The 13th Annual Patriot Tour kicks off Saturday, May 21, at The Bayfront Port Authority, 1 Holland St. in Erie. Registration of Riders begins at 9 a.m. with a ceremony at 11:30 a.m. Riders will depart at 12:15 pm with an escorted ride to Jamestown Harley Davidson. Helmets are required. Riders will travel all 50 states, over 115 days, for 14,500 miles to raise money for disabled veterans.
Pass the Pact Act Now
Honoring our PACT Act would help millions of veterans by providing VA health care access for exposed veterans. It would create a concession of exposure for burn pits and airborne hazards, establish a list of presumptive conditions, and a framework for assessing future presumptive conditions linked to any toxic exposure, foreign or domestic, past, present, and future. More than 60 veteran organizations support this bill. We urge the Senate to pass the Honoring our PACT Act. Contact your senators and tell them to vote “yes” when the Honoring our PACT Act is brought to the Senate floor. Toxic-exposed veterans cannot afford to wait any longer for health care and benefits.
VFW Testifies Before House Subcommittee
The House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on improving VA infrastructure and operational efficiency. VFW National Legislative Director Pat Murray testified on the need to upgrade aging infrastructure to increase the quality of care for veterans. “The CHIP IN program is not an everyday solution to VA infrastructure issues, but whenever an opportunity arises to accept donated facilities, VA must be able to accept any facility at any value if they are in VA’s best interest,” said Murray.
VFW Welcomes Visitors from the French War College
The VFW welcomed 20 officers from the French War College –– known as the École de Guerre –– for a presentation on the VFW’s legislative efforts in Washington, D.C. The group consisted of officers from all branches of the French military making the shift from tactical level command to operational and strategic levels of command. The discussion focused on the VFW’s long history of legislative advocacy and the priority goals for legislation today, as well as similarities and differences between the U.S. and French militaries and government support for veterans.
Armed Forces Day 2022
On May 21, 2022, millions of Americans will pay tribute to the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces for their service in support of our nation. First observed on May 20, 1950, Armed Forces Day was intended to not only give thanks to those who keep our nation safe but also to educate the public about the various roles of our six branches of the military and the roles that those branches play in our community. In keeping with that theme, many DOD installations, such as Joint Base Lewis-McChord and Dover Air Force Base, will hold events that are open to the public to highlight our nation’s military capabilities, as well as the men and women who proudly wear the uniform.
POW/MIA Update
Army Pfc. William J Sharp, 18, of Osborn, Ohio, was assigned to Company C, 25th Infantry Division. He was reported KIA on July 24, 1950, in North Korea. He will be buried in Dayton, Ohio, on May 20, 2022.
Army Pvt. Walter G. Wildman, 20, of Bristol, Pennsylvania, was assigned to Company M, 12 Infantry Regiment. On Nov. 13, 1944, his unit was part of the Hurtgen Forest offensive in Germany. He will be buried in Newton, Pennsylvania, on May 22, 2022.
Army Pfc. Jack E Lilley, 19, of Wadsworth, Ohio, was assigned to Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion. He was reported missing July 20, 1950, in the vicinity of Taejon, South Korea. He will be buried on June 14, 2022.
Army Air Force 1st Lt. Newell F. Mills, 21, of St. Petersburg, Florida, was assigned to 354th Fighter Squadron. On April 7, 1945, Mills was shot down near Geesthacht Germany. He will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, at a later date.
Navy Seamen 1st Class John R. Mellon, 23, of Liberty, Mississippi, was assigned to the Battleship USS West Virginia, which was moored at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor. He will be buried in Glister, Mississippi, on July 9, 2022.
Army Cpl. Lawrence L. Brown, 21, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was assigned to Company M, 3rd Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was captured on Nov. 26, 1950. He will be buried in Prairieville, Louisiana, on a date yet to be determined.
Till next week, praying for all service members.
– Charles Castelluccio
