Volume 10 Issue 8 - August 2021 Page 1 Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion F O R G O D - F O R C O U N T R Y - A N D C O M M U N I T Y American Legion Post 637 August News Letter Dedicated to the men and woman that served in the United States Military. Their sacrifice maintained our nations safety and security. God bless all Veterans - Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow and may God continue to Bless the United States of America. Volume 10 Issue 8 - August 2021 Page 2 Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion NEWSLETTER AMERICAN LEGION POST 637 City Hall, 6360 Fountain Square Dr. in Citrus Heights www.Facebook.com/AmericanLegionPost637 F O R G O D - F O R C O U N T R Y - A N D C O M M U N I T Y Sylvia Thweatt - Commander COMMANDERS CORNER Hello Post 637, Here we are in August already and of course it ’ s hot. So please hydrate, do your outside chores in the morning if possible, apply plenty of sunscreen and wear head covers and glasses. I am sad to announce that our chaplain, Barry Fitzgerald has decided to resign his position as the Post Chaplain so he can focus more on his family. Thank you very much for your time and dedication, you will be missed. We wish you good luck and hope you will come to visit. I also want to thank to James Miranda for stepping up and taking over the Chaplain position. After checking with the City Hall, we will defi- nitely not be meeting in person in August. I am not really sure if the City Hall will ever open for meetings, so we are exploring other options. I will keep you posted of other possible venues and if you have any available rooms in mind, please share. Meantime we will keep having Post meet- ings via Zoom. I would really like more members to join us at these meetings. Here is the link to our next Post meeting on August 17 starting at 1830. Here is the link to the meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81971264618 , Dial by your location: (669) 900 6833, Meeting ID: 819 7126 4618. AL Posts and Districts throughout California are collecting clothing and toiletries for the victims of fires. Elk Grove Post 233 is working with Frontier Communications Administrative Cam- pus on Stockton Blvd., which is one of the drop off locations. I am planning on dropping off my donation by the end of this week so if you would like to donate anything, please let me know and I can arrange for a pickup. The following is a list of items needed: Clothing (New or Gently used): Men ’ s, Wom- en ’ s & Children ’ s All Sizes, Socks (New), Men ’ s, Women ’ s & Children ’ s Underwear (New) in Packages Toiletries (New): Hairbrushes & Combs, Tooth- paste, Toothbrushes, Dental Floss, Mouth Wash, Shampoo, Bars of Soap, Disposable Razors, Shaving Cream, Deodorant, Feminine Hygiene Products, Diapers, Baby Wipes Volume 10 Issue 8 - August 2021 Page 3 Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion F O R G O D - F O R C O U N T R Y - A N D C O M M U N I T Y Volume 10 Issue 8 - August 2021 Page 4 Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion F O R G O D - F O R C O U N T R Y - A N D C O M M U N I T Y “ The American dream lives — not only in the hearts and minds of our own countrymen but in the hearts and minds of millions of the world's peo- ple in both free and oppressed societies who look to us for leadership. As long as that dream lives, as long as we continue to defend it, Amer- i c a h a s a f u t u r e , a n d a l l m a n k i n d h a s r e a s o n t o h o p e ” Remarks at the Annual Washington Conference of the American Legion, 1983 Volume 10 Issue 8 - August 2021 Page 5 Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion F O R G O D - F O R C O U N T R Y - A N D C O M M U N I T Y Fees at national parks waived for veterans, Gold Star families have started. Starting in 2020, veterans and Gold Star families will be able to visit National Parks and other public lands for free, under a new initiative from the Department of the Interior announced on Wednesday, November 11. Active - duty service members and their families are al- ready granted free access to those sites under existing department rules. The new announcement broadens that benefit to more than 20 million more individuals in recognition of their service and sacrifice on behalf of the country. In a statement, Interior Secretary David Bernhardt said the move gives all veterans “ free access to the iconic and treasured lands they fought to protect. ” The policy goes into effect starting on Veterans Day, Nov. 11. Bernhardt and other federal officials made the an- nouncement during a ceremony at the Iowa Gold Star Museum, which focuses on the history of the state ’ s vet- erans and their families. “ Our veterans and Gold Star Families have made in- credible sacrifices to defend our freedoms and our homeland, ” Sen. Chuck Grassley, R - Iowa, said in a statement. “ Ensuring that they are able to enjoy all of the natural wonders of the country that they ’ ve served is one small way of saying thank you. ” The policy includes admittance to well - known sites like Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, Mount Rush- more in South Dakota, Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona and Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. Interior officials did not provide cost estimates for the move, but said that the policy change will affect about 2,000 public locations across the country. Fees for the sites can range from a few dollars per person to nearly $100 for some weekly and annual passes. For free access to the sites, veterans will have to pre- sent a Department of Defense Identification Card, a Veteran Health Identification Card, a government - issued Veteran ID Card or a state - issued U.S. driver ’ s license or identification card confirming an individual ’ s status as a veteran. Gold Star family members can use similar Defense De- partment identification cards to verify their status. National parks officials already run promotions through- out the year to offer free admission to all visitors on cer- tain holidays, including Veterans Day. While most national parks sites have remained open or re - opened in recent months amid the ongoing corona- virus pandemic, some programs and facilities still have limited access. Parks officials encourage all visitors to check with local parks administrators before traveling to the sites to ensure safe visits. Bernhardt also announced Wednesday plans to waives entrance fees to national parks, wildlife refuges and oth- er public lands for all 5th grade students and their fami- lies from now until Aug. 31, 2021. The move was made because many families may not have been able to take advantage of the department ’ s Every Kid Outdoors An- nual 4th Grade Pass program because of pandemic pre- cautions earlier this year. Volume 10 Issue 8 - August 2021 Page 6 Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion F O R G O D - F O R C O U N T R Y - A N D C O M M U N I T Y The Servicemen ’ s Readjustment Act of 1944 (commonly known as the GI Bill) almost did- n ’ t happen. The battle came down to a deadlocked conference committee in June 1944 that was broken by one of history ’ s most dramatic efforts to get a bill signed into law. Former Illinois Gov. John Stelle, was appointed to lead the committee to distill all of The American Legion ’ s preferred benefits — including free college tuition, vocational training and $20 a week in unemployment pay for a maximum of 52 weeks — into a comprehensive bill containing 10 provisions. Past National Commander Harry W. Colmery of Kansas, in December of 1943, drafted the legislation by hand in a room of the Mayflower Hotel. Several modifications would be made before it reached Congress, but the Servicemen ’ s Readjustment Act of 1944 did not deviate from its 10 key provisions: college education, vocational training, readjustment pay, home and business loans, discharge review, adequate hospitalization, prompt settlement of disability claims, mustering - out pay, employment services and concentration of all these provisions under the Veterans Administration. On March 17, 1944, the measure unanimously passed in the Senate, but the House re- mained stalled until May 18. A conference committee was assembled to marry the Senate and House versions. The House conferees were deadlocked 3 - 3 with the tie - breaking vote, that of Rep. John Gibson, who was in rural Georgia recovering from an illness. The Legion got through to an operator in Atlanta who called Gibson ’ s home every five minutes until he answered at 11 p.m. The Legion, assisted by military and police escorts, then took Gibson on a 90 - mile high - speed trip through a rainstorm to the Jacksonville, Fla., airport where he was flown to Washington, arriving shortly after 6 a.m. He cast the vote to send the bill to the president ’ s desk and promised to make public the name of anyone who would vote against it, along with their reasons. The conference committee tie suddenly became unanimous in favor. On June 22, 1944, flanked by lawmakers and members of The American Legion special committee, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Servicemen ’ s Readjustment Act of 1944 into law. The GI Bill Volume 10 Issue 8 - August 2021 Page 7 Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion F O R G O D - F O R C O U N T R Y - A N D C O M M U N I T Y The Coast Guard's official history began on 4 August 1790 when the first Congress authorized the construc- tion of ten vessels to enforce federal tariff and trade laws and to prevent smuggling. Known variously through the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries as the Revenue Marine and the Revenue Cutter Service, the Coast Guard expanded in size and responsibilities as the nation grew. The service received its present name in 1915 under an act of Congress that merged the Revenue Cutter Service with the Life - Saving Service, thereby providing the nation with a single maritime service dedicated to sav- ing life at sea and enforcing the nation's maritime laws. The Coast Guard began to maintain the country's aids to maritime navigation, including operating the nation's lighthouses, when President Franklin Roosevelt ordered the transfer of the Lighthouse Service to the Coast Guard in 1939. In 1946 Congress permanently transferred the Commerce Department's Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation to the Coast Guard, thereby placing merchant marine licensing and merchant vessel safety under their purview. The Coast Guard adopted its trademark racing stripe design in 1967, as a result of the recommendation made to President John F. Kennedy in the spring of 1963 by the industrial design firm of Raymond Loewy/William Snaith, Inc. The Coast Guard is one of the oldest organizations of the federal government and until Congress estab- lished the Navy Department in 1798 they served as the nation's only armed force afloat. The Coast Guard protected the nation throughout their long history and served proudly in every one of the nation's conflicts. Our national de- fense responsibilities remain one of our most important functions even today. Since 2003 the Coast Guard has operated as part of the Department of Homeland Security, serving as the nation's front - line agency for enforcing the nation's laws at sea, protecting the marine environment and the nation's vast coastline and ports, and saving life. In times of war, or at the direction of the President, the Coast Guard serves under the Navy Department. Volume 10 Issue 8 - August 2021 Page 8 Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion You Are Invited 911 Memorial, Saturday September 11, 2020 8:15 am Sylvan Cemetery in Citrus Heights, started a 911 Memorial two years ago to honor those that lost their lives on September 11, 2001. We take time to salute the over 3,000 men and women that have died in a terrorist attack on America. This year the 911 Memorial service is being planned to be held on Saturday, September 11, 2020, at Sylvan Cemetery, 7401 Auburn Blvd., Citrus Heights at 8:15 am. We are planning a 30 - 40 minutes in the gazebo. Folding chairs will be provided for those that want to sit but there will be no mandatory seating arrangements. We would love to have you here but if you are concerned about your health and do not want to attend - we understand. We are hoping that there will not be a problem. F O R G O D - F O R C O U N T R Y - A N D C O M M U N I T Y Volume 10 Issue 8 - August 2021 Page 9 Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion F O R G O D - F O R C O U N T R Y - A N D C O M M U N I T Y Volume 10 Issue 8 - August 2021 Page 10 Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion F O R G O D - F O R C O U N T R Y - A N D C O M M U N I T Y Save the date for Oktoberfest fundraiser organized by Post 233, Elk Grove. Volume 10 Issue 8 - August 2021 Page 11 Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion F O R G O D - F O R C O U N T R Y - A N D C O M M U N I T Y Vet Death Preps Update 01 ► What DoD Will Provide Upon Death Burial in a VA national cemetery -- Every eligible veteran who is entitled to burial in a national cemetery as long as space is available and the following conditions are met: Veter- an was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. Veteran was not subsequently convicted for offenses involving prohibited weapons of mass destruction, genocide and inter- national terrorism. With certain exceptions, service beginning after Sept. 7, 1980, as an en- listed person and service after Oct. 16, 1981, as an officer must have served for a mini - mum of 24 months or the full period for which the person was called to active duty. For a description of requirements refer to www.cem.va.gov Burial benefits in a VA national cemetery include the following: gravesite, headstone, marker or medallion, opening and closing of the grave, and perpetual care of the grave site. Many national cemeteries have columbaria or gravesites for cremated remains. Gravesites in national cemeteries cannot be reserved. Many national cemeteries are closed to new casket in- terments. Funeral directors or others making burial arrangements must apply at the time of death. Spouses and minor children of eligible veterans and of servicemembers may also be buried in a national cemetery. If a surviving spouse of an eligible veteran marries a nonveteran, and remarriage was terminated by death or divorce of the non - veteran, the spouse is subsequently eligible for burial in a national cemetery. Visit the National Cemetery Administration website at www.cem.va.gov for a listing of all national cemeteries and state veterans cemeteries. Send questions on benefits eligibility to VA at public.inquiry@mail.va.gov. Volume 10 Issue 8 - August 2021 Page 12 Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion F O R G O D - F O R C O U N T R Y - A N D C O M M U N I T Y Volume 10 Issue 8 - August 2021 Page 13 Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion F O R G O D - F O R C O U N T R Y - A N D C O M M U N I T Y Sacramento County Veterans Services Established in 1946 by the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors, Veterans Services is respon- sible for providing benefit entitlement determinations, claim development, claim filing, advocacy, and case management services to the veterans population of Sacramento County. DHA Veterans Services can assist you with the following: Service - Connected Disability Compensation Benefits Non Service - Connected Disability Pension Benefits Dependency Indemnity Compensation (DIC) Benefits Death Pension Benefits Aid & Attendance Entitlement VA Medical Care Eligibility & Access Vocational Rehabilitation Benefits California College Fee Waiver Program VA Life Insurance State Veterans Homes Requests for Military Records Discharge Upgrade Information Burial Benefits Other Ancillary Benefits & Programs - The office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. In Person: 2007 19th Street Sacramento CA 95818 Phone: 916 - 874 - 6811 or E - mail: DHA - VET@saccounty.net ( Information thanks to County Supervisor Sue Frost) Volume 10 Issue 8 - August 2021 Page 14 Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion F O R G O D - F O R C O U N T R Y - A N D C O M M U N I T Y National home improvement retailer Lowe ’ s has expanded its everyday mili- tary discount program to include all honorably discharged veterans, as of May. The chain also has expanded the 10 percent discount to Lowe's online shop- ping, which will include free parcel shipping. It will provide for faster checkout and add the ability to use the discount at self - checkout in stores, said Lowe's spokeswoman Karen Cobb. But the procedure for getting the discount has changed: Active - duty service members, retirees and veterans must sign up online for the Lowe ’ s personal shopping card to qualify for the discount. This is not a credit card. Spouses and dependent children up to age 18 can also get the discount, alt- hough the online signup process doesn ’ t include an option for “ spouses ” or "children." "The discount is linked to a MyLowes account, which can be shared by a household, ” said Megan Lewis, a Lowe ’ s spokeswoman. “ Once the service mem- ber signs up for the discount program, it will be linked to a MyLowes card that can also be used by their spouse. ” Lowe ’ s has offered discounts to military members and veterans for more than a decade. Previously, the 10 percent discount at Lowe ’ s was available every day to active - duty service members, retired military and other veterans receiving VA benefits who showed their identification. For other honorably discharged vet- erans, the discount was limited to three days – Memorial Day, July 4 and Veterans Day. “ The verification process is designed to be a simplified one - time signup, ” Lewis said. “ Military and veteran customers can simply present their MyLowes card at checkout rather than show military credentials each time. ” Lowe ’ s Expands Military Discount Volume 10 Issue 8 - August 2021 Page 15 Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion F O R G O D - F O R C O U N T R Y - A N D C O M M U N I T Y On this the 75 th Anniversary On August 6, 1945 the US dropped an atomic bomb (Little Boy) on Hiroshima in Japan. Three days later a second atomic bomb (Fat Man) was dropped on the city of Nagasaki. The Enola Gay, a Boeing B - 29 Superfortress bomber, named after Enola Gay Tibbets, the mother of the pilot, Colonel Paul Tibbets. On 6 August 1945, during the final stages of World War II, it became the first aircraft to drop an atomic bomb. The bomb, code - named "Little Boy", was targeted at the city of Hiroshima, Japan, and caused the near - complete destruction of the city. Enola Gay participated in the second atomic attack as the weather reconnaissance aircraft for the primary target of Kokura. Clouds and drifting smoke resulted in a secondary target, Nagasaki, being bombed instead. Enola Gay, took off from North Field, in the Mariana Islands , about six hours' flight time from Japan, accompanied by two other B - 29s, The Great Artiste, carrying instrumentation, and a then - nameless aircraft later called Necessary Evil, commanded by Captain George Marquardt, to take photographs. After the war, the Enola Gay returned to the United States, where it was operated from Roswell Army Air Field, New Mexico. Today the front end and cock pit are in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C. Volume 10 Issue 8 - August 2021 Page 16 Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion F O R G O D - F O R C O U N T R Y - A N D C O M M U N I T Y Page 1 Volume 10 Issue 8 - August 2021 Page 17 Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion F O R G O D - F O R C O U N T R Y - A N D C O M M U N I T Y Page 2 Volume 10 Issue 8 - August 2021 Page 18 Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion F O R G O D - F O R C O U N T R Y - A N D C O M M U N I T Y “ The quality of a person's life is in direct propor- tion to their commitment to excellence, regard- less of their chosen field of endeavor. ” Vincent Lombardi Volume 10 Issue 8 - August 2021 Page 19 Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion The Greatest Generation Hello Post 637! I hope you all are doing well and are staying safe. Over the last few weeks, I have had the honor and priv- i l e g e o f m e e t i n g u p w i t h t w o V e t e r a n s f r o m “ The Greatest Generation ”. Both were wearing distinctive Veteran ball caps and both were still full of life. Some 3 weeks ago when I arrived for a medical ap- pointment, I noticed an elderly gentleman wearing a Veteran ball cap. He was looking off to one side so I couldn't quite read what his cap said. When I finished checking in and turned around, I saw the writing that said, “ WWII Veteran ”. As I went to find a seat, I went over to him and first excused myself and I then took a knee as I did not want him looking up at me. I intro- duced myself and told him “ Thank You ”. He was a bit confused as he asked me why I was thanking him? I asked him if he had seen my ball cap and he said he did. I went on to tell him I thanked him for his bravery and for paving the way for guys like me! He asked where I served and when and he then went into a short biography of himself. He volunteered a mere 2 days after Pearl Harbor and when the recruiter found out he had a pilot ’ s license he was set up to go to flight school. He ended up flying fighter planes in the Pacific Theater. When I told him that was where my father had been and when, he distinctly remembered leading strafing runs there. I told him that for all I know he might have saved my father at one point or another. We spoke for several minutes until he got called in. A short time later I was called in and was waiting for my second call when I noticed he was being led out to go home. I walked up to him and told him “ Major, you take care of yourself and be safe ”. He gave me a thumbs up and a fist pump. As I was turning around, I noticed that he almost fell backwards and the nurse was having a tough time holding him up. I grabbed him and told the nurse to get a wheel chair and I would take him out which she did. I wheeled him to his car where a friend was going to take him home and he thanked me profusely. I told him that is what he and I and thou- sands of others are all about, Vets helping Vets. He shook my hand and said “ See you again sometime young man ”. I could only smile. The second encounter was on August 4 th at Sam's Club here in Citrus Heights. Again, I noticed a gentleman sitting having an ice cream and as I passed by I saw that his cap read “ Korea Veteran ”. Again, I went over and first excused myself and asked where in Korea had he served? He asked if I had ever heard of the Chosin Res- ervoir? I told him I most certainly had. That was where then Colonel Chesty Puller of the United States Marine Corps directed one of the most famous battles during Korea. He got a big smile on his face and sheepishly asked “ Semper Fi ”? I responded “ OOHRAH ”! He said he had been a platoon leader whose platoon almost got wiped out had it not been for Colonel Puller! I told him I was glad “ Chesty ” was there so that I could thank him today. I told him I did not want to take up too much of his valuable time but that I just wanted to say thank you for paving the way for guys like me! Again, he smiled, put his huge paw of a hand out and gave me one of the firmest handshakes I have had in a very long time. We cannot forget these heroes, these brave men and women as they are passing away quicker than we want them to. We are the next generation, they were the “ Greatest Generation ” and we should keep them in or thoughts and prayers. So, the next time you see one of these brave individu- als, take the time to go up to them, introduce yourself and tell them “ Thank You ” and why. I can pretty much guarantee you will get a big smile in return! Thank you for listening & Semper Fidelis!!! Paul Reyes Past Commander F O R G O D - F O R C O U N T R Y - A N D C O M M U N I T Y Volume 10 Issue 8 - August 2021 Page 20 Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion F O R G O D - F O R C O U N T R Y - A N D C O M M U N I T Y August Birthdays ALEX ABDRIN JASON BALDWIN MANUAL BARAJAS HARRY BARNES JAMES BRALLEY DALLAS HILDRESS JAMES DELK DON DUARTE JACK FROST KELLY HASKINS WELDON JONES HUBERT MCFARLANE JR WILLIAM MOULTON HARRY PEARSON JOSEPH PITZNER ROYCE PRICE RONALD PYLE PAUL REYES BRUCE SLEEPER KENNETH STRAW RICHARD WILLIAMS