NEWSLETTER September 2021.pdf - Thurman

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Volume 10 Issue 9 - September 2021 Page 1 FOR GOD - FOR COUNTRY - AND COMMUNITY American Legion Post 637 September 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. Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion Volume 10 Issue 9 - September 2021 Page 2 AMERICAN LEGION POST 637 City Hall, 6360 Fountain Square Dr. in Citrus Heights www.Facebook.com/AmericanLegionPost637 NEWSLETTER FOR GOD - FOR COUNTRY - AND COMMUNITY COMMANDERS CORNER Sylvia Thweatt - Commander About a month ago I had my windows and patio doors replaced. It is definitely an investment. I will not men- tion the company’s name because this is not an adver- tisement, I just want to share my experience. I had about 7 salesmen do their pitch. It was exhausting to listen to pretty much the same spiel and visual presen- tation. Some had brochures and pricing ready while the others promised to send it but never did. There was one salesman that I connected with, liked the product and the price, so that is who I went with. I knew it would be about 6 weeks from ordering the windows to I don’t know about you, but I am enjoying the cooler actually getting them delivered, a problem that all the weather especially at night. I can now open my win- companies are facing. It took 2 days of 2 installers to dows and enjoy the cool breeze. It’s a definite sign that have it done. These guys were great, showed up on fall is coming. time, cleaned up after themselves, very respectful and good at their job. I am very happy with my decision to Email was sent out with the link to the upcoming Post replace all windows. Not only that they look great and meeting on Tuesday at 6:30 pm, I am also including block sound but the main reason I got this done was the link below. I am hoping this is our last Zoom meet- the energy saving. These windows block all the heat. ing. The City Hall remains closed, and I am not sure There are days I don’t even turn the air on and when I when, if ever, we’ll be able to meet there. So, we have do, it is way later than I used to. I have already seen been checking other locations and right now we are the difference on my last SMUD bill. So, if you are communicating with the Sylvan Community Center thinking about window replacement and would like a and the Citrus Heights Community Center. Fingers recommendation, just email me. I’ll be happy to share crossed we will meet in person in October. the name of this company. I would like to thank all that were able to join us on Stay safe and healthy and reach out if you need ANY- Thursday (9/16) lining the E/B Greenback Ln at Sun- THING. rise mall to welcome home Sgt. Nicole Gee. I didn’t anticipate so many people so early on, so there was no Sylvia Thweatt way to get all the Post members and other Posts, that came to join us, together. It was an emotional time but to see the sea of flags carried by different organiza- tions and community was uplifting. Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion Volume 10 Issue 9 - September 2021 Page 3 FOR GOD - FOR COUNTRY - AND COMMUNITY IN MEMORIAM August Rex Norman - USMC Vietnam Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion Volume 10 Issue 9 - September 2021 Page 4 FOR GOD - FOR COUNTRY - AND COMMUNITY Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion Volume 10 Issue 9 - September 2021 Page 5 FOR GOD - FOR COUNTRY - AND COMMUNITY The 13 of Kabul On 26 August 2021a tragedy occurred. Close to 100 people both helping and trying to leave Afghanistan were killed at the Kabul airport by a suicide bomber. 13 of those were American service men and women. One Navy Corpsman, one Army soldier and 11 United States Marines. If you recall there was a picture of one female Marine, Sgt. Nicole Gee from Roseville, Ca, who was holding and looking into the eyes of an Afghan baby. She mentioned how she loved her job! I went to her vigil in Roseville where there were some 1500 – 2000 people in attend- ance. Her sister spoke, her mother-in-law spoke and her best friend spoke. All got a big charge out of the comment that her Mother-in-law made saying that “Nicole was one BAD ASS Marine”! On that fateful day, 13 families were changed forever, 13 place settings at Sunday dinner will be empty and 13 young lives were taken away for no real reason. They were there to help and this is how they got thanked. Never forget these young people, along with all the rest that lost their lives while in- volved in that 20-year war that we did not win......again. Welcome to Valhalla brothers & sisters You shall NOT be forgotten May your souls rest in eternal peace SEMPER FIDELIS!!! Paul Reyes Past Commander GySgt United States Marine Corps (ret) Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion Volume 10 Issue 9 - September 2021 Page 6 FOR GOD - FOR COUNTRY - AND COMMUNITY “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- ica has a future, and all mankind has reason to hope.” Remarks at the Annual Washington Conference of the American Legion, 1983 Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion Volume 10 Issue 9 - September 2021 Page 7 FOR GOD - FOR COUNTRY - AND COMMUNITY Fees at national parks waived for veterans, Interior officials did not provide cost estimates for the move, but said that the policy change will affect about Gold Star families have started. 2,000 public locations across the country. Fees for the sites can range from a few dollars per person to nearly Starting in 2020, veterans and Gold Star families will be $100 for some weekly and annual passes. able to visit National Parks and other public lands for free, under a new initiative from the Department of the Interior For free access to the sites, veterans will have to pre- announced on Wednesday, November 11. sent a Department of Defense Identification Card, a Active-duty service members and their families are al- Veteran Health Identification Card, a government-issued ready granted free access to those sites under existing Veteran ID Card or a state-issued U.S. driver’s license department rules. The new announcement broadens or identification card confirming an individual’s status as that benefit to more than 20 million more individuals in a veteran. recognition of their service and sacrifice on behalf of the country. Gold Star family members can use similar Defense De- partment identification cards to verify their status. In a statement, Interior Secretary David Bernhardt said National parks officials already run promotions through- the move gives all veterans “free access to the iconic out the year to offer free admission to all visitors on cer- and treasured lands they fought to protect.” The policy tain holidays, including Veterans Day. goes into effect starting on Veterans Day, Nov. 11. Bernhardt and other federal officials made the an- While most national parks sites have remained open or nouncement during a ceremony at the Iowa Gold Star re-opened in recent months amid the ongoing corona- Museum, which focuses on the history of the state ’s vet- virus pandemic, some programs and facilities still have erans and their families. limited access. Parks officials encourage all visitors to check with local parks administrators before traveling to “Our veterans and Gold Star Families have made in- the sites to ensure safe visits. credible sacrifices to defend our freedoms and our Bernhardt also announced Wednesday plans to waives homeland,” Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said in a entrance fees to national parks, wildlife refuges and oth- statement. “Ensuring that they are able to enjoy all of er public lands for all 5th grade students and their fami- the natural wonders of the country that they’ve served is lies from now until Aug. 31, 2021. The move was made one small way of saying thank you.” because many families may not have been able to take advantage of the department’s Every Kid Outdoors An- The policy includes admittance to well-known sites like nual 4th Grade Pass program because of pandemic pre- Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, Mount Rush- cautions earlier this year. more in South Dakota, Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona and Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion Volume 10 Issue 9 - September 2021 Page 8 FOR GOD - FOR COUNTRY - AND COMMUNITY ‘Never Forget.’ Memorial event in Citrus Heights remembers 20 years since 9/11 attack. And another 3,000 Firefighters and Police officers since then - due to the ash and cement in the air they breathed. A memorial event organized by American Legion Post 637 in Citrus Heights, to mark two decades since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, drew several dozen people to Sylvan Cemetery Saturday morning. The event began at 8 a.m. with remarks from Jim Monteton of post 637 and Cit- rus Heights Police Lt. Jason Baldwin. A moment of silence was observed and taps played at 8:44 a.m., in accordance with the timeline of the attacks. We need to remember a bond in the time shortly after the attacks of 2001 when people came together for a common cause, comparing 9/11 to Pearl Harbor. “It was probably the strongest bond that we had in a long time. The people of America came together and didn’t like what happened and were ready to fight.” Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion Volume 10 Issue 9 - September 2021 Page 9 FOR GOD - FOR COUNTRY - AND COMMUNITY The GI Bill 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. Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion Volume 10 Issue 9 - September 2021 Page 10 FOR GOD - FOR COUNTRY - AND COMMUNITY Good bye to Chief Ron Lawrence - Citrus Heights Police Department. A great protector of the community and a real friend to Veterans every where. Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion Volume 10 Issue 9 - September 2021 Page 11 FOR GOD - FOR COUNTRY - AND COMMUNITY Join employers throughout Citrus Heights and the Sacramento region for a job fair on Tuesday, October 5, from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm inside the Sunrise Mall. Walk-in job seekers are welcome! The Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce has teamed up with the Sunrise Mall, Sunrise MarketPlace, and the City of Citrus Heights to host a job fair on October 5. Local employers will have tables set up throughout Sunrise Mall, and those seeking jobs are encouraged to bring resumes and apply on site. “We know that so many of our businesses are looking for quality employees here in Citrus Heights,” said Citrus Heights Cham- ber Executive Director Diane Ebbitt. “Our hope is that as we enter the fall and head into the holidays, more people will be ready to get back to work. We are excited to help connect job seekers with rewarding employment opportunities, and simultaneously support local businesses.” The list of employers exhibiting at the job fair continues to grow. Participants include Republic Services, Waste Management, Express Employment Professionals, the Citrus Heights Police Department, Almond Heights MBK Senior Living, and others. The event is free for all job seekers and those interested in finding employment can register here, however walk-ins are wel- come. It is advised that those looking for employment come professionally dressed with resumes and be prepared to fill out applications at prospective employer tables. If your business or organization is interested in participating, you can register by visiting: chamberconnects.com/job-fair. The Sunrise MarketPlace is subsidizing registration costs for businesses within their district, to support local employers. Sponsor- ships are also still available through the Chamber, and those interested in supporting the job fair should contact [email protected]. Learn more about the Citrus Heights job fair by visiting: chamberconnects.com. Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion Volume 10 Issue 9 - September 2021 Page 12 FOR GOD - FOR COUNTRY - AND COMMUNITY Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion Volume 10 Issue 9 - September 2021 Page 13 FOR GOD - FOR COUNTRY - AND COMMUNITY 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 [email protected]. Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion Volume 10 Issue 9 - September 2021 Page 14 FOR GOD - FOR COUNTRY - AND COMMUNITY Sgt. Nicole Gee, of Roseville, Calif., became nationally known after her death because of a recent photo she posted to social media that showed her holding an Afghan baby. She captioned the picture: 'I love my job'. Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, Combat Logistics Battalion 24, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Sgt. Gee, was one of the 13 U. S. Military Service members that were killed outside Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport on Aug. 26. Sgt. Gee and others were outside the airport’s Abbey Gate working to help evacuate Americans and Afghan refugees. Her death hit home in Placer County, where she grew up and graduated from Oakmont High School – Roseville, CA in 2016, before enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps in 2017. She was 23 years old when she was killed. She leaves behind her husband, Jarrod Gee, who is also an Oakmont graduate and U.S. Marine. A procession for Gee’s remains was held Thursday September 16, escort- ing her body from Sacramento International Airport to Mount Vernon Memo- rial Park on Greenback Lane in Citrus Heights. There was a wave of Red, White and Blue as hundreds came out. The procession was lead be an ar- my of motorcycles. “She was an amazing sister, daughter, wife, aunt, niece, cousin, friend, and she was one pretty bad ass Marine.” “She was proud to be a Marine, and she was proud of what she was doing in Afghanistan,” she said. Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion Volume 10 Issue 9 - September 2021 Page 15 FOR GOD - FOR COUNTRY - AND COMMUNITY 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: [email protected] ( Information thanks to County Supervisor Sue Frost) Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion Volume 10 Issue 9 - September 2021 Page 16 FOR GOD - FOR COUNTRY - AND COMMUNITY Lowe’s Expands Military Discount 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.” Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion Volume 10 Issue 9 - September 2021 Page 17 FOR GOD - FOR COUNTRY - AND COMMUNITY Happy Birthday Air Force 74 Years Strong The United States Air Force became a separate military service on September 18, 1947, with the imple- mentation of the National Security Act of 1947. The Act created the National Military Establishment, later re- named the United States Department of Defense, which was composed of three branches, the Army, Navy and a newly created Air Force. Prior to 1947, the responsibility for military aviation was divided between the Army (for land-based operations) and the Navy, for sea-based operations from aircraft carrier and amphibious aircraft. The Army created the first antecedent of the Air Force in 1907, which through a succession of changes of organization, titles, and missions advanced toward eventual separation 40 years later. The predecessor organizations leading up to today's U.S. Air Force are: Aeronautical Division, Signal Corps August 1, 1907 – July 18, 1914 Aviation Section, Signal Corps July 18, 1914 – May 20, 1918 Division of Military Aeronautics May 20, 1918 – May 24, 1918 Air Service, U.S. Army May 24, 1918 – July 2, 1926 U.S. Army Air Corps July 2, 1926 – June 20, 1941 U.S. Army Air Forces June 20, 1941 – September 17, 1947 WWI - In 1917, upon the United States' entry into World War I, the first major U.S. aviation combat force was cre- ated when an Air Service was formed as part of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF). WWII - The Air Force came of age in World War II. President Franklin D. Roosevelt took the lead, calling for a vastly enlarged air force based on long-range strategic bombing. Organizationally it became largely independent in 1941, when the Army Air Corps became a part of the new U.S. Army Air Forces (AAF). Korea - During the Korean War, which began in June 1950, the Far East Air Forces (FEAF) were among the first units to respond to the invasion by North Korea, but quickly lost its main airbase at Kimpo, South Korea. Forced to pro- vide close air support to the defenders of the Pusan pocket from bases in Japan, the FEAF also con-ducted a strate- gic bombing campaign against North Korea's war-making potential simultaneously. Vietnam - The USAF was heavily deployed during the Vietnam War. The first bombing raids against North Vietnam occurred in 1964, following the Gulf of Tonkin Incident. In March 1965, a sustained bombing campaign began, code -named Operation Rolling Thunder. This campaign's purpose was to destroy the will of the North Vietnamese to fight, destroy industrial bases and air defenses, and to stop the flow of men and supplies down the Ho Chi Minh Trail, while forcing North Vietnam into peace negotiations. Gulf War, Air Expeditionary Force, Bosnia and Kosovo, Global War on Terror - The USAF has provided the bulk of the Allied air power from 1975 to the present day, flying alongside aircraft of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and our allied partners. Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion Volume 10 Issue 9 - September 2021 Page 18 FOR GOD - FOR COUNTRY - AND COMMUNITY Page 1 Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion Volume 10 Issue 9 - September 2021 Page 19 FOR GOD - FOR COUNTRY - AND COMMUNITY Page 2 Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion Volume 10 Issue 9 - September 2021 Page 20 FOR GOD - FOR COUNTRY - AND COMMUNITY “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 Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion Volume 10 Issue 9 - September 2021 Page 21 FOR GOD - FOR COUNTRY - AND COMMUNITY Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion Volume 10 Issue 9 - September 2021 Page 22 FOR GOD - FOR COUNTRY - AND COMMUNITY September Birthdays STEPHEN ALSTROM BARRY BAKER ROBERT DANE DONALD DUNAMS LOUIS DYSON MAURICE ELLIS JOHN HARTSOCK LEE JARED ROBERT KELNHOFER JR DOUGLAS LUTZ MASON MARSHALL RICHAR NEELY JR MORTON PETERSEN AL SCHULLER PAUL SPRAGUE LINDSAY WOOD ROBERT ZENZ Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion Volume 10 Issue 9 - September 2021 Page 23 FOR GOD - FOR COUNTRY - AND COMMUNITY September 3, 1777 - First day our flag was flown. On September 3, 1777, an American flag flew in battle for the first time. This occurred during a Revolutionary War skirmish at Cooch’s Bridge, Delaware. Gen. William Max- well, commanding a Patriot force of infantry and cavalry, ordered the newly designed flag raised in a clash with an advance guard of British and Hessian troops. Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion Volume 10 Issue 9 - September 2021 Page 24 FOR GOD - FOR COUNTRY - AND COMMUNITY Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion Volume 10 Issue 9 - September 2021 Page 25 FOR GOD - FOR COUNTRY - AND COMMUNITY In Memory of the fallen 120 Post 637, Police Officer’s 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 That died prisoners of war (POW) and those who are still miss- in the line of duty - 2021 ing in action (MIA), as well as their families. The Chaplain’s Corner THINGS THAT CANNOT BE SHAKEN But one lesson God would teach us all is this: our only lasting hope is in We are receiving a kingdom which cannot be Him. Life has always been uncertain; Sep- shaken. tember 11 only made it clearer. Where will you turn for your security? Put your Hebrews 12:28 life in Christ's hands, for only He offers This date of September 11 will be en- us "a kingdom which cannot be shaken." graved on the memories of people every- HOPE FOR TODAY where for generations to come. On that terrible day when terrorists commandeered We live as if tomorrow is a guarantee, but several passenger planes and killed thou- it's not. What if today was all we had sands of innocent people in New York and left? Will what we have on the agenda Washington D.C., we began to realize the serve to further God's eternal kingdom or true depths of evil in the human heart, our own shakable one? and the uncertainty and fragility of life itself. What lessons would God teach us from Taken from the book: "Hope For Each Day" such an appalling tragedy? I confess I by Billy Graham don't know the full answer. Many people, I know, for the first time faced the shal- lowness and emptiness of their lives, and turned to God as a result. Millions came together to pray. Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion Volume 10 Issue 9 - September 2021 Page 26 FOR GOD - FOR COUNTRY - AND COMMUNITY September 17, 2021 Never Forget The POW/MIA flag was created for the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia and officially recognized by the United States Congress in conjunction with the Vietnam War POW/MIA issue, "as the sym- bol of our Nation's concern and commitment to resolving as fully as possible the fates of Americans still prisoner, missing and unaccounted for in Southeast Asia, thus ending the uncertainty for their families and the Nation." The original design for the flag was created by Newt Heisley in 1972 The National League of Families then- national coordinator, POW wife Evelyn Grubb, oversaw its development and also campaigned to gain its widespread ac- ceptance and use by the United States government and also local governments and civilian organizations across the Unit- ed States. In 1971, while the Vietnam War was still being fought, Mary Helen Hoff, the wife of a service member missing in action and member of the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in South-east Asia, recognized the need for a symbol of U.S. POW/MIAs, some of whom had been held captivity for as many as seven years. The flag is black, and bears in the center, in black and white, the emblem of the league. The emblem was designed by |Newton F. Heisley, and features a white disk bearing in black silhouette the bust of a man (Jeffery Heisley), watch tower with a guard on patrol, and a strand of barbed wire; above the disk are the white letters POW and MIA framing a white 5-pointed star; below the disk is a black and white wreath above the white motto: "You are not Forgotten." The POW/MIA was flown over the White House for the first time in September 1982 the flag has been altered many times; the colors have been switched from black with white – to red, white and blue – to white with black; the POW/ MIA has at times been revised to MIA/POW. On March 9, 1989, a league flag that had flown over the White House on the 1988 National POW/MIA Recognition Day was installed in the U.S. Capitol rotunda as a result of legislation passed by the 100th Congress. The league's POW- MIA flag is the only flag ever displayed in the rotunda, and the only one other than the Flag of the United States to have flown over the White House. The leadership of both houses of Congress hosted the installation ceremony in a demonstra- tion of bipartisan congressional support. On August 10, 1990, the 101st Congress passed U.S. Public Law 101-355, recognizing the National League of Families POW/MIA flag and designating it "as a symbol of our Nation's concern and commitment to resolving as fully as possible the fates of Americans still prisoner, missing and unaccounted for in Southeast Asia, thus ending the uncertainty for their families and the Nation." Beyond Southeast Asia, it has been a symbol for POW/MIAs from all U.S. wars. The flag is ambiguous as it implies that personnel listed as MIA may in fact be held captive. The official, bipartisan, U.S. Government position is that there is "no compelling evidence that proves that any American remains alive in captivity in Southeast Asia". The Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) provides centralized management of prisoner of war/missing personnel (POW/MP) affairs within the United States Department of Defense and is responsible for investigating the status of POW/MIA issues. As of 29 March 2017, 1611 Americans remained unaccounted for, of which 1023 were classified as further pursuit, 497 as no further pursuit and 91 as deferred. Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion Volume 10 Issue 9 - September 2021 Page 27 FOR GOD - FOR COUNTRY - AND COMMUNITY POST 637 POST OFFICER’S Sylvia Thweatt Commander Stephan Gall Alex Candela 916-792-9669 1st Vice 2rd Vice Commander Commander 916-215-0685 916-990-4895 James Miranda Jim Monteton Ron Myers Chaplin Finance Officer Adjutant 530-919-5255 916-726-9390 916-723-7324 James Miranda Stephany Sward Service Officer Sgt. at Arms 530-919-5255 916-967-7266 Richard Tkach Assist. Sgt. at Arms 916-723-1932 Vacant Jim Monteton Vacant JAG Officer Historian Photographer 916-726-9390 Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion Volume 10 Issue 9 - September 2021 Page 28 FOR GOD - FOR COUNTRY - AND COMMUNITY Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion Volume 10 Issue 9 - September 2021 Page 29 FOR GOD - FOR COUNTRY - AND COMMUNITY 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 Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion Volume 10 Issue 9 - September 2021 Page 30 FOR GOD - FOR COUNTRY - AND COMMUNITY MEMBERSHIP NEWS Ron Myers Adjutant 916-723-7324 Post 637 Membership Membership as of 9/19 is 122 of 274 renewed for 44.52% For those members who have renewed online during the month of August your new membership cards will go in the mail in early September. This is due to a problem with the new mylegion.org software that does not allow me to access that data. I must rely on Department of California to update me ate the end of each month. I apologize for any inconvenience. The 2022 year membership numbers are as follows: Source Goal 2022 Paid % as of Post 637 274** 122* 44.52% 9-19-2021 * This include New Member’s & Transfers Dues for the new year 2022 is $45.00 which covered July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022. Dues for the year 2022, still $45 Mail checks to: American Legion Post 637, P O Box 1, Citrus Heights, CA 95611 NEXT MEETING Tuesday September 21, 2021 6:30 pm This will be an ‘On-Line’ meeting (Until further notice - Our City Hall Meeting location is still closed due to the Covid) Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81633653879 Meeting ID: 816 3365 3879 Dial by your location +1 669 900 6833 US Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion Volume 10 Issue 9 - September 2021 Page 31 FOR GOD - FOR COUNTRY - AND COMMUNITY Advertising ……………………………. Guns N Stuff 5060 Roseville Rd North Highlands, CA 95660 916-334-3209 Veteran Owned DAVID PAIGE OWNER NOR CAL KITCHENS & BATH CABINETRY 11367 TRADE CENTER DR. #105 RANCHO CORDOVA, CA 95742 916-575-9777 www.norcalkb.com Did you know that our post is on Facebook? AmericanLegionpost637.com/ Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion Volume 10 Issue 9 - September 2021 Page 32 FOR GOD - FOR COUNTRY - AND COMMUNITY Advertising ……………………………. Reichert’s Funeral And Cremation Services Dignity Michael Moesch Community Outreach Memorial 7320 Auburn Blvd. Mesothelioma Guide: 1-888-572-9011 121 S. Orange Avenue | Suite 1450 | Orlando , FL Citrus Heights, CA 95610 32801 www.MesotheliomaGuide.com www.reichertsfuneral.com 916-729-2229 Fax: 916-722-9485 Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion Volume 10 Issue 9 - September 2021 Page 33 FOR GOD - FOR COUNTRY - AND COMMUNITY 9/11 Patriot Day 2/3 Four Chaplains 9/17 POW Day 2/4 USO Birthday 9/18 Air Force Day 3/15 American Legion Birthday 9/26 Gold Star Mom’s & Family Day 3/25 Medal of Honor Day 10/13 Navy Day 3/29 National Vietnam War Veterans Day 10/16 Howl’O’ Ween Parade & Harvest Fest MAY – National Military Appreciation Month 10/16 Howl’O’Ween Parade & Harvest Fest 5/15 Peace Officers Memorial Day 10/21 Unaccompanied Veteran Ceremony in Dixon 5/15 Armed Forces Day 11/10 Marine Corps Birthday 5/31 Memorial Day (May 30) 11/11 Veterans Day / Tomb of the Unknown 6/6 D – Day 11/18 Unaccompanied Veteran Ceremony in Dixon 6/14 Army Birthday / Flag Day 12/7 Pearl Harbor Remembrance 7/4 Independence Day 12/13 National Guard Day 8/4 Coast Guard Day 12/16 Unaccompanied Veteran Ceremony in Dixon 8/7 Purple Heart Day 12/18 National Wreaths Across America Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion Volume 10 Issue 9 - September 2021 Page 34 FOR GOD - FOR COUNTRY - AND COMMUNITY Preamble to the Constitution of The American Legion For God and Country We associate ourselves together for the following purposes: To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America; to maintain law and order; to foster and perpetuate a one hundred percent Americanism; to preserve the memories and incidents of our associations in the Great Wars; to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation; to combat the autocracy of both the classes and the masses; to make right the master of might; to promote peace and goodwill on earth; to safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom and democracy; to consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness. POST MEETING LOCATION Community Room, City Hall 6360 Fountain Square Dr. in Citrus Heights Meeting time is 6:30PM The following diagram may help you locate the exact location If you have information or an article you would like to add to the newsletter please send information to [email protected] Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion Volume 10 Issue 9 - September 2021 Page 35 FOR GOD - FOR COUNTRY - AND COMMUNITY Welcome Home Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion