburg. For God and Country, Mike Bukowski
bukowski.mike@verizon.net (757) 773-6964
FIRST VICE COMMANDER:
Membership is at 65% for the year 2012 with 514
renewals, 61 PUFLs, 27 new members and 65 members who paid
online. THANK YOU! Remember,
your 2011 membership card expires 31 Dec. 2011. Will
the other 358 members renew now and help us meet our goal of
100% by 31 Dec. 2011. Dues are $35.
For God and Country, B.J. Miller
SECOND VICE COMMANDER:
We are working on the New Years Eve Party – will have more
input later! For God and Country, Chris Dorminey
CHAPLAIN’S CORNER:
The Legion lost another member this month. Donald R. Yohe
passed away after many years of Legion service. Post
Everlasting will be conducted for him on Tuesday, 8 November
at 8:00 p.m. D.B. Hawkins is recovering from knee
surgery and our kitchen guru, Rose Pearson, is home
recovering from back surgery. Jim Bebout is in Lake Taylor
following knee surgery. Please
try to attend your Post meeting to find out what’s going on
in the Post and maybe discover a program that interests you.
For God and Country,
Tony Moore
SERVICE
OFFICER:
Since our last newsletter we have 4 new VA claims, 1 TFA
pending, 3 assisted with community resources, 51 Service
Officer related phone calls. No funds used from neither our
Service Officers fund nor the Special Charity fund.
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC):
What Is DIC? DIC is
a monthly benefit paid to eligible survivors of a military
service member who died while on active duty, active duty
for training, or inactive duty training, OR veteran whose
death resulted from a service-related injury or disease, OR
a veteran whose death resulted from a non service-related
injury or disease, and who was receiving, or was entitled to
receive, VA Compensation for service-connected disability
that was rated as totally disabling for at least 10 years
immediately before death, OR since the veteran’s release
from active duty and for at least five years immediately
preceding death, OR for at least one year before death if
the veteran was a former prisoner of war who died after
September 30, 1999.
Who Is Eligible?
The
surviving spouse if he or she validly married the
veteran before January 1, 1957, OR was married to a service
member who died on active duty, active duty for training, or
inactive duty training, OR married the veteran within 15
years of discharge from the period of military service in
which the disease or injury that caused the veteran’s death
began or was aggravated, OR was married to the veteran for
at least one year, OR had a child with the veteran, AND
cohabited with the veteran continuously until the veteran’s
death or, if separated, was not at fault for the separation,
AND is not currently remarried.*
Note:
A surviving spouse who remarries on or after December 16,
2003, and on or after attaining age 57, is entitled to
continue to receive DIC. The
surviving child(ren), if he/she is not included on
the surviving spouse’s DIC, unmarried AND under age 18, or
between the ages of 18 and 23 and attending school.
Note:
Certain helpless adult children are entitled to DIC.
The
surviving parent(s) may be eligible for an
income-based benefit.
Parents who are dependent
on a veteran with a service-connected disability, or whose
child died in-service or from a service-connected
disability, may be entitled as dependents on the veterans
compensation award or to Dependency and Indemnity
Compensation (DIC) if they are in financial need. Parents
may be biological, step, adopted, or
in loco parentis.
One of the more difficult tasks a survivor faces after the
death of the veteran is completing the numerous claims forms
for VA survivors' benefits. The anxiety and fear of the
unknown - who to call, what to do, or where to go for help -
can be an unpleasant experience. To help ease the burden and
to ensure you will have the necessary details for filing a
claim, here are some basic quick tips. Documents Needed:
the veteran's
discharge certificate or DD-214,
the veteran's VA claim number or Social Security number, the
veteran's death certificate, Govern-ment life insurance
policy, a copy of all marriage certificates and divorce
decrees (if any), a copy of each child's birth certificate
(or adoption order) and veteran's birth certificate to
determine parents' benefits.
We need volunteers 12 Nov to off load a truck load of
donations from the DAV National Foundation.
For God and
Country, Alonzo Scott
The American Legion
Tidewater Post 327
ATHLETIC OFFICER:
The coed softball team finished the season in 3rd
place with a
10 and 2 record.
We will play in the play-offs starting 28 Oct. at
7:30 p.m. at Northside Park across from the Post Home. I
hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving.
For
God and Country, Jim Norton
AMERICAN LEGION RIDERS:
On Veteran’s Day, November 11th, we will
represent the Legion in the commemorative events of the day.
And, on December 10th, the riders will again
participate in the National Wreaths Across America
Remembrance, with a group ride to the Albert G. Horton, Jr.
Veteran’s Cemetery in Suffolk, where we will assist in
laying Christmas wreaths on each of the graves. I will be
providing more information on this most important riding
project. For God
and Country, Ted Van Horn
SQUADRON 327 COMMANDER:
Hello Members! Please attend the Fall Conference in
Williamsburg 4-6 November.
The National Commander will attend.
We donated $500.00 to NEF, $100 to ALA for Breast
Cancer Awareness, and $100 towards the Children’s Halloween
Party.
Thanks to Niels Christensen for weeding the children’s
playground. For God and Country, Dave Samson
ALA PRESIDENT:
Hello Ladies! I would really like to thank everyone who
contributed to our Breast Cancer Awareness weekend.
After totaling everything up, we were able to raise
$1,650.00 for Breast Cancer.
Thank you so much.
On Friday, 11 November (Veterans Day), we will serve our
VA&R dinner of Country fried steak, potatoes, veggie, and
dessert.
On Friday, 18 November we will serve ham, scalloped
potatoes, veggie and dessert.
Please join us for Thanksgiving dinner at the Post on
Thursday, 24 November at 2:00 p.m.
Donations of desserts would be greatly appreciated.
Don’t forget, if you know of anyone needing a
Thanksgiving basket, please let me know.
Please renew your membership.
We would love to reach 100% by 31 December 2011.
For God and Country, Nancy Bell