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Post 7327, Spr ingf ie ld , Virginia
Volume 14-12
By Post Commander Joe “Hoss” Byrnes
SERVING VETERANS, THEIR FAMILIES and the COMMUNITY
December 2015
Our Business is Taking Care of Veterans
The Camaraderie
Veterans of Fore ign Wars of the United States
Greetings from the Commander’s
Office. It has been a really busy
month and there is much to report.
November was fun! That is the
best way I can explain it. We en-
joyed joining the Springfield Amer-
ican Legion Post 176 for their An-
nual Veterans Day Service. I’d like to congratulate the
Young Marines on the formation of their new unit at the
Legion and the great job they did as the color guard for the
event. If you know of any children who are looking to join
them, feel free to drop me a note. Chaplin Yancey’s perfor-
mance was outstanding. I promise next year we will have
the words of all of the service songs (at least the Navy). I
would also like to thank Comrades Kelch and Lobrecht for
sharing how to best take advantage of the multiple free and
discounted opportunities available on Veterans Day. If you
do not take advantage of at least one of them, you are miss-
ing out.
We had our second Commander’s Call at the Post on
November 14th. I have to say that was a lot of pasta. For
those of you who have no idea what I’m talking about,
please contact me and make sure your email is updated. We
are having monthly functions at the Post for our members
and the local veterans. The most recent one was our
Spaghetti Social, which included great fun, food, and foot-
ball. The next event will be on December 12. We are host-
ing the 116th Annual Meeting of the ARMY Cadets &
NAVY Midshipmen, please stop by for some food and
drink, kickoff is at 1500.
We had a few other activities at the Post this past month.
The same day of the social we had about eight members
from the Post and Auxiliary update their CPR and AED cer-
tification. This training was to educate our members on the
proper way to preform CPR and how to use the defibrillator
at the Post. It is my understanding that it will be installed
(Continued on page 2)
Busy Serving Veterans and
Our Community in November
Buddy Poppy Distribution
Joint Veterans Day Service
Adopt-A-Family Thanksgiving Baskets
See page 7 for more pictures.
Page 2
The Camaraderie
Commander’s Commentary—continued from page 1
just inside the canteen, across from our meeting room. The next function was the packing of the Adopt-A-
Family food boxes. The Auxiliary and a few comrades were in late Wednesday night filling containers for
about twenty needy families. I want to thank everyone one on the joint committee for all of their time, espe-
cially Linda Bond and Marcia Lohr for co-chairing. The boxes were delivered on Saturday the 21st in time for
them to enjoy a pretty good sized Thanksgiving dinner. These same twenty families will be getting Christmas
dinner and the seventy or so children will be getting gifts from our Angel Tree on Dec 19. Please be sure to
have your wrapped gift to the Post by December 5th. I would also like to thank District Commander Kelch for
holding his 10th District School of Instruction on the 21st as well. It is nice to see other Post members’ visit
and see all of the recent upgrades to our Post Home.
Now on to the house keeping section of this article- I am happy to say that our Americanism programs were
a rounding success this year in that our “Voice of Democracy” entry won first place for District 10 and the
“Patriot’s Pen” programs submittals were well over one-hundred. The Americanism committee of Gary Kelch
[email protected] and Marilynn Bianco [email protected] should be congratulated on all of their work.
The folks on the Bingo committee are putting out their monthly request for volunteers for this month.
Please note that there is no BINGO Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or New Year’s Eve. I would love to see a
new face or two this month. Not asking for a lot of time, just a few hours on Thursday or Friday night. Please
contact Linda Bond [email protected] who is one of our Bingo Managers and is scheduling folks to work.
Remember this is our number one form of revenue for donations. Basically folks, this is the way we help our
fellow veterans, so please feel free to step up.
The next visit to the VA home is scheduled for December 8th leaving the Post promptly at 1800 with a re-
turn time of 2100. Anyone willing to help, please be there a little early. Chaplin Yancey has this mapped out
and clocked to the minute.
Our website is up and running and is being updated regularly! To access the site, please visit
www.vfwpost7327.org.
Final thought- The newly adopted credo for our post is: “Our Business is Taking Care of Veterans”
We all need to live up to this credo now more than ever. I am asking today, more than any time of the year,
please keep all of the homeless veterans across our area in your thoughts and prayers. If you see a homeless
person, please do not judge him or her, they might be a Comrade, please just help them in any way you can. It
only takes one person carrying out a single act of kindness to make a difference.
For now, I hope you all have a wonderful December and great holiday/winter season I look forward to see-
ing you at our next General Membership meeting and at Bingo every Thursday or Friday. Stay healthy and be
happy in what you do.
~Commander Byrnes
1. Be aware of your triggers.
2. Stay tuned to your body’s warning signals.
3. Do all you can to stay safe and healthy.
4. Surround yourself with good support.
5. Remember you can’t keep everyone happy.
6. Be good to you.
7. Call for extra support if needed. Veteran’s Crisis Line 1-800-273-8255
8. Be thankful for the blessings we do have Excerpted from LoveOurVets.org
VFW Post & Auxiliary 7327 8350-F Terminal Road
Lorton, Virginia 22079
Phone: 703-541-3139
Fax: 703-541-0641
Website: www.post7327.org
Facebook: VFW Post 7327
Twitter: @VfwPost7327
Email: [email protected]
Blog: www.vfwwebcom.org/va/Post7327
Editor & Design
Katy Sylvester 703-350-8574 Diana Regan 703-719-7660
Contributing Articles By:
Janne Best, Joseph Byrnes, Linda Byrnes, Frank Konieczny, Barbara Major,
Wayne Yancey
Photographs By:
JoAnne Kelch, Raj Lobrecht, Diana Regan
Post Officers
Commander: Joseph Byrnes, [email protected]
Sr. Vice: Joe Baringer, [email protected]
Jr. Vice: Raj Lobrecht, [email protected]
Quartermaster: Terri Andreoni, [email protected]
Judge Adv: Milan Sturgis
Chaplain: Wayne Yancey, [email protected]
Surgeon: Michael Kephart, [email protected]
3-Yr Trustee: Gary Kelch, [email protected]
2-Yr Trustee: Larry Parham
1-Yr Trustee: Clarence McNeill
Post Adjutant: Terri Andreoni, [email protected] Service Officer: Frank Konieczny,
Auxiliary Officers
President: Barbara Major 703-548-8343
Sr. Vice: Shirley Norris 703-971-1939
Jr. Vice: Itty Neal 703-569-4257
Secretary: Alice Merrill 703-569-1771
Treasurer: Linda Byrnes
Chaplain: Janne Best 703-321-7349
Conductress: Barbara Bucklin 703-971-8299
Guard: JoAnne Kelch 703-644-8485
1-Yr Trustee: Diana Regan 703-719-7660
2-Yr Trustee: Linda Bond
3-Yr Trustee: Itty Neal
Patriotic Instructor: Joyce Engel
The Camaraderie newsletter is published by
Springfield, Virginia Veterans of Foreign
Wars Post 7327, a community based 501c19
not-for-profit Congressionally Chartered
Veterans Organization. Mailed for
educational outreach and information
purposes to our members, volunteers and
friends. The newsletter is distributed to over
700 individuals. We have served our
community since 1946, providing support to
Veterans, their families, active duty military
and community based organizations.
December 2015
Page 3
By Auxiliary President Barbara Major
I’m happy to report that the Adopt-a-Family
project is in full swing. This year we have adopted
twenty families with ninety children. The Thanksgiving
food boxes have been filled and distributed. Best wish-
es to the recipient families.
As for Christmas—the Angel trees with gift tags that were set up at Bingo
and the Post Home are now sporting only their lights, and the donated wrapped
gifts are now awaiting their designated child. I am awestruck at the generosity of
our members and the Bingo community. It is truly inspiring. The gift tags on the
trees were gone within less than two days. Thank you to each and every one of
you who has given your time and money to brighten this season for our military
families. The Christmas party for the families is scheduled for December 19. Let
us know if you are planning to attend.
On November 11, I had the pleasure of representing the Auxiliary at the
joint American Legion/VFW event in honor of our veterans, members of the
military, and their families. In addition to the formal program, which was very
poignant, was our own VFW Chaplain Wayne Yancey playing service songs on
his accordion. It was stirring to watch the men and women veterans proudly
stand as they heard their song.
I hear that the recent Commander’s Call, where pastas of various kinds
were served, was a success. Unfortunately, I was out of town and could not
attend, but when I asked anyone who did, all I got was YUM!
December will be busy for all of us welcoming family and friends, but it
would be great to see you at our next meeting on December 9, 7:00 PM, to share
the tidings of the season with us. If you can’t come for whatever reason, I want
to wish you a safe, warm, and happy holiday season!
Clockwise from the top—
Commander’s Call Pasta Dinner,
Adopt-A-Family food basket
donations from Wegman’s, and
CPR/AED Certification Class.
Page 4
The Camaraderie
CHAPLAIN’S CORNER Post Chaplain Wayne Yancey
Hello Comrades, Members of the Auxiliary, and Friends of the Post,
Are you ready for winter? I was just out and I think winter is here whether we are ready or not.
Valerie, (daughter of Comrade George Havrilla) informed us that her dad passed away on 10/09/15. Comrade
Havrilla served in the Korean War and was a proud member of the VFW for many years. Valerie said that
the VFW gave George great comradery and added to his spirit, helping him throughout his life.
Juliana Heck (Mike Heck’s wife) reports that Mike’s primary doctor has taken him off chemo because it was
not having the desired effects on his health and was adding additional negative side effects on top of what the
disease is producing. Mike has been struggling with cancer for several years.
Both Jan and Ken Ward have been having health issues and have been in and out of the hospital in recent
months.
So far Comrade George Sweeney has been unable to find a match for a bone marrow transplant. Both his
brother and his son have been tested, but neither was a match.
Please keep the Havrilla family, Mike Heck and family, Ken and Jan Ward. and George Sweeney in your
thoughts and prayers.
A joint VFW and American Legion Memorial Service for Comrade Lew Lipscomb is scheduled for
2:00 PM on Sunday, December 13, 2015 at the American Legion Post 176 Post Home. Lew was a Past Com-
mander of American Legion Post 176 and an active, Life Member of VFW Post 7327. Lew passed away on
July 30, 2015 after a long battle with colon cancer. He was interred shortly thereafter in his hometown of
Newberry South Carolina. Floy, Lew’s wife, is a Past President and an active member of both American Le-
gion Post 176 Auxiliary and VFW Post 7327 Auxiliary.
Our next VA Hospital Visit is scheduled for December 8, 2015. We will leave the Post Home at ex-
actly 6:00 pm; sponsor Bingo from 7:00 pm until 8:00 pm and will be back at the Post Home by 9:00 pm. All
members of the Post and Auxiliary are invited and encouraged to attend. For those that haven’t been it is an
experience you won’t soon forget.
Diana and I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
As always, if I can be of assistance to anyone please don’t hesitate to contact me: Home: 703-719-7660,
Cell: 703-350-8409, E-mail: [email protected].
Auxiliary Chaplain’s Corner
Auxiliary Chaplain Janne Best
Fall appears to have arrived in full force and I'm not looking forward to the cold
weather even though I know many of you enjoy it; however, it is nice to contemplate the coming holidays.
I have once again had a busy month and am sorry to report that Sister Pat Ragan's sister, Joyce Har-
ris, passed away on 17 November and we offer our condolences. Sister Robin Eschinger is recovering
from skin cancer and has completed her radiation treatments and is doing well. Sister Alice Gehl spent a
week in the hospital after suffering a mini-stroke. I spoke to her after her return home and she was antici-
pating spending Thanksgiving at the beach.
Christmas will soon be here and while celebrating the upcoming holidays, let us all give thanks for
our blessings and take a moment to reflect on how fortunate we are to live in this wonderful country. We
should remember those among us who may be going through difficult times and keep them in our thoughts
and prayers.
As always, if you know of any members in need of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me
by phone (703-321-7349) or e-mail ([email protected]).
VFW Members, Family, and Friends Buy, Sell, or Lease a home with me, Alice Gehl and 10% of my proceeds from each completed transaction will be donated to the building fund at VFW Post 7327.
I am a Life Member of Post 7327 Auxiliary.
Alice E. Gehl, Realtor, Weichert, Realtors, Burke Office Email: [email protected] Cell: 571-426-4073
Licensed in the Commonwealth of Virginia
December 2015
Page 5
Service Officer's Corner Francis W. Konieczny, Post Service Officer
Cleaning Up Wreaths Across America (WAA) at Arlington National Cemetery (ANC)
We will need your help at Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) to pick up the wreaths that will be laid
against the tombstones on 12 December 2015. The scheduled clean-up date has been designated as January
23, 2016. There is no snow/rain alternative. This is the only date. Rain, Snow or Sleet.
As of this time, this is the information we have:
ANC administration encourages the use of METRO (Blue Line Station / Arlington National Ceme-
tery). There's no general parking at the cemetery. Please be advised that only vehicles with Permanent ANC
Family Gravesite Passes and those with valid Handicap Permits will be allowed vehicle entry through the
Welcome Center Entrance and may park in the ANC Welcome Center Parking Lot (0800-1500).
Pedestrian gates will open at 0800 and are located as follows: Clockwise from the North, the Ord-Weitzel
Gate (near the Iwo Jima Memorial and Rosslyn Metro); the Main Cemetery and the Welcome Center Gates
(nearest Arlington Cemetery Metro); the South Maintenance Complex Gate (nearest Pentagon and Pentagon
City Metro), and the Fort Myer Old Post Chapel Gate.
This is a family oriented event and we encourage families of all ages to participate.
There is no formal sign-up or registration required. Just show up at the designated time and place.
At 0830, there will be a short Volunteer Instructional Briefing at the McClellan Arch Gate located just off
Eisenhower Drive between Section 33 and 12, on McClellan Drive. Wreath clean-up will start at approxi-
mately 0845.
Volunteers are asked to pick up ONLY those WAA wreaths placed in December leaving
any other wreaths or decorations in place. There will be dumpsters placed throughout the cemetery to dispose of the wreaths. We have a very
limited number of dumpsters available so we ask the volunteers to pack the wreaths as tight as possible in the
dumpsters and to stay available at least until 1:00pm, if possible, to help with any extra wreath disposal need-
ed as some dumpsters will be emptied and brought back to locations to be refilled.
We have found it helpful if you bring a stick, pole, rope, rake or something equivalent to support car-
rying multiple wreaths to the dumpsters. Please dress for the weather and wear gloves and water-proof foot-
wear.
Keep checking on the Wreaths Across America web page at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org and on
the Arlington Wreath’s Facebook pages at www.facebook.com/ArlingtonWreaths and
www.facebook.com/WAAHQ for further details of the clean-up.
If you have any questions, please call Wreaths Across America at 877-385-9504. Thank you for your
continued support!
Page 6
The Camaraderie
Auxiliary Membership News Treasurer Linda Byrnes
Our 2016 membership status-to-date is 153 paid (7 not renewed) against 161 on 6/30…no change
from last month. NOTE: Annual members who are not yet dues-paid for 2016, your 2015 membership card
is valid only through December.
Please be on the lookout for new members…if you know or meet someone who is interested in join-
ing and need a current application form, please contact me or another Membership Committee member
(Linda Bond, Alice Merrill, Valerie Murrell, Diana Regan). General membership information is available at
www.vfwauxiliary.org.
Comrades, Sisters and Brother, Christmas is coming soon! At a loss for a gift idea? An Auxiliary
membership would be a memorable gift in honor of a loved one, and that new member’s honoree might even
be YOU! With one meeting left to elect new members for 100% by December 3l, please ask soonest if
they’ll accept your gift of membership and submit their application.
I welcome your 2016 dues payments and any membership questions at 8209 Terra Grande Avenue,
Springfield, 22153, cell: 703-732-7539.
Nov. 29-Dec. 5 is Winter Preparedness Week Virginia forecast includes colder, wetter winter
Winter will soon be here and that means cold temperatures and the chance of snow and ice.
When inclement weather strikes our area, be sure to remember to “Get Where You Need to Be Before the Weather Gets Bad.”
By staying off the roads, not out in the weather (SNOW) – you will help road crews have a clear path to clean the streets and allow public safety responders the ability to more easily navigate treacherous roads.
Download the Ready Virginia app. Free app for iPhone® and Android™ features:
Location-specific weather watches and warnings issued by the NWS. A customizable family emergency plan that can be eas-ily shared. A checklist for gathering emergency supplies. “I’m Safe!” notification that allows users to quickly send a text message to let family and friends know they are safe.
Fairfax County Office of Emergency Management www.fairfaxcounty.gov/oem
December 2015
Page 7
Buddy Poppy Distribution
November
Commander’s
Call
Pasta Dinner
Web Site:
www.post7327
.org
Post Hours of Operation
Monday / Tuesday – Closed (except for meetings)
Wednesday / Thursday–10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Friday – 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Saturday / Sunday – 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
The Post may be open other than these hours as events require and personnel are available.
Upcoming Events and Activities
December 7—Pearl Harbor Day
December 8—VA Hospital Visit, 6:00pm
December 9—Auxiliary Membership Meeting, 7pm
December 12—Wreaths Across America, Arlington & Alexandria National Cemeteries, 8am
December 12—Commander’s Call, Army-Navy Game, Kickoff 3:00
December 13—National Guard Birthday
December 19—Adopt-A-Family Christmas Party
December 22 —Post General Membership Meeting, 7:30pm
Come early to meetings and join us for drinks and camaraderie!
BINGO - EVERY THURSDAY AND FRIDAY evening beginning at 7:00 pm at
Greater Springfield Volunteer Fire Department
*No Bingo December 24, 25, or 31st*
VFW Post 7327
8350 - F Terminal Road
Lorton, Virginia 22079
The Friendliest VFW Post in Virginia
Web Site: www.post7327.org
e-mail: [email protected]
703-541-3139 Phone
703-541-0641 Fax
