Volume 10 Issue 1 - January 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 January 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. Merry Christmas Volume 10 Issue 1 - January 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 Hope everyone had a nice Christmas and entered the New Year with new goals, working on old goals or no goals. All is perfectly fine. Weather has been pretty nice so I hope you are all getting plenty of fresh air. As I promised last month, I will share how the Christmas Eve dinner went. We ended up with getting the Rock Fish and it was really good. Didn ’ t taste much like a Carp but was delicious. Since there was no Carp, we had to use a fish stock for the soup which worked very well. For the first time ever, I made just the right amount of potato salad so there was very little left over. If you recall, I mentioned we always have ham on Christmas Day and this year was no different. Accept, I fig- ured who knows how the next year Christmas will be so let ’ s do something little different and let ’ s get the Honey Baked ham. Costs way too much if you ask me, but we live only once. Well, it was good but I honestly can ’ t say I was that impressed. I will be going back to local supermarket next time I need ham which will be Easter. I would like to extend a sincere gratitude to Lee Jared, our Post member, who offered his wheelchair to anyone who needs it. There was a veteran in need vetted by Tim Whalen from the Citrus Heights Veterans Center who some of you may know from Veterans Picnic, Battle of the Bands or Cit- rus Heights community events. The stay home restrictions are slowly lifting but until they are totally lifted, I want to tell you about an activity you can do from the safety of your home. You do need a computer and the internet. I have been attending virtual tours and presentations for the last few months. It is not the same as traveling, but it ’ s the next best thing right now. I found some of them on Facebook but I know not everyone is a fan so I am listing the links to their websites. Some of them will charge and you need to get a ticket thru Eventbrite but most are free. I hope you will find what interests you and will enjoy the journey. Girltraveltours.com saltcreekcwrt.org sfcityguides.org naturalhistory.si.edu/visit/virtual - tour (Smithsonian) thingstododc.com fee $20 or $22 plus Eventbrite fee, sells out quickly livermorearts.org fee $20 These are sites with multiple links: travelandleisure.com/attractions/museums - galleries/ museums - with - virtual - tours refinery29.com/en - us/2020/03/9576127/free - virtual - tours - online goodhousekeeping.com/life/travel/a31784720/best - virtual - tours Stay healthy and as always, please reach out if you need anything Volume 10 Issue 1 - January 2021 Page 3 Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion Stephan Gall 1st Vice Commander 916 - 215 - 0685 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 COVID - 19 Now that the COVID - 19 vaccine is becoming available, scammers are calling, texting and emailing Veterans with promises of vaccine availability and early access to vaccines. These promises are lies. The people sending these messages are identity thieves. They are after your sensitive personal information, such as your Social Security Number, and your money. How can you know if the message you receive about a vac- cine is a real VA message or a scam? Here are some tips on how to how to avoid scams and how to tell the difference. Here ’ s how VA will contact you VA is beginning contact with Veterans to offer and adminis- ter COVID - 19 vaccinations. You can sign up for vaccine updates by visiting https://www.va.gov/health - care/covid - 19 - vaccine/stay - informed . This is a valid and reliable source of information about VA ’ s COVID - 19 vaccine response. Plus, individual VA medical facilities will soon start contact- ing Veterans about the vaccine. Outreach will most likely come through the VA.gov website, VEText, MyHealtheVet or VA emails. VA may also reach out to you via the US Postal Service through letters and postcards. Or you may get a phone call. What VA will never do No matter how we contact you, VA will never request mon- ey or your full Social Security Number through phone, email, or text message. VA will never ask for your full Social Security Number or personal health information through a vaccination request call. VA will never include hyperlinks in texts or emails that will take you to unofficial or non - secured web pages that ask you to provide personal information. Non - secured sites look like this: “ http://. ” Secured sites look like this: “ https://. ” VA will never require payment in exchange for providing the vaccine early and will not require payment to become eligible for the vaccine. The information you provide is up to you If you do receive a phone call from a VA medical center, you may be asked to provide the last four digits of your So- cial Security Number or your date of birth. It is up to you if you choose to provide that information. To be safe, we recommend that you politely hang up and then call the medical center back so that you can be sure you are actually speaking with a real Veteran health provider. Use the number you have saved in your contacts or search for the facility contact information on their website. Don ’ t just click that link If you receive an email or text that directs you to click a hy- perlink to a website, don ’ t. You have no way of knowing if it ’ s actually the website it ’ s supposed to be. Instead, open your browser, type in the address of the site and visit it di- rectly. Scams to look out for COVID - 19 vaccine scams come in many forms: emails, website traps, texts and phone calls. Here are the top vaccine scams the FBI warns about: Payment to be added to a vaccine waitlist. Ads, websites, texts, phone calls and emails offering early access to the vaccine for a fee. Emails or phone calls from people claiming to work at a medical center or insurance company offering the vaccine but requiring personal medical details to check eligibility. Messages, calls or emails claiming that the government is requiring you to get the vaccine. Ads on social media for the vaccine. Avoid all these types of outreach and do not engage with the scammer at all. Volume 10 Issue 1 - January 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 1 - January 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 starting next month Starting this month, 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 Interi- or 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 1 - January 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 1 - January 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 Volume 10 Issue 1 - January 2021 Page 8 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 Jan 15, 1929 - Apr 04, 1968 (age 39) Volume 10 Issue 1 - January 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 Dear Legionnaire, The United States has the most comprehensive system of assistance for Veterans of any nation in the world. As the U.S. entered World War I in 1917, Congress established a new system of Vet- eran ’ s benefits, including programs for disability compensation, insurance for service personnel and veterans, and vocational rehabilitation for the disabled. By the 1920s, three different federal agencies administered the various benefits: The Veterans Bu- reau, the Bureau of Pensions of the Interior Department, and the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. In 1921, the Legion ’ s efforts resulted in creation of the federal Veterans Bureau (which is now the Veterans Administration) as part of a legislative victory to consoli- date these three agencies. After persistent pressure from The American Legion, the Veterans Administration was created in 1930, solidifying the relationship between the Veteran ’ s organization, rep- resenting the stakeholders, and the federal agency whose responsibility is to ensure efficiency, quality, and timeliness of services for veterans. Over the decades, the VA ’ s role expanded beyond disability benefits and health care. It will take up many of the GI Bill ’ s provisions after June 1944, including education, home and business loans. In 1989, the Veterans Administration was elevated to Cabinet - level status as the De- partment of Veterans Affairs (VA) after supportive lobbying by The American Legion. The Legion fought hard for the change, arguing that veterans deserve representation at the highest levels of government. Today, the Legion continues to lobby for adequate funding to cover medical, disabil- ity, education and other benefits for veterans. These efforts are possible thanks to the commitment of our Legionnaires. As a member of The American Legion, you are helping to advocate for veterans and their families. Some of our legislative priorities include supporting the VA ’ s suicide prevention efforts, creating lifetime electronic health records, reclassifying cannabis for medical research, instituting gender - specific health care for women veterans, and funding programs to end veteran homelessness. American Legion – 100 years old and 2.5 million strong Volume 10 Issue 1 - January 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 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 1 - January 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 Superstitions Pride and professionalism come to mind when thinking of the military. Those are not the buzz words for this article, though. Quirky and Superstitious are just as valid when talking about military behaviors and cus- toms. So, what are some of the superstitions of the 5 branches? In the Navy , coffee is almost a sacred item. No surprise there. Many professions covet the caffeine god known as Coffee. But the Navy has rules about coffee mugs even. You can NOT wash a coffee mug, less Neptune will claim your ship to the briny deep. In fact, I have had the displeasure of sitting in on a Captain ’ s Mast where a sailor was demoted for (you can ’ t make this stuff up) “ Willfully and maliciously scrubbing a chief ’ s coffee mug clean ” out of anger. That is some serious stuff there. The Army is no better though. A friend recently returned from Afghanistan and was relaying a story where he was afraid to go out on a patrol. Not because of an increased threat potential or the location of the patrol, but because his patrol cap was accidentally washed when left in a cargo pocket. Washed patrol covers, it seems, are how a soldier ensures they will meet an ill fate. In an MRE, often times they have Charms® candies. Everyone loves a bit of candy after a “ nutritious ” meal. Marines know, however, that eating one, especially the green ones it seems, will bring the wrath of weather upon you. Pop one in to satisfy that sweet tooth while on a patrol and the rain will come down in buckets. At least, until you step back inside. It is even reported that Marines have thrown these candies at enemies in the middle of firefights. The Air Force , despite being the youngest branch, has many superstitions of its own, with the display of an amulet being the most common. There is no hard and fast rule about what type of material or design it should display, but there are extra points if there are numbers that add up to 13. By wearing one of these, the wind will remain under your wings and make for a clean opening chute. For the Coast Guard , we will go with two of them as they are a bit harder to find ones that don ’ t flow with the Navy ’ s, as sailors are sailors. To bring good luck and ensure King Neptune will grant you safe passage, it is wise to throw a few coins into the sea before the start of your voyage. How could one ever have poor luck if you paid of the god of the sea? And whistling on a vessel, especially in the pilot house, will bring the wrath of the sea upon you and place your soon - to - be - doomed ship in the middle of a squall. With all the superstitions service members have, it is no surprise that even the spouses have superstitions to keep their warriors safe while away from home. Not washing a deployed member ’ s clothing left in the ham- per will ensure they return home safe, as there is laundry for them to do. Another piece of good luck is to wear their extra pair of dog tags while they are away. It is said that being so close to the heart of the one you love, no bad can happen. No matter what your quirks and superstitions are, stay true to them and pass them on to the next gener- ation. Who knows, they could save a life. And please, if you have any superstitions to share, pass them along. Volume 10 Issue 1 - January 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 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 1 - January 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 National home improvement retailer Lowe ’ s has expanded its everyday military dis- count program to include all honorably discharged veterans, as of May. The chain also has expanded the 10 percent discount to Lowe's online shopping, 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, although 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 member signs up for the dis- count 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 dec- ade. Previously, the 10 percent discount at Lowe ’ s was available every day to active - duty ser- vice members, retired military and other veterans receiving VA benefits who showed their identification. For other honorably discharged veterans, 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 1 - January 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 Fritz & Company “Your Platinum Kohler Dealer” 5730 B Roseville Road Sacramento, CA 95842 Ph 916 - 344 - 0288 www.fritzgopower.com Email: fritzco1st@gmail.com At Fritz & Company we believe quality KOHLER products, properly installed and applied in usage properly and maintained on a timely basis, will pay for themselves in peace of mind and reliable operation. Our Business is: About serving you. Your emergency power need IS our business. Our technicians are factory trained and certified. The technical aspects of generators and transfer switches are con- stantly evolving. It is important that we stay as current as possible with the new products that are unveiled several times each year! Who Are WE? Our co - owner, Bill Lane, also lead technician and sales manager, has been it the power generation industry for over 5 decades. A former Detroit Diesel Industrial Instructor and Field Service Engineer, Bill has been involved in the design stage, installation and maintenance phases of many of the emergency power systems that exist in Northern California, there are few systems that he is unknown to him. Owner and General Manager, Carol Lane heads up the parts and accounting departments, as well as being a factory certified technician. In August of 1994, we stepped into the world of being self - employed. Over the years we have developed a customer base of homeowners, radio and communication sites, businesses, ranches, special event centers, medical facilities, community service districts and county agencies across North - Eastern California, from Sacramento to the Sierra’s. We enjoy what we do, and most of that is helping educate people about the emergency generator systems that would be best suited to their needs. We provide onsite review of clients needs and work to stay within budgets. Veteran Owned Business in our area Volume 10 Issue 1 - January 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 “ 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 1 - January 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 A Little History ........................... January is an important month in the success of the United States of America. On January 1, 1752, Betsy Ross was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was a seamstress credit- ed with helping to originate and sew the Stars and Stripes flag of America in 1776. On January 1, 1776 - During the American Revolution, General George Washington unveiled the Grand Union Flag for the first time in America. Two important people were born in January ...................... January 1, 1735 - American Patriot Paul Revere (1735 - 1818) was born in Boston, Massachusetts January 26, 1880 - Douglas MacArthur (1880 - 1964) was born on a military base in Little Rock, Ar- kansas. Volume 10 Issue 1 - January 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 In Memory of the fallen Police Officer ’ s That died in the line of duty Post 637, On the 21st day of each month, we ask that all of you take a moment to show your support by remembering those who were prisoners of war (POW) and those who are still miss- ing in action (MIA), as well as their families. The Chaplain ’ s Corner Barry Fitzgerald Chaplain 916 - 692 - 5140 IN TUNE WITH THE MASTER You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Psalm 32:7 Out West an old sheepherder had a violin, but it was out of tune. He had no way of tuning it, so in desperation he wrote to one of the radio stations and asked them at a certain hour on a certain day to strike the tone "A". The officials of the station decided they would accommodate the old fellow, and on that particular day the true tone of "A" was broadcast. His fiddle was thus tuned, and once more his cabin echoed with joyful music. When we live apart from God, our lives get out of tune - out of harmony with others and with God. But if we live in tune with the Master, we, too, will find ourselves surrounded by His beautiful music. As this new year begins, ask God to help you tune your life every day to His Word, so you can bring harmo- ny and joy to those around you. HOPE FOR TODAY Are you feeling weary and worn? Are you desperate for something to change? Ask God to reveal where your life may be out of tune. He will be faithful to you. Taken from the book "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham Volume 10 Issue 1 - January 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 POST 637 POST OFFICE R ’ S Alex Candela 3rd Vice Commander 916 - 990 - 4895 Sylvia Thweatt Commander 916 - 792 - 9669 Ron Myers Adjutant 916 - 723 - 7324 Jim Monteton JAG Officer 916 - 726 - 9390 James Miranda Service Officer 530 - 919 - 5255 Vacant Photographer Stephan Gall 1st Vice Commander 916 - 215 - 0685 Richard Tkach Assist. Sgt. at Arms 916 - 723 - 1932 Barry Fitzgerald Chaplain 916 - 692 - 5140 Vacant Assist. Service Officer David Paige Finance Officer 916 - 801 - 8554 Vacant Assist. Chaplain Maynard Johnson 2nd Vice Commander 916 - 824 - 2085 Jim Monteton Historian 916 - 726 - 9390 Stephany Sward Sgt. at Arms 916 - 967 - 7266 Volume 10 Issue 1 - January 2021 Page 19 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 United States Coast Guard Created by Congress on August 4, 1790 at the request of Alexander Hamilton as the "Revenue Marine", it is the oldest con- tinuous seagoing service of the United States. As Secretary of the Treasury, Hamilton headed the Revenue Marine, whose original purpose was as the collector of customs duties in the nation's sea- ports. By the 1860s, the service was known as the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service and the term Revenue Marine gradually fell into dis- use. Why are we talking about this in January? Because The modern Coast Guard was formed by a merger of the Revenue Cutter Service and the U.S. Life - Saving Service on January 28, 1915 , under the U.S. Department of the Treasury. As one of the country's five armed services, the Coast Guard has been involved in every U.S. war from 1790 to the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan. As of 2012 the Coast Guard had approximately 42,000 men and women on active duty, 7,900 reservists, 32,000 Auxiliarists, and 8,700 full - time civilian employees. In terms of size, the U.S. Coast Guard by itself is the world's 12th largest naval force The Coast Guard has roles in maritime homeland security, maritime law enforcement (MLE), search and rescue (SAR), marine environmental protection (MEP), the maintenance of river, intra - coastal and offshore aids to navi- gation (ATON). And did you know that the U. S. Coast Guard can be transferred to the U.S. Department of the Navy by the U.S. President at any time, or by the U.S. Congress during times of war. This has happened twice, in 1917, during World War I, and in 1941, during World War II. Volume 10 Issue 1 - January 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 I am very proud to announce that earlier this week, Sacramento County approved an ordinance that provides FREE business licenses to Veterans. This was an effort that I have been pushing for since I took office last year, because I believe we should do whatever we can as a county to support and honor our local veterans. Our veterans have made enormous sacrifices, and this is a small way we can acknowledge their service. To be eligible for this fee waiver, an individual must be a Veteran of the armed services, who has been honorably discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions from any branch of the United States military. The Tax and License Collector may require documentation as proof of military service and honorable discharge or release status to verify applicant eligibility. For more information about business licensing, click the link below: http://www.finance.saccounty.net/Tax/Pages/BusLicFAQ.aspx