Good Day Post #57 Member!

MESSAGE FROM THE COMMANDER:

Well, we have had two meetings at the new time and day and it seems to be working out a lot better. We are able to get our business completed early in the month, which really helped for the March events and getting us prepared for the upcoming meeting. As most know, we have joined other groups in the ADOT Adopt-a-Highway program. We have a two mile stretch on I-40 from mile marker 138 – 140. On the 23^rd of April we performed our first clean-up. Because of all the trash we found, we only were able to clean up the on and off ramp section at Crookton Rd. and that took us three hours and about a half a box of trash bags that ADOT supplies. I would like to say thank you to the following for participation: Ed Newcomb, Bob Eimar, Mary Rosenthal, Sallie Carroll, Jim Roscoe, Paul Miller, Barry Sharp and Yvonne Gorniak. Now remember everyone that we are obligated to perform clean-up twice a year and we can really use your help. Auxiliary members are welcome as well as the SAL members. We have just completed our elections and I would like to say thanks to all for reelecting me as commander. I will do my best to keep the post moving in the right direction. On to some upcoming things, for the past three years Post 57 has been the first in our district and area (I believe) to reach 100% of its membership goal. Our 1^st Vice who is charge of membership needs everyone’s help not only in recruiting new members but also in getting all of your renewals in order for us to continue being #1. So in July when we start asking for everyone to renew their membership and be an early bird I hope to see everyone rise to the challenge.

The first requisite of a good citizen in this republic of ours is that he should be able to pull his own weight. – Theodore Roosevelt

Douglas Gorniak

Commander

POST NEWS:

Our post meeting was on 2 May and our next meeting is 6 June at 6:30 pm. Remember, dinner is served after the meeting and the bar is open. Hope to see you there!! Just a heads up, the July meeting will be on the 5^th of July at 6:30 pm not the 4^th due to the 4^th of July Barbecue.

Elections were held at our May meeting and your 2005-2006 officers are: Commander, Doug Gorniak; Sr Vice Cmdr, John Sydow; Jr Vice Cmdr, Ed Newcomb; Chaplain, Spence Estus; Finance Officer, Yvonne Gorniak; Sgt-at-Arms, Wil Popp; Adjutant, Barry Sharp; Service Officer, Ken Huckaby; Historian, Jim Roscoe; 1-year Trustee, Frank Cedillo; 2-year Trustee, Ty Narada; and 3-year Trustee, Dick Bowling. Congratulations to all.

The Spaghetti Dinner went well. We served about 80 hungry folks. Thanks to those who volunteered their time to help with the dinner. A very big THANK YOU goes to Bob Eimar, Wil Popp, John Sydow, Ed Newcomb, Mary Ann Jerome, Peggy Gasdorf, Barry Sharp, Doug & Yvonne Gorniak, and to the Girl Scouts. If you weren’t able to attend, look for the next Spaghetti Dinner and join us.

We are having a Pancake Breakfast on May 21st and five tickets are enclosed. The breakfast is 8am-12pm and includes pancakes, sausage, and scrambled eggs. Please purchase what you need for yourself (we hope you will attend) and what you don’t buy, please try to sell. Prices are on the tickets and please circle on the ticket whether it is for a child or an adult. If you need more tickets, just let us know. If you would like to volunteer to help during the breakfast (washing dishes, cooking, and serving), just let me know. We can always use more help. If you live out of the area, tickets are not enclosed.

Don’t forget to save those empty inkjet cartridges and old cells phones to drop off at the Post for the Soldiers to Soldiers Program. This program recycles empty inkjet cartridges and used cell phones. Each cartridge collected provides one dollar and each cellular phone $3 for The American Legion charities.  For more information, contact Yvonne Gorniak at 637-2240.

Tickets are on sale for the Fourth of July 50/50 raffle. Winner will be drawn at the BBQ and need not be present to win. Tickets are on sale now at $1 each or 6 for $5. Proceeds to go to the Building Fund which is used for building maintenance.

LADIES AUXILIARY:

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT:

Dear Auxiliary Sisters,

First and foremost I wish to thank all of the officers I’ve had the honor of working with this past year. You’re all great and did beautiful jobs.

It’s time for the new officers to fill the jobs and I know they will all do wonderful jobs. They are:

President – Peggy Gasdorf 1^st Vice – Bernadine Sydow 2^nd Vice – Ricarda Gutierrez

Secretary – Linda Repony Treasurer – Karen Rockhold Chaplain – Dorothy Cowper

Sgt-at-Arm – Majorie Orean Historian – Maxine Bowling Executive Committee Member – Janet Huckaby

Welcome to all the new officers.

May 15^th is our last District Meeting 2004-2005 in Flagstaff at Post 3. Let’s have a good showing from Post 57. May is Poppy month. If you can spare the time to help Maxine, please give her a call. I would also like to thank Commander Doug for all of his help and support. Also Yvonne and Barry and all the members of the Post that have given the Auxiliary and me so much help. We have a fantastic Post and Auxiliary. We all work so well together. I feel very proud to have been a part of all this.

We will be having a Memorial for Dorothy Zettler on Saturday, May 28^th at 1 pm. Please plan on attending for this very special lady. We will be serving cake and coffee after the memorial. Ladies, we need cakes. Please call if you can bake one.

Don’t forget the drawing for the raffle for the lighthouse afghan which will be at 2 pm on 4 June during our Craft and Bake Sale. All monies will be donated to the Homeless Vets, which is our Department President’s project this year. Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5. If you wish to rent a table for your crafts ($10 per table), please call me at 637-2304.

Peggy Gasdorf

Auxiliary President

NOTES FROM THE EDITOR:

My goof, forgot to include highway clean up in last month’s newsletter but it went…see Commander’s Comments.

CONGRATULATIONS to Ed Newcomb, Post 57’s Legionnaire of the Year for 2004-2005!

The van that Post 3 in Flagstaff had to transport folks to VA appointments is no longer available. The DAV van in Kingman is

available with the following guidelines: Monday-Wednesday-Friday for Prescott VA appointments. Tuesday-Thursday for Phoenix appointments. Notify them 3 days in advance and your appointment has to be no later than noon. They pick you up at 6 am here in Ash Fork. Currently they pick up at the Corral Market but we are trying to get them to pick up at the Post. When you get to the VA, let them know you took the DAV van and ask them to try to work you in sooner. Also, you cannot get the reimbursement for travel pay. The phone number to call is: 928-757-7192. Hours of operation are 9am-12pm, if you get a recording leave name and number and they will call back.

Recently I received an email from Gerry Erman regarding prescriptions and the mark up the pharmacies put on them. I had seen this email before but I’ve never verified it. I’m not endorsing Costco but I have received information that they may be your cheapest way to go and you don’t have to be a member to use their pharmacy. Bottom line, shop around for prices before you buy your prescriptions.

I received another email from John and Paula Smith regarding a lady who died after drinking from a soda can that had rat urine on it. Though it is always wise to clean the top of your soda can before drinking from it, this email was a hoax.

"If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under."        - Ronald Reagan

Thanks to Mary Rosenthal for providing me with quotes from Ronald Reagan.

MONTHLY TRIVIA: April Newsletter: What body part never changes size from birth and what body parts never stop growing from birth? It’s your eyes!! Your ears and nose never stop growing though—especially if you lie!!

This month’s question: When was the first time a foreign bomb hit the contiguous United States?

ITEMS OF INTEREST (if interested in an item listed, contact the Post for further information)

Lackland historian adds photos to basic training collection. Submit your basic training flight photograph to the historian at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. The current collection now numbers more than 1,700 photos and is available for view on the Internet at http://www.lackland.af.mil/info/flightphoto.asp. [Source: Air Force Retiree News, 24 Jan 05]

Emergency Registry Helps Locate Family Members, Friends. The National Next-of-Kin Registry is a free emergency contact system that can help citizens find missing loved ones in the event of serious accidents or catastrophic national emergencies. People can input personal data about themselves or loved ones at the registry's Web site. Registry users include families and individuals registering personal information about themselves, their children, other relatives, and friends. Some organizations linked to the NOKR include the Red Cross, the National Center for Missing Adults, and the Amber Alert missing children system. For more information, visit http://www.nokr.org [Source: Military.com, Military Report, 28 February 2005]

VA Improves "My HealtheVet" Web Site: Harnessing the power of the Internet, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is improving its Web-based system for providing health care information to its patients. Under the latest improvement to VA's "My HealtheVet" Web site, veterans will be able to update personal information and record medical data such as prescriptions. A new capability now added to the site allows veterans to record their personal information and medical data--including emergency contacts, health care providers and insurance, prescriptions, tests and allergies. Eventually, veterans will be able to receive their medical records from VA online. The site is located on the Internet at www.myhealth.va.gov.

Accessing Military Records. Two means exist for veterans or their next of kin (if the veteran is deceased). It can be done through the National Archives and Records Administration via the Internet or fax machine. Web site: www.vetrecs.archives.gov Fax: 314-801-9195. Or you can send a letter to the National Personnel Records Center, Military Personnel Records, 8700 Page Ave., St Louis, MO 63132-5100. When a veteran has died, eligible relatives include children, parents, siblings and un-remarried spouses for purposes of access. All requests for records and/or medals are made using a Request Pertaining to Military Records (SF-180) obtainable from NPRC at the above Web site/address or at the Post. A requester should mention the relationship to the former member. There is no charge for this service to former servicemembers or their next of kin. You may submit more than one request per envelope or fax, but submit a separate request (either SF 180 or letter) for each individual whose records are being requested. [Sources: Military.com and VFW Magazine, Feb 2005]

One Stop Info. Veterans looking for information on benefits earned in service, records requests, VA forms and transition information can find the information they are looking for online in one location. The Military.com Veterans Information Center provides Veterans with a one-stop hub with up-to-date information and useful tips to help Veterans make the most of their military experience. [Source: Military.com]

One-Stop Benefit Resource: GovBenefits.gov is a free and confidential Web site that provides information on several government benefit programs. Ten federal agencies work together to provide GovBenefits.gov to the American public, including the U.S. Departments of Labor, Agriculture, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, State, Veterans Affairs and the Social Security Administration. Go to www.govbenefits.gov [Source: Military.com, Veteran’s Report, 7 March 2005]

Family members 75 and older to receive indefinite ID cards. Military retirees already receive ID cards with no expiration dates; but, renewing ID cards upon expiration has been a continuing requirement for family members. Congress passed legislation to authorize the Services to issue ID cards without an established expiration date to those dependents and survivors of military retirees who are 75 years of age. Capability to issue these ID cards is not expected until summer 2005.  Many Medicare-eligible family members simply let their ID cards expire if they live no where near an installation to use the shopping privileges.  Since enactment of TRICARE for Life and TRICARE Senior Pharmacy coverage several years ago, family members who have Medicare A & B now have a medical benefit and must have a current ID card to use the benefits. [Source: AF Ret News, Jan 05]

New Handbook Updates Veterans Benefits: Most of the nation's 25 million veterans qualify for some VA benefits,
which range from health care to burial in a national cemetery.  In addition to describing benefits provided by VA, the 2005 edition of the 120-page booklet provides an overview of programs and services for veterans provided by other federal agencies.  The handbook can be downloaded free from VA's Web site at http://www.va.gov/opa/feature/ or you can purchase it through GPO which accepts credit card orders for the publication at 866-512-1800 (toll-free) for a cost of $7 each to U.S. addresses.  It can be ordered by mail from the GPO at Superintendent of Documents, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954 (stock #051-000-00228-8). [VA Media Relations News Release, 15 Apr 05]

Legion Applauds Legislative Initiatives: The American Legion played an active role in the draft and enactment of the original GI Bill of Rights (the Servicemen Readjustment Act of 1944) and today applauds the legislative initiatives proposed in the New GI Bill for the 21^st Century. There were four major facets of the original GI Bill: medical care, employment, education and home ownership.  The New GI Bill continues that rich tradition. Read details at the post. [Public Relations Div Release, 14 Apr 05]

CRSC staff ready to give veterans money. Combat-Related Special Compensation allows some disabled military retirees, who served at least 20 years, are receiving military retired pay, and are receiving Veterans Administration disability compensation, to collect up to an additional $2,500 in monthly, tax-free payments for some of their service-related disabilities. [This article came from the Air Force Retiree News (8 April 05) but applies to all service branches. For more info, contact your branch of service.]

VA Seeks Vets Exposed to Chemical Agents. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has launched a national campaign to locate veterans exposed to mustard gas or the chemical agent Lewisite during their military service. Lewisite is a blister-producing chemical to which many veterans were exposed as part of chemical testing programs during World War II. Veterans of this area were also exposed to mustard gas during testing sponsored by DoD. Any veterans who suspect they were exposed to either mustard gas or Lewisite during their service is strongly encouraged to contact VA by calling 1-800-749-8387 or visit the VA benefits Web site at www.vba.va.gov. [Source: Military.com]

The Military.com Scholarship Finder has listings of over $300 million in scholarship funds. All personnel in the military community, including dependents, are encouraged to search the scholarship database. To search through Scholarship Finder, go to the Scholarship Finder at http://benefits.military.com/education/scholarship/ScholarshipSearch.jsp [Military.com, 15 Feb 05]

American Legion Funeral Accessories Now Available Locally. For the first time, The American Legion emblem is now available in local funeral homes across America.  Funeral directors now have the ability to provide American Legion funeral products through a recently signed licensing agreement with Batesville Casket Company, which gives the manufacturer the right to produce its line of funeral accessories with The American Legion emblem.  Funeral accessories now available that feature The American Legion emblem are embroidered casket lid panels, embroidered casket overthrows, and engraved cremation urns.  Later this spring, the company will introduce American Legion medallions for use on urns, as well as a casket corner design that features The American Legion logo. Batesville Casket will pay a royalty to The American Legion for each purchase made, which will directly support American Legion national programs that give help to America’s children, veterans, and military families. [Source: National HQ Indianapolis (April 20, 2005)]

Senate OKs Full Concurrent Receipt for IU Retirees. The Senate approved an amendment (Number 361) to the Emergency Appropriations Act (HR 1268) expressing the sense of the Senate that military retirees who are receiving 100-percent Individual Unemployability (IU) compensation should be treated the same as those whose disabilities are rated 100-percent by the VA. Whether or not approximately 24,000 disabled retirees rated as IU qualify for immediate concurrent receipt per provisions of last year's NDAA is yet to be resolved because of a dispute over the interpretation of the legislation by DoD and the Office of Management and Budget. [Source: Military Report from Military.com, 25 April 2005]

Interview with Steve Buyer (R-IN), chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, are you a veteran or not? He wants to limit VA care to veterans injured in combat or who are indigent. Read interview on Post bulletin board.

RAO Bulletin, 15 April 2005 contains the following articles: CRDP Update 33 (100% disability w/ IU); GI Bill of Rights; Veterans' Preference Update 01 (Revised application form); Medicare Update 02 (Premium rise of 10% projected); BRAC 2005 Update 06; VA Budget 2005 Update 01 (Additional funds shot down in Senate); VA Claim Processing Goals; ID Cards for Age 75+ (Expiration date eliminated); Identity Theft Update 06; VA Mustard Agent Outreach (Looking for exposed vets); Tricare Sitrep 01 (Physician/facility availability diminishing); Veteran Disability Claim Help; Vet Cemetery Pennsylvania; Tricare Behavioral Health Care; DIC Facts 2004; VA My Health eVet Web Site (Site improvements)

RAO Bulletin, 1 May 2005 contains the following articles: DoD Rising Medical Cost (Copay increase could be forthcoming); Tricare Pharmacy Rates Update 02; Tricare For Life Criteria; Locating Insurance Policies; SBP DIC Offset Update 02; COLA 2006; Afghanistan & Iraq Medals; VA Handbook Update 01; VA Tinnitus Comp Update 01 (Court decision favors vets); Missouri Veterans Home; Tricare Pharmacy Search Tool; Macular Degeneration; Rent-a-Patient & Capping (Health care fraud);
NM Reserve Death Benefit; U.S. Citizenship for Enlistees; Cell Phone Service Plan Basics (Are you overpaying?)

UPCOMING EVENTS TO PUT ON YOUR CALENDAR: (all events at Post 57 unless otherwise noted.)

6-7 May 2005 (Fri-Sat), Post Social, 5 pm till ??

7 May 2005, (Sat), Pioneer Day Parade 9:30 am, meet at the ADOT building at 9 am if you want to participate in parade

8 May 2005 (Sun), Bingo, doors open 1:30 pm, play starts 2 pm

15 May 2005 (Sun), District Meeting, 11 am, Post 3 Flagstaff – please attend if you can!

18 May 2005 (Wed), Library’s Grand Re-opening, 2-5 pm. Show up in your Legion shirt. Show the Legion supports the Library.

20 May 2005 (Fri), Post Social, 5 pm till ?? (no social on 21 May)

21 May 2005 (Sat), Pancake Breakfast, 8 am – 12 pm

21 May 2005 (Sat), Cemetery Cleanup, 8 am - ??

22 May 2005 (Sun), Bingo, doors open 1:30 pm, play starts 2 pm

28 May 2005 (Sat), Memorial for Dorothy Zettler, 1 pm

30 May 2005 (Mon), Memorial Day Ceremony at Ash Fork “Settlers” Cemetery, 10 am

4 June 2005 (Sat), Craft and Bake Sale, 9 am – 3 pm

Do you have an article or piece of information that you think would be of interest to the whole Post? Pass it on to me and I’ll include it in the newsletter. Drop it off at the Post or email me.

Do you have an email address? Have you sent it to me? If not, please do so. My email address is rockin_g@netzero.com. Make sure you let me know who you are when you send me the email so I know whom the email address belongs to.

Yvonne Gorniak

Yvonne Gorniak

Editor

Post 57