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Commander William Hornok
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A Veteran is someone who wrote a blank check to the United States of America for an amount up to and including his or her life.
Results, Not Excuses! |
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Comrades, Sisters, Brothers, and Friends,
It is with great sadness that I am announcing the resignation of the Department Service Officer. I spoke with her on 19 January, and her last day will be on Thursday, 28 January.
As the Department Commander, I have begun a search for an individual to fill this most important position. I will post this job through various sources. This is one of the most important positions that a Department Commander can fill since this is one of the major pillars that our organization specializes in. Along with the lobbying efforts of our Washington Office, this touches the Veterans and their families by ensuring that the benefits they have earned through all their selfless sacrifices they have made while serving their country is not buried by bureaucracy and red tape.
Therefore, it is incumbent upon this office to make the best selection possible. There will be a selection committee to screen all applicants.
I will post the job description as soon as the qualifications are defined.
Serving our Veterans, Past, Present, and Future.
Fair Winds and Following Seas.
Bill Hornok, VFW Commander 2009-10
"Steely Eyed Killer of the Deep"
If you would like to provide feedback of any messages, use the link below to respond.
Email: wildbillodsvet@sbcglobal.net |
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| Open Position - Service Officer |
| Click here to view the VFW Department Service Officer position description. |
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Click the map below and
select your
town
to see information about your local VFW Post. |
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Please click here to display the entire flyer. |
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Voice of Democracy &
Patriot's Pen Winners |
| Voice of Democracy |
Patriot's Pen |
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1st Place - Rose E. Carver
Post 5849, Niantic |
1st Place - Jaimee Lynne Kidd
Post 6123, Windsor Locks |
2nd Place - Joseph Favale, Jr.
Post 7330, Oakville |
2nd Place - Francis M. Brunner
Post 4608, Ledyard |
3rd Place - Michael J. Lodato
Post 10059, Trumbull |
3rd Place - Sarah L. Bicking
Post 1607, Southbury |
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| Teacher's of the Year |
Congratulations to the three 1st place winners in our Teacher of The Year program. They are: K-5 Ms. Wendy Zacchera, Sponsored by Post 3272 Avon - Middle School Ms. Keli Salomon, Sponsored by Post & Aux 1672 New Milford. - High School John Anderson, Sponsored by
Post 3336 East Haddam.
Our best to all of them. |
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| Robert E. "Bob" Wallace Interview |
Link: http://www.norwichbulletin.com/carousel/x1560345102/VFW-chief-in-Eastern-Connecticut-Best-solutions-found-in-backyard
By JAMES MOSHER
Norwich Bulletin
Posted Jan 16, 2010 @ 11:20 PM
A Veterans of Foreign Wars national leader came to Eastern Connecticut this weekend and encouraged localized approaches to dealing with homeless veterans.
“You can’t eradicate homelessness from Washington, D.C.,” Robert E. “Bob” Wallace, executive director of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, said Saturday during an interview at the Richard E. Hourigan VFW Post 594 in Norwich. “It’s crucial what happens locally.”
There are about 135,000 homeless veterans nationally and 8,000 in Connecticut, he said.
Wallace, a Vietnam War veteran who served in the Marine Corps, sees the changing culture of the military leading to new solutions. Some local veterans object to the lack of a Veterans Administration hospital in Eastern Connecticut, but Wallace said large hospitals can be impersonal.
“Bricks and mortar don’t equate to quality health care,” he said. “Sometimes the best thing can be a clinic.”
Clinic, not hospital
As with homelessness, he encouraged localism in the form of small-scale clinics like one that operates in New London. Contracting out services from VA hospitals and clinics to private doctors and hospitals has improved the health of an increasing number of vets, he said.
“They’re more likely to get the attention and respect they deserve in a small setting,” Wallace, 61, said.
The increasing number of females in the armed forces presents greater numbers of specialized problems, Wallace said. Research is being expanded as a result, including a study of the impact of Agent Orange on combat theater females.
“It took a long time for this,” he said.
Connecticut’s 2nd District is home to more than 63,000 veterans, the highest percentage of the general population of any of the state’s districts, according to the 2000 U.S. Census. Wallace’s visit to the area, including a Saturday stop at the submarine base in Groton and a speech today at a Voice of Democracy gathering in New Britain, was done partly to give a forecast for legislative initiatives.
Friend in White House
President Barack Obama is “a champion for veterans,” Wallace said. First as a U.S. senator, then from the White House, Obama has kept his verbal commitments, including endorsing a new model for financing VA health care, Wallace said. He called Obama’s veterans affairs secretary, Erik Shinseki, a former Army general and chief of staff, “the utmost professional.”
The VFW is pushing for more automation in processing disability claims. Such continued advances would reduce the backlog of claims, which Wallace estimated at 1 million.
Any new programs for veterans will need “adequate oversight” for the VFW to support them in discussions with Congress, Wallace said.
“VA has had a history of not implementing these programs very well,” he said.
U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, attended a ceremony Saturday in Jewett City to announce $200,000 for veterans supportive housing. Griswold First Selectman Philip Anthony and the West Haven VA’s director of homeless programs, Preston Maynard, were among the guests.
The money will be used to renovate the 19th century, four-story American Legion LaFlamme-Kusek Post 15 building and expand the facility to include 18 single-unit dwellings.
More than shelter
Such efforts were applauded by Bill Hornok, of Stonington, who is Connecticut VFW’s statewide commander, and Richard J. DeLorge, commander of the Norwich VFW. Hornok, who was traveling with Wallace Saturday, said solutions must go beyond mere shelter.
While calling homeless veterans the “biggest project” of Connecticut VFW, Hornok encouraged further efforts on the psychological and spiritual aspects of homelessness.
“They (veterans) come with a lot of extra baggage,” said Hornok, a retired Navy submarine chief who served from 1976 to 1995 and is a Groton VFW member.
Change with times
VFW posts, traditionally thought of as male bastions, need to change with the times, Wallace and Hornok said. Both predicted the clubs will add Internet cafes and more family-type activities.
“Each post will need to tailor itself to get the younger generations,” Hornok said.
National VFW is strengthening alliances with groups such as Student Veterans of America to recruit more Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans. Wallace took pride in pointing out how Vietnam veterans are leading battles for greater benefits for soldiers of those two ongoing wars.
“Because we didn’t have it done for us, we’re doing it for them,” he said. |
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Anniversary Buddy Poppys
Just a reminder that orders for the VFW Anniversary Buddy Poppies are to be processed as a regular Buddy Poppy order with the color indicated.
Available are the Silver (Post 25th Anniversary), Gold (Post 50th Anniversary) and Diamond (Post 75th Anniversary). A maximum order of 500 can be ordered at one time. As always, orders should processed through the VFW Department Headquarters. Department would then fax to (816) 968-1196 or mail to VFW Emblem & Supply Department, 406 W 34 St, Kansas City, MO 64111.
Further information can be found at www.vfwdepartmentresources.org under the Buddy Poppy section.
Also again this year, we are promoting the Buddy Poppy All American Star-Spangled Bonus program. This offers an additional opportunity to distribute poppies on March 3, in order to assist in meeting two of this year’s All American requirements. A flyer may be printed from the above indicated web page.
Nelda Clifton, Programs Coordinator
Programs Department
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the US
nclifton@vfw.org
(816) 968-1148 ~
Fax: (816) 968-1149 |
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Veteran's Survey |
Melanie Rago is a student in a Mental Health Counseling masters program. She is conducting a survey to see if there is a need for a special group therapy program that would benefit veterans.
Veterans of any rank and age, and their spouses and parents may take this survey.
If you want to participate, clink this link to start the survey:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=gGc6IS8zQe3_2fn_2b0uhvydUA_3d_3d
Thank you for your time and your participation! |
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State Color Guard |
Photo by Ronald (Rusko) Rusakiewicz |
For information about joining our State Color Guard,
please contact Captain Mike at mcookiehd@aol.com
or call (203) 855-1042. |
VFW Stained Glass
Dedication |
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