Washington State Weekend - Part Two

Washington Mid-Winter Conference – Olympia

Friday and Saturday were chock full of meetings and it was really refreshing to see all of the newer [not necessarily younger] members eager to listen to the reports, receive valuable training, and in general enjoy each other’s company.  We certainly kept a vast social spacing and mask wearing was rigorously enforced.  There was also a large contingent of people zooming into the meetings.  One of the really significant things is their desire to be the best.  Commander Traci’s theme this year is “Stay Focused” and they are listening to it.  In fact, two of the members are so focused they are near the top in nation-wide recruitment of new members.

Friday evening we attended a dinner at local Post 318, the Ira L. Cater Post.  They are over 100 years old and going strong.  Named after a WWI veteran who died during the Battle of Chateau Thierry, near Flanders.  For those of us in the VFW and Auxiliary, the Buddy Poppy is something we hold dear.  The iconic poem’s opening lines of “In Flanders fields the poppies blow between the crosses, row on row…”  remind us of the sacrifices of those brave soldiers who fought there. Because of their namesake, Post 318 has an affinity to the poppy and do a lot with the Buddy Poppy program.

The training sessions really showed how much the Department of Washington cares about being the best.  Quartermaster and Service Officer training was not merely rote slides; they really cut to the heart of subjects and if you didn’t learn anything new then you weren’t listening.  I’m glad I sat through.  The Chairman of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Commission, Drew James, provided what I consider to be one of the best briefings I’ve heard on the subject so far.  It was inclusive of the many organizations out there doing things for the current group of veterans.  We’ve already shared information and I wish him well as he is in the running to become one of the Department’s Chair Officers.  If elected, he’s going to do a great job.

I received several gifts over the weekend, and I'm grateful to you all for presenting them to me.  They are special and I will enjoy them very much.

Overall, Commander Traci and her team are focused on being the best.  They are active and they don’t believe in declining because “we’ve never done that before”.  Looking out over the audience and on zoom it was clear that there are many newer, younger veterans who want to be a part of this winning team!

A photo of Ira L. Cater, in a place of honor at Post 318

A panorama view of the socially spaced but very engaged members of the Department of Washington VFW

Washington State Weekend - Part One

Washington State – Hitting The Ground Running

As soon as I walked off the airplane in Seattle, I was greeted by State Commander Traci and USO Volunteer Mr Pepsi.  He goes by Pepsi because his last name is even more undecipherable than mine!  We walked to the SEATAC USO and I received a tour of the facility and a great briefing from the Executive Director, Mr Don Leingang.  Talk about pride in a facility!  Pre-Covid the USO here served over 14,000 guests per month.  During the shut down, they have done so much work refurbishing, doing maintenance, and re-positioning so they can soon open their doors and do what they do best:  Serve our Armed Forces and their families.  They are going to be able to do more now as Commander Traci presented a check in the amount of $3400 from the VFW.

Don provided interesting tidbits of information while he told me of the great commercial partners they have.  One great example is the sea of leather Lazy Boy recliners and couches, donated free of charge and constantly replaced to ensure they look and feel good.  Another partner is the Starbucks located in the airport.  Say what you will about Starbucks, but when a company donates 100 pounds of coffee EACH WEEK to help our troops my hat’s off to them.  As I walked along, I was impressed with the beautiful teak floor.  It turns out the Boeing Company somehow ended up with all of the teakwood decking from the USS Colorado when it was decommissioned and they donated all of it to the USO.  I was walking on history and my mind reeled as I thought of all the sailors who walked on this deck over the many years the ship was in service.  I was floored [get it?] when Don and Pepsi gave me an actual piece of the deck.  It’s something I certainly will treasure.

Then we retrieved my luggage and off we drove to American Lake Golf Course, located on the grounds of the local VA hospital.  We were greeted by their main volunteer, Mr. Bruce, who is also a Past National Commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart.  Everyone involved with the golf course is a volunteer and they exist solely on donations.  Originally built in the 1950s as a nine hole course, they expanded recently when Jack Nicklaus designed a signature back nine course.  This is his 400^th signature course.  The really exciting part of this golf course is the work they do with disabled veterans.  They have a state of the art training facility, which includes a massive simulator that a has golf courses from all over the world programmed into it.  It even has the grandfather of all golf course, St Andrews!  In fact they are the only facility that has St Andrews available.  Mr Bruce showed and demonstrated the latest models of paragolfer carts—they run up to $40,000 each and they have a stable of them.  They also have a huge inventory of standard golf carts and each one is purchased by donations.  For a mere $5000 you can have your organization’s logo…or even your smiling face…on the cart.  They know how to market!  The driving range is automated too, with automatic ball placers so a disabled veteran doesn’t have to bend over. 

There is so much right about this place and it’s no wonder Commander Traci has chosen it for her Commander’s Special Project.  The stately trees and serene setting help soothe the mind at the same time that being able to enjoy golfing is good for the body.  As we walked around in the fine mist and watched the deer walking on the driving range, I felt a sense of calm.  This place is a gem and I salute them for the great work they do every day to make a veteran’s life better.

Mr Pepsi showing me his wall plaque, referencing FOUR generations of Navy Service

Executive Director Don and Mr Pepsi talking up the great things the SeaTac USO provides.  Along the back wall are a small portion of the almost 2,000 unit patches from all branches of service

Just a few of the hundreds of loungers, here in the 80" TV viewing theater

There is a replica of the USS Colorado here with a sign saying:  "You're standing on the original teakwood decks of the USS Colorado (BB-45), a proud battleship of the U.S. Pacific fleet in World War II"

My own piece of WWII history courtesy of the USO!

Entry to the Clubhouse at the American Lake VA facility

Mr Bruce demonstrating how a paragolfer cart actually stands up a disabled golfer so they can take their swing on the fairway.  The seat then goes back into seated position and off you go for the next shot

Through this portal lay the fantastic course!

Wyoming Mid-Winter Council in Casper

 I'll start by thanking Commander Joe Tallon and the entire Wyoming Team for ensuring I got the full winter experience!  They ordered cold weather and it was MINUS TWENTY degrees while I visited.  Very nice of you all for taking care of me!!

Seriously though, all of the people I met over the weekend were so gracious and friendly.  When I think of how I'd like to see people treated by the VFW, I will always remember these folks.  Friday night we had a Council meeting at Post 9439.  This place certainly is a poster child for what a Post should be:  Bright, clean, patriotic...whatever you can think of, this Post has it.  And that's just the surface, they do so much for their community and it shows.

Saturday was all work, starting at 0700 with a casual breakfast with the Past Department Commanders.  There is so much knowledge and history to be gained when you sit down with former leaders.  It's important to know your past if you want to thrive in the present and beyond.  One of the key things I picked up was these past commanders weren't trying to run the Department today.  They understand they are mentors and their role is to provide guidance for the future leaders.  Very refreshing to see!  We had a nice crowd for the business sessions and the dinner banquet was packed [COVID restrictions being followed of course].  

A highlight of this visit was meeting Jayson Zimmerman.  He picked me up at the airport and ensured I was where I needed to be at all times.  Jason is his Post Quartermaster, and it was his Post where we met on Friday evening.  He's also the State Chaplain and next year he will be the State Junior Vice Commander.  He's going to be a great leader.  Jason was a medic in the Army and served in both Iraq and Afghanistan.  Currently he's in nursing school and is doing well.  One other thing?  Jason is a double amputee as a result of his combat experience.  To look at him, you'd never know and he certainly doesn't hold back.  He was everywhere all the time and tireless in his efforts to get things taken care of the entire weekend.  What a powerful story and an inspirational man.  I'm certainly a better person for getting to know him and to be able to call him friend.

We all have setbacks in life, some great and some small.  Take a lesson from Jayson and don't let the past dictate your future!

Jayson Zimmerman...what an inspiration!

My counterpart, State Senior Vice Commander Jim Rish.  Jim spent some time at Scott AFB, IL during his service years so we had a nice time going down memory lane.  Jim has a head for business and veterans.  He's really going to take Wyoming to new heights!

Utah Council of Administration – Moab

What a beautiful location to have a VFW meeting!  Nestled in the hills and mountains of Moab, we stayed and had our meetings at the Red Cliffs Lodge.  It was a thrill to enjoy the on-site museum showcasing all of the movies made here.  John Wayne, a personal favorite, made many of his movies on this very site.  After seeing the actual scenery, I’m looking forward to watching his movies again with a renewed interest in the surroundings.

But, the real purpose of being here was to assist with the business of the VFW.  State Commander Mark and Senior Vice Commander Dave were excellent hosts and I’ve never felt safer at a meeting—they served together on the same Special Forces team for many years while in the Army!  The meetings were well attended and the briefings presented by VFW members and state of Utah officials were top notch.  Even their congressional representative sent a recorded message thanking them all for their service as well as outlining many of the items in Congress he is working hard to get into law.  The briefings, both live and virtual, from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Utah Governor’s Office of Veterans Affairs were not only informative but I was very impressed at the dedication shown by these officials.  It’s clear that Utah takes veterans issues very seriously!

A personal highlight for me during this trip was being introduced to 90 year old Ewald Kuefner.  Born in Germany in 1930, Ewald was pressed into service in the Hitler Youth for most of World War II and was even present during the fall of Berlin at the end.  He presented me with a booklet he had written about his life, along with pictures and memories of that time.  He emigrated to the United States and was drafted to serve with the Army in the Korean War.  Even though he had become a citizen of our great Republic and was now fighting to defend democracy, he still encountered prejudice and bigotry from his fellow soldiers because of his past.  Nonetheless, Ewald persevered and has had a good life in America.  He has done great things for the VFW and is universally loved by all the comrades and auxiliary members in Utah. 

I recently created a VFW Membership Badge, based on an actual 1920’s era VFW Badge, to begin the process of re-instilling pride in our great organization.  Before leaving on this trip, and not really knowing why, I packed one of these Badges in my case.  It was my great honor and pleasure to pin that badge on Ewald’s lapel during our banquet dinner Saturday night.  I called out his name in my remarks and he marched up to the podium, standing at attention and standing so tall and proud.  When I pinned that badge on him, I saw in his eyes what this moment meant.  As he returned my salute, it hit me yet again why I love the VFW and all it stands for.  Comrade Ewald, thank you for all you have done!

On a side note, Megan traveled with me to photograph the natural beauty of Utah and its national parks.  I’ll leave you with one of her spectacular pictures, taken from our patio, with the Red Cliffs and Colorado River in the background, along with those beautiful stars.

A packed house listened and learned a lot through the Zoom platform

Meeting Ewald 

Ewald returning my salute at the banquet.  What a special moment for the two of us!

 

 

Back Up and Running!

 Hi everyone!  Yes, we’re back in business and going Around The World with Fritz again!

The Global Pandemic along with yet another back surgery has curtailed my physical travel but that hasn’t stopped the work I get to do for the Veterans of Foreign Wars.  Thanks to Zoom and other virtual platforms I’ve been able to attend meetings and events literally all over the world.  Perhaps the one good thing from all of this is the fact that we can continue to work on the mission for veterans!  From Post meetings to Awards banquets to every day staff meetings, I think it’s fair to say I’m actually getting more productive work done and reaching out to more venues than I ever thought possible.

I haven’t been blogging much, but that’s going to change as the country starts to loosen up on travel restrictions.  I see that we have also picked up readers from Portugal and Turkey---Welcome to the Blog!