VFW Core Values
Green Township Post 10380 Veterans of Foreign Wars
May-June 2019
To always put the interests of our members first Treat donors as partners in our cause Promote patriotism Honor military service Ensure the care of veterans and their families Serve our communities Promote a positive image of the VFW Respect the diversity of veteran opinions
VFW Mission
Welcome from Commander Mike Donnelly
To foster camaraderie among United States
veterans of overseas conflicts
To serve our veterans, the military, and our
communities
To advocate on behalf of all veterans
The Post meeting will be the Third Thursday each month
7:30 p.m.
Nathanael Greene Lodge, lower level 6394 Wesselman Road Cincinnati, Ohio 45247
513.598.3100 (Call Lodge for meeting cancellations)
Meeting Date Staff Meeting Date
The 2019 Staff meetings will be
Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.
June 12, July 10, August 14, September 11, October 9, November 13
December 11
Nathanael Greene Lodge
This Spring has been so busy it’s been hard for my editor-wife to keep up with the newsletter! She will do
a quick catch-up in this and next edition! First off, let me thank my Post comrades for nominating me to
another term as Post Commander. This year will be my eleventh year as your Commander and I am
humbled by your confidence in me. I can’t say this enough ...we have a great Post! Thank you.
I would like to share a few activities we’ve conducted and a few things that are in process:
VFW Youth Scholarship Competitions, Teacher of the Year & Public Service Award winners
Post 10380 Flag Retirement Ceremony was held on March 23 at Veterans Park
Post 10380 Spring Dinner Dance held at Aston Oaks on April 6 was well attended. Thank you to
comrade Jim Crane for his excellent organization and attention to detail
Family Kite Fly at Veterans Park on Apr il 28 was another success. Thank you to Gary Overbey
for organizing this event and to all the volunteers who made this a fun day
Cruise-Ins in the parking lot of Chr istine’s Casual Dining began in Apr il and run monthly
through September. Open to all car enthusiasts. Thank you, Jim Stanghetti.
Cars and Courage Car Show on Apr il 27 was another successful collaboration with Diamond
Oaks Career Campus. Thank you, Andy McCool, Dean of Instruction.
A Day-Trip to Wright Patterson Air Force Museum was a great adventure for a group of Post
members. Hope you enjoy the trip on pages 8-9 with us.
As pictured in the February newsletter, our Honor/Color Guard underwent two training sessions to
become certified in the way the regular Army performs Military Honors at funerals. We have also
performed Color Guard duties at various functions city-wide, thus fulfilling some of the VFW Core
Values (listed below) and receiving recognition for our Post and the VFW in general
We have reached out to the Student Veteran Organizations at Xavier University, University of
Cincinnati and Mt. St Joseph University. At XU we are donating to the Student Veterans
Special Needs Program; at UC Blue Ash Campus, we are helping with the Student Veterans
Room giving Veterans a place to study, relax or have a bite to eat. We are in the ear ly stages of
assisting Mt. St. Joseph in similar ways.
And I could on....but I’m out of room! Til next month, Mike
Memorial Day
Page 2 V OLU ME 31, ISS UE 3 M AY- JU NE 20 19
Post 10380
Bring a
Veteran!
Grill-Out
Meeting
Aug. 15
6:30pm
Mark Your Calendar
Kids Fun Day Saturday, August 24, 2019
Veterans Park
11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
4th of July
Concert & Fireworks
Wednesday, July 3
6:30—11:00 p.m.
Kuliga Park
6717 Bridgetown Road
Cincinnati 45248
Come visit Post 10380 members
as we man the beer booths, serving
West Side Brewing craft beer and Miller/Miller Lite
Buddy “Poppy” Day
V OLU ME 31, ISS UE 3, M AY- JUNE 20 19 Page 3
In Flanders Fields
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place;
and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly.
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep.
by John McCrae
Thank you to all
Post 10380 comrades who volunteered on
“Buddy” Poppy Days
Saturday, May 25 & Sunday, May 26
At the new Dent Kroger
On Harrison Avenue
A special thank you to
Ed Murphy
for coordinating with Kroger the dates and times
and for coordinating the volunteers
All donations help Veterans and their families
in our local community.
The Flower of Remembrance
This was the poem written by World War I Colonel John
McCrae, a surgeon with Canada's First Brigade Artillery.
It expressed McCrae's grief over the "row on row" of graves
of soldiers who had died on Flanders' battlefields, located in
a region of western Belgium and northern France. The poem
presented a striking image of the bright red flowers
blooming among the rows of white crosses and became a
rallying cry to all who fought in the First World War.
In 1924, a poppy factory was built in Pittsburgh, Pa.,
providing a reliable source of poppies and a practical means
of assistance to veterans. Today, Veterans at VA medical
facilities and Veterans Homes help assemble the poppies,
which are distributed by Veterans Service Organizations
throughout the country.
Donations received in return for these artificial poppies
have helped countless Veterans and their widows, widowers
and orphans over the years. The poppy itself continues to
serve as a perpetual tribute to those who have given their
lives for the nation's freedom.
Page 4 V OLU ME 31, ISS UE 3 M AY- JU NE 20 19
VFW Patriot’s Pen District 4 Winners, March 10, 2019
Ava Maria Strattmann
is presented with the
1st Place Award by
District 4 Commander
Jep Stephenson and
Will Acord, District
Chairman of the Youth
Education
Competitions
Mr. Jason Berling,
Seton High School,
is presented with the
1st Place Award
by Commander
Mike Donnelly
Jim Crane, Post 10380 Youth Scholarship
Chairman, Mike Donnelly, Post 10380
Commander, Ava Maria Strattman,
Teresa Longano, Sherri Long, District 4
Auxillary, Will Acord
Teresa Longano is
presented with the
2nd Place Award by
District 4 Commander
Jep Stephenson and
Will Acord, District
Chairman of the Youth
Education
Competitions
The National VFW Patriot’s Pen Scholarship Program allows local VFW Post judges to choose one winner per fifteen
submissions. In November 2018, Post 10380 was able to advance four essays to the Ohio District 4 (Regional) Level.
We are proud to announce that Ohio District 4 awarded
1st Place to Ava Maria Strattman
2nd Place to Teresa Longano
VFW Youth Education Scholarship
Awards Ceremony
Patriot’s Pen
“Why I Honor the American Flag”
Gailey VFW Post 7340
VFW Teacher of the Year
Ms. Meaghan Sullivan,
Oak Hills High School,
is presented with the
2nd Place Award
by Commander
Mike Donnelly
V OLU ME 31, ISS UE 3 M AY- JU NE 20 19 Page 5
Post VFW Public Service Awards
2018 Firefighter of the Year
Ryan Schwarz
was awarded by Commander Mike Donnelly on April 8, 2019 at the Green Township Trustees’ meeting.
“Ryan maintains an
incredibly positive attitude
while enduring the rigors of
fire and emergency medical
response. He always strives
to do better and proves to be
a natural leader. He is
involved with several other
areas of job responsibilities
including public education,
the Green Township/Mack
Honor Guard, new recruit
training and mentoring,
chairman of the annual golf
outing, and an executive
board member of Local
2927,” said Fire/EMS Chief
Scott Souders.
L—R: Trustee Tony Rosiello, FIre & EMS Chief Scott
Souders, Fiscal Officer Thomas Straus, Firefighter Ryan
Schwarz, Post 10380 Commander Mike Donnelly,
Trustee David Linnenberg, Trustee Triffon Callos
Firefighter Ryan Schwarz is
presented the Post 10380
Firefighter of the Year by
Commander Mike Donnelly
2018 Police Officer of the Year
Scott Celender
was awarded by Commander Mike Donnelly on December 17, 2018 at the
Green Township Trustees’ meeting
Officer Celender's community involvement, service to veterans
and his own status as a veteran were cited as just some of the
reasons he was very deserving of this award. Many of his fellow
officers, on-duty and
off, active and retired
were in attendance as
Scott received the
award.
Representatives from
VFW Post 10380 and
the Green Township
Trustees thanked him
for his exemplary
service.
L—R: David Linnenberg, Mike Donnelly,
Tony Rosiello, Officer Scott Celender, Triffon Callos,
Jim Crane, Post 10380 Chairman-VFW Public
Servants Award
Office Scott Celender is presented the
Post 10380 Police Officer of the Year
by Commander Mike Donnelly
Voice of Democracy— “My Vote Matters”
V OLU ME 31, ISS UE 3 M AY- JU NE 20 19 Page 6
“My Vote Matters” by Morgan Mevers
My vote matters because I am a citizen of the United States and I care about what happens in my community and
my country. Nobody has a right to dismiss a vote as not important because it will not make an impact overall. Every
vote counts for something. A single vote can change the tide of an election if it is close. A single person can change
people’s minds. A vote is what somebody believes will make the best changes. Saying a vote does not matter is
equivalent to saying someone’s opinion does not matter. Many people today take voting for granted without the
consideration of what that vote means or of past and current generations who fight tirelessly to win us such a right and
protect it.
Every man and woman are entitled to voice what they believe in strongly and change things for the better. If a
vote does not matter then there is no point in voting. This mentality stops people from voting and takes away a
majority of people’s vote. One person’s vote can change an entire election but not if they don’t vote. In Clyman,
Wisconsin, a voting for the board chairman came down to one vote, 100 to 101, in April 2017. (“Six Times a Single
Vote Really Did Change an Election”) Every vote has meaning whether it is as close as one vote or off by many
because it will have an impact on people or their community or their country. Voting is the basis of our country and
without people to vote our nation loses its voice.
A vote is a voice whether it be as important as electing a president or spending money for schools and parks.
Taking away a vote is taking away what it is to be an American citizen. All citizens are allowed to vote regardless of
gender or race because people fought for their rights. We won the right to vote by speaking up and demanding to be
equal. People like Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who were both women's rights activists, died before
they got the chance to see the achievement of their hard work and struggles. Then there were women like Alice Paul
who were arrested for protesting and standing up for what they believed in. While trying to go on a hunger strike Alice
Paul was even forcibly fed through a tube. To have worked so hard only to say that one vote doesn’t really matter is
disrespectful to those who fought before us so that we could have the right to vote.
Not only did the people in the past fight to win us rights but every day people fight now to protect the rights we
have. People from all over our country unite together to fight just like their predecessors in the Army, Navy, Air
Force, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps to protect the freedom that we have achieved. The veterans did their part and
the people in the military take up their torch and continue to be brave. In my own family my Nana’s husband served
proudly in the Army at Fort Bragg in the 82nd Air Force Division, my Dad explored many areas as part of the Navy
and currently and just recently my cousin has gone into the
Air Force. In my family as well as other families people get
up and rise to the occasion because they know that a right
like voting can’t be taken for granted because it could be
taken away from us at any time. My vote and every other
vote matters because there are people who fought for in the
past, who fight for it now, and who will go on fighting for it
in the future.
Lf: Commander Donnelly presented Morgan Mevers with the
1st Place Certificate and check
Rt: They were joined by Morgan’s parents and Karen White,
Seton HS Principal
Congratulations to Morgan Mevers
Seton High School
1st Place Winner of
2018–2019 Voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition
sponsored by VFW Post 10380
V OLU ME 31, ISS UE 3 M AY- JU NE 20 19 Page 7
Voice of Democracy— “My Vote Matters”
Jack Snyder
“My Vote Matters” by Megan Bihl
We the people of the United States, owe a civil duty to vote each election to provide America with the most
exceptional leaders to manage our country. For citizens older than eighteen, voting is not only a right, but also a
responsibility. Men and women throughout history have fought for each person to vote and some have died doing so.
By not voting, you are putting yourself in a place of tyranny by letting other people decide who should be leading the
country. This choice of action can negatively impact America’s future. My vote matters because it allows me to exercise
my right to shape my future while respecting all those who fought for my right in the past.
Throughout history, the right to vote has been heavily fought for. Up until 1776, the colonies were controlled by
the British. The American Revolutionary War allowed America to establish a democracy giving the right to vote to all
free men written in article I, section 2 of the U. S. Constitution. Nearly fifty years later, another war was fought to
secure freedom. This was the Civil War, known as, “...the deadliest war in American history,” according to Gettysburg
Flag Works. This deadly war resulted in African Americans’ freedom and soon after their right to vote. However, the
right to vote for women did not come about until years of protest and then finally in, 1920, the 19th amendment was
added to the U.S. Constitution. Many people throughout history have suffered and lost their lives to give me the right to
voice my opinion through voting.
When people decide not to vote, a tyranny of sorts is formed. Dictionary.com states a tyranny is a government that
is run by one person or a small group of people that determine all the policies. Low voter turnout leaves the decision
making for whoever is elected and what issues are approved by a minority of people. By exercising my right to vote, I
help to ensure a democracy exists instead of a tyranny.
Young voters are the future of America. If they did not express their values and views by voting, they are leaving
their futures in the hands of others. It is important that we vote because it not only affects us, but also generations after.
The election of an incompetent representative can create problems for America that could take years to fix. Sometimes
those problems can never be fixed. That is why it is important to know what the candidate stands for and if he or she is
eligible to lead America. By voting I can help choose qualified leaders to create a bright future.
My vote matters because it allows me to exercise my right that people in the past have fought for in order to shape
my future. Voting is a civil duty for citizens older than eighteen and
it is a responsibility for them to know who is the best candidate to
lead America. Many men and women have fought for these rights
and not voting is disrespectful to them. A citizen’s vote is one of
the most powerful ways they participate in our democracy.
Voting is the way we decide what the future looks like.
Lf: Commander Donnelly presented Megan Bihl with the
2nd Place Certificate and check.
Rt: They are joined by Megan’s mother and Karen White,
Seton HS Principal
Congratulations to Megan Bihl
Seton High School
2nd Place Winner of
2018–2019 Voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition
sponsored by VFW Post 10380
Wright Patterson Air Force Museum Visit 3/4/19
V OLU ME 31, ISS UE 3 M AY- JU NE 20 19 Page 8
Tom Anderson
Mike Donnelly
Bill Daniel
What
A
Great
Day!
Coming Home: The US Exits
Southeast Asia
Commander
“Iron Mike”
Dennis Campbell stands
outside a cell door in
The Hanoi Hilton Ed Murphy and Joe Augustine
Jim Jansen
Listening to the docent
Astronaut-in-training
Ray Frey
V OLU ME 31, ISS UE 3 M AY- JU NE 20 19 Page 9
Wright Patterson Air Force Museum Visit 3/4/19
AIR FORCE ONE
President Kennedy’s final flight to Dallas on November 23, 1963
The Hanoi Taxi airlifted the first
American POWs to freedom
from Giam Lan Airport on
2/12/73.
The Hanoi Taxi logged more
than 40,000 hours over the next
3 decades flying missions
around the world.
The Space Shuttle
The “crew”
departs the
Space Shuttle
Jim Crane
and Dave
Celmar safely
land the
Space Shuttle
Dave Celmer’s Phantom II now piloted by
Tom Schmitz and Bob Abrams
The X-15A-2 Hypersonic Research Aircraft is
the favorite of Dan Wilcox
Better known
as a HUEY
Bob Abrams
May Meeting Winners
To assist you in filing a claim, contact one of the
following Veterans Service Officers directly:
Roger Giblin, 513.684.2661—VFW Veteran
Service Office, 36 E. 7th St. Rm. 225 Cincinnati
45202 (Post 10380 Comrade)
Bill Burgin, 513.946.3300 — Hamilton
County Veteran Service Office, address above
Mike Burgess, 812.537.8819 — Dearborn
County Veteran Service Office, 215 W. High St.
Rm. 100, Lawrenceburg, IN 47025
Veterans may use the services of any office in any
county; you need not be a resident of that county.
Page 10 V OLU ME 31, ISS UE 3 M AY- JU NE 20 19
Information Corner
Attendance: Ed Burke
Split-the-Pot: Bill Rocklin
$100 Raffle: Scott Hamilton
$50 Raffle: Gary Fangman
VA Contact Information
Hamilton County Veterans’ Service Office
230 E. 9th Street (9th & Sycamore) Cinti. OH
Room 1100 (1st floor) 513.946.3300
VA Benefits: 800.827.1000
Beneficiaries in receipt of Pension Benefits:
877.294.6380
Debt Management: 800.827.0648
Education (GI Bill): 888.442.4551
Health Care Benefits: 877.222.8387
Status of Headstones/Markers:
800.697.6947
Life Insurance: 800.669.8477
Telecommunications Device for the Deaf
(TDD): 800.829.4833
Special Issues—Gulf War / Agent Orange /
Project Shad / Mustard Agents and Lewisite /
Ionizing Radiation: 800.749.8387
How Do I Join?
VFW Post 10380 always welcomes
new members.
Contact Ben Staubach 513.941.6868 or
Mike Donnelly 513.675.4249
for eligibility requirements.
To all
May & June Birthdays
Local Veteran Service Officers
Hey, Have You Heard This
One?...from Larry
A guy walked into a bar with a pair of jumper cables and asked the
bartender if he could get a drink. Bartender said, “You can have a drink, but don’t start anything!”
To obtain a DD Form 214, Certificate of Release
or Discharge from Active Duty, visit
https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-
service-records#emergency
Hamilton County Veterans who have registered their
DD214s with the Hamilton County Recorder’s Office can
obtain a Veterans Identification Card from the
Recorder’s Office at no cost. This ID Card will allow the
office to quickly locate the Veteran’s discharge record
when needed. The card will display the Veteran’s photo,
military service dates and pertinent information regarding his/her service to
our country.
In order to receive this ID Card, the Veteran must record or have recorded
his/her military Honorable Discharge with the Hamilton County’s Recorder’s
Office and show two forms of current, valid identification from the following:
An original or certified birth certificate
Department of Veterans Affairs ID card
US Military ID card
Social Security card
State issued CCW permit
State issued Driver’s license
State issued ID card
Valid US Passport
Appointments to obtain your Veteran’s ID card are scheduled Monday
through Friday, 8am—3:45pm by calling 513.946.4567, Hamilton County
Recorder’s Office Room 205, 138 East Court Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202.
Source: recordersoffice.hamilton-co.org/documents_on_file/military_discharges
2019 Calendar of Annual Events
V OLU ME 31, ISS UE 3 M AY- JU NE 20 19 Page 11
January
February
1 Harrison’s Tomb
10 Four Chaplains
Memorial Service at
St. Boniface Church
March
23 Flag Retirement
Ceremony
April
6 Dinner Dance
9 CruiseIn at Christine’s
27 Cars & Courage Car
Show — Diamond
Oaks
28 Family Kite Fly at
Veterans Park
May
9 CruiseIn at Christine’s
25/26 Poppy Days
Fundraiser Dent Kroger
27 Post 10380 Memorial
Day Ceremony
27 Cheviot Memorial
Parade
June
3 Memorial Day Golf
Outing at Aston Oaks
13 CruiseIn at Christine’s
July
3 Green Township
July 4th Celebration
at Kuliga Park
11 CruiseIn at Christine’s
August
8 CruiseIn at Christine’s
15 Grill-Out/Post Meeting
24 Green Township Kid’s
Fun Day at Veterans
Park
September
5 Harvest Home Parade
12 CruiseIn at Christine’s
October
5 Flag Retirement
Ceremony
Post 10380 Annual
Raffle tickets available
November
9/10 Poppy Days
Fundraiser Dent Kroger
11 Post 10380 Veterans
Day Ceremony
10 Cheviot Veterans
Parade
Community Veterans
Day Ceremonies
December
1 Pearl Harbor
Remembrance
Ceremony
6 Green Township
Family Winterfest
Reminders
Illness & Bereavement
Comrades, if you
or your spouse are
admitted to a
Cincinnati area
hospital,
please contact:
Ben Staubach 513.941.6868
Funeral Service
If you would like our Post
Honor Guard to conduct a
VFW ceremony at a
funeral service, please
contact Bob Abrams
513.609.6379
Newsletter You can also view it in
color on our website
www.vfw10380.org
For additional information on
services or programs, or
to be added to or
removed from this mailing,
contact Mike Donnelly
513.675.4249 or
email to vfwpost10380 @gmail.com
Post 10380 Officers
Commander:
Mike Donnelly
Senior Vice-Commander
Dan Wilcox
Junior Vice-Commander
Ed Kramer
Quartermaster
Tom Schmitz
Adjutant
Charlie Wilke
Judge Advocate
Don Willwerth
Chaplain
Bob Abrams
Surgeon
Jim Jansen
Officer of the Day
Ron Kelly
Guard
Bill Soto
Membership
Ben Staubach
Service Officer
Jerry Fatora
Trustee 1 Year
Jim Stanghetti
Trustee 2 Year
Alex Griffith
Trustee 3 Year
Larry Chuma
Illness & Bereavement
Ben Staubach
Monthly: 2nd Thursday, 5:30 pm—Cruise-In at Christine’s, April through September
3rd Thursday, 7:30 pm—Post 10380 Meeting at Nathanael Greene Lodge
www.vfw10380.org
The Navy defends the right to travel and
trade freely on the world’s oceans and
protects national interests overseas.
The U. S. Air Force protects Ameri-
can interests at home and abroad with
a focus on air power.
The Marine Corps is often first on the
ground in combat situations.
As the oldest branch of the U.S.
Military, the Army protects the secu-
rity of the United States and its re-
sources.
Green Township Post 10380
Veterans of Foreign Wars
CHANGE SERVICE
REQUESTED
The Coast Guard protects America’s waterways and
deploys with the Navy during wartime.
NONPROFIT ORG
US POSTAGE
PAID
CINCINNATI, OH
PERMIT # 5930