Vietnam Reflections
 
 
 |
The Point Jan. 2009
-The Point-
Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc.
Chapter 172
17 N. Liberty Street
Phone 1-777-7001 Cumberland, Maryland 21502-2316 FAX 1-301-777-7041
1-800-482-VETS Email vva172@atlanticbbn.net
The First Chapter in the State of Maryland – The Gold Standard
January 2009
A holiday message from the desk of the President of Chapter 172.
To the Membership of Chapter 172,
As we swiftly move into another year, myself, the officers, and board of directors, wish you, the membership and your families, good fortune, fellowship, and health. We also wish all veterans and their families the same.
Let us pause for a moment of silence for the POW’s, MIA’s, the Troops in harms way, the Members and their Families that are ill and in need, and Veterans in need … … … … … thank you.
Continue to sincerely support us and our staff as we perform our duties in conducting the business of Chapter 172. Give us your guidance in supporting veterans and veteran’s causes during the seventh year we have been at war. When we enter the New Year tens of thousands of troops will be deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. The sacrifice these troops and veterans are making symbolizes their enduring commitment to duty and country. More than 170,000 men and women veterans spent their Christmas and New Year in Iraq and Afghanistan without a celebration. Help us to keep these troops and veterans in our prayers and remember to thank them for their service to our country.
Thank you for your support and I hope you had a merry, happy holiday.
Roger L. Krueger
President
VVA Chapter 172
New Year, New Volunteers
A new year has just started and volunteers are needed to host upcoming social events for 2009 –2010
If you think you would like to host a Saturday social contact Denny Bantz and see what events are available. By hosting we mean preparing the food and what if any theme you may want to present. Help and advice will be available and the Chapter will cover all expenses within your budget.
+++++++
The year 1961 reads the same upside down. This will not happen again until the year 6009.. think about that.
+++++++
Chapter Chat Room
It’s up and running again after some minor alterations which make it a little more user friendly and a lot easier to clean up. Here’s hoping that it will finally get the use it was intended for. As I have said before it would be nice if a few other officers , especially those that we seldom see would grace us with a few words now and then.
+++++++++
The original name of the Bank of America was the Bank of Italy, I bet they don’t want it back now.
+++++++++
Newsletter News
We are still receiving reports that some members are not getting their newsletter delivered to their home. We can’t for some reason find out what the problem is but we are looking into the problem. "The Point" is available on line at the chapter website www.Vietnamreflections.com or at the chapter chat room. Also if you are just as satisfied with getting your newsletter on line let us know and we can discontinue your home delivery a penny saved…
++++++++++
Chapter Guest Policy
From time to time the question of guest at a Chapter social function, or to be exact how many guest can a member bring to a social function. Once again the question has arisen. I want to be very specific here, no Chapter Officer has brought this up, it comes from several members.
The Chapter policy (by-law) has always been one guest per member.
During the holiday season we have always relaxed this a bit because of kids coming home from college and family coming in to visit. Veterans returning home have always been welcome to come and bring their significant others for a visit. This part has never been written it has always just been the policy.
At the last Chapter meeting a few members challenged this relaxed policy stating that they have seen it abused on a weekly basis all year long. We were told that on one recent evening a member had seven guests with him. Whether that is correct or not we have no way of knowing. So President Roger Krueger stated that we will have a BOD member on the door checking people in for the future.
If you intend to bring an extra guest please have a sponsor or notify the Chapter ahead of time. Also you as a member are responsible for your guest and their behavior. When the member leaves the guest must leave also. So there it is in black and white, be careful what you wish for.
++++++++
The number 172 can be found on the back of the US $5.00 bill in the bushes at the base of the Lincoln Memorial.
+++++++
Veterans see another VA travel increase
WASHINGTON (AFRNS) -- Service-disabled and low-income veterans who are reimbursed for travel expenses while receiving care at Department of Veterans Affairs facilities will see an increase in their payments beginning Jan. 9.
A recently passed law allows VA to cut the amount it must withhold from their mileage reimbursement. The deductible amount will be $3 for each one-way trip and $6 for each round trip -- with a calendar cap of $18, or six one-way trips or three round trips, whichever comes first. The previous deductible was $7.77 for a one-way trip, and $15.54 for a round trip, with a calendar cap of $46.62.
"I'm pleased that we can help veterans living far from VA facilities to access the medical and counseling help they deserve, especially in the current economic climate," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. James B. Peake. "Together with the increased mileage rate approved last month, we can further reduce the financial hardship some veterans undergo to use our superior health care."
In November, Secretary Peake announced VA's second increase in the mileage reimbursement rate during 2008, from 28.5 cents to 41.5 cents a mile.
Service-disabled and low-income veterans are eligible to be reimbursed by VA for the travel costs of receiving health care or counseling at VA facilities. Veterans traveling for compensation and pension examinations also qualify for mileage reimbursement. VA can waive deductibles if they cause financial hardship. (Courtesy of VA)
++++++++++
----- Forwarded Message ----- Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2008 6:24:16 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: FW: Flag and seal order This is your military history and traditions reading assignment for your lunch and learn session today. There will be a quiz !!! From: Patrick C Coulter Subject: : Flag and seal order For all of you to put into your records. Flag and Seal order. United States Military Order of Precedence One of the questions you may hear during your career as a Marine or Sailor is: If the Navy observes its official birthday on 13 October 1775 and the Marine Corps observes its official birthday on 10 November 1775, and the Marine Corps is officially recognized as part of the Department of the Navy, why do the Marine Corps' colors have precedence over the Navy's colors in official formations? Read on... The regulation that directs this order of precedence is Department of Defense Directive 1005.8; Order of Precedence of Members of Armed Forces of the United States When in Formations, dated 31 October 1977. Click on site below to view the directive. http://permanent.access.gpo.gov/websites/dodandmilitaryejournals/www.dti c.mil/whs/directives/corres/html2/d10058x.htm The more interesting part of the story is the history behind why that precedence is observed by the Department of Defense. Seniority of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps is obscured by the divergent elements of the intentions of the Continental Congress as compared to the realization of those intentions. Although the intention of the Congress to establish an Army is apparent in several resolutions of June 1775, the realization of those intentions was not effected until 01 January 1776 when General Washington stated in his orderly book, "This day giving commencement to the new Army which in every point of view is entirely Continental." Likewise the Navy which the Congress created by resolution in October 1775 was not to be realized until several months later. The process of procuring and outfitting ships as well as enlisting and commissioning personnel was a time consuming one. The commander in chief of the Navy and other officers were not commissioned until 22 December 1775. The Marine Corps, on the other hand, even though established by resolution on 10 November 1775, was actually a force in readiness before the Army or the Navy. Samuel Nicholas was commissioned a Captain of Marines on 28 November 1775, a month before the first officer of the Continental Navy was commissioned. In fact, the only facts that correspond to the present parade order of Army, Marine Corps, and Navy respectively, are the dates when their first officers were commissioned, in June, November, and December of 1775. Indeed, the Marine Corps' claim to being the oldest integral force in being results primarily from fortunate circumstances. The Corps was much smaller and more closely knit than either of the other services, and its origin was not complicated by the existence of provincial and local forces already in the field. Thus, the Continental Marine force was all regular Marine from the beginning during the period when the Army was an amorphous mass of mixed Continentals and militia, and the Navy lacked ships. The Marine Corps, therefore, could be considered the first truly "federal" armed services branch of the United States of America. In any case, the present order of parade precedence has become one of our foremost military customs and as the foregoing has indicated, there is little evidence to support any change in that order. The present order of parade precedence is defined in DoD Directive 1005.8 as Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force. Therefore, by analogy, the order of display of colors in any fashion, to include service branch seals, should be in the same order. DoD Dir 1005.8.doc There are other lines of reasoning for the precedence of Marine Corps colors before Navy colors, but these versions are less popularly accepted as the above: here are two: 1. The foundation of the Continental Navy is recognized as being on 13 October 1775 when Congress authorized the outfitting of two vessels "of ten carriage guns." This is the date we quote as the Navy's birthday. The Marine Corps was established the following month, on 10 November 1775. Jump ahead to 03 June 1785 when Congress authorized the sale of the one remaining Naval vessel, the frigate Alliance. This was the end of the Continental Navy. For the next several years, the nation had no Navy, until 27 March 1794 when Congress authorized the construction and purchase of six frigates. This is the foundation of the U.S. Navy as we know it today. Now, this begs the question of whether or not you can have a Marine Corps without a Navy, but because of the USMC's order or precedence in relation to the Navy, I suspect the answer is yes. 2. Although the Continental Navy was established by Congress on 13 October, 1775 - it disappeared when Congress had the Continental Navy's ships absorbed into the War Department. The Department of the Navy, which today encompasses the Marine Corps, was not established until 30 April 1798 - well after the 10 November 1775 establishment of the Marine Corps. ...and now you know the story behind a little known piece of Naval and Marine history, but which is seen in every proper display of service branch colors in the world. Semper Fidelis, Capt Terrel DoD Dir 1005.8.doc SERVICE FLAGS (By order of Service (DOD Dir 1005.8)) ARMY FLAG 11 July 1775 MARINE FLAG 10 November 1775 NAVY FLAG 13 October 1775* AIR FORCE FLAG 18 September 1947 COAST GUARD FLAG 4 August 1790 * Navy officially changed to this date. Prior to that they were a younger service than the Marine Corps. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The president on the Dollar
Okay, more rumor control As was stated in an earlier edition of "The Point" the Chapter donated to the statue or our first president George Washington. The statue is in front of the county courthouse on Washington in Cumberland. Now because we are listed as one of the top ten donators and the Chapter’s name is on the plaque at the base of the statue there are all kinds of rumors swirling around about the zillions that the Chapter donated. Well don’t get your shorts in a bundle the amount donated by Chapter 172 was $1000. Apparently most of the donations received were small amounts. Now can we put that to sleep?
+++++++++++
It’s That Time Again—Almost This is your first official notice Chapter elections are less than 90 days away April 2, 2009 to be exact. Remember how much fun they were last year all those warm fuzzy moments, did you feel the love?
I’ve Said It Before Editorial Opinion
I have said it before; Chapter 172 should be the easiest organization in the world to run. It should almost run itself. There is not another organization like ours any where that I know of, but still to hear some people talk we have one foot in the grave. Earlier in the newsletter I listed a few complaints that have been brought to my attention, so let’s explore a few more.
One of the problems that we have is that we have become a victim of our own success. We are the largest Chapter in the VVA and just our size can complicate matters. Such as when it comes to our Christmas party; why do we go to Rocky Gap? Because it is the only place in the county that is big enough to handle us. Now if you want we could go to some warehouse but there is just no place nice enough that is big enough.
How about the adult picnic (steak feed) at Mt. Savage; same deal size and price have to be considered. Things got confused this year by people saving seats for their friends. This is a practice that I think should be discontinued. Sit with some strangers; get to know some other members. This year we had people standing looking for a place to eat and we had empty seats that were saved.
Why don’t we build our own place? Well we did and it serves us very well but two times a year we need a bigger place. A few years ago we dropped the ball when we had a chance to buy a local church’s picnic grounds and we failed to act and the church took it off
the market. To be sure the Chapter is financially secure, but we don’t have all of the money in the world even though some of you think we do. Just like everybody else our income is down as we knew it would be as we slowly but surely saturate the “Reflections” market.
Request for donations from the Chapter continue to pour in on a daily basis. Request for veterans assistance continue to grow as the economy gets worse by the day. Now before you panic we don’t have to give anything up that we are doing now but, we do need to start looking at ways to save money. Recently we installed programmable thermostats so the heat and a/c won’t be running while the building is empty. These devices are also locked so they can’t be tampered with. If you are cold blooded you may want to break out that Christmas sweater for your next trip to the Chapter.
I would also like to take time to thank everybody who over the past year have brought in good things to eat at the Chapter events, this little effort has been very much appreciated and is without a doubt a nice touch.
Now if everybody would just take a breath quit pissin and moanin so much and be a little more considerate of each other things will be fine. We’re going to be OK.
Steve Parsons
January 2009
At The Chapter Store
Great year end clearances 20% discount on many items, plus many new items arriving daily.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
An airplanes shadow is the same size as the plane whether it is flying or on the ground.
+++++++++++
|