Nominations and election were held during the VFW 28th District Auxiliary Meeting on May 7 at VFW Post 7599 Reynolds. Here are the results for the year 2017-2018: Auxiliary President Beck Fox from Aux 1338; Sr. Vice Tina Shetler Aux 5958; Jr. Vice Judy Solosky Aux 6404; Treasurer Robin Hawthorn Aux 1338; Secretary Judy Dixon Aux 5424; Conductress Sand Benacci Aux 470; Guard Linda Lewis Aux 7599; and 3yr. Trustee Kathy Dennis Aux 5958.
Women Veteran Town Hall
This event is open to all women who served in the military and their families. Erie VAMC leadership would like to hear from you on what the VA is doing well and where there could be improvements. The event will be held at 5:30-7 p.m. May 23 at Erie VA Medical Center, 2nd floor conference rooms.
NWPA 7 County Military/Veterans Expo
Military, Veterans Service members and families are invited to the expo that will be held at Cross Creek Resort, 3815 Route 8, just south of Titusville. The expo will be held from 2-6 pm May 23. Organizations and agencies from the seven county region will be there to answer questions and offer support. For more information, contact your county VA director. This is a free event. Be sure to bring your DD214 (discharge papers) and your VA card if you are enrolled. The same event was held their last year and it was a great success. Get all your questions answered at this expo.
Senate Appropriations Hearing on Choice
Last Thursday, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies held a hearing to discuss VA community care. The main focus was reducing the burden of obtaining health care, while increasing access. Subcommittee Chairman Jerry Moran questioned the issues of consolidating community care under one account and future plans of VA Secretary David Shulkin. The secretary agreed VA needs a different approach to community care for programs, such as Choice, to be successful. He highlighted key elements necessary for improvement, which include changing criteria requirements for patients to use community care, increasing access to urgent care, maintaining an integrated network of providers, assisting patients in coordination and applying industry standards for metrics.
POW/MIA Update
Navy Fireman 1st Class William H. Kennedy, 24, of Titonka, Iowa, was buried May 12 in his hometown. Kennedy was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored off Ford Island, Pearl Harbor.
Army Cpl. Louis A. Damewood, 21, of Carroll County, Md., was buried May 12 in Suffolk, Va. Damewood was a member of Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, operating near Hoengsong, South Korea. He was declared missing after his unit attacked an opposition road block on Feb. 13, 1951.
Army Cpl. George A. Perreault, 20, of Burlington, Vt., was buried May 13 in his hometown. Perreault was part of Support Force 21, assigned to Headquarters Battery, 15th Field Artillery Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division, near the Central Corridor in South Korea. Perreault was declared missing on Feb. 13, 1951.
Air Force Col. William E. Campbell, 37, of McAllen, Texas, will be buried May 18 in Arlington National Cemetery, near Washington, D.C. Campbell was assigned to the 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron. Campbell was reported missing in action on Jan. 29, 1969, over southern Laos.
Marine Corps 2nd Lt. Harry H. Gaver Jr., was assigned to the USS Oklahoma, which was moored off Ford Island, Pearl Harbor. Interment services are pending.
Army Pfc. Lonnie B.C. Eichelberger was assigned to Company I, 371st Infantry Regiment, 92nd Infantry Division — the only African-American division to fight in Europe. As part of Operation Fourth Term, Eichelberger could not be accounted for and was declared missing in action on Feb. 10, 1945. Interment services are pending.
Till next week, praying for all service members.
– Charles Castelluccio
