Oregon State Fair
We are in need in volunteers for the Oregon State Fair Military Museum display. Please contact the post for more information and to sign up. Manning the booth consist of watch the display, making sure the uniforms are not being touched or tampered with, talking with vistors, handing out information, poppies, accepting donations, signing Veterans up for Veterans Organizations, Showing support to the museum crew and all their hard work.
House Votes to Halt Gay Unions on Bases
Associated Press
WASHINGTON – Intent on delaying a new policy allowing gays to serve openly in the armed forces, the House voted Friday to prohibit military chaplains from performing same-sex marriages on the nation’s bases regardless of state law.
On a 236-184 vote, the House attached the measure to the defense spending bill, one of several steps the Republican-controlled chamber has taken this year to delay President Barack Obama’s new policy. Pentagon leaders have said they see no roadblocks to ending the 17-year ban, and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is likely to certify the change for midsummer after military training ends.
Still, opposition remains strong in the House.
Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R-Kan., sponsor of the amendment, said he wanted to ensure that “America’s military bases are not used to advance a narrow social agenda.”
The measure would block funds to train the Chaplain Corps on the new policy. Huelskamp said the intent was to prevent chaplains from performing same-sex marriages, especially on Navy bases.
“What will happen to chaplains who decline to officiate over same-sex ceremonies?” Huelskamp asked. “The directive states that chaplains `may’ perform same-sex civil marriage ceremonies. I fear that chaplains who refuse to perform these ceremonies may find themselves under attack and their careers threatened.”
Last month, New York became the sixth state, joining Iowa, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts, to legalize gay marriage along with the District of Columbia.
Separately, a federal appeals court in California this week ordered the U.S. government to immediately cease enforcing the ban on openly gay members of the military.
Opponents of the amendment argued that more than a million members of the military have been trained on the new standard and Pentagon leaders see no adverse impact on the force.
Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Wash., said the measure simply tries to delay implementation of the law. Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo., one of several openly gay members of Congress, said it was “an offense to the military to second guess their training for chaplains.”
The vote’s practical effect is unclear. The ban is likely to be lifted before Congress completes the defense spending bill for the budget year beginning Oct. 1.
The overall House bill must be reconciled with a still-to-be completed Senate version.
In a statement, Alexander Nicholson, executive director of Servicemembers United, said, “fringe lawmakers in the House are continuing to desperately try to slow down or undo a settled issue. Given that the majority of the American people, the military and our senior defense leaders support this policy change, these votes will be a stain on the legacies of those who cast them in the long run.”
Servicemembers United is the nation’s largest organization of gay and lesbian troops and veterans.
F-18 Bomb Test Disaster
VFW celebrates Independence Day
Betsy Ross and George Washington
Posted: Thursday, July 7, 2011 8:00 am Updated: 8:07 am, Thu Jul 7, 2011.
VFW celebrates Independence Day
By Tracy Dang, Times Managing EditorKaty Times
The Katy Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9182 celebrated the United States of America’s 135th birthday Monday.
With an auction, barbecue fundraiser and free entertainment by Bill Parish, the VFW hosted a Fourth of July program to honor the significant day and highlight recent events that threaten the civil rights and liberties of the American people.
The ceremony began with the presentation of the colors and Parish singing the National Anthem.
Post chaplain David Nixon provided the invocation, remarking that the day also celebrates the 400 anniversary of the publishing of the King James Bible.
Dressed as George Washington, Stephan Tanner, president of the Robert Rankin Chapter 62 of the Sons of the American Revolution, spoke about the importance of the American flag.
“The American flag symbolizes the love and pride that we have as a nation, is a reminder of America’s greatness and our fortune to live in a country that values freedom above all else,” Tanner said.
“It signifies the commitment made by our fallen comrades who have fallen bravely to defend the honor of the sacred emblem, our American unity, our power and our purpose as a nation,” he said,“and it exemplifies the devotion of our leaders who continue to uphold its promise of liberty, justice and liberty for all.”
Tanner presented the flag’s certificate to the VFW post in recognition of exemplary patriotism of the display of the flag. He also announced the chapter is donating a Betsy Ross 13-star flag is to the VFW post to display in the Katy Veterans Memorial Museum.
VFW post comrade Mike Warren spoke about the Prisoners of War/Missing in Action table.
“The table is our way of symbolizing the fact that members of our profession of arms are missing from our midst,” Warren said.“We call them brothers. They are not able to be with us this afternoon so we remember them, setting a plate in case they do come back.”
Warren recognized Adolfo W. “Bud” Fouga and Barton W. “Bart”Robertson, prisoners of war who now reside in the Katy area. He also recognized Mary Ann Russell, whose husband First Lieutenant Richard Russell was missing in action on April 22, 1972 and declared deceased/body not found.
VFW post commander Mike Mastrangelo made a few remarks, saying how it has been an unusual week for the post.
“We started off with working some city events with the heritage baseball and the retails stores, and preparing for the convention and putting this auction on,” Mastrangelo said.
“Then we learned bout the tragic death of former Katy ISD student Lieutenant Dimitri Del Castillo on June 25, a sobering reminder of what our business is really all about,” he said.
He also mentioned the incident involving the National Veterans Affairs Cemetery in Houston, where veterans are claiming the Department of Veterans Affairs is censoring prayer, including banning the words “God” and “Jesus.”
“They have done us a huge favor, in their own wrong way, they have eloquently told us that the threats to our individual liberty, our religious freedom and our right to honor and bury our dead and assist their families, remain under attack whether through external forces overseas or through internal forces who try to enforce some dogmatic rules on how we should behave,” Mastrangelo said.
“The Fourth of July is another rallying cries that somewhere in the world you can still hear the British muskets in the valley,” he said. “We will not rest until that issue is pushed back entirely. We owe it to ourselves, to our veterans and all those who will follow after us.”
District 22 Congressman Pete Olson said when he was sworn in to the U.S. Navy, he took an oath to “preserve, protect and defend the Constrition of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.”
“Sadly, last week, we heard that right here in Houston, Texas, this cemetery, made a decision that the very people that have fought and died for our country are being denied the right that they swore to fight for,” he said. “It’s outrageous what’s happening in that country.”
Olson said the good news is Americans are standing up for their rights and saying “enough is enough.”
Katy mayor Don Elder Jr. also mentioned he will be submitting letters in support of the VFW’s position on the issue.
“Let us not forget what the true meaning of the Fourth of July is – freedom and liberty – and don’t ever take for granted that these two things will be here even though they have been here for some 235 years,” Elder said, emphasizing the importance of taking interest and voting.
“So we all have to take a stand,” he said. “We have to stand up for what we believe is right, and we’re not going to let anybody just come in here and take this country.”
VFW post dedicates wall to 1st Cavalry battalion
Posted On: Thursday, Jul. 7 2011 11:18 PM
By Danielle Church
Killeen Daily Herald
HARKER HEIGHTS — Commander Allen Freeman of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3892 in Harker Heights commended soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Thursday evening during a wall dedication ceremony.
The battalion is currently in the process of deploying to southern Iraq.
The battalion was adopted by Post 3892 sometime last year, and “has since become like family,” Freeman said.
During a speech before presenting the wall to a room full of guests, including the commander of the 2nd Battalion, Lt. Col. Robert Rodriguez, and his family, Freeman explained that the VFW normally adopts a single unit, but this time members decided to adopt the entire battalion instead — and they have no regrets about doing so, he said.
At the time of the adoption, Pam Duncan was president of the post’s Ladies Auxiliary. She offered thanks to the soldiers Thursday night.
“They’re the best adopted unit we’ve had,” Duncan said. “They always help us when we need help.”
She said that many of the soldiers’ wives have also become members of the VFW, and expect to continue seeing them and their families even while their husbands are deployed.
This was the post’s first time dedicating a wall to an adopted unit.
Twenty handmade hooks carved into the shape of the 1st Cavalry patch hang upon the wall, alongside the battalion’s guidon and the post’s certificate of adoption.
Freeman said each hook will house custom mugs for soldiers of the battalion. Every time they have a drink, they will be able to grab their mug and replace it with their Stetson. The hooks are symbols of gratitude toward the men for their service.
“When they’re deployed, you’ll see their mug,” Freeman said. “And when they’re here, you’ll see their Stetson.”
Auxiliary pesident Melanie McConaghy said, “It’s been a year in the making; it was an idea, and it grew.”
“Our main concern is the veterans and their families,” she added.
Contact Danielle Church at dchurch@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7567
Oregon Department of Veteran Affairs
The Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA) continues to build better
lives for military veterans, spouses, and their families living in Oregon. From
helping veterans obtain earned medals and military awards to filing claims for
education benefits, ODVA is here with you every step of the way. The wide array of programs and
servicesare provided by a grateful nation and state.
said, in part, “. . . it would not be fitting that those who remained at home
should by reason thereof gain economic advantage over our patriotic defenders.”
The resolution continued, “Let it be in the declared policy of the State of
Oregon to place our returning military and naval forces as nearly as possible on
the same economic equality as those who remained at home.”
ODVA continues to be at the tip of the sword in response
to Warrior Care. There is no greater calling than to care for those that ensured
our freedom; Warrior Care is
America’s duty.
American Women Veterans
http://americanwomenveterans.org/home/
American Women Veterans is the nation’s preeminent, non-partisan, 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the legacy of servicewomen, veterans and their families. We welcome veterans and supporters from all eras and branches of service.
~ Engaging and advocating for new or improved policies that improve the lives of women veterans and our families
~ Sponsoring retreats, conferences and symposiums focused on empowering our members and our communities
~ Conducting outreach campaigns to raise awareness among service women and veterans of our benefits, entitlements and services
~ Promoting positive images and public awareness of women’s contributions from all branches and eras of service
~ Embracing continued service to our communities and our nation through philanthropic projects
~ Cultivating leadership and professionalism within the military ranks and our communities
VFW SOI
There will be a School of Instruction at the VFW Post in Molalla from 9am-5Pm. Please contact the post to get a ride or we will see you there!
Color Guard Meeting
We will hold our monthly meeting at 7PM. All are welcomed, even those that aren’t members that would like to join.
Cooties Picnic
There will be a Cooties BBQ and camping at the Sweethome VFW post from the 8th to the 10th of July. All COOTIES are welcomed. Please bring a side dish!
Schedules
Post Meetings are held on the 2nd Monday of the month at 7pm
Post Members meet every Monday at 8:30AM for coffee and/or breakfast in the downstairs hall. Cost is DONATION only.
Ladies Auxiliary meetings are the 2nd Monday of each month at 7PM in the Main Hall.
COOTIES meeting will be the 1st Sunday of every month located in the downstairs hall. Potluck at 1PM, meeting at 2PM.
The Post Canteen will be open each Monday from 8:30AM-2:00PM for Cards, Commardarie and FUN!