Veterans of Foreign Wars

Annual Christmas Dinner

VFW Marion Post 661 — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 22:07:03 +0000

Every year we have our annual holiday dinners. Our dinner will be potluck. However, the post will provide the main course and drinks. Please bring a side dish and dessert.

We will also have Santa give gifts to the children. So Parents make sure you bring a gift with you so it can be handed out!

The Post level Voice of Democracy and Patriot Pen winners will be announced and awarded they scholarship money.

Please come down for some old fashioned fun and cooking! HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Food Basket Assembly

VFW Marion Post 661 — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 21:54:50 +0000

We will be assembling the Food Baskets for Needy Veterans and their Families on December 19, 2011 from 9-12pm at the post. We are hoping to get volunteers to help. If you would like to help please just be at the post in that time frame. Breakfast will also be at 8am that morning. So come down have some breakfast and help us give back to our community. For more information please contact the post. Thank you.

NOTE: This is not pick up time. This is just assembly. Pick up time will be from 1-4PM.

Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Information for 2012

VFW Marion Post 661 — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 21:21:16 +0000

Monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for more than 60 million Americans will increase 3.6 percent in 2012.

The 3.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits that nearly 55 million Social Security beneficiaries receive in January 2012. Increased payments to more than 8 million SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 30, 2011.

For more information please visit website: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/cola/

GSAVO Monthly Meeting

VFW Marion Post 661 — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 21:17:18 +0000

We will meet on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7pm at VFW Post 661. We are in need of all members to attend the meetings as we are putting together a source book, with each organizations contact person and information. We need to update our records. Please attend thank you.

Poppy Fundraisers

VFW Marion Post 661 — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 21:12:56 +0000

: VFW Buddy Poppy

Poppy Fundraisers have been used to raise money for the VFW Relief Funds for centuries. Due to illness our usual Poppy member, has been unable to get our poppies out to the public. Though there have been volunteers to help do the fundraising, there is more to be done.

If you are unaware, the Relief Fund goes to so many programs in the VFW. Programs like our Service Office which keeps a service officer to process claims for Veterans through the VA system. There is also our Scholarship Programs (Patriots Pen, Voices of Democracy & the Teacher Awards), the scholarship amount is based on the amount of donations we receive each year. The fund is also used more importantly, to help Veterans in need, whether is be for food, utility payments, emergency housing arrangements for short term issues, etc. Every VFW in our nation uses poppies to cover all these programs and more. It also helps the post with care packages to the troops, food baskets for the needy, etc.

We are in need of volunteers, as well as donations for this fund. This is how we help. Please help us. For more information please contact the post. Thank you.

Annual Thanksgiving Dinner

VFW Marion Post 661 — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 20:52:28 +0000

The Holidays are upon us. This Thanksgiving we are all sharing what we are thankful for in our lives. Some of us have had heart attacks and survived, broken knees, fractured backs, heart surgeries, etc. We are greateful for our friends, family and our Post! We are a family here. We help one another when someone needs help. Regardless of what it is. Whether it be firewood, carpooling, cleaning house, moving, hospital visits, birthday celebrations, etc. We are here for one another. So this Thanksgiving what are you TRULY THANKFUL for. We know the answer to that question, do you?

Our Annual Thanksgiving dinner will be held on Saturday November 19th. The post will provide the meat and beverages. POTLUCK, please bring a side dish and dessert. Thank you.

Holiday Food Baskets

VFW Marion Post 661 — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 20:44:39 +0000

Every holiday season we make up food baskets for veterans and their families that are in need. We are in desperate need of dry and canned goods for our pantry to make these food baskets when the holidays come around. If you are aware of a Veteran or a Military family in need please sign them up to receive a food basket.

All donations can be dropped off in person during our business hours of 8am-2pm on Mondays only. Thank you.

If you would like to make a monetary donation, please make out a check or money order to VFW Post 661, and in the memo field: Relief Fund/Holida Food Baskets. Please mail check or money order to our mailing address of P. O. Box 13714 Salem, OR 97309.

For more information please contact our Public Relations Officer Michelle Crocheron at (503) 362-5944 or email the post at vfw661@yahoo.com. Thank you for your continued support.

Obama Takes Executive Action to Help Veterans Find Work

VFW Marion Post 661 — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 21:24:14 +0000

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/obama-takes-executive-action-help-veterans-165110398.html

By Mary Bruce | ABC News Blogs – Tue, Oct 25, 2011

A day after unveiling his “we can’t wait” campaign, President Obama has announced another executive action intended to spur job growth, this one aimed at getting veterans back on the job.

The White House today announced new initiatives urging Community Health Centers to hire 8,000 veterans, approximately one veteran per health center, in the next three years and expand opportunities for veterans to become physician assistants.

“I think all Americans can agree that veterans shouldn’t have to fight for a job once they’ve come home from the fight overseas,” Matt Flavin, director of the Veterans, Military Families and Wounded Warrior Task Force, told reporters today. “But we’ve seen from the unemployment numbers, especially for post-9/11 veterans, that the case is too many of our veterans are having to have that fight.”

White House officials said they could not estimate how many jobs will be created through these programs.

The new orders are yet another step in the president’s plan to take executive action on his own to boost the economy without the need for congressional approval. Obama announced Monday a new housing plan to help homeowners refinance their mortgages and avoid foreclosure and is expected Wednesday to outline new rules for repaying student loans.

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, however, said Republicans have already taken action to help veterans. Earlier this month, the House passed the Veterans Opportunity to Work Act, which would provide education and training benefits for service members. The legislation, which was passed with bipartisan support in the House, is pending in the Senate.

“With this important legislation waiting for Senate action, the White House cannot credibly say they are waiting on Republicans to help veterans,” a Boehner spokesman said. “In fact, here is a great example where ‘we can’t wait’ for the Senate to take up one of the many House-passed jobs bills. And it’s another reminder that there is common ground to be found between us. We just need Senate Democrats to do something.”

Run for the Fallen

VFW Marion Post 661 — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 22:25:58 +0000

5K Run for the Fallen.

Cleveland High School Field, Portland OR

For more information please contact 503-805-3351 Blue Star Mothers of Oregon

www.bluestarmothersoforegon.com

Field of Flags

VFW Marion Post 661 — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 17:43:39 +0000

Each year down at the River Front Park there is a Field Of Flags. This tribute to all the fallen soldiers will be a great honor this year for it is the 10th Anniversary of 9/11. The event will start on Sept. 6th and will got through Sept 11th. On the 11th there will be a remembrance ceremony. For more information please visit website www.patriotsdaymemorial.com.