Volume 8 Issue 10 - October 2019 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 October 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 8 Issue 10 - October 2019 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 It ’ s hard to believe we are almost half way thru October. Next thing you know, there is Thanksgiving and then the Christ- mas madness begins. It seems like older I get, faster the time flies. Today I want to look back though, at the first Saturday in October and give you a recap of our Battle of the Bands & BBQs. The weather was perfect, the food delicious, all three bands sounded great and I feel all that attended had a good time. Of course no event goes without any obstacles and we had few. Three out of seven pit masters canceled the day before and we were short of some sides towards the end of the food line. But there was plenty of meat, beer and wine and there were no com- plaints I know of. We had few special guests in attendance. County Super- visor Sue Frost and the Mayor of Citrus Heights Jeannie Bruins said few words about the event and the Post. Council members Porsche Middleton and Steve Miller were also in attendance. The crowd applauded our special guest, WWII Veteran Russell Hail Sr. who fought in Pacific. Our guess is we had some 200+ attendees at the event. The final numbers are not in yet but I can tell you we raised $720 on the Have a Shot of Freedom Whiskey raffle, the online ticket sales net proceeds were $1,061 and the sales at the gate came to $1,675. We still need to add all the presale revenue and sponsor- ships and of course there are expenses to be subtracted. I would like to thank our sponsors, donors and support- ers but I also can ’ t forget the volunteers and our Post members that made it out to the event. My special thanks go to the commit- tee members who spent many hours attending meetings, reaching out via phone or computer as well as on foot making sure all is done and ready to have a successful event. Thank you, job well done. Here are few events coming up. October 19 - Howl ’ O ’ Ween parade and Harvest Festival Parade starts at 9 am at Twin Oaks following Auburn Blvd to Rusch Park. Harvest Festival starts at 10 am at the Rusch Park. We are participating in the parade so feel free to join us. We will have a booth at the park and would love to see you come by and say hello. November 11 – Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony at Syl- van Cemetery The parade will start at 10:30 am and the Ceremony will follow at 11 am. Please join us honoring the veterans of past and present December 14 – Wreath across America at Dixon National Cemetery This event starts at 9 am with a ceremony and continues with laying the wreaths across the cemetery. More information to come. December 17 – Post 637 General meeting/Christmas party As every year we have a short meeting following with pot luck dinner and raffle prices. Meeting st arts at 6:30 at the Citrus Heights City Hall. More information to come. Sylvia Thweatt Commander Post 637 Volume 8 Issue 10 - October 2019 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 “ 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 8 Issue 10 - October 2019 Page 4 Published Monthly By Post 637 Of The American Legion Eligibility for VA health care Find out if you can get VA health care as a Veteran. Can I get VA health care benefits? You may be able to get VA health care benefits if you served in the active military, naval, or air service and didn ’ t receive a dishonorable discharge. If you enlisted after September 7, 1980 , or entered active duty after October 16, 1981 , you must have served 24 con- tinuous months or the full period for which you were called to active duty, unless any of the descriptions below are true for you. This minimum duty requirement may not apply if any of these are true. You: Were discharged for a disability that was caused — or made worse — by your active - duty service, or Were discharged for a hardship or “ early out, ” or Served prior to September 7, 1980 If you ’ re a current or former member of the Reserves or National Guard, you must have been called to active duty by a federal order and completed the full period for which you were called or ordered to active duty. If you had or have active - duty status for training purposes only, you don ’ t qualify for VA health care. What should I do if I received an other than honorable, bad conduct, or dishonorable discharge? If you ’ ve received one of these discharge statuses, you may not be eligible for VA benefits. There are 2 ways you can try to qualify: Find out how to apply for a discharge upgrade Learn about the VA Character of Discharge review process Is there anything that will make me more likely to get these benefits? Yes. You may qualify for enhanced eligibility status (meaning you ’ ll be placed in a higher priority group, which makes you more likely to get benefits) if you meet at least one of the requirements listed below. At least one of these must be true. You: - Receive financial compensation (payments) from VA for a service - connected disability - Were discharged for a disability resulting from something that happened to you in the line of duty - Were discharged for a disability that got worse in the line of duty - Are a recently discharged combat Veteran Get a VA pen- sion - Are a former prisoner of war (POW) - Have received a Purple Heart - Have received a Medal of Honor - Get (or qualify for) Medicaid benefits - Served in Vietnam between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975 - Served in Southwest Asia during the Gulf War between August 2, 1990, and November 11, 1998 - Served at least 30 days at Camp Lejeune between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987 If none of the above apply to you, you may still qualify for care based on your income. Learn more about how the amount of money your family makes can affect whether you qualify for VA benefits. Steve Gall 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 Volume 8 Issue 10 - October 2019 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 The festival is billed as “ free family fun ” for all attendees, with nothing to pay for except at vendor booths. All carnival games, as well as popcorn and water, will be free. Saturday October 12, 2019 marked the 11th year the Antelope Crossing Business Association has helped host the Spooktacular event. The Association was formed in 2009 to help support and promote the two commercial and retail shopping centers located off Antelope Road at Interstate 80. Post 637 of the American Legion is always happy to take part in such community events Volume 8 Issue 10 - October 2019 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 Saturday October 5th - Was a success - Thank You Volume 8 Issue 10 - October 2019 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 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 8 Issue 10 - October 2019 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 Volume 8 Issue 10 - October 2019 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 The 23rd Annual Sunday Funday The 23rd annual Sunday Funday event was held on September 22 at Rusch Park in Citrus Heights. There were free activities like inflatables and pony rides for kids, as well as food trucks, vendor booths, live music and free tours of the historic Rusch Home. The four - hour event took place on the west end of Rusch Park from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with live music per- formed by the band Journey Revisited. The Citrus Heights Community Marching Band and several police K - 9 demonstrations were also at this event. A tour of the nearby Rusch Home, which was built in 1914, was hosted during the event by the Citrus Heights Historical Society. American Legion Post 637 had a booth as we do every year. Veterans Supporting Our Community Volume 8 Issue 10 - October 2019 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 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 8 Issue 10 - October 2019 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 The American Legion District 6 Citrus Heights Post 637 You Are Invited Veterans Day, Monday November 11, 2019 The Citrus Heights post of The American Legion #637 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars will hold a Veterans Day service on Monday, November 11, 2019 at the Veterans Memorial and gazebo located at the Sylvan Cemetery at 7401 Auburn Blvd., Citrus Heights. This service will honor all those who served in the defense of this great nation. This event is hosted by The American Legion, Post #637, Commanded by Sylvia Thweatt and by Sylvan Cemetery. Invited speakers are Supervisor 4 th District Sue Frost, Citrus Heights Mayor Jeannie Bruins, Citrus Heights Police Chief Ron Lawrence and members of the Citrus Heights city council. Others present will be Citrus Heights Boy Scout Troop #228, the Folsom Harmony Express singers, the Citrus Heights Police Department Honor Guard. The order of activities are as follows: 10:30 am Veterans assemble at south end of the cemetery. The procession along the ‘Avenue of Flags’ concluding at the Veterans Memorial. 11:00 am Memorial service in the cemetery’s gazebo with local leaders, American Legion, VFW and singers Volume 8 Issue 10 - October 2019 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 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 8 Issue 10 - October 2019 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 The U.S. Navy is the largest, most capable navy in the world, with the highest combined battle fleet tonnage. The U.S. Navy has the world's largest aircraft carrier fleet, with ten in service, two in the reserve fleet, and three new carriers under construction. The ser - vice has 328,194 per- sonnel on active duty and 101,199 in the Navy Reserve. It has 272 de- ployable combat vessels and more than 3,700 aircraft in active service as of February 2016. The U.S. Navy trac - es its ori- gins to the Continental Navy, which was established during the American Revolutionary War and was effectively disbanded as a separate entity shortly thereafter. It played a major role in the American Civil War by blockading the Confederacy and seizing control of its rivers. The U.S. Navy saw little action during World War I. It concentrated on mine laying operations against German U - Boats. It played the central role in the World War II defeat of Imperial Japan. The 21st century U.S. Navy maintains a sizable global presence, deploy- ing in such areas as East Asia, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East. It is a blue - water navy with the ability to project force onto the littoral re- gions of the world, engage in forward areas during peace - time, and rapid- ly respond to regional crises, making it an active player in U.S. foreign Happy Birthday Navy October 13, 1775 Volume 8 Issue 10 - October 2019 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 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 8 Issue 10 - October 2019 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 October 9, 2019, members of American Legion Post 637 made their quarterly trip to The Sacramento Valley National Cemetery at Dixon, California. At 2 pm the cemetery had a ceremony, to honor of all those that have served this country and have past on to Post Ev- erlasting in the past 3 months. This quarter we have lost 159 brave Americans. May God bless their souls. Volume 8 Issue 10 - October 2019 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 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 8 Issue 10 - October 2019 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 Veterans Gallery – Veterans Building 401 Van Ness Ave San Francisco, CA Now - Through December 26, 2019 Volume 8 Issue 10 - October 2019 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 In Memory of the fallen Police Officer That died 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 GOD'S REVELATION "Forever, O Lord, Your word is set- tled in heaven." Psalm 119:89 What does revelation mean? It means that something that has been hidden is now made known. If it isn't revealed, it remains hidden. Some people see God that way - hidden and unknown. Such a view as- sumes God doesn't want to be known or even that God is incapable of being known because "God" is just a vague impersonal force, like gravity. But God has revealed Himself. He is not hidden! He has spoken to us, and if we will listen, we can not only discover what He is like, but we also can come to know Him in a personal way. God has two textbooks. One is the textbook of nature. By looking at the world, we can learn something about its Creator. The other is the textbook of reve- lation, the Bible. It is more than an ancient record of events; it is God's Word, given to us by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to guide our lives. God has spoken - and He still speaks. Are you listening? HOPE FOR TODAY It is God's desire that all would come to know Him and to be saved. Praise Him that He doesn't hide Himself from anyone. Through His written Word and through His creation, God is still reaching out to each of us in a per- sonal way. Volume 8 Issue 10 - October 2019 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 His death was announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday, Oct. 8 by the Delmar - based Na- thaniel Adams Blanchard Post 1040 of the American Legion, which he had been involved in. The exact time, nature and location of his death have yet to be confirmed. Currey, of Selkirk, was originally born in Loch Sheldrake, New York on June 29, 1925 and joined the U.S. Army when he was 17 where he eventually became a technical sergeant. According to the Dig- i t a l C o l l e c t i o n s o f t h e N a t i o n a l W W I I M u s e u m , o n D e c 2 1 , 1 9 4 4 , C u r r e y r i s k e d h i s l i f e w h e n G e r m a n infantrymen shot at his direction in Malmedy, Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge. He countered with a bazooka and anti - tank grenades, and rescued five fellow American soldiers who were trapped by Ger- man tank rounds. He was just 19 at the time. He was an automatic rifleman with the 3rd Platoon defending a strong point near Malmedy, Belgium, on 21 December 1944, when the enemy launched a powerful attack. Overrunning tank destroyers and antitank guns located near the strong point, German tanks advanced to the 3rd Pla- toon's position, and, after prolonged fighting, forced the withdrawal of this group to a nearby facto- ry. Sgt. Currey found a bazooka in the building and crossed the street to secure rockets meanwhile enduring intense fire from enemy tanks and hostile infantrymen who had taken up a position at a house a short distance away. In the face of small - arms, machinegun, and artillery fire, he, with a companion, knocked out a tank with 1 shot. Moving to another position, he observed 3 Germans in the doorway of an enemy - held house. He killed or wounded all 3 with his automatic rifle. He emerged from cover and advanced alone to within 50 yards of the house, intent on wrecking it with rockets. Covered by friendly fire, he stood erect, and fired a shot which knocked down half of 1 wall. While in this forward position, he observed 5 Americans who had been pinned down for hours by fire from the house and 3 tanks. Realizing that they could not escape until the enemy tank and infantry guns had been silenced, Sgt. Currey crossed the street to a vehicle, where he procured an armful of antitank grenades. These he launched while under heavy enemy fire, driving the tankmen from the vehicles into the house. He then climbed onto a half - track in full view of the Germans and fired a machinegun at the house. Once again changing his position, he manned another machine gun whose crew had been killed; under his covering fire the 5 soldiers were able to retire to safety. Deprived of tanks and with heavy infantry casualties, the enemy was forced to withdraw. Through his extensive knowledge of weapons and by his heroic and repeated braving of murderous enemy fire, Sgt. Currey was greatly responsible for inflicting heavy losses in men and material on the ene- my, for rescuing 5 comrades, 2 of whom were wounded, and for stemming an attack which threat- ened to flank his battalion's position. Francis S. Currey , one of the last few living World War II veterans who received the Medal of Honor, died Tuesday morning at 94. Volume 8 Issue 10 - October 2019 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 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 Jack Mintz Photographer 916 - 966 - 9041 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 - 331 - 8716 Vacant Historian Tom Sullivan Sgt. at Arms