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VFW 26012ND QUARTER 2021 • VFWLONGSPEAKPOST2601.COM
POST
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Continuing our mission to serve our combat veterans, military & community.Our vision is always to advocate on behalf of all veterans.
Our next meeting is April 7th at 6PM, Elks Club on Coffman St. We will have nominations and elections for 2021-2022 Officers. If you are interested in becoming a Post officer or want to sup-port those who are running, be there. We are still in the process of securing a new post home. If and when we do find one, I’m going to need as many post members as possible to help get us up and running. Your help is greatly needed for this next chapter to help support our veteran brothers and sisters who need our
help. WE NEED YOU! Just say yes. Don’t forget the VFW oath you took to support our mission to “Serve our Combat Veterans, Military, and Community and to advo-cate on behalf of all Veterans”. Hope to see you soon. Yours in Comradeship,Garry Wilson, Commander VFW Post 2601
Greetings Auxiliary 2601 and welcome to Spring! At this time last year we were all quarantined, unable to visit vets in senior centers, hold meetings, etc. Now that that’s changed, we need to work twice as hard for the veterans who need our help. We have all suffered in one way or another during this pandemic. If you know a veteran who is in need of help, please call me. My number is at the bottom of this letter. Another way you can help is by donating your VFW magazines to the senior homes
and senior centers. Hope to see all of you at the next meeting on May 12th @ 6pm, at the American Legion, 315 South Bowen St.Your President,Patricia Rowley-Wilson 303-746-0535
COMMANDER’S CORNER
AUXILIARY PRESIDENT’S CORNER
APRILMonth of the Military child4/4 Easter4/5 Gold Star Spouses Day4/9 Nat’l Former POW Day4/14 AF Reserve Birthday4/12 Ramadan Begins4/15 Purple Up! Day4/21 ANZAC Day (Aus & NZ)4/22 Earth Day
MAYMonth of Military Care GiverNat’l Military Appreciation Month5/1 Loyalty Day5/6 Nat’l Day of Prayer5/6-12 Nat’l Nurses Week5/8 VE Day5/13 Mother’s Day5/13 Child of Fallen Patriot’s Day5/15 Peace Officer Memorial Day5/15 Armed Forces Day5/22 Maritime Day5/31 Memorial Day
JUNEPTSD Awareness Month6/6 D-Day6/12 Women Veterans Day6/14 Army Birthday6/14 US Flag Day6/20 Father’s Day6/23 CG Aux Birthday6/27 PTSD Awareness Day
REMEMBRANCE DATES
TAPSVFW LIFE MEMBERS:
C.H. Randall • Bruce H. Hayes
Karen TownsendVeteran’s Service Officer
Veteran’s ServicesPHONE: 720-864-6663Fax: 720-864-6503515 Coffman Street • Longmont, CO 80501email: [email protected]
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VIETNAM VETS PRAYER I come to you as a survivor of that hell on earth in a place called Vietnam. For many years I blamed You for the atroci-ties, inhumanity, and death that I witnessed. I know now that You shed more tears over that war than everyone on earth combined.Help me to accept and learn from the counseling and treat-ment that I receive. But most important of all, help me to know that only through Jesus Christ can these scars on my
heart and soul be healed.I pray for the souls of the over 58,000 brothers and sisters who died in that war, and for the even larger number who have died from wounds to the body, and wounds to the heart and mind.I pray also for my many brothers and sisters, who also survived that do not yet realize, that true healing can only begin through Jesus Christ. Place your hand on them as you did with me and melt that block of ice around their stone-cold heart. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
CHAPLAIN’S CORNER
POST OFFICERSCommanderGarry Wilson
[email protected]. Vice
Robert [email protected]
Jr. ViceJesus Cordova
ChaplainJames Lunkenheimer
Leon [email protected]
JAGJ. Reed
[email protected] Officer
David [email protected]
SurgeonRuss Boehm
POST TRUSTEES1-yr. Trustee
Michael Vernet2-yr. TrusteeJames Reed3-yr. TrusteeJacob Scott
POST MEETINGS1st Wednesdays, 6pm
TRUSTEE MEETINGS1st Wednesdays, 5pm(Jan, Apr, Jul & Oct)
BLDG COMMITTEEWhen needed
AUXILIARY OFFICERSPresident
Patricia WilsonSr. Vice
Doug RisendorfJr. Vice
Carol NormanChaplain
Richard NessSec/Treas
Ann MauckGuard
Denise Michalski
As we move closer, hopefully, to having our own Post home again, many things come to mind. One, the stigma of just being a bar is hard to overcome. We understand that younger vets want something different. We have to become more family ori-ented. We have got to make it more hospitable. We know that we have to adapt to that new reality. Two, we understand that Veterans dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder and other wartime drama need a safe space amid an isolating pandemic.
Three, we understand that Veterans need a place that they can talk about what happened to them that they would never say to their psychiatrist or even their families. Older Veterans, like myself, know we need younger veterans to help us move forward to find the right mix of activities and functions for all of us to love and make our new Post home a success. These words have been spoken all over the United States as Veterans struggle with issues. We need to help each other, regardless of age, to overcome all that affects us. A new Post home together with a strong showing from all of us will make it a huge success. We all deserve the best for all we did defending our country.Please stay safe and healthy,Bob Delva, Vietnam Veteran, U.S.M.C.
SENIOR VICE’S NEWS
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UPDATE FROM QM/ADJ BARTHOLOMAYHappy Spring and Good Wishes to all Post 2601 Comrades! We have made it through the worst of this pandemic and, as a Post, we remain positive and look forward excitedly to closing out our 2020-21 membership year on a positive note. We are currently standing at 91.79% membership. We have until 31 May to reinstate some of the 34 members who have let their mem-berships lapse the last 2 years and to welcome new members to our ranks. If we each enlist one new member by 31 May and
work on bringing back a few of our lapsed members we can reward the last 3 years of Commander Wilson’s hard work and get him recognized as All-State and National Commander for 2020-21. He deserves our extra efforts in making this happen, so bring an eligible VFW Veteran to the April and May membership meetings and let’s get them on board. On a personal note, I have been honored serving as your QM/Adj these past 7 years. I know time flies, and have agreed to serve one more year. I will need a comrade to step forward as an Assistant QM-in-training willing to take on the QM job next year as I plan to move forward from District 3 Senior Vice to District 3 Commander next year. If elected to this position, I will not have the time or energy to continue as your QM. I will remain as active as ever with Post 2601, though, and am looking forward to getting into a new Post 2601 building in the coming months. We Vietnam Veterans are being put into the role of the elder generation with the dwin-dling of our courageous WWII, Korean and, yes, Vietnam Vets. In order to ensure that our great Post 2601 continues forward as a strong, vibrant presence in Longmont for another generation of warriors, we need to all work together to build a new Post Home which will fulfill the needs and wants of our younger Veterans and their fami-lies. I am absolutely positive that the future of VFW Post 2601 will endure and always be the safe, positive environment for all Veterans and their families that walk through our doors. God Bless!Your comrade in service, Leon Bartholomay, QM, Adjutant, U.S.M.C.
IN THE COMMUNITY
Healing Warriors at the Elks Lodge
Candidate property site for 2601
COVID-19 UPDATEThe VA still has a limited amount of vaccines. So they continue to follow the phased plan based on VA/CDC COVID-19 risk criteria. At this time, they’re offering COVID-19 vaccines to all Veterans, Spous-es and surviving spouses of Veterans, and Caregivers of Veterans who make an appointment. For COVID-19 vaccine eligibility, we define a caregiver as a family member or friend who provides care to a Veter-an: personal needs like feeding, bathing, or dressing. They may also help a Veteran with tasks like shopping or transportation. Set up an appointment through the VA app on your phone or online if you are eligible at www.va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine
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IF YOU’VE EARNED ONE OF THESEYOU BELONG HERE WITH US
Vietnam Service Euro-African-ME Campaign
Southwest Asia Service Afghanistan Campaign
Air-Force Expeditionary Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
Korean Service
Iraq Campaign
American Campaign Korean Defense Service
Marine Corps Expeditionary Global War on Terror Expeditionary
Combat Action American Defense Service
Army/Navy Occupation Service Navy Expeditionary
Kosovo Campaign
Inherent Resolve Campaign
Combat Infantry Badge
Combat Medical Badge Combat Action Badge
SSBN Deterrent Patrol
China Service
Air Force Combat Action
Coast Guard Combat Action
Armed Forces Expeditionary
Come to our meeting as our guest and see for yourself why we are a great Post.
Our meetings are on the 1st Wednesday of the month, 6PM at:
Longmont Elks Lodge306 Coffman St • Longmont, CO 80501
WHAT HAVE YOU READ LATELY?Saving Tres RiosBy John Witzel
This novel follows retired Air Force Sgt. Rob-ert Madden, who thought the war as behind him. But as he entered Tres Rios, N.M., a new war was just beginning. A run-in with a local drug lord halts all his plans, along with escaping a corrupt police force and legal action. Faced with the toughest school he has
ever experienced and a drug lord with a score to settle, he must use all of his training to survive and protect his stu-dents. Wildcatter Publishing
Whiskey Logic vs PTSDBy Larry E. Smith
Written to help others avoid the pitfalls of self-medicating to erase the memories of events that simply do not erase, this memoir by Larry E. Smith is a close and personal ac-count of his battles with PTSD following his time in the Vietnam War. Morris Publishing
Eat the Appleby Matt Young
This memoir is a daring, twisted and darkly hilarious story of modern American youth and masculinity in an age of continuous war. Visceral, ironic, self-lacerating and ultimately redemptive, Young’s brilliantly written book is a modern war classic in the making and a powerful coming-of-age story that maps the
insane geography of our times. Bloomsbury USA
The Ragged Edge of NightBy Olivia Hawker
This historical fiction novel is a powerful, emotionally gripping, beautifully written story about extraordinary hope, redemp-tion, and one man’s search for light during the darkest times of World War II in 1942. This book promises to be a taut, surprisingly biographical journey. Lake Union Publishing
Find these books and more on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and wherever new books are sold.
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Your Post 2601 Building Committee continues identifying and visiting perspective new homes for our Post. The building site we shared with you last month would have been a great buy, but when your committee members diligently attended an HOA meeting we found that the place has had noise abatement issues in the past. An inspection by a noise abatement company paid for by the HOA disclosed it would cost upwards of $60,000+ to remediate this issue. The owner was not going to pay for this. Hence, we backed out of this sale because we couldn’t in good conscience spend your post monies on this issue. We have been negotiating on another place for lease at 340 Lashley Street, Ste. 150 for about 3-4 weeks and just submitted our 2nd counter-proposal to the original LOI and are awaiting the owner’s feedback. This place, on the corner of Lashley and 3rd Ave, fulfills most of our original property needs outlined early in our hunt for a new home. The majority of your Building Committee members are hoping this will go through, but if not we will continue our search for a home that will satisfy our older, younger members and their families’ needs well into the future. More feedback will be put forward at the April Membership Meeting. See ya there!
BUILDING COMMITTEE NEWS
The Healing Warriors Program of Ft Collins is BACK and offering their free Veterans Clinic at the Elks Lodge, 308 Coffman Street in Longmont. We are so happy to be restarting this great service to the community, and especially to our members! Provided to veterans and their families are therapies such as: Acupuncture, Cranio Therapy and Healing Touch Therapy. Many of our local and non-local veterans and their family members have benefited from this great Clinic with some coming from as far as Denver each month for the
therapies and fellowship. We know the value of bringing self-care and connection to our members— especially now, as we recover from a stressful year. Come out and take advantage! Our Longmont clinic runs one Saturday every month. You can check out our FB page or Twitter to find out when our next session takes place. Our younger veterans have already participated and have felt great results. We hope to see you there!Check them out here: www.healingwarriorsprogram.org
THE HEALING WARRIORS PROGRAM
FIGHTING FRAUD & EXPLOITATION OF VETERAN CHARITIES
Your Color/Honor Guard will be involved in Memorial Day activities around Longmont cemeteries on 31 May 2021 to help honor all of our past brothers and sisters in arms.
American Disabled Veterans Foundation. Healing Heroes Network. Veterans Fighting Breast Cancer. Military Fam-ilies of America... They sound like just the sorts of organizations that generous Americans would rush to support to repay those who have served the country and now need our help, right? However, these are all sham charities that federal and state watchdogs have sued in recent years for misleading donors, according to the FTC. It’s a particularly shameful subset of charity fraud: scams that exploit Americans’ gratitude for military members’ service and sacrifice. Bogus military charities use the same outreach techniques as trusted non-profits—direct mail, email, phone calls, texts—and often adopt similar names. They throw around words like “warriors,” “heroes” and “disabled” and fill their communications with heartrending appeals. A little research can go a long way in weeding out phony fundraising appeals. Don’t let scammers curb your generosity toward those who serve. Take steps to ensure your dollars truly support them. Warning signs of scam charities are: 1) Pressure to donate immediately. A legitimate veterans’ charity will welcome your donation whenever you choose to make it. 2) Claims that you will get a prize or win a sweepstakes if you give. That’s illegal, according to the FTC. 3) A thank-you for a donation you don’t recall making. Phony fundraisers try to trick you into thinking you’ve already given to the cause, to lower your resistance to donating “again.” Visit AARP’s podcast Take on Today’s episode called A Crackdown on Fake Charities Exploiting Veterans for more information.www.aarp.org/podcasts/take-on-today/info-2018/take-on-today-podcast-episode-20.html
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Steve Peterson, AAMS®
Financial Advisor750 17th Avenue Suite #1Longmont, CO 80501Bus. 720-652-0897 Fax 866-462-5217TF [email protected]
Morgan Parker CPCU®
Agent735 Main StreetLongmont, CO 80501-4920Bus 303 776 9124 Fax 303 776 [email protected]
The greatest compliment you can give is a referral.
303-651-1658
PrestigeCHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM
$3 discount or 10% for Active Duty & Veterans
200 Alpine St, Longmont, CO 80501303-219-1142 • prestigechryslerdodge.com
Special Thanks to our Advertising Partners
Be sure to m
ention our newsletter w
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Non-ProfitOrganizationU.S. Postage
PAID LONGMONT, COPERMIT NO. 178
VFW POST 2601P.O. BOX 1181Longmont, CO 80501
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTEDNON-PROFIT
OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONLongs Peak VFW #2601
PRINTING CENTERRons' Special THANKS to
For their help printing this Newsletter!#supportlocalbusiness
HELP US GO GREEN!
We would like to send this newsletter by email to as many members as
possible so we can reduce costs and save trees. Email Leon Bartholomay at
[email protected] or [email protected] and we will send
you an e-newsletter version to read on your tablet or phone. Thank you!
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