American Legion
Post 305

Citizens Flag Alliance

The Post 305 Bugle

May 2007

Volume 3, Issue 4

COMMANDER'S CORNER

May is election month. We will be voting on the officers for 2007-2008 at the membership meeting on May 17 @ 7 p.m. The report of the Nominating Committee was as follows:

• Jim Bolin, Commander

• Everett Ison, 1st Vice Commander

• Chuck Suhr, 2d Vice Commander

• Brad Wall, Adjutant

• Emery Heuermann, Sargeant-at-Arms

• Dave Lips, Finance Officer

• Warren Gartman, Chaplain

• George Bannon, Judge Advocate

• Mickey Fussell, Historian

• Pickens Jones and Mike Sorich, Ex. Comm. Members-at-Large.

Further nominations will be taken at the May meeting prior to the voting. Any member nominated must be at the meeting or submit approval of a nomination before the name can be entered on the ballot.

At the recent 7th District Convention, Larry Eary was elected to be the next District Commander. Emery Heuermann was elected to be the next District Finance Officer

Two big military events are in May. Armed Forces Day on the 19th and Memorial Day on the 28th. An Echo Taps ceremony will be conducted at the Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery on Armed Forces Day (See notice below). The Post will participate in the Memorial Day Ceremony at the Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery with the Color Guard and the Auxiliary by laying a wreath. Any member of the Post wishing to march in with the color guard is welcome. We form up about 9 a.m. and march in about 10 a.m.

Two big fund raisers for the Post last month grossed about $3600. With the Birdies for Charity we should receive about $1600 if everyone pays their pledge. The rummage sale grossed approximate $2000. Thanks to everyone who participated in either event. A special thanks to Dave Lips for running Birdies and Chuck Suhr for running the rummage sale.

We picked our $500 scholarship winner. The award will be presented on May 22 at The Woodlands High School Awards Night. George Bannon and I will be presenting JROTC medals to Oak Ridge and The Woodlands H.S. respectively early this month (see events calendar).

For God and Country,

Jim Bolin

MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

The Post received and award from the National Commander for achieving 100% membership. We currently have 377 members. I believe that is the greatest number of members the Post has ever had, and we still have about 100 who haven’t renewed for this year. We will be calling them to remind them. The District on needs about 30 to be 100% and George Bannon’s 2d Division only needs about 270. Lets give them a hand if you haven’t renewed.

A reminder, we will be collecting Consolidated Post Worksheets at the May meeting. Please be there to turn in yours.

Dayton Denton donated 569 books and magazines to the Veteran’s Hospital in the name of the Post. We collect them to take to the Hospital. If you would like to help, get your contribution to a meeting.

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VETERANS ADVOCATE

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS:

Houston VA Regional Center 1-713-383-7842
Montgomery County Veterans Service Office 1-936-539-7842
Your Legislators (Toll Free) 1-877-762- 8762-----1-866-272-6621-----1-888-762- 8760

A “Telerental Imaging Program” is screening veterans with diabetes at the Houston VA Medical Center and the Beaumont VA Outpatient Clinic. Telerental imaging is designed to identify patients at risk for visual loss from diabetes. The goal is to screen every veteran with diabetes once a year and all others every 2 years. Early detection of retinal abnormalities can save your sight. Just tell you prime care VA doctor you want to take the test and it can be taken that day with results back in a week. MY OPINION: Don’t delay. Check with you VA prime care doctor at your next appointment.

The Houston VA Medical Center recently began offering “Balloon Kyphoplasty”. It is a minimally invasive treatment option for patients with spinal fractures due to osteoporosis. It is designed to correct spinal fractures, thereby reducing back pain and improving a patient’s ability to return to daily activities and improve their overall quality of life. MY OPINION: If you have back pains, please tell you prime care doctor on your next visit and this might be the answer to rid you of your back pains.

The Houston VA National Cemetery has a Memorial Day Service scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Monday, May 28, 2007 at the VA National Cemetery located at 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive. It will feature a parade of colors and wreaths by numerous area Veterans Organizations, ROTRC Units, and Boy and Girl Scout Units form southeast Texas. Flyovers by the Texas Air National Guard and the US Coast Guard; a Rider less Horse procession by the Houston Mounted Police Patrol, a Bagpipe performance of “Amazing Grace” and a rifle salute by VFW District #4 Ceremonial Detail and a Musket salute by the 13th US Army Infantry Co. MY OPINION: Plan to attend. If you can’t make it to their ceremonies, please attend a program at the local Cemetery near you.

Dutch Dettinger, Veteran's Advocate
The American Legion

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ANNOUNCEMENT

ECHO TAPS AT VA NATIONAL CEMETERY - May 19

The Houston VA National Cemetery, located at 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive, will participate in the “EchoTaps Worldwide” event by holding a special ceremony on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 19, 2007 at 10 a.m.

In May 2005, an event called “EchoTaps” was performed in upstate New York in which 674 brass players from 30 states lined the roadways between the Woodlawn National Cemetery and the Bath National Cemetery, a distance of 42.2 miles, to play a cascading rendition of ‘Taps’ for our veterans. This tribute to the American military was recognized by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as a powerful and unique way to demonstrate our nation's deep gratitude to those who, in times of war and peace, have faithfully defended our country.

The VA is pleased to announce a repeat performance of this tribute on a global scale - “EchoTaps Worldwide.” This event will encompass all VA National Cemeteries, State Veteran Cemeteries, and American Battle Monuments Commission Cemeteries around the world.

The goals of the “EchoTaps Worldwide” event are to honor and remember the sacrifices and contributions of our American military, foster a new generation of buglers, preserve the tradition of a live bugler to play ‘Taps’ for the final military honor, and raise awareness of veterans’ cemeteries and VA benefits.

Individuals, schools, and community organizations are encouraged to be part of this unique tribute as performers or support volunteers. If you are a brass player interested in performing at military funerals for veterans throughout the year, contact the Houston VA National Cemetery at (281) 447-8686, ext. 200.

For more information about “EchoTaps Worldwide,” visit www.echotaps.org.

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

The overwhelming non-response to my question “Who do we want to be?”,  seemed to be, we don’t want change. Except maybe a few would be open to some additional activities. The Ex. Comm. will try to create a committee to plan some additional voluntary social activities. We will continue to study where we might go from here.

Jim Bolin

POST'S POLICY

When approaching the Colors with the intent of going behind the Colors, enter from the side of the National Colors after saluting the colors. When leaving, leave from the side of the Post Colors and salute the National Colors. When leaving the meeting room for any purpose while the Colors are posted, salute the Colors before departing.

• ANNOUNCEMENT: Due to lack of funds, future issues of the Bugle will be distributed by email, except for the May.  It will be announcing the elections in May to the entire mailing list. If you know anyone who gets the Bugle by mail and not by email, please share this information.

POST ACTIVITIES

• May 2007 in Adobe Acrobat PDF format

• April 2007 (as a web page) - April 2007 in Adobe Acrobat PDF format

• March 2007 (as a web page) - March 2007 in Adobe Acrobat PDF format

• January 2007 (as a web page) - January 2007 Newsletter in Adobe Acrobat PDF format

• October 2006 (as a web page) - October 2006 Newsletter in Adobe Acrobat PDF format

• September 2006 (as a web page) - September 2006 Newsletter in Adobe Acrobat PDF format

• August 2006 (as a web page)

• July 2006 (as a web page) - July 2006 Newsletter in Adobe Acrobat PDF format

• May 2006 (as a web page)

• April 2006 (as a web page) - April 2006 Newsletter in Adobe Acrobat PDF format

• March 2006 Newsletter (as a web page) -- Click here to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF format

• February 2006 Newsletter (as a web page) -- Click here to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF format

• January 2006 Newsletter (as a web page) -- Click here to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF format

• December 2005 Newsletter (as a web page)

• November 2005 Newsletter (as a web page)

• August 2005 Newsletter (in Adobe Acrobat PDF format)

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