It is with deep regret that we report the passing of Past Department President, Erna Schwabe, on Saturday, July 11, 2020. Erna is survived by her husband, Art; three daughters, Mary, Denise, and Jackie; and many grandchildren. There are no details regarding services at this time, but any new information will be communicated to you through email as well as posted on our website.
Please keep Art and their family in your thoughts and prayers in this time of grief. If you would like to send your condolence you may do so through her husband, Art, at 2115 Prospect St., LaCrosse, WI 54603.
Erna Carol Schwabe, 72 died July 11, 2020 after a long battle with lung cancer. She was born December 19,1947 in Excelsior, WI, the daughter of Eldon and Hazel Coppernoll.
Erna graduated from Ithaca High School, Class of 1966. She went to college at University of Wisconsin-Platteville. She lived in La Crosse, WI and meet and married the love of her life Arthur Joseph Schwabe. They were married for 44 years on July 17th.1976. They lived in Mt.Horeb, WI until 1988 and them moved to Ormond Beach, Fl and lived there for 28 years. Erna was very active in the American Legion Department of Florida. She held many different roles in the Auxiliary of American Legion. But her all time favorite job was helping veterans as the American Legion Auxiliary President for the state of Florida 2014-2015.
Erna is survived by her husband Arthur Schwabe, her three daughters, Mary( Dennis) Szafran, Marci, Trista, and Kobe Szafran, Denise(Brian))Green, Mike, Brandon, Stephanie, Alex, Zach, and Sam Green, and Jackie(Terry) Oelke and Jackie’s children Cassie, Kiara, Trevor and Trenton. And her sisters, Gladys Anderson, Boaz, WI, Rosetta Beilfuss, Boscobel, WI, Frances Strauss, Jefferson, WI, Marjorie Simerson, Huntington, IN, Dale(David) Clason, Black Earth, WI Thankful Santfleben, Mazomanie, WI , and her brother Kenneth(Connie)Coppernoll, Wedgefield, South Carolina. Her sister in law Jan Loomis, Waterford, WI and brother in law Raymond(Carol)Schwabe, Pewaukee, WI. She is serviced by many nieces, nephews, great grandchildren, friend and her legion family.
. In addition to her parents Erna was predeceased by her brothers Hilleman, Dick and Jerry Coppernoll. Her in laws Raymond and Doris Schwabe , her brother in law Dan Loomis and Alton Anderson.
A celebration of life will be help Sunday August 23rd. 2020 at the American Legion in Onalaska, WI at 12pm.
The family would like to thank Gundersen Hospital and the hospice team for their care and support for the last year.
“Pine forests are an essential part of Florida’s ecosystem,” said Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried. “Helping landowners take preventative action significantly reduces the risk and impacts associated with the southern pine beetle and is critical to preserving the benefits that forests provide Floridians and visitors alike.”
The southern pine beetle (SPB) is one of the most economically devastating forest pests of the Southeast, with periodic outbreaks leading to deaths of millions of pine trees. Since 2015, over 460 SPB infestations have been reported in Florida, killing trees on more than 2,200 acres. This pales in comparison to the last major outbreaks between 1999 and 2002, which caused an estimated $59 million in timber losses on over 24,000 acres.
Since it was first offered in 2005, the Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program has been implemented on more than 197,000 acres and helped thousands of landowners.
“Southern pine beetle activity is relatively low in Florida right now, but it can increase rapidly,” said Erin Albury, State Forester and Director of the Florida Forest Service. “Awareness is key, and we want to help landowners improve the health and productivity of their pine forests.”
The Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program, supported through a grant by the United States Forest Service, provides incentive payments for landowners who conduct a first pulpwood thinning and offers partial cost reimbursement for activities, such as prescribed burning, mechanical underbrush treatments, and the planting of longleaf or slash pine rather than the loblolly pine, the beetle’s preferred species. Qualified landowners can apply for up to two different practices per year, and funding requests may not exceed $10,000. All qualifying applications received during the submission period will be evaluated and ranked for approval.
The Florida Forest Service, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, manages more than 1 million acres of state forests and provides forest management assistance on more than 17 million acres of private and community forests. The Florida Forest Service is also responsible for protecting homes, forestland and natural resources from the devastating effects of wildfire on more than 26 million acres.
To All Members of The American Legion, Department of Florida
Subject: Letter to President Trump on behalf of Department of Florida Membership
Ever since the COVID Pandemic lockdown, it has really bothered me that the VA Hospitals are not seeing our Veterans on a timely basis, are putting off surgeries and are not even doing COVID testing.
I have complained but have seen no results. I have struggled about what to do and finally decided that I should write our President and Commander in Chief and voice our concerns on behalf of all our members and Veterans, not only in Florida but across our great Nation.
Below you will find the letter that I had sent to the President today.
The State of Florida Issues COVID-19 Updates ~In anticipation of the 4th of July Weekend, this report is being released Thursday, July 2, next week it will be resumed on Friday~
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The State of Florida is responding to COVID-19. As of Friday, June 5, the state has moved into Phase 2 of Florida’s reopening plan. The Florida Department of Health will now issue this update once per week. However, DOH will continue to update the COVID-19 dashboard and post the state report daily.
Governor Ron DeSantis is in constant communication with Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz and State Surgeon General Dr. Scott Rivkees as the State of Florida continues to monitor and respond to the threat of COVID-19.
Recent actions the state has taken to respond to COVID-19:
This week, Governor Ron DeSantis signed the state budget for Fiscal Year 2020-2021. The budget totals $92.2 billion, provides over $350 million in tax relief and includes more than $1 billion in vetoed spending. Details on the budget is available here, the veto list is available here.
This week, Governor DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-159, regarding the Limited Extension of Mortgage Foreclosure and Eviction Relief.
Additional actions the state has taken to respond to COVID-19:
This week, the Florida Department of Health (DOH) reminded all Floridians to protect the vulnerable by avoiding the Three Cs: Closed Spaces, Crowded Places and Close-Contact Settings and by wearing a mask in public:
Closed Spaces. Avoid closed spaces with poor ventilation that could allow contagious droplets to linger in the air.
Crowded Places. Avoid crowded places with many people nearby; the greater the number of individuals in an area, the greater the chances of COVID-19 spreading from person-to-person.
Close-Contact Settings. Avoid close-range conversations and stay at least six-feet from others.
To date, the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) has paid out $145,328,912 in CARES Act disbursements to 25 counties. More information about CARES Act funding is available here.
To date, the Division has sent the following PPE to support health care workers and first responders:
More than 43 million masks
More than 12.7 million gloves
More than 1.9 million face shields
More than 1.1 million shoe covers
More than 2.7 million gowns
More than 94 thousand goggles
More than 62 thousand coveralls
Governor Ron DeSantis has directed the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) to continue waiving the work search and work registration requirements for claimants through August 1, 2020. Additionally, the waiting week requirement will continue to be waived through August 1, 2020.
The Florida Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA) Secretary Prudom signed the Emergency Home Energy Assistance for the Elderly Program (EHEAP) amendment with the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), accepting an additional $3,390,433 from CARES Act funding to provide energy assistance to low-income senior households.
The DOEA Restaurant Meal Initiative has served 1 million meals to date and continues to deliver more than 120,000 meals each week through the program.
DOEA’s Aging Network, for the ninth consecutive week, sustained a 200-percent increase in meal delivery, compared to pre-COVID-19 numbers, by delivering at or above 400,000 meals per week: this number is in addition to the Restaurant Meal Initiative.
EFI created a virtual trade grant program to help Florida companies do business overseas as international travel is restricted. Businesses interested in learning more about the new Virtual Business Matchmaking service should contact one of EFI’s Regional Trade Managers. EFI recently expanded this program to engage Canada and Mexico.
Friday, July 3, to protect the safety of staff and guests, some Florida State Parks will be closed to visitors or have altered day-use restrictions. These closures are in line with county ordinances. See the latest park and trail information
Approximately 1,431 Florida National Guardsmen (FLNG) are mobilized to support Florida’s response to COVID-19.
FLNG has expanded its support to mobile testing teams and the community-based and walk-up test sites. To date, the FLNG has assisted in the testing of more than 592,723 individuals for the COVID-19 virus.
Since March 1, 2020, Floridians have conducted over 1.7 million motor vehicle and credential transactions virtually through the department’s online services webpage: com. FLHSMV encourages Floridians who can, to complete their driver license or motor vehicle transactions online, rather than in person at a driver license office.
FDOT continues to lead the coordination of DOH and the Florida Highway Patrol to implement Executive Order 20-86 at the I-95 checkpoint. To date, more than 43,300 traveler forms have been collected at the I-95 checkpoint.
The Florida Housing Finance Corporation (Florida Housing) is administering $250 million in CARES Act funding for rental and mortgage assistance for Florida families that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more here.
The Secretary of the State of Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s (DBPR) Executive Order which came out last Friday suspending the sale of Alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises of licensed establishments was amended today.
The American Legion, Department of Florida proudly presents OPERATION: 6 Feet Apart. This virtual presentation recognizes your 2020 Annual Award recipients.
To All Members of The American Legion, Department of Florida
Subject: The Secretary of the State of Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s (DBPR) Executive Order to enforce the restrictions in the Governor’s Executive Order 20-139.
Imagine the absurdity of an argument that states that the Department of Education employs too many ex-teachers. Or that the Center for Disease Control has too many doctors. That was my reaction to the recent War on the Rocks commentary “Is Veterans’ Preference Bad for the National Security Workforce?”
The authors’ primary objection to veterans’ preference seems to be rooted in their desire to maintain civilian control of the military. Indeed, Article II, Section 2, of the U.S. Constitution states among many other powers, “The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States...” But the framers recognized the difference between an active-duty soldier and a veteran or else they would have found someone other than a former general to practically anoint as our first president.
While most Americans approve of President Washington’s performance in office, it is not senior officers who benefit from veterans’ preference anyway. It’s the junior enlisted, NCOs and company grade officers. When I left the Marine Corps as sergeant, I could have benefited from veterans’ preference. When I later retired from the North Carolina National Guard as a colonel, I could not. Unless one incurs a service-connected disability, retired field grade and flag officers are ineligible, making it very difficult for them to be in an in home senior care agency after they retire, but if they may like they can move anytime to Chelsea Senior Living. But this isn’t about taking care of the top brass. It’s about the troops. Who better to serve the U.S. government than those who at some time in their lives pledged a willingness to die for it?
Lost in the civilian control of the military argument is the simple fact that with the exception of those still in the service, veterans are civilians. Those that are in the military already have fulltime jobs.
In spite of unfair stereotypes of veterans as war-mongers, it is Dwight D. Eisenhower who said, “I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity.” And it is still our elected officials rather than our federal workers who determine if or when military force should be used.
As the nation’s largest veterans’ organization, The American Legion has a long history of advocating for the occupational and educational advancement of those who answered our country’s call. At our national convention in 2016, delegates unanimously passed Resolution No. 358, “Support for Veterans’ Preference in Public Employment.”
Our delegates proudly went on record stating, in part, “That The American Legion deplores each and every attempt to degrade, dilute, or modify the historical precedence of giving job eligibility preference to those who are taken from their communities to serve their country in time of war…”
The delegates further resolved, “That all executives at every level of government are urged to enforce veterans’ preference in their government agencies.”
While some veterans’ preference critics lament that the beneficiaries are mostly male, the solution would be to better incentivize women to join the military. If they do, they would find no better advocate for their interests than The American Legion.
Our organization recognizes that there are many outstanding civil servants who haven’t served in the military and we have never advocated that veteran-status be the only factor in federal hiring. But it should be an important factor.
According to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), 69 percent of the federal workforce are not veterans. It is also worth noting that the well-earned veterans’ preference benefit does not apply to Senior Executive Service jobs or executive branch positions for which Senate confirmation is required. Moreover, the legislative and judicial branches are exempt from the Veterans’ Preference Act unless the positions are in the competitive service.
Veterans are already at a disadvantage when it comes to occupational advancement. While serving in the military, young men and women remove themselves from the civilian workforce. Many postpone or cancel opportunities for academic or vocational education. As their former high school or college classmates climb corporate ladders, the military men and women risk life and limb climbing mountains in Afghanistan or dodging explosives in Iraq.
But when their military obligation ends, the experienced veterans are more often than not physically fit, highly disciplined, professional and equipped with a skill set obtained through some of the best training in the world.
There is a simple solution for workers who oppose leveling the federal playing field with veterans’ preference policies. They can visit their local recruiting offices, dedicate a few years of their lives to serving their country, and become veterans. They should be warned that the training is challenging and the hardships are numerous. But in the end they will see that the benefits obtained are well-deserved.
Veterans’ preference is a tie-breaker among a pool of qualified applicants. Nobody is suggesting filling air traffic controller positions with truck drivers. But it does make sense to heavily staff the department which sends America’s young people to war with those who have experienced the fight. They earned it.
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James W. “Bill” Oxford is national commander of The American Legion, the nation’s largest veterans’ organization, www.legion.org.
The American Legion National Commander James W. “Bill” Oxford’s response to the piece can be found below. Please feel free to distribute widely and post or publish in your own media as well.
(INDIANAPOLIS – June 12, 2020) – American Legion National Commander James W. “Bill” Oxford issued the following statement today:
“The American Legion stands on principles and serves purposes worldwide that are violated when justice, freedom and democracy are not applied equally, regardless of race, color, creed or class. These principles formed the foundation of the organization over a century ago, in a very different and deeply divided time in U.S. society. As our nation grieves and tries to reconcile the unconscionable deaths of African-American citizens George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, retired St. Louis Police Capt. David Dorn, Federal Protective Services Officer Patrick Underwood in Oakland, Calif., and others, The American Legion stands firm in a value it has upheld, in the form of a national resolution, first adopted 1923:
WHEREAS, The fundamental law of our country guarantees to all peoples equal rights and equal opportunities and the right to worship their God as they see fit; and…
WHEREAS, Membership of The American Legion is made up of those who served our country in a time of great national stress, without distinction as to race, color, creed or class; and…
RESOLVED, …That we consider any individual, group of individuals, or organizations, which creates, or fosters racial, religious or class strife among our people, or which takes into their own hands the enforcement of law, determination of guilt, or infliction of punishment, to be un-American, a menace to our liberties, and destructive to our fundamental law; and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we consider such actions by any individual, groups, or organizations, to be inconsistent with the ideals and purposes of The American Legion.
“This resolution’s place in The American Legion’s conscience is so timeless it was reaffirmed, in full, at the organization’s 99th National Convention in 2017.
“Throughout its history, The American Legion has fought to improve racial equality not only for veterans, but for the communities they serve. In 1919, African-American veterans of World War I were among the organization’s founders who adopted a mission statement – the Preamble to The American Legion Constitution – that pledges among other things ‘to maintain law and order,’ ‘promote peace and goodwill on earth’ and ‘safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom and democracy.’
“Where the law has been broken, justice must be served. Where freedom has been denied, it must be returned, without prejudice. Our nation has much to consider as we continue to strive toward a shared goal found in the Pledge of Allegiance to our flag: ‘with liberty and justice for all.’ All means all. Anything less than complete equality in the execution of these values today is as un-American now as it was in 1923.”
EFFECTIVE FRIDAY, 12:01 A.M. ON JUNE 5, 2020
( In Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, the re-opening provisions of Section 4 of this order will be considered after each county seeks approval with a written request from the County Mayor or if no mayor the County Administrator. )
To all Department of Florida American Legion Family Members,
Today at a news conference Governor Ron Desantis announced that he was signing an Executive Order moving into Phase 2 of Florida’s reopening. I have placed a few slides from his presentation below. You can download the entire presentation by clicking the button below or by clicking on any one of the slides.
(INDIANAPOLIS—June 1, 2020) – National Commander of The American Legion James W. “Bill” Oxford issued the following statement today:
“The desecration of national war memorials, which honor veterans of all races, is an absolute disgrace. The heroes honored by these monuments fought for social justice and freedom for all. Moreover America’s veterans, who witnessed horrific violence in theaters around the world, should not have to see the same death and destruction here at home. The American Legion has always believed in equality for all. We also believe in the decency of the vast majority of law enforcement officers. Those who break the law, whether they are police officers or violent protestors, should be arrested and prosecuted. America, you can do better than this.”
(WASHINGTON—May 29, 2020) – The head of the nation’s largest veterans organization is imploring President Trump to sign legislation which would relieve students from repaying loans that were issued because they were defrauded by disreputable schools.
“Veterans have been aggressively targeted due to their service to our country,” American Legion National Commander James W. “Bill” Oxford said. “Student veterans are a tempting target for certain online and for-profit schools to mislead with deceptive promises, while offering degrees and certificates of little-to-no value. We urge President Trump to sign House Joint Resolution 76, which allows for a ‘borrower defense’ to be used by students to obtain discharges to loans that were issued because of these false promises. This is the type of legislation that our delegates called for when they unanimously passed Resolution No. 82 at our 2017 national convention.”
Oxford added that Trump stood with veterans in 2019 when he exercised his executive authority to order the Department of Education to forgive hundreds of millions of student loan debt for veterans with severe disabilities. “We are hoping that President Trump will once again come to the aid of student veterans,” Oxford said. “Under current conditions, it is nearly impossible for veterans to successfully use a ‘borrower defense.’ The American Legion believes this needs to be fixed. We hope that he will sign this needed legislation.”
(INDIANAPOLIS—May 28, 2020) – The head of the nation’s largest veterans organization praised a tweet by President Trump today indicating that federal orders for members of the National Guard would be extended through the middle of August.
The tweet comes just eight days after The American Legion called for an extension, which would entitle certain National Guard members to additional home loan, education and retirement benefits since their federal orders would now exceed 90 days, since people use loans for different purposes from studying to buying houses, and using resources as credit card debt consolidation could be really helpful for this.
“We know that the coronavirus emergency will not suddenly end at 89 days,” American Legion National Commander James W. “Bill” Oxford said. “Yet thousands of outstanding men and women of the National Guard left their homes and risked their lives in response to this emergency. From cleaning nursing homes to delivering supplies, the National Guard has been a national treasure.
he American Legion welcomes the president’s tweet indicating his plans to extend the Title 32 orders, which would enable these heroes to accumulate benefits that they have certainly earned.”
The president’s tweet stated “The men and women of the National Guard have been doing a great job fighting the Coronavirus. This week, I will extend their Title 32 orders through mid-August, so they can continue to help States succeed in their response and recovery efforts.”
It is with deep regret that we report the passing of Past Department President, Erna Schwabe, on Saturday, July 11, 2020. Erna is survived by her husband, Art; three daughters, Mary, Denise, and Jackie; and many grandchildren. There are no details regarding services at this time, but any new information will be communicated to you through email as well as posted on our website.
