Need your house or Post painted? The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades is looking to help 3 to 4 veterans in Central Florida. The homes must be owned and occupied by veterans, and be located in the same general vicinity in the Central Florida area. Work will be done by professional painters at absolutely no charge to the veteran! For more information contact our Assistant Adjutant, Bruce Comer at bcomer@floridalegion.org or (407) 295-2631. Hurry and don’t delay! Painting begins mid-April!
In honor of Women’s History Month, The American Legion is hosting a day trip to the Orlando VA Medical Center at Lake Nona. Join other women veterans on a visit to the hospital campus and learn about facilities and services dedicated to your specific needs.
Orlando Rocks Benefit, Inc proudly announces two benefits to support Sgt. Kirstie Ennis, USMC. Ennis’s story and journey as an veteran and amputee is inspirational. She was recently featured on the cover of PTSD Journal, click here to read her amazing story.
The first benefit takes place on Saturday, February 18, 2017. Orlando Rocks Benefit, Inc will be holding a “Warrior Ride” in Ennis’s honor. The ride will start at American Legion Post 183 in Fern Park, with 4 stops along the way, riders will also end back at Post 183 for a Luau. Complete details and a flyer can be found on our Event Calendar.
The second benefit will be sponsored by Orlando Rocks Benefit, Inc and Booyah Bus Project, hosted by The City of Kissimmee. Complete details for this event can also be found on our Event Calendar.
The American Legion, Department of Florida will be hosting a March on Tallahassee on Tuesday, February 7, 2017. The purpose of this march is to lobby lawmakers to pass legislation that protects veterans’ rights and to discuss key veterans’ legislative issues. Included among these issues are:
Gaming machines in our posts homes
Free tolls for paralyzed veterans
We are requesting that each post sponsor two representatives to attend this march. Please note, the Department will be unable to provide reimbursement for any incurred expenses, each individual post will be responsible for covering the costs of the representatives they elect to send. The event will begin with a Legislative Briefing to be held at Post 13, 229 Lake Ella Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32303 at 9:00 am. Coffee and doughnuts will be served during the briefing. The Legislative Briefing session will inform attendees, in full detail, of each legislative priority, prior to visiting Florida Legislators. Therefore, attendees will be uniformed and more easily able to articulate the legislative agenda.
It is of the upmost importance, that attendees schedule an appointment with their Florida Legislators in advance. Appointment times should be scheduled after 10:30 am on February 7th, following the Legislative Briefing. We encourage you to schedule appointments immediately, and avoid waiting until the last minute. The Department of Florida requests, that all confirmed appointments be reported to the Department headquarters office, to avoid duplicating our efforts. A list of confirmed appointments will be made available to all attendees as they are provided.
Here are a few resources to help you identify your House Representatives and Senators:
The Department is hoping for a large attendance from our veteran advocates, and urges you to make room reservations in advance. Below is an area hotel, that has agreed to a special rate of $99:
Phone Reservations: (850) 201-2028 reservation code: “The American Legion”
The American Legion, Department of Florida thanks you for your continued dedication and Americanism. Together, we will drive the engine of change to ensure our veterans receive the proper care and respect that they deserve. Together, we will make a difference for ourselves, our comrades, our families and our communities. Join us February 7, 2017, and let our voices be heard.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our Executive Assistant, Rachel Castleberry, (407) 295-2631 or by email to rcastleberry@floridalegion.org.
For God and Country,
Michael McDaniel
Department Adjutant
The American Legion, Department of Florida
L-R: Jack Kump, Bruce Comer (Assistant Dept Adjutant), Joan Wheeler
Orlando, January 4, 2017 – Jack Kump and his wife, Joan Wheeler, have personally donated ten (10) brand new mobility scooters to The American Legion, Department of Florida. Inspired by their commitment to our veterans, SpinLife has also added an additional scooter free of charge, for a total of eleven (11) brand new mobility scooters from scooter sleuth to be given away to Florida Veterans. Mobility scooters have helped a lot of people with disabilities to move around and sometimes even save their lives. Though there are a lot of options out there especially on ScooterAdviser, there are different types that will cater to different needs. Technology has certainly helped society live better lives.
Florida is home to approximately 1.5 million veterans, 22% of those veterans have claimed some level of disability. Jack and Joan have asked that these mobility scooters be distributed to disabled veterans who are in need and lack the funds or insurance to cover the costs on their own. They have entrusted The American Legion, Department of Florida, with the distribution of this remarkable act of kindness.
We asked Jack and Joan what prompted such a noble act. “The scooters are being donated in memory of two WWII vets very special in our lives, Joan’s late father, Robert I. Wheeler, and Jack’s late mentor, Leonard F. Wedge.” Jack also would like to honor Randolph-Macon Academy in Front Royal, Virginia where he attended high school. According to Jack, “Without the military influence, discipline, Espirit de Corps, and direction the school provided, my life would have probably taken a much less productive path”. Jack and Joan believe that all vets are very special people and should be recognized and shown compassion, especially our disabled, fallen on hard times.
If you are a Disabled Florida Veteran, who could greatly benefit from one of these mobility scooters, we would like to hear from you. The mobility scooter must be for the use of the veteran applying, the veteran must be a Florida Resident, provide proof of military service, and have the capability to arrange pick up of the scooter at our Orlando, Florida
Joan Wheeler
Department Headquarters. The American Legion, Department of Florida ask that you write a letter or email explaining why you should receive one of these scooters. Briefly discuss why you feel you should be chosen, include a copy of your DD214 form to verify your veteran service, and be sure to include contact information. All letters and DD214 forms must be received in our office no later than January 28, 2017 for consideration. Late and incomplete submissions will not be considered. Please do not call for inquiries, recipients will be decided by a Department Committee based on the written entries received by the deadline. All entries should be mailed to: The American Legion, Department of Florida, Mobility for Veterans, PO Box 547859; Orlando, FL 32854-7859 or via emailed to mail@floridalegion.org.
Selected recipients will be notified in February to start arranging pickup of their mobility scooters.
The American Legion, Department of Florida would like to extend a debt of gratitude to Jack and Joan, on behalf of all Florida Veterans. It is this type of compassion and kindness that we wish for all of our veterans.
President Kelli has had a great year navigating as the 2016-2017 Department President! We are inviting all Auxiliary members, Legionnaires, Riders and S.A.L. to help us celebrate!
When:
Saturday, April 8, 2017
5:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Where:
American Legion Post 7
1760 Turner St
Clearwater, FL 33756
Attire:
Casual Dress
(no shorts or tank tops, tie not required)
RSVP:
Patricia Devine
1213 Inverness Dr
Dunedin, FL 34698
(727) 736-8246
Gov. Rick Scott has signed the annual Battle of the Bulge Day Proclamation, commemorating the 72nd anniversary of one of the most important battles of World War II. (See attached in two versions.)
The last major German offensive on the Western Front began on Dec. 16, 1944 and lasted until Jan. 25, 1945, resulting in an Allied victory.
Our Associate Director, Kalautie S. JangDhari, has accepted a position as the Medical Center Director of the West Texas Veterans Health Care System effective December 11,2016. As many of you know, Ms. JangDhari has been serving as the Interim Director at West Texas since November 2015. Ivan Itebejac our Chief of Pharmacy has been our Acting Associate Director and will remain in this position until we hire a new Associate Director.
Also you may have seen the story about the Orlando VA in the news related to a story that ran in USA Today. Strategic Analytics for Improvement and Learning (SAIL) is an internal guide to identify and focus on areas for improvement. We use quarterly SAIL data to ensure that we have a comprehensive assessment of all aspects of health care services.
The article in USA Today sites older data but our recent SAIL metrics show a significant improvement in individual metrics as well as a change in our rating to a 4 Star in FY16 QTR3 (this is a 5 star program). Many program efforts have contributed to our rating increase. This includes addressing access concerns with a variety of modalities, such as direct scheduling in our audiology and optometry clinics, our 24 hour Urgent Care Center, and increasing same day access.
We have also focused on preventive health measures, including the recent development of a clinic for complex heart failure patients who require frequent monitoring, medication adjustments, and hospitalizations. The Orlando VA Medical Center was the first VA entity in Florida to insert a Cardio MEMS device to support our care of patients with these special cardiac needs.
This year’s addition of acute care hospital beds serve our Veterans well while positively impacting our SAIL measures as we direct attention to keeping patients safe from infections and other harm. The plan to incrementally phase in active hospital beds is showing success even in the limited inpatient hospital data we currently have, reflecting lower mortality rates, fewer central line, urinary catheter, and MRSA infections, and shorter than average lengths of stay.
~ Heather Frebe
Public Affairs Officer, Orlando VA Medical Center
Veterans and Family Members:
Starting January 7, 2016, join the Bay Pines VA and National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) every Saturday from 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. for the NAMI Family-to-Family program. The meetings will take place in building 1, room B214 at the C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center.
The program is offered at no cost and is intended to educate participants on how to support a loved one with mental illness and or substance abuse conditions.
The American Legion, Department of Florida 2016 Fall Conference kicked off November 18th – 20th. The event was held at the Hilton, Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, FL, where guests were greeted with cookies and a friendly smile upon check-in.
We estimate that more than 500 legionnaires attended this year’s Department Fall Conference, a great turn out and show of support. Thank you to all who were in attendance.
Headquarters was stationed in the hotel’s South Ballroom offering Department Emblem Sales, Membership assistance, Program Information, General Information, Photo Sessions, Project: VetRelief table and new additions of “Legion Online” and Centennial History show case. “Legion Online” featured laptops which guests could utilize to view the Department website, National website and MyLegion, with staff members on hand to offer assistance. The Centennial History show case featured historical relics from our Legion history. Last minute tickets sales for the 2016 Fall Raffle were also sold, along with discounted parking vouchers. Our friendly and dedicated Department staff and volunteers were eager to help Legionnaires with their Legion needs and questions.
During this Conference, Service Officer School trained 57 new Service Officers to serve our communities. Many classes such as Legion Institute, Post Training, Officer Training, Membership Training, etc. were also in high attendance.
General Session was held Saturday and kicked off with Post 286 Color Guard’s Presentation of Colors. We took pause to honor our POW-MIA and five lost Legionnaires this year: Rene Stachelrodt Jr., Past Dept Scholarship Chairman; Ed Miller, Past Southern Area Commander; Cauleen Dolan, Past 9th District Commander; French Shannon, Past 9th District Commander, and Charles Johann, Past 1st District Commander.
During the opening ceremonies, Department Commander, Department Adjutant and several other Department Officers entered sporting kilts and leprechaun attire in good spirit with Commander Joe Magee’s Irish-American heritage. Many laughs were had watching these well-respected men struggle with skirt kilt etiquette. Membership Director, Irene Graham also made a splash with leprechaun attire while assisting Jerry Brandt during the Membership Awards portion of the program.
National Judge Advocate, Phillip Onderdonk, joined us in a short and spirited speech as a special guest speaker. Wendy Jo Bost, Public Service Administrator at the Orange County Library System and Mimi Coenen, Chief Operations Officer at CareerSource of Central Florida also gave a heartfelt address and shared a short video on a joint program they have implemented with our veterans, military personnel and our youth. The Son’s of the American Legion and Auxiliary also stopped by for a quick hello and special guests of their own.
Dennis Boland, NEC, presented this year’s Child Welfare Awards. Bronze Plaques/Emblems for donations ranging from $500 to $749 were awarded to: District 13, Tampa Bay Post 152, Tequesta Post 271, Key West Post, Palmetto Post 309 and Fort Pierce Post 40. Gold Plaques/Emblems for donations exceeding $1,000 were awarded to: Largo Post 119, Spring Hill Post 186, Dunedin Post 275, Belleview Post 284, Lehigh Acres Post 323, Lady Lake Post 347, Tampa Post 5 and the Department of Florida. Eunice Butts and Dianne Boland were each presented with the 1 Diamond CWF Lapel Pin and Dennis R Boland was presented with the 5 Diamond CWF Lapel Pin. Department of Florida received: the Excellence Award; U.S. Udie Grant Award for most donations by the Florida legion Family in the amount of $86,784.33; Garland Murphy Award for Legion Department contributing the most donations to the CWF. PDC Jim Ramos was awarded a Diamond Lapel Pin.
Department Adjutant Mike McDaniel followed, delivering a brief report on Department business, and sharing an inspirational piece of our history and the importance of The American Legion. Our Candidates then presented a brief speech on why they would best serve our Department. A list of these candidates and their endorsements can be found on our department website: https://www.floridalegion.org/news-events/department-convention/endorsement-letters/.
After a brief break for lunch, the General Session resumed with the drawing of the 2016 Fall Raffle Winners, with the grand prize of $10,000 up for grabs. Those lucky winners are:
Grand Prize ($10,000) – Jamie Knapp of New Port Richey, FL
2nd Prize ($5,000) – Robert Wrobel of New Smyrna, FL
3rd Prize ($2,400) – Thomas Blaney of Jupiter, FL
4th Prize ($1,500) – Joseph Wagoner of Fort Pierce, FL
5th Prize ($1,000) – Richard Stewart of Gilford, NH
6th Prize ($1,000) – Howard Weingrow of Palm Beach Gardens, FL
7th Prize ($500) – Rudy Panganiban of Orlando, FL
8th Prize ($500) – Dwayne Enos of Jacksonville, FL
9th Prize ($500) – Stephen Benner of Leesburg, FL
10th Prize ($500) – Florenda Nicoloff of Melbourne, FL
Following reports from our Program and Committee Reports, Department Membership Chairman, Jerry Brandt, presented numerous posts with awards for meeting/exceeding their membership goals. Membership awarded 117 posts for meeting the 55% Goal, 101 whom met 60% Goal, 64 whom met 70% Goal, 10 posts whom met the 100% Goal. Also among Membership Awards were the Pioneer Awards, awarded to Edward Butcherine, Leo Kiffner, Gary Barton, Bobbie Jo Dino, Bob Deutsch and Thomas Listy. A warm welcome to our newest Post 410 in Rochledge, FL.
Membership was an important focus of this General Session as numbers have been on a decline over the last few years, due primarily to an aging demographic. Posts were encouraged to continue recruiting efforts and find new ways to attract members and appeal to the younger demographic. The American Legion is a legacy that we hope to pass from generation to generation, so long as there is an America. Increasing communication efforts among Posts, Department, Officers and Chairman was also an area where improvement was encouraged.
The General Session closed with final remarks from Commander Joe Magee and closing ceremonies.
Saturday’s events closed with the President & Commander’s Banquet that evening. Sunday concluded the Fall Conference, with a Religious Service that morning and a Department Executive Committee Meeting immediately following.
Overall, the 2016 Fall Conference was a great success. The Conference was well-organized and ran fairly, smoothly, although there were a couple of unforeseen hitches along the way. We sincerely apologize for the last-minute change of class locations to the Palm Building, which caused some confusion. This was due to an error by the hotel, in which they profusely apologized for, and treated our guest with an endless cookie buffet, enjoyed by many in the Headquarter’s Ballroom. This was the final year for Department events at this hotel, unrelated to this instance. Future Fall Conferences will be held at the Renaissance SeaWorld Orlando and Conventions will be held at the Marriot Orlando World Center.
We just concluded another successful Fall Conference, thank you to all who were in attendance. It is with great pleasure we announce the following winners for the 2016 Fall Raffle:
1st Jamie Knapp New Port Richey, FL $10,000
2nd Robert Wrobel New Smyrna, FL $5,000
3rd Thomas Blaney Jupiter, FL $2,500
4th Joseph Wagoner Fort Pierce, FL $1,500
5th Richard Stewart Gilford, NH $1,000
6th Howard Weingrow Palm Beach Gardens, FL $1,000
7th Rudy Panganiban Orlando, FL $500
8th Dwayne Enos Jacksonville, FL $500
9th Stephen Benner Leesburg, FL $500
10th Florenda Nicoloff Melbourne, FL $500
Congratulations to this year’s raffle winners! Thank you for playing.
We hope you are busy preparing to join us next week. We wanted to take a moment to encourage you to participate in our Membership Drive Raffle to be held at Fall Conference, November 18-20, 2016.
Membership is what fuels our organization and our posts are the ones who recruit and steward those members.
To thank you for your hard work and dedication we will offer a special incentive at Fall Conference.
For each membership card your post brings in we will give your post a chance to win one of three prizes. The more cards you deliver us at Fall Conference, the greater your chances!
·First Prize $250
·Second Prize $150
·Third Prize $100
Rules:
Fall conference will be held at the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista at Walt Disney World Resort, November 18 – 20, 2016. For every paid membership card turned, while in attendance of Fall Conference, a ticket will be entered into the drawing. All membership cards must be turned in by 5:00 PM on Friday, November 18, 2016 to be eligible to win. Drawing will be held during General session on Saturday, November 19, 2016, at 9:00 AM. An authorized post representative must be present during the drawing, and must provide corresponding winning ticket number to claim prize. First ticket drawn will be awarded 1st Prize of $250, second ticket drawn will be awarded 2nd Prize of $150 and third ticket drawn will be awarded 3rd Prize of $100. For complete details and or questions, please contact Irene Graham (igraham@floridalegion.org), Membership Director at the Florida Department Headquarters.
WINTER HAVEN — Pearl Harbor survivor Homer Allem couldn’t go on the most recent Flight to Honor for veterans because of doctor’s orders.
But Saturday morning thanks to the Polk County Honor Flight and Cornerstone Hospice, the Army vet with two Bronze Stars got to experience the flight for the first time.
The Virtual Flight to Honor is designed for veterans deemed too fragile for the day-long honor flights that take vets to Washington D.C. to tour the war memorials and other points of interest.
Forty-one veterans arrived at American Legion Post 8 in Winter Haven to a crowd of people waving mini American flags and welcoming them to their virtual flight, similar to how the vets are sent off for the flight at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport.
Once inside, the veterans were treated to lunch and shown videos taken during the live flights to simulate an experience many of them have never been able to have.
Pat Gruber, volunteer specialist at Cornerstone Hospice, said it was an honor to thanks the veterans for their service in this way.
“It was an amazing day,” she said. “They received all the gifts and perks they would have gotten on the live flight and got to see the monuments dedicated to them.”
Gary Clark, chairman of the Polk County Veterans Council, acted as the flight commander and gave each veteran a Flight to Honor Challenge Coin that is given at the live flight as well. From Officer Training classes memorializing their experience to dignitaries receiving challenge coins as signs of goodwill, coins have a never-ending use in our military. Order your custom challenge coins from coinsignia.com today.
World War II veteran David Gentz said he was just happy to be there and be honored.
“I can’t complain,” joked the 88-year-old veteran who had never been on a Flight to Honor before.
Another World War II veteran, Clinton Morrison, was not only experiencing his first Flight to Honor but turning 96 as well.
“Many years ago I spent my birthday in Japan,” he said with a smile, referring to World War II.
Gruber said she knew the virtual flight was a success after taking a look at the many veterans in the room as the monuments were displayed on a large screen.
“A lot of them were so teary eyed and thankful for the opportunity to be there,” she said.
-Tori Walker can be reached at tori.walker@theledger.com or 863-802-7590. Follow Tori on Twitter @Torilwalker863.
ORLANDO, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott announced the kick-off of the 2016 Paychecks for Patriots, which matches up veterans with great careers in their communities. In recognition of Veterans Day, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) is partnering with the CareerSource Florida network, the Florida National Guard, the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs and participating Florida employers to connect veterans and their families with job opportunities. Governor Scott has also declared November 7-11 as Paychecks for Patriots week.
Governor Rick Scott said, “Florida is proud to be the most military and veteran–friendly state in the nation, and we work hard to honor our many veterans and military members for their service and sacrifice. The annual Paychecks for Patriots events are a great way to give back to our heroes and their families by providing more opportunities to find meaningful employment so they can live the American Dream they work so hard to protect.”
CareerSource regions across the state will be hosting Paychecks for Patriots events in November, tobuild connections between veteran jobseekers and Florida’s job creators. The employers will include national companies, as well as many local employers. More than 1,700 military and veteran candidates and their family members who participated in the events across the state have gained employment as a result of prior Paychecks for Patriots.
Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Executive Director Cissy Proctor said, “I was honored to attend the Paychecks for Patriots event at CareerSource Escarosa last week, where I saw first-hand the positive impact these events make in the lives of Florida’s veteran and military communities. The Paychecks for Patriots events match veterans and their families with employers who value the skills, knowledge and attributes our veterans have attained during their military service. These events are part of our ongoing effort to make Florida the most military-friendly and veteran-friendly state in the nation.”
The CareerSource Florida network includes more than 175 workforce professionals statewide, themselves veterans, who are dedicated specifically to assisting other veterans with finding employment year-round. These professionals include specialists who provide intensive services to meet the needs of veterans with service-related disabilities. Last year, the CareerSource Florida network assisted more than 19,600 veterans who secured jobs.
CareerSource Florida President and CEO Chris Hart IV said, “Florida benefits from the third-highest military veteran population in the country through veterans’ contributions and those of their family members to our workforce and our communities. These talented individuals are invaluable additions to any employer’s team, and we sincerely appreciate the national and local businesses participating in this year’s Paychecks for Patriots hiring fairs as well as the CareerSource Florida network partners who dedicate their time, year-round, to connecting veterans with great careers.”
~Honors 33 Veterans with Governor’s Veterans Service Award~
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet issued the following resolution recognizing November 11, 2016 as Veterans Day. Governor Scott also awarded 33 veterans in Tallahassee with the Governor’s Veterans Service Award for their service to Florida and the nation.
Governor Scott said, “Today, I am proud to issue this resolution recognizing Veterans Day as we honor all those who have served our great Nation. I would like to thank them for their courage and sacrifice in defense of our country’s freedom. It is a privilege to honor the 33 veterans who join us today with the Governor’s Veteran Service Award for their brave service to our state and nation.”
Glenn Sutphin, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs said, “We must never forget our veterans and their families, through whose selfless service and sacrifice, we enjoy the liberty our nation is known for. Honoring our veterans with a Governor’s Veterans Service Award is one of many ways the State of Florida thanks our veterans.”
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, for more than two centuries, individuals from all walks of life have taken up arms and sworn an oath to support and defend the principles upon which our country was founded; and
WHEREAS, throughout our history, courageous men and women have donned the uniform of our Armed Forces and built a noble tradition of faithful and dedicated service to our Nation; and
WHEREAS, Veterans Day has been set aside as both a national and state holiday to honor those American patriots who answered the call of duty, preserving our freedoms and often making the ultimate sacrifice; and
WHEREAS, we can never fully repay our debt of gratitude to those heroic men and women who served, were wounded, or even died in battle; and
WHEREAS, the unwavering commitment of our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, and Merchant Mariners has preserved our freedoms and saved millions around the world from tyranny; and
WHEREAS, we continue to draw inspiration from the heroism and dedication of those who currently serve and sacrifice for the cause of liberty and justice; and
WHEREAS, it is fitting that all Floridians honor America’s military veterans, including Florida’s more than 1.5 million living veterans, through whose selfless service and sacrifice we enjoy freedom and liberty.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Governor and Cabinet of the State of Florida do hereby recognize November 11, 2016, as
VETERANS DAY
and call upon all Floridians to honor the contributions of current and former members of the United States Armed Services.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Governor and Cabinet of the State of Florida encourage citizens to participate in local Veterans Day activities honoring the men and women who have stood watch over America.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF the Governor and Cabinet of the State of Florida have hereunto subscribed their names and have caused the Official Seal of the State of Florida to be hereunto affixed in the City of Tallahassee on this 25th day of October 2016.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11 –SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12 –SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13
The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall will be at the Flagler Executive Airport all three days of the festival
It stands as a reminder of the great sacrifices made during the Vietnam War.
It was made for the purpose of helping heal and rekindle friendships and to allow people the opportunity to visit loved ones in their home town who otherwise
may not be able to make the trip to Washington D.C.
FRIDAY
10 a.m. Veterans Day Ceremony
Noon Category 5
3 p.m. Elvis Aaron Presley Jr.
5 p.m. Swanky Mo’s
7 p.m. Elvis Aaron Presley Jr.
SATURDAY
Noon Veterans Ride In
Noon Anthony Wilde
2:30 p.m. J.W. Gilmore
4 p.m. Woodstock Tribute
6 p.m. G.W. Suther
8 p.m. Rolling Stones Tribute
9 p.m. FIREWORKS
SUNDAY
10 a.m. New Way Church Service
11 a.m. Thomas Sisters
FREE ADMISSION
FLAGLER EXECUTIVE AIRPORT
201 Airport Road off S.R. 100; Across from the High School
The town and the Rotary Club of Windermere invites everyone to join us in honoring our Veterans on this special day. have fun and help us meet our goal of raising $10,000 to help service the needs of: Home at Last, The USO, The Lone Sailor Memorial
Marching Band & Color Guard Parade
We invite all Veterans, Active Duty, Reservists, and their families to march in the Parade.
Special Guest Speakers including:
Army Lieutenant General Jay Garner, Retired
Children’s Activities Live Music
Enjoy a variety of Food an Drink selections offered by our Boy Scouts, Rotary and local partner restaurants.
All proceeds will be donated to our veteran Charities.
We ask that no personal food or drink be brought to the celebration.
www.WindermereRotary.org. We are a 501c3, donations and sponsors accepted.
We have begun our 2017 National Cemetery Memorial Flag Placement Fundraising with the launch of our 2017 Memorial Day Shirt. You can still order it though our old site from the link below. All donations of $125 will receive a free shirt (Please include your size on the form). Shirts are ready for immediate shipment..plenty of time for the holidays..
HERE’S WHAT YOUR DONATION WILL HELP PURCHASE:
$25 – 55 FLAGS
$50 – 111 FLAGS
$100 – 222 FLAGS
$125- 277 FLAGS
$500 – 1111 FLAGS
The shirt you purchase will benefit your local National Cemetery Flag Placement. The placements for 2017 are:
DALLAS-FORT WORTH NATIONAL CEMETERY
HOUSTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
FLORIDA NATIONAL CEMETERY
SARASOTA NATIONAL CEMETERY
SOUTH FLORIDA NATIONAL CEMETERY
BLACK HILLS NATIONAL CEMETERY
FORT MEADE NATIONAL CEMETERY
As always once we reach our financial goal for 2017 we stop all further request. I along with a lot of you probably don’t like getting hit upon by the same group all year long. This has always been and will continue to be our policy.
Registration for volunteers AT DFW National, Black Hills National and Fort Meade National will begin sometime in October with the launch of our new website. You will receive an email when registration opens.
HOUSTON VOLUNTEERS–NOVEMBER 1, 2016
FLORIDA NATIONAL VOLUNTEERS–DECEMBER 1, 2016
SARASOTA NATIONAL VOLUNTEERS–JANUARY 1, 2017
SOUTH FLORIDA NATIONAL VOLUNTEERS–JANUARY 1, 2017
I hope you like next years shirt. The Royal Blue is a new color for us.
Thank you for your continued support and Patriotism,
Morrison R. (Bob) Fussner II
Founder & President Flags For Fallen Vets, Inc. (817) 798-9414
The following information is pertaining to the National Emergency Fund. Please follow the below eligibility and application requirements:
If you have any questions or are in need of support, please call your The American Legion Department Headquarter, we will be prepared to provide support to any Legionnaires or Sons of the American Legion.
Please call Bruce Comer, Rachel Casselberry or Jennifer Cooper for assistance. 407-295-2631
Eligibility
Eligibility open to Legionnaires and Sons of The American Legion members (up to $3,000) Legion Posts (up to $10,000).
Applicant must have been displaced from their primary residence due to a declared natural disaster and provide proof of out-of-pocket expenses.
Not meant to replace or repair items, only to meet most immediate needs (i.e., temporary housing, food, water, clothing, diapers, etc.)
Does not cover insurance compensation or monetary losses from a business, structures on your property (barns, tool sheds, etc.,) equipment or vehicles.
Membership must be active at time of disaster and the time of application.
Application requirements
Application must be received within 90 days of disaster.
Disaster must be a “declared” natural disaster for Legion Family members.
Supporting data (photos, receipts, repair estimates, etc.) should be included if at all possible or statements (testimony) from post/district/department officers attesting to damages.
Only one grant per household.
Post grants must derive from a declared natural disaster and substantiating documentation must provide that The American Legion post will cease to perform the duties and activities in the community due to losses sustained.
