American Legion Post 94
NOVEMBER 2019 Newsletter
Up-Coming Meetings
Monthly Membership Meetings (Second Friday of every month except July)
6:00 pm – Social
6:30 pm – Dinner
7:30 pm – Program
8 November 2019
Talk about the Ft. Lewis Museum and a Veterans Day remembrance event.
13 December 2019
Program will be the bi-annual CPR training
10 January 2020
Program will be the annual update from our boy scout troop.
Up-Coming Events
Here are a few events for your information. More importantly, everyone is encouraged to come and participate in any or all of them.
9 November 2019
Auburn Veterans Day Parade, Auburn WA
· If you would like to participate with the Post, please meet at the Post at 7:00 am.
· Wear your cap if you have one.
· Everyone is encouraged to come and march with our Post colors.
· The Grand Marshall of the parade this year is Bob Clark, the Department Commander.
11 December 2019
Veterans Day ceremony in the State Capital Rotunda
· Department Commander Bob Clark and Tumwater Mayor Pete Kmet are the keynote speakers.
· Kim Wyman is the masters of ceremonies.
· The American Legion band will be performing.
15 November 2019
Thanksgiving Food Basket Distribution at the Veterans Stand-Down
· Our Post partners with the Thurston County Food Bank and the Lacey Veterans Services on this project.
· If you can help, please meet at the Olympia Armory at 8:00 am.
· Parking is available at the First United Methodist Church
17-18 November 2019
Membership Revitalization Drive
· The purpose of this drive is to get past American Legion members to renew their memberships.
· The hours are 9:00 am – 5:00 pm at the Lacey Veterans Services Hub.
· Bring your cellphone and charger.
26 November 2019
Post Educator of the Year Presentation, Seven Oaks Elementary School
· Meet at the elementary school not later than 8:45 am.
· Wear your cap if you have one.
11 December 2019
Dinner in honor of the 100th Year Anniversary of the American Legion
· Dinner and program start at 6:00 pm
· The Post will be hosting a dinner in honor of the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of the American Legion in the State of Washington.
· The leading candidate for the next national commander will be the keynote speaker.
31 January 2020
Our Post is hosting a dinner at 6:00 pm as part of the Department Mid-Winter Conference.
31 January – 1 February 2020
Department Mid-Winter Conference at the Lacey Community Center
Post and American Legion News
On Wednesday, 7 November 2019, the Post Commander and Auxiliary President presented the Post Educator of the Year award to a teacher at Meadows Elementary School. Teacher was taken completely by surprise and the award was very well received.
Members of our Post participated in a Home Depot project on Thursday, 7 November 2019 in Lacey to make several outside repairs to a disabled veteran’s home. Home Depot had about 15 employee volunteers in addition to our Post members. It was a great day and the veteran was deeply touched by the efforts of everyone.
The Post now has a website in addition to its Facebook page. Please check it out at:
http://centennial.legion.org/washington/post94
You can also follow Post activities on Facebook. Check it out and like us to follow events.
Our Facebook page is American Legion Post 94 Lacey Washington.
General Veteran and Safety News
Combat the Changing Season with These Fall Safety Tips
· by Allison Saunders
· October 19, 2017
· Wellness
Fall SafetyFall Safety TipsHomeowner Tips
As the summer season fades into fall and long sunny days wane into short chilly nights, it’s time to take several safety measures and apply them to your home. The changing weather poses risks for your health and home so it’s important to be aware of the shifting season and its impact on your surroundings.
Don’t let the changing weather dampen your enjoyment of the season. Here are some important safety tips for a fun and safe fall.
Fall Health and Wellness Tips
From illnesses to injuries, there are several climate changes that happen in the fall that might have a direct impact on your health and wellness. Take some precautions to protect yourself!
Fight the Flu
Short for influenza, the flu is a contagious illness that infects the nose, throat, lungs and a range of complications like sinus and ear infections. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are three actions you can take to fight the flu:
· Wash your hands regularly
· Avoid close contact with sick people
· Wear appropriate clothes outdoors (coats, jackets, scarves, gloves, etc.)
Even though you can possibly get sick after getting a flu shot, a yearly vaccine can provide protection against complications from the flu.
If you do find yourself sick with the flu this fall season, make sure you talk to your doctor about steps you should take in order to get well soon.
Watch Your Back
One of the most beautiful occurrences of the fall season is when the leaves start to turn color then gracefully fall upon lawns or get suddenly swept up on an autumn breeze. A less poetic reality of fall is the fact that someone has to rake those leaves.
This season, watch your back as you tend to your lawn, as back injuries are prone to happen while raking and collecting leaves, by following these safety tips:
· Stretch: Make sure your muscles are ready for a workout
· Stand up straight: Pull from your arms and legs
· Relax: Rake for intervals of 10 – 15 minutes at a time, taking breaks in between
If you opt for a leaf blower over a rake, make sure you are properly dressed in clothing that covers your skin, like a flannel shirt and jeans. Wear appropriate eye protection and work shoes as well, protecting any sensitive parts of your body to prevent injury.
Protect Your Pets
When it comes to your home, you might think your pet is safe, but there are some hidden dangers. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has a helpful list of tips to help keep your pet safe from household poisons, cold weather hazards and everything that could pose a possible threat to your pet:
· Keep rodenticides (rat poisons) out of reach
· In more rural areas, watch out for dangerous wildlife
· Keep apple stems, leaves or seeds away from your pet, as ingestion could cause health problems
· Watch out for poisonous mushrooms
If your pet ingests something harmful – or is bit or attacked by a wild animal – call your local animal poison control center or ASPCA immediately.
Fall Driving Safety Tips
A combination of fewer hours of daylight with unpredictable weather can result in unsafe driving conditions in the fall. This can result in difficulty seeing and maneuvering on the roads.
Slippery When Wet
A number of weather conditions can contribute to a risky road. Here are a few dangers of fall weather to be aware of when driving:
· Rain: Water can pool on top of dust and oil, making the pavement slippery
· Leaves: They can litter the roads, making it slippery and obscuring vision of traffic lines, other pavement markings and even potholes
· Frost: Temperatures can drop dramatically in the night, making ice spots on areas of the road, such as bridges, overpasses and shaded areas
· Fog: It can limit your visibility when driving
There are multiple ways to stay safe on the roads this fall, and they all boil down to watching your speed, especially in areas with rain, frost or leaves, and paying attention to the road and your surroundings.
Don’t Veer for Deer
In Michigan we have a saying – “Don’t veer for deer.” Meaning, don’t swerve if a deer runs in front of your vehicle! You could lose control of the car quickly, especially if you are on a curve or narrow road with little to no shoulder. Instead, brake firmly with both hands on the wheel to come to a controlled stop.
Soak Up the Sun
Believe it or not, fall is a bad time for sun glare on the roads. Sun glare is dangerous because it can impact your sight for a few seconds after exposure, obscuring any vision of pedestrians, oncoming traffic and even the car in front of you.
Class Is Back in Session
Fall is back-to-school season, bringing with it back-to-school traffic in the early mornings and late afternoons. This also signals an increase of school buses and cars on the road. Not to mention, pedestrian traffic at crosswalks as kids and parents walk to and from the school and their bus stop.
Tips for Fall Home Maintenance
From cluttered gutters to fire hazards, protect your home this fall by making sure your it’s ready to combat the changing weather and potential dangers.
Check All Safety Devices
In order to ensure safety inside your home, take a moment and check all of your safety devices, making sure the batteries are charged and that they work properly. For example, test all your smoke alarms inside your home. Make sure the batteries are working properly and are fully charged. In addition, make sure to replace used and expired fire extinguishers.
Fire Up the Furnace
Turn your heater on before the temperatures really plummet so you can ensure it works. Contact a technician to inspect that it’s operating properly if you suspect it needs servicing. Keep all flammable materials away from your furnace. This includes clothing, paint products, toxic materials, cardboard and more.
Inspect the Insulation
When your home allows in cold drafts, it forces your furnace to work harder in order to heat your house, resulting in higher energy bills. Keep the cold air out by improving the insulation in your attic and walls.
Give the Heater Some Space
Make sure you read the instructions to see if your space heater requires venting, and if it does, make sure it’s vented to the outdoors. A good rule of thumb is to keep your space heater away from clothing, bedding, drapery and furniture. Remember to shut them off if you leave the house and don’t leave them unattended if you have children or pets. More importantly, don’t use your space heater as a dryer for hats, gloves and other articles of clothing, as they can catch fire.
Fire Safety
Before you relight your fireplace, check your chimney to confirm it’s free of debris and has proper ventilation. Make sure the bricks, mortar and liner are in good condition. Lastly, use a fireplace screen to keep the sparks from flying all over the place.
Doing laundry? Prevent dryer fires by cleaning filters after each load of wash and removing lint that collects in dryer vents. Like burning candles, never leave a load of laundry in the dryer unattended.
De-clutter the Gutters
Clean your gutters by removing all debris and leaves. Before burning leaves, check your city’s regulations, as it may be illegal where you live. If you burn them, do so away from the house and use proper containers.
Trim the Trees
As plants begin to die in the cold weather, make sure you call a landscaping service to remove any dead branches or decaying limbs on the trees of your property. When weighed down by ice and snow, or blowing in the wind, they can become hazardous and fall on your house or vehicle.
Fall is a time for fun and family. Put these tips into practice today to ensure a safe fall and winter season.
Murphy’s Military Laws of the month
· Friendly fire – ain’t
· Recoilless rifles – aren’t
· Suppressive fires – won’t
· The quartermaster has two sizes – too large and too small.
Adjutant’s Report
If you have not renewed your membership for this year, please do so soon.
Building Rental
If you were not aware, the Post offers both the post building and the pavilion for rent.
Building
Post Members
Non-Members
Post Building
$175.00
$325.00
Pavilion (available only on week nights)
$175.00
$325.00
Pavilion is no longer available for weekend rentals. The post has a Church renting it for both Saturday and Sundays.
There is a $200.00 refundable security deposit requirement as well. Please contact Larry Granish at 360.701.5921 or email at lgrani@comcast.net to reserve either facility.
Chaplain’s Corner
Contact the Post Chaplain, Otis Chapman, at lukie1964@gmail.com if you need assistance.
Service Officer and VA News
VA Center for Women Veterans celebrates 25th anniversary
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) Center for Women Veterans (Center) commemorated 25 years of providing dedicated advocacy for America’s women Veterans Nov. 7, at VA headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Established by Congress in November 1994, the Center monitors VA’s administration of benefits and services to women Veterans to ensure they receive equal access to VA programs.
“The Center serves an important role in how VA addresses the evolving needs of women Veterans — from identifying ways that VA can enhance its benefits and services — to creating initiatives that demonstrate the stellar contributions of women Veterans,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “The Center has also shown great commitment honoring the legacy of the women who serve.”
The commemorative opening remarks came from the secretary, there was acknowledgement of the Center’s accomplishments and recognition of special guests including: Retired U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Irene Trowell-Harris, the center’s longest serving former director; Retired U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 5, Phyllis Wilson, current president of the Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation; author and women Veterans rights advocate, Erin Miller; and Elizabeth Estabrooks, Oregon Women Veterans coordinator and pioneer of the “I Am Not Invisible” campaign.
Center accomplishments:
· Operationalizing and managing VA’s Women Veterans Program (WVP), comprised of representatives from VA’s administrations and staff offices, to enhance the delivery of VA benefits and services.
· Establishing public and non-profit partnerships, to improve understanding of VA’s benefits, services and processes.
· Creating national initiatives to promote cultural transformation in VA and the public, and to encourage women Veterans to self-identify as Veterans.
· Providing support to VA’s Advisory Committee on Women Veterans, which was created to advise the VA’s secretary on the needs of women Veterans.
Service Officer Information
Do you feel that you have a residual health problem that is linked to your time in the service? Have you applied for benefits with the Veterans Administration and been turned down? If so, do not try to deal with the VA on your own. My name is Rose Hodgeboom and I am the Post 94 service officer. It is my job to help you navigate the benefits system. Call me at 360-491-3621 if you need assistance with a claim. The Legion also has a Temporary Financial Assistance program that could help you one time with paying your utilities, rent/mortgage, or other emergency needs. This is an American Legion Children and Youth program and to qualify you must have minor children in your home. If you feel you need help from this program let me know and I will be glad to help.
The Lacey Veterans Service Hub also provides a wide variety of assistance to veterans and now has over 35 providers working out of there. The Hub is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (except holidays) and is located at 4232 6th Avenue SE, Suite 202, Lacey, WA 98503. The phone number is 360.456.3850.
Post Officers for 2019-2020
Commander – Gary Walker
1st Vice-Commander - Eric Strom
2nd Vice Commander - Bob Nakamura
Adjutant - Larry Granish
Finance Officer – Jose Vargas
Sergeant at Arms – Kevin Lindsey
Chaplain – Otis Chapman
Veteran Service Officer - Rose Hodgeboom
Judge Advocate - David Hodgeboom
Post Historian – Len Tobin
