Florida VFW Council of Administration Meeting!

 I was able to actually fly to Orlando and be part of an in-person VFW meeting this weekend!  This was my first flight since COVID hit and I had my back surgery, but Southwest Airlines provided a great experience...as usual!

Florida's VFW and Auxiliary members were so gracious this weekend and it was nice to actually be able to mingle and share ideas throughout our time together.  You just don't get that on a Zoom.  You might get information passed along, but you miss the synergy meeting on a screen.  I can tell you honestly, there is just as much information sharing after the meetings than just when you are in them.

Some of the highlights included a very moving candlelight POW-MIA ceremony with all the attendees and a hotel-sponsored dyeing of their Grand Fountain a vivid pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  The fountain will remain pink all month and they even had a pink fire truck show up!  During breaks I sat down with comrades and shared stories as we built Buddy Poppies together.  I participated in handing out multiple awards for All State and All American Commanders and they are all so proud of the work they are doing in their communities and for veterans.  Commander Glen Tilley has had his hands full with COVID and the effects it has had on the Posts in his state but his leadership has been second to none.  He is thought of so highly because of his dedication and it was a pleasure getting to know him.

On a more personal note, some of you may recall my blog post [exactly one year ago - 25 Oct 2019!] about Veteran Jason Casteel.  Feel free to look back at that post at:

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1608356696084894001/5064287890277321455

Jason was at this meeting and we were able to talk diving.  He's now a fully certified instructor and has started his own dive business in Florida - Dive On In Scuba Diving!  His long term business plan is to own a dive boat and become a captain.  Way to go Jason!  I am so proud of you!  Can't wait to hit the water with you one of these days.

This was a fun trip and it reminds me once again how hard veterans work day in and day out to live up to the VFW slogan:  No One Does More For Veterans!

After all the dye cycled through the fountain.  I was worried about getting dye on my suit, shirt, tie, mask, hat....but nooooo, I got dye splashed on my face.  Go Figure!

My counterpart, National Senior Vice President of the Auxiliary, pouring her dye into the fountain.  I think it was her splashes that got me!

The fountain in all of its Awareness glory in the Sunday morning sun

A large turnout for the business meeting.  Way to go Florida VFW!

Building poppies and sharing fun stories.  That's camaraderie in the VFW!  [Note, we took our masks off to have the picture taken]

Been so long since I've seen this friendly sight.