The VFW 28th District Post, and 28th District Auxiliary meeting will be held on Sunday, May 7, at Reynolds VFW Post 7599. (Please note change in location.) The post is located at 115 Edgewood Dr. in Greenville. Nomination and elections will be held for the year 2017-2018. All members in good standing are encouraged to attend. The Auxiliary will have a meet and great with Pennsylvania Auxiliary President Donna Mills starting at 1 p.m. The Post District meeting will start at 2 p.m. The 28th District covers the counties of Erie, Mercer and Crawford.
Dates to Remember
The Month of May is considered National Military Appreciation Month. Here are a few important days coming up.
- May 1 – Loyalty Day: A Day set aside for American citizens to reaffirm their loyalty to the United States and to recognize the heritage of American freedom.
- May 1 – Silver Star Service Banner Day: A day set a side to honor our wounded, ill and dying military personnel by participating in flying a Silver Banner.
- May 4 – National Day of Prayer: Held the first Thursday in May. Inviting people of all faiths to pray for our nation.
- May 8 – VE Day (Victory in Europe): A day which marks the anniversary of the Allies victory in Europe during World War II on May 8, 1945.
- May 12 – Military Spouse Appreciation Day: A day set aside to acknowledge the contributions and sacrifices of the spouses of the U.S. Armed Forces.
- May 13 – Children of Fallen Patriots Day: A day to honor the families our Fallen Heroes have left behind, especially their children.
- May 20 – Armed Forces Day: A day that is set aside to pay tribute to men and women who serve in the United States Armed Forces.
- May 29 – Memorial Day: A day set aside to commemorate all who have died in military service for the United States of America.
Senate Holds Veteran Suicide Prevention Hearing
Last Thursday, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies held a hearing titled “Preventing Veteran Suicide.” The panel included the Department of Veterans Affairs Inspector General and individuals from the Veterans Health Administration, Military Veteran Project and RAND Corporation. Chairman Jerry Moran and subcommittee members inquired about resources and support VA needs to lower the number of veteran suicides. Also discussed was the impact of access issues in rural areas, properly managing chronic pain and VA’s delay in addressing inspector general recommendations.
VA Partners to Increase Medical Providers
Last Thursday, the Department of Veterans Affairs entered into a partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services. This partnership will allow medical professionals from the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps to provide care to veterans at VA medical facilities. Effective immediately, the partnership agreement allows up to 20 medical professionals from the Commissioned Corps to provide treatment in VA facilities deemed to be in the most need of staffing support. An additional 10 officers from the Commissioned Corps are able to assist in support coordination for veterans receiving VA community care.
VE Day May 8
Visitors to Washington, D.C., are invited to help commemorate the 72nd anniversary of Victory in Europe Day at the National World War II Memorial at 11 a.m. May 8. The WWII Memorial has very few disability parking spaces, and street parking could be limited since it’s the tourist season and it’s a workday. Taxis are plentiful and recommended. The two closest Metro stations, Federal Triangle and Smithsonian, are both about a half-mile away.
POW/MIA Update
*Navy Fireman 3rd Class Robert N. Walkowiak, 20, of Oshkosh, Wis., was buried on April 28 in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu. Walkowiak was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored off Ford Island, Pearl Harbor.
*Army Cpl. Freddie L. Henson, 19, of Klamath Falls, Ore., will be buried May 4 in Houston. Henson served with Battery A, 57th Field Artillery Battalion, 7th Infantry Division, part of the 31st Regimental Combat Team deployed east of the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea.
*Marine Corps 2nd Lt. George S. Bussa was assigned to Company F, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division. Interment services are pending.
*Army Pvt. Walter F. Piper was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. Piper was reported missing in action on Feb. 13, 1951, while fighting in Korea. Interment services are pending.
Till next week, praying for all service members.
– Charles Castelluccio
