Woodbury Post 501 February 2021 Newsletter
Commanders Corner: Looking back at 2020 Post 501 accomplished a lot even in the face of COVID-19. We started the year participating in the Joint Award Banquet where we recognized Mr. Curt Cruz, Valley Creek Mall manager, for all he has done for the Post; planted flags on veterans graves on Memorial Day; Post 501 change of command; brought onboard a group of Hmong veterans who fought alongside the US in Vietnam; participated in the annual Woodbury Veterans Memorial Golf Tournament; conducted our first joint Poppy Days with VFW Post 9024; conducted a small Veterans Day event at the Woodbury Memorial; and presented a Christmas gift of TV sets to the veterans at the Hastings Veterans Home. This is something we all should be proud of. Just think what we can accomplish in 2021. You can see this Year in Review in pictures at our Post Facebook page: www.facebook.com/WoodburyAmericanLegionPost501.
Membership Update: As of today, we have 139 renewals, which means that we are at approximately 94.5% to goal. We are almost to goal. Let’s get this over the goal line with the remaining few that need to renew. If you still need to renew go to www.legion.org.
Poppy Days 2021: Last 2020 we conducted Poppy Days as a joint venture with VFW Post 9024 due to COVID-19 and the lack of the normal number of volunteers. It was a great success. People were very generous in their donations, but the Post only got half of the funds that we would normally receive when we do this as a Post 501 only event. At our January Post meeting it was discussed how we would conduct Poppy Days for this year. The questions of do we conduct our normal Poppy Days in April as a Post only event, do we push it off to the Fall when more people will be vaccinated or do we conduct this fund raiser with the VFW in late Spring and early Fall were thrown on the table? Since our Post volunteers are the heart of this event I would like to hear your thoughts on how we should conduct Poppy Days this year. Please give me a call at 703-851-5426 or drop me an email at dolanrp@verizon.net. I really need your input.
Boys State: I should be hearing shortly from MN Department on the 2021 Boys State program. As you are aware of lasts years program was cancelled due to COVID-19. We are hoping for a full program this year with the vaccine being distributed. Once I know what Boys State planners are doing, I will be getting the information to the Woodbury High Schools and the local media to get the word out. In the past the Post has done quite well with getting highly qualified young men.
Veterans Pension Program: The Veterans Pension Program is an income and net worth-based benefit payable to certain wartime Veterans. The benefit can be used to help pay for in-home care or facility costs if the need arises. Please see below for eligibility criteria:
The Veteran must have served at least one day during a wartime period. The service did not have to occur in-theater. Eligible Wartime Periods recognized by the VA include:
World War II: December 7, 1941 - December 31, 1946
Korean Conflict: June 27, 1950 - January 31, 1955
Vietnam: February 28, 1961 - May 7, 1975 (service in country) otherwise August 5, 1964 - May 7, 1975
Gulf War: August 2, 1990 - through a future date TBD One of the following must apply: You are 65 or older, you have a total and permanent non-service-connected disability, you are a patient in a nursing home, or you are receiving SSDI benefits.
The program has net worth limits which include bank accounts, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, annuities, and any property other than your primary residence.
For additional information please call Washington County Veterans Services at 651-430-6895 or find additional information on their website: https://www.co.washington.mn.us/3122/Federal-Benefits
Help Wanted: The life blood of any Post is its members, but it takes a group of dedicated members, as Post officers, to make things run smoothly and keep the lights on. Post 501 is at a crucial point in its history that we are in need of members who can participate in the Post operations as Officers. A few of our members are currently performing in multiple Post officer positions and this cannot be maintained long term for the Post to remain as a viable activity. I am asking if you can find the time I am looking for people for Membership, Activities, and Adjutant. We can start you as an assistant in one of these positions and work up into the full position duties over time. If you interested in becoming more involved in the Post give me a call at (703) 851-5416 and we can discuss.
Fallen Warrior: Another warrior has fallen. David Jensen was a 12-year member of the Woodbury American Legion Post 501. Dave served in the US Air Force during the Korean War. Burial at Fort Snelling and a celebration of life will be held at a future date when all can be together again.
This Month in History – Four Chaplains Day: 3 February is a day set aside to honor the four Army chaplains who gave their lives to save others when the troop ship USAT Dorchester sank during World War II. On Feb. 3, 1943, the USAT. Dorchester carrying 902 service men, merchant seamen and civilian workers was sunk in the cold Atlantic. Through the pandemonium, according to those present, four Army chaplains brought hope in despair and light in darkness. Those chaplains were Lt. George L. Fox, Methodist; Lt. Alexander D. Goode, Jewish; Lt. John P. Washington, Roman Catholic; and Lt. Clark V. Poling, Dutch Reformed. Quickly and quietly, the four chaplains spread out among the soldiers. There they tried to calm the frightened, tend the wounded and guide the disoriented toward safety. By this time, most of the men were topside, and the chaplains opened a storage locker and began distributing life jackets. It was then that Engineer Grady Clark witnessed an astonishing sight. When there were no more lifejackets in the storage room, the chaplains removed theirs and gave them to four frightened young men. “It was the finest thing I have seen or hope to see this side of heaven,” said John Ladd, another survivor who saw the chaplains’ selfless act. As the ship went down, survivors in nearby rafts could see the four chaplains–arms linked and braced against the slanting deck. Their voices could also be heard offering prayers. Of the 902 men aboard the U.S.A.T. Dorchester, 672 died, leaving 230 survivors. When the news reached American shores, the nation was stunned by the magnitude of the tragedy and heroic conduct of the four chaplains. That night Reverend Fox, Rabbi Goode, Reverend Poling and Father Washington passed life’s ultimate test.
In doing so, they became an enduring example of extraordinary faith, courage and selflessness. The Distinguished Service Cross and Purple Heart were awarded posthumously December 19, 1944, to the next of kin by Lt. Gen. Brehon B. Somervell, Commanding General of the Army Service Forces, in a ceremony at the post chapel at Fort Myer, VA. “Valor is a gift,” Carl Sandburg once said. “Those having it never know for sure whether they have it until the test comes.”
The only Easy Day was Yesterday.
