June, 2016 Volume XCIII Number 4 Inside Page 3 History Page 4 Membership Page 4 National Com- manders Tour Page 5 Calendar Page 5 Convention Housing Center pages-The Auxiliary Star Page 7 TAPS Page 8 Pictures The Omaha National Cem- etery is under construc- tion and will serve the buri- al needs of the more than 112,000 veterans residing within the cemetery’s service area for the next 100 years. To assure that men and wom- en who served honorably in the United States military, and those eligible for interment in a national cemetery are ap- propriately recognized and remem- bered, t h e Omaha Nation- al Cem- etery Support Com- mittee (ONC- SC) has been established. Nebraska State Adjutant, Dave Salak, serves as the Chair of the ONCSC, Mark Spadaro Vice Chair, Becky Lowell Treasurer, Shanen Taylor Sec- retary, Charlie Daubs Provost Marshal, Karen Cox Volunteer Project Chair and I serve as the Fundraising Project Chair. Most National Cemeteries have Support Committees, and the ONCSC will sup- port dignified funeral activi- ties, and promote community awareness through education and ceremonial programs that are not supported by congres- sional appropriation. These programs, provided and sup- ported by volunteers and your donations, include Memo- rial Day, Flag Day, POW/MIA Day, Veterans Day, Wreathes Across America Day, cem- etery tours and discussions and other related program support. In addition to hosting the above referred to events, one of the primary purposes of the ONCSC is to support the at- tainment of the status of Na- tional Shrine for the Omaha National Cemetery. The VA bestows National Shrine sta- tus only on veterans’ cem- eteries that meet the highest of standards, from the align- ment of headstones to main- tenance of the grounds as well as promoting programs such as those previously mentioned. In 2015, only 19 of 133 Nation- al Cemeteries across the Nation achieved this prestigious honor. With your help, the Oma- National Commander Dale Barnett reminds us Flag Day is June 14. Communities across our nation will celebrate with public observances and dis- plays, many involving The American Legion. Ceremo- nies and activities are certain to include local dignitaries, in- cluding members of Congress. This presents an opportunity. Congressional lawmakers have important unfinished business to address: House Joint Resolution 9, intro- duced by Rep. Steve Wom- ack, R-Ark., on Jan. 7, 2015, and its companion bill, S.J. Resolution 21, introduced by Sen. David Vitter, R-La., on July 30, 2015. The bills state simply, “The Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States.” The American Legion has been leading the fight to pro- tect Old Glory since a 5-4 U.S. Supreme Court decision in 1989 defined flag desecra- ha National Cemetery will be able to achieve this status. You and I know those who will make this their final rest- ing place, maybe we served with some, and we know the sacrifice made by them and their family members. It is our obligation to make sure they are appropriately recognized and remembered. It will only happen with your donation and participation as a volunteer with the ONC- S C . There is a say- ing; “Sacri- fice is mean- ingless without remembrance”; the Omaha National Cemetery will ex- ist forever and will provide a beautifully landscaped venue for family and friends to visit and remember those who sac- rificed for our great country. The Support Committee is accepting donations so we are able to plan events not appropriated by Congress. Please make your checks payable to ONCSC and mail to ONCSC, P.O. Box 390125, Omaha, NE. 68139. Your donation will be not- ed publicly through the media and in the recognition book displayed at the cemetery. Thank you for helping us provide the recognition so deserved by those who have earned a final resting place in the Omaha National Cemetery. Please feel free to con- tact me with any questions. Bob Swanson, Fundraising Project Chair Omaha National Cemetery Support Committee Home 402-572-1917 Cell 402-630-5632 [email protected]Omaha National Cemetery Support Committee tion as protected speech. Sub- sequent rulings made clear that the only way to protect the flag is to pass a constitutional amendment, which requires a two-thirds supermajority in both houses of Congress. The amendment has mas- sive public support. Polls by the Citizens Flag Alliance, a coalition of 140 organizations, show that much more than a supermajority of Americans favor it – up to 80 percent of the public. Fifty state legisla- tures have passed resolutions supporting a flag protection amendment, which is no sur- prise when one considers that the 1989 ruling invali- dated laws against flag des- ecration that were already on the books in 48 states and the District of Columbia. Even more important than carrying out the will of the majority are the values we in- still in young people by dem- onstrating respect for our na- tion’s colors. My experience as a young man at Hoosier Boys State inspired me to attend the U.S. Mili- tary Academy at West Point, pursue an Army career and later serve as an active member of the Legion. None of the mentors who helped guide my formative years would ever have dreamed of engaging in an act so insulting to our nation’s identity and to those who have sworn with their lives to protect the free- doms symbolized by our flag. Young people today need to understand that flag respect, not desecration, is worthy of constitutional protection. Opponents of the flag amend- ment tell us that acts of desecra- tion are rare. Yet we regularly see news footage and social media videos of demonstra- tions that include stomping, burning and other forms of dis- respect. Patriotic Americans are also sometimes discour- aged from displaying the flag by overzealous homeowner associations or school officials who see U.S. flag likenesses on T-shirts as controversial. It’s worth noting that red, white and blue neckties, tow- els, shirts and other gear may resemble our flag, but unless they were cut from an ac- tual flag, they aren’t the flag. Just as you would never put a beach towel over a war he- ro’s coffin, the flag protection amendment would not threaten your favorite patriotic apparel. Allegiance is the loyalty of a citizen to his or her govern- ment or of a subject to his or her sovereign. It is a safe as- sumption that virtually every member of Congress has at one time pledged allegiance to the U.S. flag. Let’s re- mind them what that means. Help Pass Flag Amendment Legislation The 98th Annual Con- vention of The Ameri- can Legion, Department of Nebraska will be held at the Ra- mada Inn, Kearney, June 23-26. Prior to the convention, the Department Executive Com- mittee will hold its semi-an- nual meeting on Thursday, June 23 at 1:00 P.M. and continuing on Friday morn- ing. The convention and me- morial service will start Fri- day afternoon at 1:00 P.M. Kearney to Host the Department Convention The Department Con- vention will he held at the Ramada Inn and Con- ference Center in Kear- ney on June 23-26, 2016. Rooms are filling quickly. This is a very nice fa- cility with numerous ac- tivities for both indoor and outdoor enthusiasts. Make Your Reservations Now The Convention will once again have interesting guests, speakers and entertainment. The single/double Legion rates for rooms is $79.95. Please phone the Ramada Inn and Conference Center at 308-237-3141. More housing options on page 5 This year's Department Con- vention is hosted by Kearney Post 52 and the Kearney Post 52 Color Guard will be ad- vancing and retiring the colors. Friday will include the selec- tion of convention committees and the presentation of awards. The convention business session continues on Sat- urday with awards, special presentations, and greet- ings from representatives of many veterans organizations. Sunday morning's activities will include the American Le- gion Family religious services and presenting the Clarence "Cody" Kerr Award for out- standing community service. Final reports, election of of- ficers and installation of of- ficers for 2016-17 will com- plete the convention business. There will be special guests and speakers at the convention.
The Omaha National Cem-etery is under construc-tion and will serve the buri-al needs of the more than 112,000 veterans residing within the cemetery’s service area for the next 100 years. To assure that men and wom-en who served honorably in the United States military, and those eligible for interment in a national cemetery are ap-propriately recognized and remem-b e r e d , t h e Omaha Nation-al Cem-e t e r y Support C o m -m i t t e e (ONC-SC) has been established. Nebraska State Adjutant, Dave Salak, serves as the Chair of the ONCSC, Mark Spadaro Vice Chair, Becky Lowell Treasurer, Shanen Taylor Sec-retary, Charlie Daubs Provost Marshal, Karen Cox Volunteer Project Chair and I serve as the Fundraising Project Chair. Most National Cemeteries have Support Committees, and the ONCSC will sup-port dignified funeral activi-ties, and promote community awareness through education and ceremonial programs that are not supported by congres-sional appropriation. These programs, provided and sup-ported by volunteers and your donations, include Memo-rial Day, Flag Day, POW/MIA Day, Veterans Day, Wreathes Across America Day, cem-etery tours and discussions and other related program support. In addition to hosting the above referred to events, one of the primary purposes of the ONCSC is to support the at-tainment of the status of Na-tional Shrine for the Omaha National Cemetery. The VA bestows National Shrine sta-tus only on veterans’ cem-eteries that meet the highest of standards, from the align-ment of headstones to main-tenance of the grounds as well as promoting programs such as those previously mentioned. In 2015, only 19 of 133 Nation-al Cemeteries across the Nation achieved this prestigious honor. With your help, the Oma-
National Commander Dale Barnett reminds us Flag Day is June 14. Communities across our nation will celebrate with public observances and dis-plays, many involving The American Legion. Ceremo-nies and activities are certain to include local dignitaries, in-cluding members of Congress. This presents an opportunity. Congressional lawmakers have important unfinished business to address: House Joint Resolution 9, intro-duced by Rep. Steve Wom-ack, R-Ark., on Jan. 7, 2015, and its companion bill, S.J. Resolution 21, introduced by Sen. David Vitter, R-La., on July 30, 2015. The bills state simply, “The Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States.” The American Legion has been leading the fight to pro-tect Old Glory since a 5-4 U.S. Supreme Court decision in 1989 defined flag desecra-
ha National Cemetery will be able to achieve this status. You and I know those who will make this their final rest-ing place, maybe we served with some, and we know the sacrifice made by them and their family members. It is our obligation to make sure they are appropriately recognized and remembered. It will only happen with your donation and participation as a volunteer
with the O N C -S C . There is a say-i n g ; “Sacri-fice is m e a n -ingless without
remembrance”; the Omaha National Cemetery will ex-ist forever and will provide a beautifully landscaped venue for family and friends to visit and remember those who sac-rificed for our great country. The Support Committee is accepting donations so we are able to plan events not appropriated by Congress. Please make your checks payable to ONCSC and mail to ONCSC, P.O. Box 390125, Omaha, NE. 68139. Your donation will be not-ed publicly through the media and in the recognition book displayed at the cemetery. Thank you for helping us provide the recognition so deserved by those who have earned a final resting place in the Omaha National Cemetery.Please feel free to con-tact me with any questions.
Bob Swanson,Fundraising Project ChairOmaha National Cemetery
Support CommitteeHome 402-572-1917Cell 402-630-5632
tion as protected speech. Sub-sequent rulings made clear that the only way to protect the flag is to pass a constitutional amendment, which requires a two-thirds supermajority in both houses of Congress. The amendment has mas-sive public support. Polls by the Citizens Flag Alliance, a coalition of 140 organizations, show that much more than a supermajority of Americans favor it – up to 80 percent of the public. Fifty state legisla-tures have passed resolutions supporting a flag protection amendment, which is no sur-prise when one considers that the 1989 ruling invali-dated laws against flag des-ecration that were already on the books in 48 states and the District of Columbia. Even more important than carrying out the will of the majority are the values we in-still in young people by dem-onstrating respect for our na-tion’s colors. My experience as a young man at Hoosier
Boys State inspired me to attend the U.S. Mili-tary Academy at West Point, pursue an Army career and later serve as an active member of the Legion. None of the mentors who helped guide my formative years would ever have dreamed of engaging in an act so insulting to
our nation’s identity and to those who have sworn with their lives to protect the free-doms symbolized by our flag. Young people today need to understand that flag respect, not desecration, is worthy of constitutional protection. Opponents of the flag amend-ment tell us that acts of desecra-tion are rare. Yet we regularly see news footage and social media videos of demonstra-tions that include stomping, burning and other forms of dis-respect. Patriotic Americans are also sometimes discour-aged from displaying the flag by overzealous homeowner associations or school officials who see U.S. flag likenesses on T-shirts as controversial. It’s worth noting that red, white and blue neckties, tow-els, shirts and other gear may resemble our flag, but unless they were cut from an ac-tual flag, they aren’t the flag. Just as you would never put a beach towel over a war he-ro’s coffin, the flag protection amendment would not threaten your favorite patriotic apparel. Allegiance is the loyalty of a citizen to his or her govern-ment or of a subject to his or her sovereign. It is a safe as-sumption that virtually every member of Congress has at one time pledged allegiance to the U.S. flag. Let’s re-mind them what that means.
Help Pass Flag Amendment Legislation
The 98th Annual Con-vention of The Ameri-can Legion, Department of Nebraska will be held at the Ra-mada Inn, Kearney, June 23-26. Prior to the convention, the Department Executive Com-mittee will hold its semi-an-nual meeting on Thursday, June 23 at 1:00 P.M. and continuing on Friday morn-ing. The convention and me-morial service will start Fri-day afternoon at 1:00 P.M.
Kearney to Host the Department Convention
The Department Con-vention will he held at the Ramada Inn and Con-ference Center in Kear-ney on June 23-26, 2016. Rooms are filling quickly. This is a very nice fa-cility with numerous ac-tivities for both indoor and outdoor enthusiasts.
Make Your Reservations Now
The Convention will once again have interesting guests, speakers and entertainment. The single/double Legion rates for rooms is $79.95. Please phone the Ramada Inn and Conference Center at
308-237-3141. More housing options on
page 5
This year's Department Con-vention is hosted by Kearney Post 52 and the Kearney Post 52 Color Guard will be ad-vancing and retiring the colors. Friday will include the selec-tion of convention committees and the presentation of awards. The convention business session continues on Sat-urday with awards, special presentations, and greet-ings from representatives of
many veterans organizations. Sunday morning's activities will include the American Le-gion Family religious services and presenting the Clarence "Cody" Kerr Award for out-standing community service. Final reports, election of of-ficers and installation of of-ficers for 2016-17 will com-plete the convention business. There will be special guests and speakers at the convention.
Department Commander
Official Publication of The American Legion Department of Nebraska. Published monthly except for January/February; April/ May; July/Au-
gust and October/November which are combined into one issue.Subscription included in annual membership dues. For non-members $8.00 for a years subscription.
John E. Thompson .........................................................EditorDave Salak ...................................Publisher’s RepresentativePUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE: L. Geraldine Thomas, Omaha and Julie Schnitzler, Gibbon.
EDITORIAL OFFICE: Editor, The Nebraska Legionnaire, 5600 P St., P.O. Box 5205, Lincoln, NE 68505. Phone (402) 464-6338. Send correspondence, articles and photo submissions to above address prior to monthly submission deadline. The Nebraska Legionnaire assumes no responsibility for material submitted.
ADVERTISING: Rates available upon request to Editorial Office. The Nebraska Legionnaire reserves the right to refuse any advertisement. Advertising published on behalf of an individual or organization does not constitute endorsement or reflect the policy of the Nebraska American Legion.
NON-MEMBER SUBSCRIPTION: $8.00 per year, payable in advance. Send change of address and subscription order to Editorial Office.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Members send old mailing label and complete new address to: The American Legion, Department of Nebraska, P.O. Box 5205, Lincoln, NE 68505-0205. Nebraska’s mailing labels are now produced internally, and are maintained on a separate list from the labels for the National Magazine. Address changes should be reflected within 2-3 weeks after receipt.
Periodical Postage Paid at Lincoln, Nebraska and at additional mailing offices.Postmaster: Send Form 3579 to P.O. Box 5205, Lincoln, NE 68505-0205
The Cornhusker State
(USPS 376-180) (ISSN 0028-1875)
Page 2-The Nebraska Legionnaire-June, 2016
NEBRASKA AMERICAN LEGIONDepartment Headquarters Office
Physical Location: 5600 P Street, Lincoln, NE 68505 Phone Numbers: Adjutant & Staff - (402) 464-6338 FAX - (402) 464-6330, 24-hour access Business Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Central), Mon-Fri Mailing Address: P.O. Box 5205, Lincoln, NE 68505-0205 Web site: http://www.nebraskalegion.net E-Mail Address: [email protected] Editor [email protected]
MSgt Dustin D. Troyer, a member of Pleasant Dale American Legion Post 354, was recently selected as the 2015 Pacific Air Force Air-field Manager of the Year. A Deputy Airfield Manager at Kadena Air Base, Japan, and a 16-year member of the U.S. Air Force, MSgt. Troyer was select-ed from a field of ten Pacific Air Force nominees for the award, which recognizes the best Man-ager in the Pacific Theatre. MSgt Troyer will now be competing with the nine other Air Force Major Com-mand winners for the Head-quarters Air Force Airfield Manager of the Year Award.
Dear Members: On behalf of the Cheyenne VAMC patients and staff, we would like to extend our ap-preciation to you for your donation of the newspapers. Your thoughtfulness reflects the concern that you feel for our Veterans and for the ser-vice they provided to all of us while in service to our country. Without your support, we could not provide these special items that make hospitalization more bearable. Your thoughtful-ness also reflects the concern and compassion that our com-munity feels for our Veterans. Thank you for your continued support.
Shipmann-Mogensen Post 201 of Boelus presented Harold Franssen left, with a certificate for his 70th year of continuous membership in The American Le-gion. Presenting Franssen with his certificate isGeorge Cyboron, Commander. Not present but re-ceiving continuous membership were Dick White-foot (70 years) and Virgil Reimers (60 years).
Nebraska Legion Family, Well it’s been a great year so far. The Legion Family has made this a wonderful position to hold for this last year. Without the help and support of the American Legion Family I could not have had such a great year. So thanks to all of the Legion Family. It is June and this is my last article for The Ne-braska Legionnaire. When traveling around the State this year for the many Legion Family activities and the District conventions I always made an effort and enjoyed making sure that all were there for the friends and family, looking at many different post homes to see how different but all working for the same cause. I am not big on talking on membership, but this year I did our National goal was 35,250 I know we are probably not going to make it. I gave it a real good try, I just look at the Member-ship report and we are at 32,013. Some of you think it’s the sign of the times. We all have busy lives and we chose what our own priorities are, sometimes we forget the good things the organization has done for us and our friends. With that said I would like all of you to put just a little more effort towards the American Legion. One last thing on membership it is all of our responsibility and the year is not over yet so keep working it. By the time our State Convention rolls around at the end of June All posts will have sent in their Consolidated Post Reports. I hope all of you did your part. They were due at department headquar-ters June 1. Post Commanders and Adjutants, if you are reading this, and have not yet sent this report to headquarters, you are late. Memorial Day is coming up and by the time you all get this it will be over. Hope you all had a great one. I will be speaking at Davenport. June is a busy month in Nebraska for The American Le-gion Family. First up is Boy’s State and Girl’s State. This program will give the brightest junior boys and girls a chance to learn more about our governmental system and how it works. The second and third weeks of June are de-voted to The Junior Law Cadet Program. Girls and boys learn more about law enforcement and how it works. National Commander Dale Barnett made his official visit to the Cornhusker state in the middle of May. We went to South Sioux City, Norfolk and Columbus the first day, had a good showing of Legion Family support. Then off to Grand Island, and then to Kearney for an awareness walk. That was to let the public know that the American Legion Family is there to help the community and to tell our story. We had one big day for the commander so off we went to Omaha area, Vic-tory Apartments, Offutt Air Force Base, then to another aware-ness walk to the Vet Home. What a good turnout. Then to Post 331. Last day went to Lincoln, to visit Headquarters. Legion Baseball is in full swing. Go out and support a team or two. Good luck to all the teams. A lot of people put a lot of work into this program to make it successful. June 23-26 is when we will hold our Nebraska Department Convention. The convention will be held in Kearney, NE at the Ramada Inn. If you have not yet made room reserva-tions, plan on doing so soon. Hope to see a lot of you there. Congratulations to these posts that made 100% and all the posts for their great work. The eligible veter-ans are out there. Thanks to all Post for your commit-ment to work the programs of the American Legion. To all of the Legion Family it has been a great year for me and my wife Lori. We have to say thanks to you all for a great year and the honor to serve you. Hope to see everyone at the convention and years to come.
“The Four F’s; Family, Future, Freedom, Faith”
Nebraska Legacy Ride Nebraska American Legion Legacy Ride July 9-10, 2016. All riders welcome. Day one-Norfolk, Neligh, Page Cemetery, Wood Lake Cem-etery, Niobrara historical bridge and stay in Valentine. Day two-Valentine, Spring-view, Naper Airman Memorial, Spencer, The dock by Niobrara, Crofton and Norfolk. A block of rooms has been reserved at the Super 8 in Valentine. This Legacy Ride will be a two day ride that will start in Norfolk, East of the Ca-seys on West Norfolk Ave., on the morning of July 9th. Riders may start in Norfolk and ride the entire route (ap-prox. 400 miles) or join at any location during the ride. Please RSVP to Don Horn at [email protected] or 402-841-5939 to reserve your room.
It’s HistoryBy Department Historian Jennifer Salak
If Legionnaires have questions they can contact their Post Service Officer or my office at 402-420-4021
Steve BurgerState Service Officer
Page 3-The Nebraska Legionnaire-June, 2016
History of the POW/MIA Flag Donald Nelsen In 1970 Mrs. Michael Hoff, an MIA wife recognized the need for a symbol of our POW/MIAs. Throughout our lives all of us have at some time or other, have had ideas or plans or hopes of something which would make a differ-ence in our lives; make our world a better place to live. Mrs. Hoff was only ONE, but because of her and many others who quickly joined forces with her, the POW/MIA flag became a reality. Time and again we are side-tracked or defeated because we are the only one and are afraid to continue on our own. The POW/MIA Flag was de-
signed during the Vietnam War as a symbol of national concern about U.S. Mili-tary personnel taken as prisoners of war or listed as missing in action. Other than "OLD GLORY", the Na-tional League of Families POW/MIA Flag is the only flag that has flown over the White House having done so on National POW/MIA Recognition Day in 1988. No matter what you individu-ally think about the POW/MIA
Flag, no matter which authors or politicians or instigators or dis-senters you want to believe: We all know deep down in our hearts, that this flag now and forever, will rep-resent those he-roes who are not among us physi-cally, but there is an invisible-unbreakable bond
between them and us which we all will retain forever. (Time magazine quoted one South Vietnamese official who was confronted
with stories of released pris-oners moving "like crabs, skittering across the floor on buttocks and palms," and responded with incredulity that such survivors even ex-isted. "No one ever comes from the Tiger Cages alive".) Not many years ago-1988-President Ronald Reagan became the first president to fly the POW/MIA Flag over the White House. The next year, Congress installed the flag in the Capitol Rotunda. In 1990 it was designated "a symbol of our nation's concern and commitment to restoring and
resolving as fully as possible the fates of Americans still prisoner, missing and unac-counted for in Southeast Asia." It is up to us to provide cover and back our fellow service men and women and it is a life-time commitment. We never have enough time or money or help and we always have tons of excuses. But what we do have is what Mrs. Hoff has shown us-We have the POWER OF ONE!! May we always look after our brothers and sisters to make our World a better place to live!
New tools to Help to Improve VA for Veterans The MyVA Performance Improvement Team is working to equip VA staff members with “Lean” management tools and other re-sources so that VA employees can work more efficiently and ef-fectively for Veterans. With the help of the team, Secretary Bob McDonald hopes to institute a Lean Management System across VA that will reinforce a culture of continuous improvement. A Lean Management System is rooted in three guiding prin-ciples: respect for people, strategic alignment and strategic deployment. When implemented effectively along with key Lean techniques across VA, the Lean Management System will demonstrate Lean thinking — the elimination of inef-ficient processes to maximize customer value — with lead-ers who are engaged and invested, and with employees who are highly involved in improvement efforts designed to achieve performance excellence. The objective is to enhance the experience, for VA employees and Veterans, of providing and receiving VA services and support.New resources available for managers, out-reach specialists and others include the following: • PI Hub. The MyVA performance improvement team has developed, piloted and validated a Performance Improve-ment Hub — a robust repository for performance improve-ment methods, projects, best practices and tools that can help all employees enhance their everyday improvement work and build a more seamless Veteran experience. Rolled out in January, the hub is available to support all perfor-mance improvement efforts and activities, such as training. • The Integrated Town Hall Playbook. This collection of fresh ideas and road-tested recommendations can help man-agers, outreach specialists and others conduct town hall meetings that deliver a more seamless experience for Vet-erans, whether their needs are related to health care, VA ben-efits or memorial services. The playbook’s ideas can be tai-lored to any VA medical center or Veteran outreach setting. • Lean Management Training Opportunities. Across VA at every level, virtual and in-person training is available to help staff members understand Lean management concepts and how they can be applied to our work every day to bet-ter serve Veterans. While each organization should determine the appropriate level of Lean training for its employees based on their roles, a wealth of courses is available through VA’s Talent Management System, the Veterans Engineering Re-source Center and the Veterans Affairs Acquisition Academy. If you have questions or feedback regarding these tools and activities, or if you want to share your own stories of successful improvement with the national performance improvement team, please contact: [email protected].
Forty-nine years ago, at the closing session of the 49th Annual National Convention in Boston, a WWII Navy Radarman veteran was elected as National Commander of The American Legion. Wil-liam Galbraith, a 41-year old farmer from Beemer with family ties to Robert Morris (a signer of the Declaration of Independence), became the first National Commander from Nebraska. Galbraith’s rise to the high office of National Commander was nothing short of exceptional and inspiring. Thanks to his wife Gwendolyn, who was also Beemer’s Auxiliary President in 1950, Gal-braith realized there was more to the Legion than playing pinochle. He went from being a card-carrying member to a social member to an active member. He first served as Post Vice Commander and then Post Commander where, in 1953, he led an effort to build a $26,000 Legion-owned medical clinic in Beemer, a town that hadn’t had its own doctor in 12 years. He moved up the ranks to serve as District 3 Commander and finally Department Com-mander in 1962. Having experience as a schoolteacher and serving as the Cuming County School Reorganization Committee President, Galbraith’s reputation and posi-tion as Department Commander caught the attention of Nebraska Governor Frank Mor-rison who appointed him to serve on a special committee to recommend solutions to improve the quality of Nebraska’s public education system. He was also asked by the Governor to sit on a committee to plan the 100th Anniversary of Nebraska’s statehood. After Department Commander, he served as National Executive Committeeman, Nation-al Vice Commander, and finally National Commander in 1967. During his tenure as Na-tional Commander, he accomplished many great things including the “Stitch-in-Time” Program, which sent 100 sewing machines and fabric to war widows, orphans and war ref-ugees in South Vietnam to provide occupational training and employment. He also creat-ed The American Legion Task Force for the Future, oversaw the launch of the S.S. Amer-ican Legion (a $17 million container ship), and testified before Congress to call for (1) an increase in compensation payments for 100-percent service-connected disabled veter-ans and the monthly dependency indemnity compensation for widows, and (2) the Veter-ans Administration to take over the administration and maintenance of national cemeteries. Galbraith fought hard for veterans and was so well respected that membership in The American Legion rose by more than 36,000 members during his year as National Com-mander. At the end of his term, he presented Secretary of the Army Stanley Resor with $50,000 which was a down payment on The American Legion’s Gift to the Nation – a per-manent lighting system for the Tomb of the Unknown at Arlington National Cemetery. Because Galbraith had done so much for The American Legion and had experience planning for Nebraska’s Centennial, he was asked to help plan for the Legion’s 50th Anniversary in 1969. Gal-braith talked about the upcoming anniversary in the October 1967 issue of The American Legion Magazine, and his words couldn’t be more relevant as we prepare for the Legion’s 100th Anniversary. According to Galbraith, “An important anniversary is a time to look at the past, present and future. Among them I think the future is the most important. The Legion’s 50th Anniversary will be a tre-mendous event if we use it to take stock from the past and the present for the future. We should give all of our programs a thorough review and rededicate ourselves to the needs and realities of 1969, as the Legion founders dedicated themselves to the needs and realities of the America of 50 years ago. If we do half as well as they did, 1969 can be a great milestone for the Legion as 1919 was.” As we near the Legion’s Centennial, let’s take Galbraith’s advice and reevaluate our or-ganization and our programs based on the realities of 2019 – realities that include liv-ing in a fast-paced digital age and determining how to reach out to millions of post 9/11 veterans who face high unemployment, homelessness, combat trauma (severe physi-cal and mental wounds) and high suicide rates. To continue effectively helping veterans, their families, and our communities and grow our organization, we need to think, ‘how can we do this better’ rather than ‘that’s the way it’s always been done.’ Be proud of the Le-gion’s past but let’s build upon it to chart an exciting path forward for the next 100 years!
1976
Page 4-The Nebraska Legionnaire-June, 2016
WE NEED PICTURES AND STORIES
LET US KNOW WHAT YOUR POST, SQUADRON OR RIDERS ARE DOING.
WE TAKE ITEMS FOR ARTICLES AND PICTURES BY E-MAIL AT
Post 339, Post 331, Dis-tricts 3 and 8 have endorsed Jim Costello for Department Senior Vice Commander. A member of Martin-Graves Bellevue Post 339 since 1988. Jim earned his eligibility for The American Legion by serving in the Air Force from 1970 to 1974; Jim was an Ear, Nose & Throat Surgical Tech. Jim has served the Ameri-can Legion as Post Com-mander, County Commander, District Commander, Area A Vice Commander, currently a Committee member for the Children & Youth Commit-tee, was on the National Chil-dren and Youth Committee as a consultant and is Task Force Liaison for Homeless for the Department of Nebraska. Jim is the recipient of De-partment’s Cody-Kerr Award and was named Person of the Year in 2014 for the City
of Bellevue for his work with homeless, needy Vet-erans and their families. Jim and his wife Jeanie live in Bellevue. Jeanie also served in the Air Force and is a mem-ber of Bellevue Post 339. He is a proven leader who has a wealth of knowledge of the programs and goals of The American Legion. Jim is asking for you sup-port and vote for Department Senior Vice Commander.
National Commander Dale Barnett Tours State
State’s Selective Service
System Still Seeking Volunteer Board Members
Men and Women volunteers are still needed to fill vacant county positions throughout Nebraska in order to be in compliance with the Selective Service System which requires Board Member(s) representa-tion from every county in the State. The following counties need one Board Member representa-tive each: Washington, Custer, Thomas, Grant, Sioux, Morrill and Kimball. If you or someone you know is interested, please have them contact Nebraska’s Selective Service System Reserve Force Officers Major Terry L. Zas-trow or Captain Matt Grajeda. If mobilized, the Board Mem-bers would hear cases involv-ing men requesting deferments or exemptions. The Board Member is appointed by the Governor and required to com-plete an Initial Board Member Training course which takes about two and a half hours. After this, only an Annual Training refresher course is required which takes about an hour to complete. To serve as a Board Member there are a few requirements. • You could have served in the military, but cannot be re-tired with 20 years of service. •You must be 18 years of age or older and be willing to com-plete a minimum of 5-10 years of service, but not more than 20 years. •Complete an initial training course and then an annual re-fresher training scenario. •Must not be a judge or law enforcement official. •Must not be convicted of a serious crime. Please contact Major Terry Zastrow with the NE Army National Guard at 402-326-4829; [email protected], Captain Matt Gra-jeda with the United States Air Force Reserve at 405-642-1323, [email protected], or State Director Bob Fol-ey at 402-393-2805; [email protected].
National Commander Dale Barnett reflects on the Central City Korean War Memorial.
National Commander Dale Barnette is pictured with Past De-partment Commanders. Pictured (l-r) Jerry Landkamer, Leon Deunk, Dave Bruckner, Ron Corbett, National Commander Dale Barnett, Rollie Otte, Mike Landkamer and Doug Boldt.
Post 101 and Saline County have endorsed Gary Wooten for Area C Vice Commander. Gary earned his eligibility for The American Legion by serv-ing in the U. S. Air Force dur-ing the Vietnam War and has been a paid up for life member for 10 years. Gary has been Commander of Post 101 for eight years, as well as a mem-ber of the Marching Squad and the Ceremonial Team. He has served as District 11 Com-mander for the last two years and was Vice-Commander pre-viously. Gary has also served as baseball manager for the Post and as District Baseball Tournament Director multiple times, and has been very ac-tive with the American Le-gion since joining the Post. Gary is currently retired and is active in his community. In
addition to his American Le-gion activities, Gary in Trea-surer for the Wilber Chamber of Commerce and was recently appointed to the Saline County Tourism Board. He is also ac-tive with several other groups and non-profit organizations. Post 101 as well as the Saline County American Legion ask for your sup-port for Gary Wooten for Area C Vice Commander.
Gary Wooten Endorsed for Area C Vice Commander
Department Commander Mike Reimers and NEC Jerry Land-kamer watch as National Commander Dale Barnett pres-ents Norfolk member Ron Behnke his fifty year certificate for his continuous membership in The American Legion.
Siouxland Freedom Park Memorial had numer-ous honor guards and flag details in South Sioux City to greet National Commander Dale Barnett.
Pictured with the USAF 55 Wing Leadership School mem-bers from left is Bellevue Adjutant John Wray and the Ne-braska official party that accompanied the National Com-mander was Department Adjutant Dave Salak, Department Vice Commander Beth Linn, Department Commander Mike Reimers, National Commander Dale Barnett, Auxil-iary President Barbara Washburn, NEC Jerry Landkamer, Amanda Washburn (photographer) and PDC Doug Boldt.
The National Command-er and the official party participated the “Walk for Awareness” in two communities while on the official tour. The top picture is in Kearney co-ordinated by Alternate NEC Bill Crosier and the second walk in Bellevue was coordinated by Chil-dren and Youth Commit-tee member Jim Costello.
National Commander Dale Barnett’s last visit was at De-partment Headquarters. Pictured (l-r) District 15 Com-mander Ed Schnabel, NEC & PDP Barb Skillman, De-partment Administrative Assistant Sandy Steinkamp, National Commander Dale Barnett and PDC Fred Craigie.
Page 5-The Nebraska Legionnaire-June, 2016
Events Calendar June 5-11 Cornhusker Boys State 13-17 Junior Law Cadet (Female) 14 Flag Day 19 Fathers Day 20-24 Junior Law Cadet (Male) 23 Department DEC Meeting 24-26 Department Convention-KearneyJuly 4 Independence Day 9-13 Junior Shooting Sports Championships-Colorado Springs, CO 24-30 Boys and Girls Nation, Washington,
D.C. 28-30 National Membership Meeting, IndyAugust 3-7 Baseball Regional Tournments 11-16 Baseball World Series, Shelby, NC 21-24 Legacy Run to Cincinnati, OH 26-Sept. 1 National Convention, Cincinnati, OH
Special Note:For information pertaining to American Legion Baseball go to:www.nelegionbaseball.net
GOD PLEASE WATCH OVER AND
PROTECT OUR TROOPS
Imagine for a moment you were sick or hurt away from home, in a place you don’t know, with medical staff you’ve never met before… …any time we get on the road an emergency could hap-pen. Being hospitalized away from home in a dis-tant location can be a frightening and unsettling expe-rience. Once the initial emergency is over, additional complications may arise such as, “how do I get myself home?” This is why The Legionnaire Insurance Trust the Emer-gency Assistance Plus Program. EA+ will be on your side, looking out for you, making sure you receive proper medi-cal care, and getting you home if necessary. The EA+ Pro-gram offers a comprehensive package of benefits that consists of 4 major parts: medical assistance, medical evacu-ation, assistance for companions and travel assistance.* A recent enhancement to EA+ now includes escorting you home with a qualified nurse, if deemed medically necessary by EA+ physicians, saving members anywhere from $5,000 - $25,000. EA+ isn’t medical insurance. It’s a critical safety net that helps pay for emergencies your health insurance generally will not cover. EA+ is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week so you will al-ways be able to access help anywhere in the world. For addition-al information on EA+ and how it can be yours, visit http://www.TheLIT.com/Emergency-Assistance-Plus or call 1-800-235-6943 and one of our representatives will be happy to assist you. *This is only an outline of the plan’s feature. Please read your Member Benefit Guide carefully to understand all of the services available to you, as well as any terms, conditions, and limitations.
Before You Go Another Mile…
A recent decision by the Nebraska Legionnairs wins ap-peap to VA’s Board of Veterans’ Appeals has had the effect of adding an additional condition that is considered to be due to exposure to Agent Orange: Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia. Bruce Trautwein of Hallam, Nebraska, was recently awarded service connection for the condition after providing sufficient medical evidence to satisfy the Board. "I didn't do this so much for myself, but for all the other Veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange and might not have access to the medical staff that we have here at our two teaching hospitals." While the condition is relatively uncommon it will be treated if detected early. Trautwein was represented by Mike Coatney, since retired from the Nebraska Department of Veterans' Affairs where he was accredited with the American Legion. "We knew the claim had to be decided by the Board of Veterans' Appeals," Coat-ney stated, "it was too important not to be addressed." Both are members of American Legion Post 294 in Hallam, Nebraska. The condition is very close to that which had al-ready been included in the VA's list of conditions con-sidered to be due to exposure to Agent Orange, yet dif-ferent enough that it required a Medical Professional to specifically state the connection to the toxin in Agent Orange. Service Officers can refer to the BVA decision at Docket Number: 13-33 934, July 6, 2015, if additional information is required.
Nebraska Legionnaire Wins Appeal to VA's Board of Veterans' Appeals
The following is a list of lodging choices in Kearney, the site of the 2016 Depart-met Convention June 23-26. The Ramada Inn & Confer-ence Center site for the Ameri-can Legion Family.
Reservations are the responsibility of individual
Legionnaires.
***Ramada Inn& Conference Center
301 2nd Street, Kearney 308-237-3141
Holiday Inn Kearney 110 Second Avenue Kearney
308-237-5971
Quality Inn 121S 3rd Avenue Kearney,
308-237-5858
Wingate By Wyndham 108 3 rd Street, Kearney
308-237-4400
Microtel Inn & Suites 108 3rd Street, Kearney
308- 771- 7171
Best Western Inn of Kearney 1010 3rd Avenue, Kearney
308- 780- 7234
Hampton Inn 118 3rd Avenue, Kearney
308-234-3400
Super Eight 15 W 8th Street, Kearney
308-234-5513
Country Inn & Suites 105 W Talmadge St. Kearney
308-236-7500
Comfort Inn 1213rd Avenue, Kearney
308-237-0838
Additional Department Convention
Housing
Page 6-The Nebraska Legionnaire-June, 2016
Department ChaplainDr. William Jackson
S.A.L.Notes
Detachment Commander Keith Kearns
Dr. William JacksonDepartment Chaplain
Chaplain’s Corner
Bellevue American Legion Post 339 members Jim Costel-lo and Don Kivinimi are pictured presenting South Oma-ha Squadron 331 Commander Al Kalskett a Certificate of Appreciation from Post 339 to Squadron 331 for their continued support of the Victory Garden Apartments.
South Omaha Squadron 331 members are pictured with Commander Al Kalskett holding their 2015-2016 CWF banner. (l-r) Russ Flock, Mike Smith, Ray Chlu-pacek, William Peters, Pat Zymola, Al Kalskett, Gary Kirkner, Doug Kleymann, Ken Wenninghoff. All mem-bers are holding their 2015-2016 CWF Challenge Coin.
Stepping Up There comes a time, in every Legionnaire’s life, when he or she has to stand up and be counted for some-thing. Hopefully, that something is worthwhile, like carrying out the American Legion’s Four Pillars. • Pillar I -- Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation• Pillar II -- National Security• Pillar III -- Americanism• Pillar IV -- Children and Youth Do you recall what got your attention about the American Le-gion? Whether it was hanging out with your war buddies, meeting some of the younger troops serving back then, or feeling genu-inely good about bringing your family around people who shared your notion of God, country, and service...so...what happened? You say you’re getting too old to be of much help in today’s society. You manage not to attend so many general membership meetings at your post, or your post’s meeting place. And then there’s the one about you just don’t have the time to give like you did when you were younger and more dedicated. Sound famil-iar? God, and certainly not me, have not laid a guilt trip on you for making decisions about you and your family’s welfare and well-being. No...that’s not what the Lord and I do in this business. Naw...we just let things speak for themselves. Ever wonder why our baseball program is in dire need of help? Have you thought about why your post can not get a new club-house to bring back those “good ole days” of comradeship andgreat fellowship among real friends and fellow warriors? Have you noticed that—when ever you bother to show up at meetings, that is—there’s...not a lot of your buddies, com-rades, and friends to swap tales with anymore? In fact, Le-gionnaire roles are shrinking; i.e., incredibly so. Just check out your post’s “Taps” expanding membership in Post Ev-erlasting. And don’t forget those parades and funerals and Scouting events and so much more you USED to do, but...you can’t seem to find the time to keep up with it any more. Recruitment is an on-going issue to replenish the ranks of the American Legion worldwide, due to that ever-growing Post Everlasting ranks, and, believe it or not, because some veterans avoid joining our roles. Is this facet of being a Legionnaire—not being able to interest current military people to join us—due to...our lack of persuasiveness, a lack of worthwhile activities, or maybe, because they don’t see the world as we do? Do we need to change our Four Pillars—heaven forbid—or...change the way we approach veterans not a part of our American Legion family? If there is a point to be made here it’s this: the Lord gave all of us time to do what He wants and KNOWS we can do as our continuing service to Him. Now I know that some of us do not know God, or even acknowledge Him, so I’m not trying to overwhelm you with Christian platitudes about “lov-ing your neighbor as yourself” here (Mark 12: 30 – 31). But what I am doing is appealing to our Legionnaire sense of do-ing what should be done for the good of all. Yes, we served our beloved America, then we joined with other Legionnaires because we felt that same sense of serving drawing us to help improve the communities where we all live, worship, work, and play. It’s like we took to heart what former President John F. Kennedy asked: “What can you do for your country?” Our American Legion is in need of us to continue the march represented by our Four Pillars. You may see what we do when you peruse each post’s Consolidated Post Report ac-knowledging our various community activities encompass-ing those Four Pillars ideals. Yes, those CPRs even reflect those times you spent talking with grade-schoolers about your military experiences, as well where you took your kids for a history of the world concerning Nebraska veterans. Before I close, a thought here. When we served our great nation in the military, we were leaders on many levels. So what’s wrong with you stepping up for positions in your post, like post commander, first and second vice commanders, dis-trict and vice district commanders, and other needed slots to be filled. Stand up and be counted! Replenish the ranks of leaders in your post! Remember: you have a plethora—a lot—of past commanders surrounding you at nearly each meeting, meaning, there’s a number of “ole hands” at post leadership to lean on. Bottom line—again (smile)—remember our Four Pil-lars and get a head of life’s circumstances, and not be caught pushing an empty car uphill because you were too lazy to get gas when it was more convenient. Simply: help your post be the best it always was, is, and can be. Some might say, “Go big or go home” about stepping up for your post. By God’s grace, I’m saying: do what you know you can do to aide your fellow Legionnaires, your post, and your community.
Memorial Day has just passed and this was a wonderful oppor-tunity for Sons to be involved in ceremonies recognizing our vet-erans who died in service to our country. It was gratifying to see people take time to come to Memorial Day ceremonies but dis-heartening that more people did not attend. We all owe our veter-ans so much and this was such a small way to show this gratitude. With Memorial Day past, it is a sign that summer is here and we will all be getting busier with the kids, baseball and all of the many summer activities. It is also time to look forward to the Convention. I feel that all Sons need to take the time to attend the convention in Kearney. We became involved as Sons of The American Legion because we believe in what this organization stands and networking with other Sons can be a great way to find new ways to be involved. The convention is one of the best op-portunities for members to meet with other Sons from across the State because there will be members from many of Squadrons in the State present. This can also be a great opportunity to get to know your State Officers and learn about the programs that The American Legion Family supports. We as Sons also have the chance to sit in as guests to the Department Convention and learn from fathers and grandfathers about The American Legion. I would like to touch on a couple of subjects that even though you are constantly hearing about, they are important and there-fore they need to be talked about. These are Membership and Consolidated Reports. If your Squadron has not gotten its Consolidated Report in, then get with your Commander and Adjutant to get it in. Ask at your next meeting to make sure this important bookkeeping matter is taken care of. The Con-solidated Report is how your Squadron documents the involve-ment of your members in the community and the great good that you do. Membership is critical because we are at the end of the Sons fiscal year and Squadrons need to get all of their membership transmitted to Detachment Headquarters. The re-cent tornadoes in that we are hearing about around the country point out how disasters can happen very unexpectedly, but those members who paid a membership, but had their Squadron not send it in timely, will not be eligible for benefits from the Na-tional Emergency Fund because only those members who have had their membership submitted to National are eligible for the benefits of being a paid up Son. As members it is important for you to attend your local Squadron meetings and to make sure that some of the housekeeping things get done, because it can be important to all members that this is taken care of. In closing I wish all of you a prosperous summer and look forward to getting together with you if you have the opportunity to attend the Convention in Kearney on June 24th, 25th & 26th.
Sincerely Keith Kearns
Detachment Commander
Am I Eligible for Enrollment in the VA’s Health Care Priority Groups?
Answer- VA set up eight Pri-ority Groups to make sure that certain groups of veterans are able to be enrolled before oth-ers. Based on your specific eli-gibility status, you will be as-signed a Priority Group, which range from 1 to 8 with 1 being the highest priority for enroll-ment. •Priority Group 1: Veterans with a 50 percent or higher service-connected rating and/or determined by VA to be unem-ployable.• Priority Group 2: Veterans with service-connected disabili-ties rated 30 percent or 40 per-cent. • Priority Group 3: POW, Purple Heart recipients and veterans who were discharged for disabilities incurred or ag-gravated in the line of duty, service-connected at 10 percent or 20 percent and receiving ben-efits under 38 US Code 1151 or vocational rehabilitation.• Priority Group 4: Veterans in receipt of compensation or pen-sion at the housebound or aid and attendance rate, and/or vet-erans determined by VA to be catastrophically disabled.• Priority Group 5: Non-service-connected veterans and non-compensable service-connected veterans rated 0 percent and/or with net worth not greater than VA financial thresholds, and veterans receiving pension ben-efits or eligible for Medicaid.• Priority Group 6: Veterans who are 0 percent service-connected; exposed to ionizing radiation during atmospheric testing or during the occupation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki; served in Vietnam between Jan. 9, 1962 to May 7, 1975; Persian Gulf War veterans who served between Aug. 2, 1990 to Nov. 11, 1998; served on active duty at Camp Lejeune for not fewer than 30 days beginning Aug. 1, 1953 to Dec. 31, 1987; served in a theater of combat opera-tions after Nov. 11, 1998 as fol-lows: Currently enrolled Veter-ans and new enrollees who were discharged from active duty on or after January 28, 2003, are eligible for the enhanced ben-efits for 5 years post discharge or Combat Veterans who were discharged between January 2009 and January 2011, and did not enroll in the VA health care during their 5 year period of eli-gibility have an additional one year to enroll and receive care.• Priority Group 7: Veterans with income below the geo-graphically-adjusted income threshold for their resident loca-tion and agrees to pay copays.• Priority Group 8: Veterans with gross household incomes above the VA national income threshold and agrees to pay co-pays. It is important to remember that although you may not be enrolled in a Priority Group, you may still be eligible for care should you experience a cata-strophic health event. Provided on the American Le-gion web site by North Carolina Department Service Officer
Page 7-The Nebraska Legionnaire-June, 2016
Kind regards, Brian Mann
Nebraska State LiaisonAmerican Legion Riders
The American Legion Riders
Norfolk American Legion riders worked their Annual Bike Show in April and drew the raffle winners at the end of the show. Back row, L-R: Ron Miller, Dwight Reuter, Bill Jepsen, Shannon Falk, Tami and Don Horn, Kathy Bennington, Do-ris Kingsbury, Turena Bauer, Don Lichtenberg, Dick Cor-nett, Front row: Linda Gansebom, Laree and Les Kubes.
As the 2016 riding season ramps up, American Legion Rider chapters across the state are planning countless missions and rides to show their support for veterans and active duty service men and women alike. Though many of those missions will be shrouded with sorrow, the majority will be centered on helping others and giving back. Servanthood is at the heart of what the American Legion Riders are all about. It’s a code amongst brothers and sisters who once stood side by side in the face of great peril and who continue to stand together in service to-day to remember and honor those we’ve lost and help those that remain who are in need. The American Legion Riders raise funds for many worthy causes. To the riders, there is no greater cause than the American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund. Since it’s inception in 2001, 182 schol-arships have been awarded to children of fallen post-9/11 service members totaling over $442,500. Donations to the fund for 2015 alone totaled $1,156,019. On May 4-5, 2016 the National Executive Committee of the American Le-gion passed a resolution ensuring that this great program will continue on. The committee also included some expansions to the program that will take affect in 2017. Highlights include:• Awarding education benefits to children of VA-rat-ed, post-9/11 veterans with a disability of 50% or higher• Scholarships will be awarded based on need vs. merit, where the program will fulfill a financial gap re-maining after federal and state funds are available• Distributions will be prioritized to applicants dem-onstrating the greatest financial need, with first priority to children of fallen post-9/11 veterans then to children of VA-rated, post-9/11 veterans with at least 50% disability Motivation is always high when it comes to rais-ing funds for this admirable cause. These expansions in-crease the motivation factor even more now. With the 2016 riding season kicking into high gear, the timing couldn’t have been better. It’s going to be a great year! To all 39 ALR Directors / Commanders, their chapter members and my Assistant ALR Liaisons, I can’t thank you enough for all that you do! I really appreciate your continued service and sacrifice.
Stay safe out there folks!Ride as One, Band Together as One....for Those Who Served
and Serve Today.
The Millard ALR Chapter 374 held a spa-ghetti fundraiser in April and raised over $1,800 for the Vietnam Veterans Honor Flight.
Ahmann, Mark C., Wayne, KoreaAndersen, Ralph W., Omaha, WWIIAnderson, Jerry C., Ralston, VietnamAnderson, Stuart, Ceresco, VietnamApetz, Alvin H., York, WWIIAugustin, Eugene, Ord, WWIIBadsteen, William J., Ord, WWIIBaldwin, Harold L., Bancroft, VietnamBarron, Thomas H., McCook, VietnamBecker, Arlan, ExeterBernt, Richard D., Lincoln, Vietnam Bevard. Jr. Charles W., Lincoln, Vietnam Bladerson, Lloyd H., CortlandBlum, Darrell, York, KoreaBoies, Glenn W., Fremont, WWII Borchers, Reinhardt J., Pleasant Dale, KoreaBouc, Kenneth L., Lincoln, Vietnam Bowers, DDS, Harold B., Friend, KoreaBrandy, Robert D., Omaha, KoreaBrauckmuller, Everett A., Lin-coln, WWII Buckendahl, Elray, Hooper, KoreaBurford, J. R., Kearney, Viet-namBuschkoetter, Leroy, Lawrence, KoreaButtner, C. R., Omaha, KoreaCalvert, Alfred H., Lincoln, Korea Campbell, Glen T., Nebraska, KoreaChicoine, E. C., Lincoln, WWII Christiansen, Daryl M., Omaha, VietnamChytil, Joseph F., Omaha, VietnamCollars, Richard A., Chadron, WWIICook, Howard N., Kennard, WWIIDahlhauser, John W., Fremont, WWIIDantzler, Carl W., Lincoln, WWII Davidson, Paul O., Alexandria, WWIIDavis, Elwin W., Long Pine, WWIIDesel, Maynard, Wood River, WWIIDevries, Carl R., Beaver City, KoreaDilworth, James, Lincoln, Korea Dohmen, Vincent. LindsayDonahue, Walter N., MillardDondlinger, George A., Supe-rior, WWIIDuff, Norman L., Lincoln, Vietnam Dulany, John W., Ralston, VietnamDunwoody, Larry, Ogallala, VietnamEarl. Richard D., Lincoln, WWII Edson, Lloyd D., Omaha, WWIIErickson, Leslie L., Creighton, KoreaErks, Robert D., Osceola, KoreaFinke, Darrel D., Deshler, VietnamFischer, Jr. Carl., Lincoln, WWII Fisher, Lyle, Valley, KoreaFozzard, Doyle, David City, WWIIFrankforter, Donavin, Lincoln, WWII Freiburger, John F., Omaha, KoreaGibson, Eldon D., Oxford, KoreaGoodrich, James E., Lincoln, WWII Grabber, Terry D., Valley, VietnamGustafson, Tim A., Lincoln, Lebanon/Grenada Guthrie, Kenneth, Exeter, KoreaHagedorn, William C., Lincoln, Korea Hammond, Hiram W., Lincoln, WWIIHansen, Allan C., Aurora, VietnamHarrold, Walter, North Omaha, KoreaHaskin. Raymond C., Elgin, KoreaHassen, Norman, Grand Island, WWIIHeath, James L., Valley, Viet-namHeinen, Ted V., Humphrey, Korea
Henderson, Margaret W., Jack-son, KoreaHenn, Floyd L., Elgin, KoreaHennings, Max, Osceola, KoreaHitz, Marvin L., Lincoln, Korea Hoag, George R., Lincoln, WWII Holmes, Wendell, Blair, WWIIHoughton, Steven D., Newport, VietnamHulbert, Kenneth L., Pleasant Dale, KoreaHulbert, Kenneth, Lincoln, Korea Jackson, Roger E., York, KoreaJacobs, Duane, Ashland, KoreaJarosz, Zigmund, Ralston, WWIIJohnson, Charles R., Stratton, KoreaJohnson, Ronald L., Syracuse, KoreaJones, Claude, Ashland, Viet-namJones, Walden L., Osceola, VietnamKarmann, Marvin L., Fremont, WWIIKaufman, Gottlieb “Scotty”., Lincoln, WWII Kindig, Harold, Chadron, KoreaKobza, Frank, Dwight, KoreaKoch, Robert M., Lincoln, WWII Koehler, Glenn A., Humboldt, WWIIKoopman, Leon D., Battle Creek, WWIIKruger, Duane D., Pierce, WWIIKudron, Gervin A., Platte Cen-ter, WWIIKuhn, Lee J., Omaha, VietnamKunc, Dean R., Virginia, KoreaLandstrom, James R., Ceresco, WWIILarson, Harry A., Genoa, WWIILauterbach, Truman, Hallam, WWIILaws, Larry, Lincoln, Vietnam Leapley, William C., Coleridge, WWIILemunyan, Robert, Atkinson, WWIILeslie, James O., Lincoln, Korea Lheureux, Douglas A., Camp-bell, WWIILinder, Theril W., Lincoln, Korea Lott, Duane V., Fairfield, Viet-nam Lush, Richard L., Kearney, VietnamLuther, William H., Cody, KoreaLutspeich, Bernard R., Ralston, WWIIMailliard, Eugene, NorfolkMak, Louis, Gothenburg, WWIIMarks, Art, Culbertson, KoreaMarts, Gerald H., Omaha, KoreaMcCall, Richard W., York, KoreaMcFadden, John R., BurwellMcIntyre, Max L., Omaha, WWIIMedlar, Clyde A., Columbus, WWIIMeininger, Keith D., Lincoln, WWII Metzger, Kenneth D., Syracuse, WWIIMeyer, Chris E., Wood River, Grenada/LebanonMeyer, Richard G., Lincoln, Korea Miksch, Martin J., Stuart, KoreaMiller Gary D., Lincoln, Viet-nam Moeller, Allan G., Lincoln, Korea Moore, Lynn E., Long Pine, KoreaMoran, Jr, Edward L., New-castle, KoreaMorey, Robert B., Lincoln, WWII Moser, Joseph, Clearwater, VietnamMulford, Fred, Lincoln, Korea Nielsen, Daniel K., Bloomfield, VietnamNissen, Garland M. “Marie”., Omaha Benson, WWIINovoty, James, Wymore, Viet-namObermeyer, Fred, Auburn, WWIIOchsner, James D., Omaha, WWIIOestmann, Harold O., Johnson, WWIIOlson, Ralph M., Lincoln, Korea Olson, Robert J., Grand Island, WWII
Oltjenbruns, Martin, Pierce, WWIIPape, Orlan H., Lincoln, Viet-nam Peregrine, Joseph T., Steele City, WWIIPickard, George H., Lincoln, Korea Poeschl, Ivan L., Lincoln, Korea Prahl, Kenneth, Pierce, WWIIProkop, Raymond, ThurstonRacine, Richard B., TrentonRathje, Everett B., Gresham, KoreaRauert, John, Grand Island, WWIIRecker, Merlin H., FremontRehm, Melvin W., Lincoln, Korea Remmers, Ernest H., Beatrice, WWIIReynolds, Michael P., Ashland, VietnamReznicek, Warren D., S.A.L. Rix, John, Clearwater, WWIIRobinson, Ernest M., Millard, VietnamRodehorst, Glenn A., Genoa, KoreaRomohr, Mark A., Gresham, WWIISalestrom, Darwin C., Lincoln, WWII Sasse, B. A., Lincoln, WWIISchall, Roger D., York, VietnamSchirmer, Jack A., Hooper, WWIISchneider, Richard W., Lincoln, WWII Schutz, Wilfred M., Lincoln, Korea Shadle, Helen, Columbus, WWIIShaw, John P., Lincoln, Korea Shazi, Nat, Lincoln, Vietnam Shoemaker, Harley G., Lincoln, WWII Skrivanek, Loren, Milligan, VietnamSpahn, Stanley J., McCook, KoreaSpomer, Edwin J., Lincoln, WWII Squires, Clifford L., Lincoln, WWII Stokey, Fred L., Omaha, WWIISuetsugu, Harvey Y., AllianceSunday, Glen R., Nelson, WWIISvoboda, Melvin J., Lincoln, WWII Swanson, Harold E., PenderTannehill, Jack, Norfolk, KoreaTarnow, Jr. Henry., Wakefield, KoreaTernus, Richard, Humphrey, WWIIThomas, Ralph B., Creighton, KoreaThorson, Sr. Neal E.., Ashland, KoreaTice, Gerry, Lincoln, Vietnam Timmins, James A., Omaha, KoreaTolliver, JR, Willlard., Lincoln, Vietnam Towle, Philip E., York, KoreaTrouba, Sylvester, Dwight, KoreaTucker, Lyle R., Elwood, KoreaTunnison, Gary M., Lincoln, VietnamValasek, Walter, Spalding, WWIIVandersnick, Lewis, Ewing, KoreaVogelsang, Larry E., Hallam, VietnamVolker, Otto, Johnson, WWIIVortman, Gerald, Carleton, WWIIWallace, Selby L., Kearney, KoreaWaller, Jim D., Lincoln, Lin-coln, Vietnam Warren, Donald Z., Ralston, WWIIWegelin, Fred, Lincoln, Viet-namWhite, Darrel E., Lincoln, Vietnam White, Larry A., Oxford, Viet-namWilkening, Dale E., Bruning, VietnamWilliams, Edwin, Wymore, WWIIWilson, Robert R., Lincoln, Korea Winkelmann, Milton F., Utica, WWIIWoerth, Charles H., Lincoln, WWII Wolfe, Ralph H., Lincoln, WWII Wurm, Marvin L., Jansen, KoreaZank, Elmer A., Lincoln, WWII
Page 8-The Nebraska Legionnaire-June, 2016
In March the Floyd Gleason American Legion Post 131 of Allen honored two veterans for their years of con-tinuous membership. Commander Richard Puckett pre-sented Keith Hill (blue Sweater) a 70 year pin and cer-tificate and Bernard Keil a 60 year pin and certificate.
Stuart American Legion Post 115 held the annual Ameri-can Legion Birthday. Rodney Kaup received a 45 year cer-tificate and pin from Post Commander Marvin Scholz. Re-ceiving awards but not present Neale Hamilton received a 65 year certificate, pin & Plaque; The remaining Legion-naires received Certificates and pin, Joseph Deermer and Alvin Schmeling (55), Harlan J. Ninas (50), Larry Baumeis-ter & Andy Irish (45), Sam Sambasile (40), Jon Egge (35), Thonas G. King (30) and Terry Irish & Carlo Trujillo (25).
Bellevue's Martin-Graves Post 339 Adjutant, John Wray, presents Laura Sands Scott a Citation of Ap-preciation for proudly and properly flying the U.S. Flag in front of her business, "The Special" Restau-rant in Bellevue. "The Special" is first to be recog-nized in Post 339's new program to formally recog-nize Bellevue businesses that display the U.S. Flag.
Utica Post 49 honored World War II Veteran Milton Winkelmann for 60 years continuous membership in the American Legion. Pictured are Commander James Deremer and Adju-tant Ron Rohren present-ing the award to Milton. Milton has since gone to the post everlasting.
Friend Commander Ron Corbett recently awarded fellow Friend Legion member Glen Kinsman with his 70 year "continuous membership certificate and lapel pin" for sup-porting the American Legion and its programs since 1946. Kinsman gained his eligibility by serving during WWII.
American Legion South Omaha Post 331 presented certificates for continuous membership at the Ameri-can Legion birthday dinner. Pictured (l-r) Richard L. Green (50), Leroy Scott (50), Post Commander Jim Zach (35), Frank J. Semin (60) and Leroy M. Loth (50)
Steele City American Legion Post 349 and Aux-iliary held their birthday supper with the follow-ing veterans attending. Pictured (l-r) Bruce Junker, Ralph Broadston, Dick Bugbee, Mitch Zabokrtsky, Clinton Quintana, Dan Swett and Lyle Katz.
Wayne Post 43 honored two veterans for their continuous member-ship in the American Legion. Both received a 70 year certificate from Post Commander Denny Lutt. Pictured with the commander is Rich-ard (Rick) Lund and the right picture is Raymond Reeg with his certificate.
Brown-Hays Table Rock Post 289 recognized Gordon Clement for his 60 years of continu-ous membership in the American. The presenta-tion was made by his son Adjutant Gregg Clement.
Walter V. Bosak who has carried the American Flag as a member of the Genoa Edward H. Larson Post 144 Honor Guard for 70 Years is shown here officially passing the responsibility to his son, Todd Bosak.
Exeter Post 218 Com-mander Alan Songster, left, presents a 70 year member pin for Frank Tauriella to his son John Tauriella. Frank Tauriella recently passed away and his son presented a me-morial donation to the Le-gion in his father’s name.
Exeter American Legion Post 218 Auxiliary Presi-dent Marsha Jorgensen and Diane Henke (who assembled the quilt) also gave a coordinat-ing pillow to Alva Smith a World War II veteran.
Janet Jefford, of Manchester, Conn., was elected national president ofthe American Legion Auxiliary during the organization’s 94th NationalConvention in Charlotte, N.C., Aug. 22-28.
Jefford joined The American Legion Auxiliary through her fatherWilliam Lucas, a WWII Army veteran. She is also eligible through herson, Jeff, a Desert Storm Army veteran. Jefford is a member of Goodale-Rameker Unit 56.
Jefford is the first Connecticut resident to represent the AmericanLegion Auxiliary as national president since Helen Lee Gilbert during the1944-1945 administrative year. She has held numerous leadership posi-tions in the organization at the unit, district and department levels, includ-ing eight national program chairmanships. She currently serves on the2014-2019 Centennial Strategic Planning leadership team.
Jefford recently retired as vice president of institutional effectivenessat Goodwin College in East Hartford, Conn. She served as a commission-er on an agency that accredits schools and colleges, and as president andchairman of the Board of Connecticut Training Center, a community-based nonprofit training center. Jefford has two children and two grand-children. All are members of The American Legion Family.
By JACKI O’NEILLDepartment Secretary
The Department Convention plans are setand now we need you to come to Kearney June26-28 to join us. What’s new for this year? Theitems on hand from Flag and Emblem sales willbe available to purchase. Copies of newbrochures and pamphlets will be available.Everyone that attends will receive a packet ofnew brochures and a Convention Annual withthe chairmen reports and awards listings.Membership cards will be available to pick upfor each unit. Those not picked up will bemailed from Department Headquarters after
Convention. Anyone wanting their cards mailed to the unit membership chairmenprior to Convention will need to call 402-466-1808 and submit a request.
Thanks to all of you that submitted your volunteer hours and dollars for ouryear-end reporting. Those numbers are so important to this organization when TheAmerican Legion reports to congress.
By the way did you know being an American Legion Auxiliary member liter-ally took an Act of Congress to make that available to you? Please let other eligiblewomen know how important their belonging to this organization means to ourVeterans. It’s time to be proud to say - I belong because MY Veteran made it pos-sible for me through his/her service to this great country and with an Act ofCongress. At Department Convention I will be reporting on what I learned at theDepartment Leadership National Conference this May in Indianapolis.
See you in Kearney!
By BARB SKILLMANDepartment President
Dear Members,I would like to say thank you for all the work you have done this year.
And thank you for allowing me the privilege to serve as yourDepartment President. The time did go very fast and I will have wonder-ful memories of the visits, special meetings, and the special Auxiliarymembers I have met that made this year special.
I hope you will attend the Department Convention June 26-28 at theHoliday Inn Kearney. Please come meet our special guest NationalPresident Janet Jefford.
I have received our last membership update from National we aredoing well on renewals — Nebraska is in first place; on our Numeric goalwe are slipping fast — we are at 9th place.
Have you renewed your membership? Iif not do so today. Unit mem-bership chairman please do not hold any dues to be sent in for process-ing. We need every paid membership we can get our hands on to makeour goals. Thank You!
I just returned from a special event at the Harry S Truman Library andMuseum remembering our President for his 131st birthday and the 70years since VE Day. It was a wonderful day.
I will have the pleasure to attend Girls State on May 31 through June6. Our special guest will be Northwestern Vice President Lori SkallerudI am looking forward meeting all the girls you chose from your Unit toattend this special week.
The American Legion AuxiliaryDepartment of Nebraska The Star
Department Convention...............................June 25-28 Holiday Inn, Kearney Please make plans to attend the 2015 Department Convention
Every Unit President received a “Convention Call” to promote attendance tothe Department Convention. The business will take place on Thursday andFriday followed by Chairmen reports which include many awards distributed tounits and members. Each Unit is allowed delegates and alternates according tothe unit paid membership by May 24.REGISTRATION FEE — Delegates, Alternates and Senior members will becharged a registration fee of $10.00.Junior members will be charged a registration fee of $5.00, that fee will notinclude the packet with the Convention Annual. Have your 2015 member cardavailable for quicker registration.
National President To VisitNebraska ALA Convention At Kearney
Inside The Star
Lottery Winners, Service to Veterans, ConventionSchedule Page 2In Memoriam, Unit Activities, Special Notices, ThankYous Page 3Chairman Reports, Scholarships, Help Wanted Page 4
Jackson Unit #175recently sponsored aPoppy Poster Contestand an AmericanismEssay Contest.
Poster winners arefirst through third place,3rd Grade — Tia Pick,Brady Carnell and TaylorFleury; 4th Grade —Abbie Hrouda, BrienaGallardo and MariannaRomero; 5th Grade —Faith Pick, MackenzieSchram and KennedyHarding; 6th Grade —Nayleli Cabrales, EliRiedel, and JocelynnGraves; and SpecialNeeds — HannahWahls, Lucas Twohigand Nate Coffman.
Essay winners are,first through third place,3rd Grade — Lily Korth,Deighton James andDylan Kastning; 4thGrade — Abbie Hrouda,Cole Jackson and EllieMcAfee; 5th Grade —Taylor Korth, MacKensieSchram and MatthewLenz; 6th Grade —Caden Schram,McKensie Kneifl andKaden Fields; andSpecial Needs — NateCoffman, JacksonStroud and AvaFontenot.
The Hartford, which is an approved member benefitsprovider of the American Legion Auxiliary, will be mailingmembers information about their Senior Term LifeInsurance. These mailings are scheduled to be sent outstarting Monday, May 18th. More information regarding theHartford can be found on the national website in theMembers Only section by clicking on Member Benefits.
June 2016
“Time flies” – It is hard to believe that nearly a year has passed since I was elected to serve as Department President. The year has been a rewarding and educational experience with a mixture of challenges and suc-cesses. Membership continues to keep everyone working hard to reverse the membership slide, and your department leaders continue to devote time to help save unit charters.
Why do we work so hard to help a unit keep its charter? The charter is our symbol of support for our American Legion and our oath of support for our com-munity, children and youth, and patriotism. When a community loses its American Legion Aux-iliary unit --- it loses a vital cog in the wheel of Americanism, the Girls State program is impacted, and --- most of all --- our veter-ans are impacted by the loss of volunteers to carry out our mis-sion of service.
As of early May, Nebraska had 1,500 members who had not paid their 2016 dues; but I know many units have been doing
their best to get those renewals --- and I appreciate their efforts. We must continue to encourage member renewals to ensure the future of our organization, and to provide support for our vet-erans and military families. The benefits of membership are more than monetary --- they are truly rewarding at a personal level when you experience the smile of a veteran as you share your time. Let’s show the rest of the country that we are truly dedicated to our organization by continuing our membership push. I am always available to help with making those phone calls or personal visits to help.
Ha t s o ff t o t he nea r-ly 200 units that completed the Annual report forms. I know that the reporting process was time-consuming, but the information is so important for all of us to see and share with others. I enjoyed reading the variety of activities sponsored by units and seeing the number of volunteers and hours devoted to our mission. Nebraska will be able to proudly report our impact because of the
work that you all did to record your work.
Thank you for the generous donations to the Department President’s project fund this year. The donations will be distrib-uted to the Auxiliary Emergency Fund (AEF), Lincoln VA Home Front for homeless veterans, and the Department Scholarship fund. The amount of donations for AEF has been absolutely overwhelming, and I want to thank you for your willingness to help other ALA members.
The Department Convention is around the corner, so please plan to join us from June 24-26, 2016 at the Kearney Ramada Inn. If you can’t be there for the whole weekend, check out the schedule in this issue and find a time to attend --- as it is truly a worthwhile experience.
Above all, let me extend my heartfelt THANKS to everyone who extended hospitalities to me over the past year. It has been my honor to serve you and our veterans and a privilege to get to know so many of our members during my travels. We are truly blessed to have the loyal and dedicated members in our great state of Nebraska. Please keep focusing on our mission as we move forward together.
Always Remember our Mis-sion to Serve our Veterans and Military.
sill calendar is “The only change people like is the change that jingles in their pockets.” Embrac-ing changes in an organization that is almost 100 year old is a challenge as well as an evolution-ary necessity. May we all adapt to the new exciting alterations in our organization.
The first week in May, four members of the Nebraska Lead-ership team attended the De-partment Leadership National Conference in Indianapolis to learn What’s New in the American Legion Auxiliary and, of course, improve leadership skills.
Here is the list.Leadership Training: Plans
are being made to create an ALA 101 Academy. Programs will be created for individual members to improve knowledge and leader-ship. They will be entitled Ori-entation 101, Involvement 201, Department Leadership 301, and National Leadership 401. Each course will build upon the other.
Mission Training: Members will be able to attend one-day Mission Training sessions tar-geted at each of the five National divisions --- adding a 6th to ac-commodate those states on the
outskirts of each division. The Northwestern Division session will be in Minneapolis on No-vember 5th.
Juniors: Junior members will be continuing having their own Divisional sessions in con-junction with Mission Trainings rather than attending the National Conference.
Membership: Online renew-als will continue with the added bonus of signing up new members online. Also, online dues notices will continue. If you do not want to receive a notice by email, con-tact the Department office to have your email removed.
Membership Goals: While we still are focused on having One Million Members by 2019, we are focused on retaining new members and enhancing our membership strength. Members are encouraged to give the gift of Membership to family members. Departments will set their own membership goals in 2017.
Transferring Membership: Members will now be able to pay dues to the unit to which she is transferring rather than the previ-ous unit.
Debra AlbersDept. Vice President
!
Barbara Washburn Department of Nebraska President
American Legion Auxiliary 2015-2016
!
Barbara Washburn Department of Nebraska President
American Legion Auxiliary 2015-2016
Melissa Steinle, on behalf of Papillion American Legion Auxiliary Unit 32, accepted a certificate of appreciation from Jeff Smith, Interim Administrator of the Eastern Nebraska Veterans Home, at the 9th Annual Volunteer Recognition Program in April. The unit was recognized for their valuable contributions in 2015-2016 during National Nursing Home Week, as valuable helpers on outings, providing decorations, conducting monthly bingo sessions with members, and assisting with the evening meals every other month at Post 32.
MEMORIAL POPPY We focus our attention highly
in the month of May on the Poppy. As we know, this is the symbolic red flower reminding us of the sacrifices of war. May has been a busy month for our Auxiliary members. Many of you have prepared centerpieces, planned contests for Little Miss Poppy and Poppy Posters, plus prepar-ing and having poppy distribution days. Plans are also being made for Memorial Day celebration, and I must not forget --- prepar-ing annual reports?? Whatever you have done, it was very much appreciated!!
I have completed reviewing the “year-end reports” that many units sent to the Department of Nebraska. I had approximately 175 reports --- maybe more --- to
read, and I found so many differ-ent ways that poppies are being used and how the youth are being involved with the distributions. I am so glad that many of you are using your local newspaper to advertise events. Displaying the Poppy Posters in business area windows for a week or more was a great way to show appreciation to the students who made them plus letting our veterans know how the students expressed their feelings when the posters were made. All reports, large total numbers or no numbers, mean something to me. You are all part of our family, and each of you show support to our veterans.
Department Convention is just around the corner --- don’t forget to bring a Poppy Corsage
for President Barbara’s “Poppy Corsage Contest.” It is a fund raiser for the American Legion Auxiliary Emergency Fund. I am hoping to see many pictures of the Poppy Window displays in your home town. I have heard there are some already displayed in malls, senior centers, business windows, and post homes. Please send your pictures to me or bring them to convention; we will have them on display.
Again, thank you to all for what you have done and are do-ing for the Poppy Program. I appreciate your participation. Remember --- “Wear Your Poppy With Pride.”
Jenice BatesDept. Poppy Chairman
Volunteers are needed to assist with registration, etc. at Department Convention in Kearney, June 23-26. Please let Secretary Jacki O’Neill know if you are willing to help at 402-466-1808 or [email protected].
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
CHILDREN & YOUTH LUNCHEONPlan now to attend the Chil-
dren and Youth luncheon on Sat-urday, June 25, at the Kearney Le-gion Club. Lunch will be served at 12 pm followed by a program which includes a family speaking about their stay at the “Rainbow House” during their child’s medi-cal treatment at the Children’s Hospital. Cost for the event is $10, which includes lunch.
Hamburger on a Bun, Potato Salad, Fruit Cup, Coffee, Tea, or Water
Send your check to reserve
your luncheon tickets to :
American Legion AuxiliaryC & Y LuncheonPO Box 5227Lincoln, NE 68505-0227Make checks payable to: A.L.A. Treasurer
Tickets will be available for pickup at the Auxiliary regis-tration table at the Department Convention.
Sharon BrozovskyChildren & Youth Chr.
EDITOR’S NOTEPlease send articles and pictures for future editions of “The Star” to Lorene Bartos, Editor, 7441 San Mateo Lane, Lincoln, NE 68516 or email to [email protected]. Send photos jpg as attachments. Materials for the next issue need to be submitted by June 10, 2016.
Just a few reminders. Your unit narrative history for
the current year is due to the De-partment Historian by July 1. This history should cover unit activi-ties from June/July 2015 through May/June 2016. Citation points for these histories go toward next year’s citation point total.
Department officers and chairmen --- Don’t forget to send
in your biography (preferably with a picture) to the Depart-ment Historian to be included in the Department History Book for 2015-2016. You may bring them to Department Convention in June.
District Secretaries --- Please make sure you have submitted the minutes of your District Fall Meetings and Spring Conven-
tions. These will also be included in the Department History Book.
And, thank you, District Pres-
idents, for remembering to send in your monthly newsletters.
Kathy Mazur
HISTORY
I would like to give a “Shout Out” to each and everyone of the American Legion Auxiliary members for sharing your time and money to support the Ameri-can Legion and American Legion Auxiliary projects and programs. And our troops!
You are public relations!Thank you for wearing the
American Legion Auxiliary brand. Thank you for promoting and publicizing your unit and report-ing to Department. Thank you for selling The Nebraska Life maga-zine to earn money for your unit.
Thank you to the chairmen,
the officers, and President Bar-bara for your leadership!!!
“Leadership is the art of get-ting someone else to do some-thing you want done because he wants to do it.” ----- a quote from Dwight D. Eisenhower
Yours in service Alice Vieselmeyer
Public Relations Chairman
THANK YOU16th ANNUAL
MIRACLE MILESFOR KIDS
WALK-A-THONSponsored by
American Legion Post 27America Legion Auxiliary
Unit 27Sons of the American Legion
Squadron 27Legion Riders
Beatrice, Nebraska
Come join usJune 11, 2016
8:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.Check-in, Registration,
RefreshmentsVeteran’s Club701 Dorsey St
10:00 a.m. Walk-A-Thon3 Miles or whatever
is possible For additional information or to send
donations, please contact:Marian Melcher at
(402) 239-07461114 So 6th
Beatrice NE 68310Children and Youth Chairman
The month of May is Poppy month and is also the time when we remember those men and women who gave their lives to keep our country free.
The Poppy has a long his-tory of providing for the needs of our veterans. In the months of combat during World War I, men of all nations who engaged in the conflict noticed and symbolized the Poppy, because in the midst of the horrors and death of war the Poppy of the fields of France and Flanders grew wild with a fresh-ness and strength untouched by the strife surrounding it. Poppies grew abundantly in the fields and cemeteries of Verdan and Chateau Thierry and were used on the graves of men of all nations. With the picture of the white crosses in the fields of Poppies, Colonel John McCrae visualized his poem, the immortal “In Flanders’ Fields.”
So, a symbol was born to be used later in New York City on November 9, 1918 when Miss Monina Michael of Athens, Geor-gia distributed the Poppies to men attending the 25th convention of
the YMCA.On September 29, 1920, at
the National Convention of the American Legion, the Poppy was proclaimed the memorial flower of the American Legion. From that time on, a crepe paper Poppy was made by disabled veterans; and these were taken by members of the American Legion and Auxiliary and distributed in communities across the nation to anyone who gave a donation for the flower. There is no set price for the Poppy. The funds received are used to help veterans, and the veterans who make the Poppies are paid for doing so.
The Poppies are also used to decorate graves, make wreaths, and --- as is seen here -- to deco-rate this Memorial Poppy Tree.
REMEMBER. YOU ARE HELPING OUR VETERANS WHEN YOU MAKE A DONA-TION FOR A POPPY
Sharon ScottUnit #224
MEMORIAL POPPY TREE
Janet Jefford, of Manchester, Conn., was elected national president ofthe American Legion Auxiliary during the organization’s 94th NationalConvention in Charlotte, N.C., Aug. 22-28.
Jefford joined The American Legion Auxiliary through her fatherWilliam Lucas, a WWII Army veteran. She is also eligible through herson, Jeff, a Desert Storm Army veteran. Jefford is a member of Goodale-Rameker Unit 56.
Jefford is the first Connecticut resident to represent the AmericanLegion Auxiliary as national president since Helen Lee Gilbert during the1944-1945 administrative year. She has held numerous leadership posi-tions in the organization at the unit, district and department levels, includ-ing eight national program chairmanships. She currently serves on the2014-2019 Centennial Strategic Planning leadership team.
Jefford recently retired as vice president of institutional effectivenessat Goodwin College in East Hartford, Conn. She served as a commission-er on an agency that accredits schools and colleges, and as president andchairman of the Board of Connecticut Training Center, a community-based nonprofit training center. Jefford has two children and two grand-children. All are members of The American Legion Family.
By JACKI O’NEILLDepartment Secretary
The Department Convention plans are setand now we need you to come to Kearney June26-28 to join us. What’s new for this year? Theitems on hand from Flag and Emblem sales willbe available to purchase. Copies of newbrochures and pamphlets will be available.Everyone that attends will receive a packet ofnew brochures and a Convention Annual withthe chairmen reports and awards listings.Membership cards will be available to pick upfor each unit. Those not picked up will bemailed from Department Headquarters after
Convention. Anyone wanting their cards mailed to the unit membership chairmenprior to Convention will need to call 402-466-1808 and submit a request.
Thanks to all of you that submitted your volunteer hours and dollars for ouryear-end reporting. Those numbers are so important to this organization when TheAmerican Legion reports to congress.
By the way did you know being an American Legion Auxiliary member liter-ally took an Act of Congress to make that available to you? Please let other eligiblewomen know how important their belonging to this organization means to ourVeterans. It’s time to be proud to say - I belong because MY Veteran made it pos-sible for me through his/her service to this great country and with an Act ofCongress. At Department Convention I will be reporting on what I learned at theDepartment Leadership National Conference this May in Indianapolis.
See you in Kearney!
By BARB SKILLMANDepartment President
Dear Members,I would like to say thank you for all the work you have done this year.
And thank you for allowing me the privilege to serve as yourDepartment President. The time did go very fast and I will have wonder-ful memories of the visits, special meetings, and the special Auxiliarymembers I have met that made this year special.
I hope you will attend the Department Convention June 26-28 at theHoliday Inn Kearney. Please come meet our special guest NationalPresident Janet Jefford.
I have received our last membership update from National we aredoing well on renewals — Nebraska is in first place; on our Numeric goalwe are slipping fast — we are at 9th place.
Have you renewed your membership? Iif not do so today. Unit mem-bership chairman please do not hold any dues to be sent in for process-ing. We need every paid membership we can get our hands on to makeour goals. Thank You!
I just returned from a special event at the Harry S Truman Library andMuseum remembering our President for his 131st birthday and the 70years since VE Day. It was a wonderful day.
I will have the pleasure to attend Girls State on May 31 through June6. Our special guest will be Northwestern Vice President Lori SkallerudI am looking forward meeting all the girls you chose from your Unit toattend this special week.
The American Legion AuxiliaryDepartment of Nebraska The Star
Department Convention...............................June 25-28 Holiday Inn, Kearney Please make plans to attend the 2015 Department Convention
Every Unit President received a “Convention Call” to promote attendance tothe Department Convention. The business will take place on Thursday andFriday followed by Chairmen reports which include many awards distributed tounits and members. Each Unit is allowed delegates and alternates according tothe unit paid membership by May 24.REGISTRATION FEE — Delegates, Alternates and Senior members will becharged a registration fee of $10.00.Junior members will be charged a registration fee of $5.00, that fee will notinclude the packet with the Convention Annual. Have your 2015 member cardavailable for quicker registration.
National President To VisitNebraska ALA Convention At Kearney
Inside The Star
Lottery Winners, Service to Veterans, ConventionSchedule Page 2In Memoriam, Unit Activities, Special Notices, ThankYous Page 3Chairman Reports, Scholarships, Help Wanted Page 4
Jackson Unit #175recently sponsored aPoppy Poster Contestand an AmericanismEssay Contest.
Poster winners arefirst through third place,3rd Grade — Tia Pick,Brady Carnell and TaylorFleury; 4th Grade —Abbie Hrouda, BrienaGallardo and MariannaRomero; 5th Grade —Faith Pick, MackenzieSchram and KennedyHarding; 6th Grade —Nayleli Cabrales, EliRiedel, and JocelynnGraves; and SpecialNeeds — HannahWahls, Lucas Twohigand Nate Coffman.
Essay winners are,first through third place,3rd Grade — Lily Korth,Deighton James andDylan Kastning; 4thGrade — Abbie Hrouda,Cole Jackson and EllieMcAfee; 5th Grade —Taylor Korth, MacKensieSchram and MatthewLenz; 6th Grade —Caden Schram,McKensie Kneifl andKaden Fields; andSpecial Needs — NateCoffman, JacksonStroud and AvaFontenot.
The Hartford, which is an approved member benefitsprovider of the American Legion Auxiliary, will be mailingmembers information about their Senior Term LifeInsurance. These mailings are scheduled to be sent outstarting Monday, May 18th. More information regarding theHartford can be found on the national website in theMembers Only section by clicking on Member Benefits.
The Custer County ALA recently held a Spring Tea for veterans and guests at the Grand Island Veterans Home. They were entertained by a singer who sang Elvis Presley songs. President Nancy Harrold and 9 members from 5 units served pie, ice cream, and punch. About 55 veterans were present, and pie was served to 20 others in their rooms.Members, L-R: Sandra Eggleston, Chris Johnson, Ramona Kirby, Lucille Beshaler, Nancy Harrold, Joyce Roberts, Alicia Rehbein, Joyce Brestel, and Judy Struempler
2016 ALA DEPARTMENT CONVENTION Ramada & Conference Center Kearney, Nebraska
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22District Presidents and Department Chairmen who arrive early can meet with the Department President in the President’s suite after 7 p .m .
THURSDAY, JUNE 23 8:30 a .m . - Constitution & Bylaws Committee – Department President’s suite . 9 a .m . – 10:45 a .m . ALA DEC meets for DEC training - Paradise 1 & 211 a .m . – 12:15 p .m . ALA DEC - Paradise 1 & 21:00 p .m . – 5:00 p .m . ALA DEC - Paradise 1 & 211 a .m . – 11:30 a .m . Registration Committee - Outside Paradise 1 & 2Noon – 6 p .m . ALA Registration Opens - Outside Paradise 1 & 2The meetings scheduled below are at the discretion of the chairman, some meet prior to convention.5 p .m . – 6 p .m . Constitution and Bylaws – Paradise 1 & 2All ALA meetings will be held in Paradise 1 & 2 unless otherwise noted .
FRIDAY, JUNE 24 8:00 a .m . – 4:00 p .m . ALA Registration Continues – Outside Paradise 1 & 28:30 a .m . – 11:45 a .m . ALA Formal Opening and General SessionNoon – History, Publicity and Prayer books, Poppy Posters, Centerpieces and Corsages checked in at Registration desk1 p .m . – 2:30 p .m . Joint Session & Memorial Service - Paradise 3 & 42:30 p .m . – 5 p .m . ALA Session Reconvenes5 p .m . – 5:30 p .m . District Caucuses 7 p .m . – 9 p .m . VA&R Planning Meeting - Paradise 1 & 2: ALL American Legion Family members welcome
SATURDAY, JUNE 25 7:45 a .m . Sgt . at Arms on site 8:00 a .m . – 12:00 p .m . ALA Registration Continues – Outside Paradise 1 & 28:30 a .m . – 11:00 a .m . ALA General Session reconvenes 11:00 a .m . – 11:30 a .m . Memorial tributes: Arlyce Smith and Cleo CraigieNoon – 2:00 p .m . Children & Youth Luncheon, Kearney Post 52, 1223 Central Ave2 p .m . – 2:30 p .m . Resolutions and Elections 2:30 p .m . – 4 p .m . Special Guests & Candidates Reception -- Pool Area
SUNDAY, JUNE 26 8 a .m . – 8:45 a .m . Joint Religious Worship Services -- Paradise 1 & 28:00 a .m . – 9:00 a .m . ALA Final Registration – Outside Paradise 1 & 29:00 a .m . – Noon ALA General Session -- Paradise 1 & 2Doors will close when elections and voting on convention business occur (Immediately following adjournment, the Post-Convention Department Executive Committee will meet)
Lincoln VA Clinic Needs
The Lincoln VA Clinic has the following needs:
$$$ (monetary donations) towards the coffee program. (Coffee served daily in all areas)Household cleaning supplies (for the veterans being assisted with apartments)Bus Passes for low income – social workers at the VA (bought from Lincoln Transportation)Questions contact Linda Varejcka [email protected]
The Fort Calhoun St. John’s Catholic Faith Formation Religion Class sold desserts at the church Lenten fish fries, raked leaves, and did all kinds of jobs to raise money. Then, from a long list of things they could do with the money, they voted to do “buddy baskets” for homeless veterans about to be placed into housing.
The class made 15 baskets costing about $50 each. Auxiliary Unit 348 watched the last 5 baskets being put together and gave the class information on our homeless veterans. The unit then loaded up the baskets and delivered them to the VA for distribution.
FORT CALHOUN Ohiowa Franklin Post 193 Legion members wrapped in their Quilts of Valor.
It all began at the Ohiowa Legion Hall. A community of women joined together on Febru-ary 23, 2016 to sew quilts for our U.S. service personnel and veter-ans. Awarding Quilts of Valor is one way to honor and say thank you to those for their service, sacrifice, and valor. One veteran stated “This is all I have to show for my time in Korea.” Another declared, “This is the only thank you I received after coming home from Vietnam.” Twenty-nine women responded to the invita-tion and completed twenty quilt tops for this patriotic effort.
In times of a declining Ne-braska rural population, coordina-tion and collaboration between entities can be more effective. In a powerful cooperative endeavor between American Legion Aux-iliary Franklin Unit 193 (Ohiowa, NE) and Durhamn Mammen Unit 166 (Bruning, NE), members formed the Piecemakers Quilts of Valor (QOV) Sewing Group under American Legion Auxiliary leadership.
Five Ohiowa Legionnaires received the first Quilts of Valor in the community in September and four more since then. An Ohiowa Auxiliary member told the story of Quilts of Valor as thirteen American Legion Riders in full regalia wrapped a quilt around veterans at the Fairmont Manor Nursing Home in the presence of a thankful and over-flowing audience.
Generous donations from local American Legion posts, Auxiliary, SAL, American Legion Riders, Rotary, Norris Public Power, Niobrara Public Power, 4-H Councils, local 4-H Founda-tions, Thrivent funds, local busi-nesses, churches, families and individual Auxiliary members provide funds to purchase fabric, batting, and quilting needed to complete the Quilts of Valor by Piecemakers volunteers. To date, the local Piecemakers group has received $3,700.
The more the word spreads about this patriotic effort, the more requests are received for
IN THE SPIRIT OF GOODWILL
quilts to extend thanks to service personnel and veterans. The Piecemakers group continues to sew monthly to make quilts to fill the increasing requests. Ohiowa ALA Unit 193 members Barb Dunse, Pat Dunse, Betty Rem-ter, Darlene Schropfer, Phyllis Schoenholz, and Jan Wolfteich belong to the newly organized Piecemakers.
This is a perfect example of the Auxiliary spreading goodwill!
Vicki OzenbaughLeadership Chairman
4-generation members from Louisville Unit 353. Pictured, L-R: Tracy Heard, Olivia Heard, Virginia Knutson (50 year member), Avery Heard, and Nancy Briggs. They are members through Virginia’s husband, Robert, who served with the Navy during WWII.
2014-2015 Member of the YearNoreen Anderson, Gordon Unit #34, was our 2014-2015 Member of the Year. She showed many talents. If Noreen was needed by the Auxiliary, the American Legion, or the community, she would take time from work or go on her lunch time to help. She stepped up to the plate on all occasions.
“Help. I need someone, not just anyone….” The familiar lyrics from a popular “Beatles” song can take on many mean-ings and emotions. Is this what our veterans and active - military are in need of? Is this, also, what the units in the American Legion Auxiliary work for everyday? Of course, we all know the answer is an astounding YES!
The priority of help and sup-port for our past, present, and future veterans has taken a down turn nationwide; and, sadly, even in our own small communities. Even though some may argue otherwise, this is what IS. No matter how pretty you paint that outhouse, it is still an outhouse. In all the political rhetoric we have heard this year, support for veterans and military is usually addressed by a short statement, almost appearing to be an after-thought. Cuts for defense do not appear to be controversial, so they are made often and in increased amounts. Those who are making those decisions have forgotten those who fought for the very rights that allow them to do so.
So, by now hopefully, you
are asking what any of those statements have to do with mem-bership in the American Legion Auxiliary? The answer is EV-ERYTHING! We are the world’s largest patriotic ladies organiza-tion. We, individually and as an organization, have the power and passion to correct this situation. Growing with increased member-ship and putting more fuel in the tank will make our engine more efficient and dependable. Ladies, the time is now! We must prepare. We must take on leadership posi-tions. We must stand up for our veterans and military.
As it has been mentioned many times before, if we don’t, who will? I would like to thank all the wonderful units who sent in their year-end reports. It helps your unit to reflect and, for me as chairman, see what was suc-cessful and provided great ideas for next year. Membership goals were a daunting challenge. Some units were overwhelmed; others took it on and have many new members to mentor and bring new life to their unit. This was realized across the nation.
New goals for 2017 will be
set by each Department. The numbers must reflect growth over 2016, but won’t be as heart stopping. Please remember --- the first step taken is the most produc-tive. Keep your dues current. I’m setting my Independence Day for having my dues current by July 4th --- easy to remember. In fact, there may even be a holiday to celebrate it. Article written in a CRAB FREE ZONE! Make membership fun, cause it’s num-ber one.
Barbie MeyerDept. Membership Chr.
MEMBERSHIP
Members of the Battle Creek Unit #75 were honored with continuous membership certificates during the Unit’s May salad luncheon meeting. Jeanie Barray, 70-years, Verona Tegeler, 55 years, and Sue Buckendahl, 45 years.
Gresham’s Davidson-Neujahr Unit 13 Auxiliary Membership Chair Pam George (left) presented membership pins to Pat Branz (center) for 60 years and Jennie Romohr (right) for 65 years of continuous membership.
District 11 Juniors held their conference on April 3 at the Wil-ber Louis Milan Legion Post 101. 33 Junior members registered for the conference.
Emma Thede, District 11 President and member of Unit 101, chose the theme, “Red, White, and Blue forever true; let’s help the veterans as they helped you!,” for the meeting. Emma’s proj-ect focused on the needs of the Lincoln VA Clinic. Conference attendees were asked to bring an item for the guest relations refreshment cart. Raffle tickets sold provided funds for cleaning supplies needed for the Homeless Outreach program. Items donated to the VA Clinic were valued at $300.
Amy Kozak-Jensen and El-lie Thede, Junior members of Unit 101, served as pages under the leadership of Bonnie Dumler, Department Parliamentarian. District 11 Vice President Vicki Ozenbaugh led the Juniors in crafting tray favors for the Veter-
ans Homes. State Patrolman Phil Thede demonstrated the correct way to fold the American flag. Department Vice President Deb Albers presented a powerpoint lesson on the American flag.
Deb Albers also installed the 2016-2017 officers. Those installed were President Kai-sley Krupicka - Milligan Unit
240 ; Vice -Pres iden t Car-ly Rains - Dorchester Unit 264; Historian,Allison Wiles - Dorchester Unit 264; and Chap-lain Amy Kozak-Jensen - Wilber Unit 101.
To conclude the conference activities, Wilber Unit Juniors presented the Military Children’s Table Setting ceremony.
DISTRICT 11 JUNIOR CONFERENCE
Top Ten as of April 20, 20161-348 Ft. Calhoun 139.13%2 -138 Crawford 136.36%3 - 227 Newport 109.8%4 - 279 Hershey 105.41%5 - 311 Cody 101.79%6 - 215 Decatur 101.72%7 - 32 Papillion 101.48%8 - 108 Ashton 100%8 - 363 Winnebago 100% 8 - 83 Gresham 100%9 - 212 Dewitt 99.15%10- Platte Center 97.44%
Papillion American Legion Auxiliary Unit 32 members Mary Schechinger and Sue Lauritsen distributed poppies outside Walmart on May 7, 2016. Harry Bossard American Legionnaires, Riders, and SAL members also distributed poppies at three other stores in Papillion.
This will be my last article for the Star. The next two years, I will be the District 2 Auxiliary President and will
need to give that endeavor my complete focus and attention. However, I will definitely not forget about music.
I am encouraging all units to continue to use music at every
meeting. From the reports I have received, I can see that the Star Spangled Banner and God Bless America are being sung. Music is also being shared at Veterans Homes and Care Centers. I was especially pleased with those units who provided music at pa-triotic programs, parades, and for veterans in all capacities. Also, thank you to those units who con-tributed monetary gifts to school music programs.
Thank you, Barb, for allow-
ing me this opportunity to share music with all of you. I loved every minute of it.
June:Hymn: What a Friend We Have
in JesusPatriotic: Stars and Stripes
ForeverFellowship: It’s a Small World
Marlene MeyerMusic Chairman
“ALWAYS REMEMBER” WITH MUSIC
In Memoriam
By KATHY MAZURWhen my children were much
younger, I never had much time to sit andread; but when I did, I enjoyed readinganything by Erma Bombeck. She had away of finding the humor in everyday life,work, home and child rearing, and writingabout it. I hadn’t thought about her in yearsuntil a few months ago when I saw a posterwith one of her quotes. It read, “When I
die and stand before God, I hope to not have one bit of talent left in meso I can say . . . I used everything you gave me.”
Talent is ability that has many forms. Some people have artistic tal-ent, some culinary talent, some leadership talent; I have a couple
nephews with the talent of making me laugh before we can finish aconversation. In this day and age of putting one’s self first, the talentwe need to expend before we face our Maker is the talent for mak-ing other peoples’ needs a priority in our lives, also.Some of the needs of our veterans, our children and our communi-
ties can be met through the programs of the American LegionAuxiliary. The talents of our members are necessary to execute theseprograms through creative projects. If you’re a member, find a way toget involved and share your talents and ideas. If you’re not a memberand eligible (I know there are ladies who are reading theLegionnaire/STAR right now), come join us. Be that person who canstand and say . . . I used everything you gave me.
Phillipians 2:4 – Let each of you look not only to his own interests,but also to the interests of others.
Almighty God, you have blessed each of us with unique gifts, andhave called us into specific occupations, relationships and activitiesusing those gifts. Enable us to use our talents to witness to our faith inyou and to communicate your love to the people we meet each day.Empower us to be ministers of love, hope and justice. Keep us stead-fast in our commitment to serve actively in your name, Lord. Amen
Chaplain’s Corner
The StarSend submissions to —
Luayne Weisgerber, 1119 Hudson Ave.Alliance, NE 69301-2761
If you don’t see your photos, be patient. I usually have more photos than space. I really would rathernot run them too small to appreciate.
By MARLENE MEYERMusic Chairman
March is the time for DistrictConventions; and also for cele-brating The American Legion'sbirthday! Hopefully many ofyou will be able to attend thesefun conventions and meetings.Enjoy music! Music is a greatway to say "thank you" to veter-ans and Legionnaires for theirsuccesses and efforts whichallow all of us the freedoms we must NEVER take for grant-ed.
Continue to sing God Bless the USA and AuxiliaryStanding Tall. Both of these are especially fitting as we cel-ebrate "Freedom-Faith-Family" with our American LegionFamily.
March musical selections are:Hymn: Faith of our FathersPatriotic: You're a Grand Old FlagFellowship: My Wild Irish Rose
Music Surrounds‘Freedom-Faith-Family’
Your SecurityIs National Security
By JOANN WARD National Security Chairman
In a matter of weeks youwill need to prepare thosedreaded annual reports. Thereis a questionnaire on page 80of the ABC book for NationalSecurity. Quite frankly I wish Icould do it over as the ques-tions would be different. Yousee, chairman also learn asthey go along and now I havelearned of many things you
could report on easier. So... when you make your reportsplease add a narrative that tells me something about collect-ing coupons for overseas; A Christmas card drive for activeservicemen; Special efforts made for active duty servicefamilies; Clothing drives for rehab facilities; food pantrysfor the homeless. If you're reporting these things toVA&R...Great! Just be sure they are reported.
Make yourself acquainted with how Cyber Securityworks. Suicide is still an area of great concern among ouractive service members. Their families wil need help. A sta-tus note: There are 1,639 service members unaccounted forfrom the Vietnam war. Remains were returned to aWisconsin family just a few months ago in 2014. A tragedywe need to be aware of.
Keep safe and remember: Freedeom — Faith — Family
“Extra, Extra…Read All About It”
By SHARON BROZOVSKYChildren & Youth Chairman
April, designated as the American Legion’s Children andYouth Month, is fast approaching. Units are asked to conducta special activity preferably with your Post that places empha-sis on the Children and Youth Program. Be sure to publicizewhatever activity you plan. Ask the mayor to issue a proclama-
tion naming April as Children andYouth month. Send a news releaseto your local paper, with a briefexplanation of the Children andYouth Program and the details forthe activity to be held. Remember,programs affecting the childrenand youth in your community isnewsworthy!!
Youth Hero and Good DeedAward presentations during aschool assembly in April is a per-fect time to recognize deservingyouth. Work with your school
principal and/or school counselor in identifying youth whoqualify for these awards. Don’t forget to invite the media.
A brochure which highlights April Is Children & YouthMonth can be downloaded at www.legion.org.
Lastly, PLEASE, PLEASE remember to report the detailsof your activity on the end of the year Children & Youth reportform due on May 1.
Cornhusker Girls State 2015Election Volunteers Needed —
We Want You!Plans are underway for Girls State
2015 and we need your help.Election volunteers are needed to help
ensure that the election proceduresrun smoothly and efficiently.
Volunteers are needed on the followingdates and times:
Monday, June 1 - Filing for Office - 8:00a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Tuesday, June 2 - Primary Election -7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Wednesday, June 3 - General Election -9:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
(all times are approximate – location isUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln)
If you are interested in volunteering,please contact either
[email protected] or 402-926-9605Those who volunteer will receive more
information in mid-May.
Wear A Poppy With Pride!By JENICE BATESPoppy Chairman
Units, Have you contacted your local schools for the Poppy PosterContest? Another contest available to the Units is the miss PoppyContest. Rules for both contests are in the ABC Book. I encourageeveryone to begin making plans for their distribution of Poppies(Poppy Day). Remember, you can do this any time of the year andmore than one time. Make contacts with your newspaper, mayor, busi-nesses, Junior members, Brownies/Girl Scouts and have a big wonder-ful event. Wear your Auxiliary pin for identification. Make our
Veterans proud.The poppy Centerpiece Contest is held atDistrict and Department levels. There has
been a change in the rules from the ABCBook — as follows —
The National American Legion hasmade changes to the poppy program.
According to the changes the poppies can bemade by non-veterans and can be made out of anymaterials. (Only Veterans get paid to produce the orig-inal crepe paper poppies).
At the 2015 Department Mid Year Conferenceour standing rules VA&R #3 was amended to read:Nebraska American Legion Auxiliary promotes only
the Memorial crepe paper Handmade poppy for use in our Poppyfundraising program…
The current 2015 poppy centerpiece rules do not mention that thepoppies used will be only crepe paper poppies. It is preferred that westay with tradition and only use the crepe paper poppy in our center-pieces, but because the rules do not clearly state “crepe paper poppyonly” other types of poppies will be allowed.
The Flag and Star of David may be used in this year’s centerpiecesto follow the President’s theme of “Freedom, Faith, Family.”
Please complete the annual Poppy program report at the end of thePoppy Unit in the ABC book. I must receive the report by May 1.
Speaking Of ScholarshipsBy MARY ANN BOLDTEducation Chairman
Scholarships are due to the UnitPresidents by Sunday, March 1, and toDepartment, post marked by Sunday,March 15. The American LegionAuxiliary offers the NationalScholarships Children of Warriors,National Presidents’ Scholarship, theSpirit of Youth, and the Non-Traditional Student Scholarships.
This year there are only the Vocational TechnicalScholarship and Nurses Scholarships on the Department level.Units are encouraged to visit charter and private schools, aswell as put an ad in the newspaper for those who are home-schooled. We want to be sure all students have the informationavailable to them.
Be sure and check the rules sheet for pertinent informationsuch as who can apply and due dates. This is very important,as applicants have been disqualified for not following the rulesor not meeting the due dates.
For your information there is a spring program: NationalAssociation for the Education of Young Children’s Week ofthe Young Child is April 12-18! This would be an excellenttime to reach out to local preschools and even kindergartenclassrooms! Offer to run an activity or read a story.www.NAEYC.org has wonderful ideas and activities to getinvolved with young children. You can also Google thephrase! As we all know, learning starts early! This is a greatopportunity to have a large impact on the next generation; andwho knows, you may find a potential new member in theprocess!
Community Service —What Have YOU
Been Doing?By DIANA LANGERCommunity Service Chairman
REPORT, REPORT, REPORT your CommunityService volunteer hours and dollars. The nextreports are due on May 1, 2015. Ladies, keep arecord of what you do, the amount of time given,and how much money you may have spent.
One lady said, “I don’t want to brag.” This is notabout bragging. You are reporting your time anddollars to help our veterans by letting Congressknow how much is being done at home. Withouteach of you reporting they don’t know and the vet-erans are being shortchanged.
Hint: Write your hours and $’s on a calendar,total monthly, then total the year to give to yourUnit President by April 15. She then can report tothe Dept. Chairman by May 1.
The report form is found in the ABC Book oronline at www.nebraskalegionaux.net.
JUNECornhusker Girls StateDepartment Convention
1 Beverly Vlcek Plaque Award Deadline 5-11 American Legion Auxiliary Cornhusker Girls State - UNL Campus 10 Deadline for articles for July/ August issue of “The Star” 14 Flag Day – Fly your Flag 19 Father’s Day 23 DEC Meeting – Ramada Inn, Kearney 11 a.m. 23-26 Department Convention, Ramada Inn, Kearney
JULY
4 Independence Day – Department Headquarters Closed 23-30 Girls Nation – Washington, DC
FOR YOUR ADVANCED PLANING
August 26-September 1, 2016 National Convention - Cincinnati, OH
DATES TO REMEMBER
Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Faith of the Founders: While much has been written in recent years to try to dismiss the fact that America was founded upon the biblical principles of Judeo-Christianity, all the re-visionism in the world cannot change the facts. Anyone who examines the original writings, personal correspondence, biog-raphies, and public statements of the individuals who were instrumental in the founding of America will find an abundance of quotations showing the profound extent to which their thinking and lives were influenced by a Chris-tian worldview. That is not to say that all the Founding Fathers were Christians. Clearly, they
were not. But the point is that even those who were not Chris-tians were deeply influenced by the principles of Christianity – a mind-set that helped to shape their political ideals.
The Declaration of Indepen-dence identified the source of all authority and rights as “Their Creator,” and then accentuated that individual human rights were God-given, not man-made. Thus, there would be no king or estab-lished religion to stand in the way of human liberty or dignity – uniquely Judeo-Christian ideals. While most historians do not limit the “Founding Fathers” to the 55 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, this core group of men represents the religious sentiments of those who shaped the political foundations of our nation. As a matter of public record the delegates included 28
Episcopalians, 8 Presbyterians, 7 Congregationalists, 2 Lutherans, 2 Dutch Reformed, 2 Methodists, 2 Roman Catholics, 1 unknown and 3 deists (those who believe in an impersonal God who gave the world its initial impetus but then left to run its course). A full 93 percent of its members were members of Christian churches and all were deeply influenced by a biblical view of mankind and government.
“George H.W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States, stated: The great faith that led our nation’s Founding Fathers to pursue this bold experience in self-government has sustained us in uncertain and perilous times; it has given us strength and inspira-tion to this very day. Like them, we do very well to recall our ‘firm reliance on the protection of Divine Provident,’ to give thanks
for the freedom and prosperity this nation enjoys, and to pray for continued help and guidance from our wise and loving Creator.” (The American Patriot’s Bible, The Word of God and the Shaping of America, Dr. Richard G. Lee, editor granting permis-sion to use this content.)
Dear Lord of All,“For God and Country” we are
appreciative of the power of “Old Glory” as she passes down the parade routes, adorns government buildings and schools, drapes the casket of fallen heroes and flies freely over the land. Your Bless-ings Lord have provided all this for us each day. For that we are grateful. Lead us to our knees to Bless You as You Bless America! In your holy name, Our Lord and Savior, we pray, Amen.
Congratulation for your awe-some job on collecting all the money for the Auxiliary Emer-gency Fund. With your help, we are able to provide temporary emergency financial assistance to Auxiliary members. It is all about members helping members. The fund was able to help two Auxil-iary members here in Nebraska. One was Connie Frandson of Chadron and the other was Emily Curry of Sidney. Both received $2000 in their need resulting from house fires. The total amount collected will be in my year-end report along with the water bottle winner.
You all are wonderful.Thanks again.Cheryl R. Vap
AEF Chairman To the American Legion Aux-
iliary Emergency Fund and to all who donate to this fund each year:
I am so thankful that there are caring people in my American Legion Auxiliary Family.
Our house burned down in November, 2015. We had to find
temporary housing and still pay bills and buy a few clothes. Many things were lost in the fire. With the help of Sidney Unit #17, I applied for help. How wonder-ful to receive $2000 to help with expenses. We hope to be back in a home soon. I have been a member of the American Legion Auxiliary since I was 3 months old. My whole family was active in the Legion. This generosity shows that “my ALA family” is a caring family.
Emily Curry, Member, Sidney ALA Unit
#17.
Dear American Legion Auxiliary,
Thank you so much for select-ing me to receive your generous scholarship for Nursing School. I deeply appreciate the Nebraska American Legion Auxiliary for helping me pursue my dreams of helping others through health care,. Thank you so much for your generosity.
Sincerely,Olivia G. Holley
Put in a box
AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARYDEPARTMENT OF NEBRASKA
MEMBERSHIP RECEIVED THROUGH APRIL 20, 2016
DISTRICT DIST DISTRICT
2016
SR 2016 JR 2016 PERCENT 2016
PLACE # PRESIDENT Paid Paid Members % GOAL
1st 8 Sally Johnson 1923 211 2034 83.395% 2439
2nd 3 Cheryl Schultz 915 148 1063 82.595% 1287
3rd 1 Karol Lockmon 1364 239 1603 82.501% 1943
4th 11 Judy Bespalec 2041 338 2379 82.375% 2888
5th 6 Vicki Cyboron 2371 292 26637 80.673% 3301
6th 10 Diana Aldrich 1296 207 1503 80.633% 1864
7th 2 Karen Ohlrich 1929 246 2175 80.199% 2712
8th 9 Joyce Petersen 573 84 657 80.122% 820
9th 12 Jody Schmale 1701 175 1876 79.593% 2357
10th 5 Pat Heinemann 774 79 853 79.497% 1073
11th 13 Kay Ebeler 629 112 741 79.082% 937
12th 7 Mary Contraras 1811 239 2050 77.300% 2652
13th 4 Donna Bratt 658 104 762 72.919% 1045
DEPT. 500 paid 30500Goal 55
20389 80.357% 25373
DEPARTMENT GOAL 25373 New members 815
GOAL
Department Junior Historian Daisha Hoffman (of Dorchester) presents a birthday cake to Commander Jeff Novak.
DORCHESTERThe Dorchester Legion fam-
ily held their Legion Birthday Party on March 17. A supper was held, followed by a program on the Czech Republic by members Loren and Judy Vyhnalek, Lila Prybil, and Joyce Kart. Honored guests were Department Com-mander Mike Reimers (and Lori) and Department President Barb Washburn (and Doug).
(L to R) Department President Barb Washburn, Past National Junior Historian Clarissa Bors (of Dorchester), and Department Commander Mike Reimers.
American Legion Auxiliary,
I personally would like to thank you for selecting me for a $400 Scholarship. I am very honored and appreciative for hav-ing been selected as a participant and recipient. Your help will aid me in accomplishing my dream of becoming a nurse anesthetist and returning to Nebraska to give back to the community/state that raised me. Thank you again for the wonderful opportunity.
