March 2022 Newsletter

Post 969 Adjutant, Leyla Oxford - 3/2/2022


INSIDE THIS ISSUE
  1. POST COMMANDER
  2. AUXILIARY PRESIDENT
  3. CHAPLAINS CORNER
  4. VSO ARTICLE
  5. EVENTS
  6. CLUB INFO
POST OFFICERS
 
  1. COMMANDER - Andrea Pace
  2. SENIOR VICE - Krist Huseby
  3. JUNIOR VICE - Tracy Worwood
  4. QUARTERMASTER - Gary Grant
  5. CHAPLAIN - Rex Cook
  6. ADJUTANT - Leyla Oxford
AUXILIARY OFFICERS
  1. PRESIDENT - Eloise Sharp
  2. SENIOR VICE - Christina Dolan
  3. JUNIOR VICE - TBD
  4. SECRETARY - Tracie Tomsen
  5. TREASURER - Sue Hellman

FROM THE COMMANDER
 
Dear Comrades,
 
The month of February was a great success-To all of the youth who submitted a "Patriots Pen Essay"- You all demonstrated outstanding patriotism and an unwavering sense of solidarity and love for our country. The Veteran's of post 969 commend you for you're devotion to the United States of America.
 
Post 969 is continually striving to increase its veteran of foreign wars membership. Our mission is to serve our fellow brothers and sisters in arms, and in doing so we have fostered a fun, family friendly environment consisting of individuals who have shared interests.
 
So please:

1. Bring a friend
2. Reach out to former members
3. Invite your families to our events
4. Bring to us your recruitment ideas
 
Post meetings are on the 3rd Tuesday of every month at 1900hrs. All post members are welcome to attend.
 
Respectfully,
 
Andrea Pace, Commander VFW Post 969
 


FROM THE AUXILIARY PRESIDENT
 
Dear members,
 
The Auxiliary is putting on a St. Patrick’s day event 17 March 2022 for all to attend. Please  wear green lest you be pinched! Bring your friends and family. Children are most definitely welcome! See the flier below for more info.
 
We are always looking for fun motivated people to volunteer, and also to bring event ideas. 
 
If your grandparents, parents, step parents, close relatives and even adoptive family has served in a foreign war, you too could join our auxiliary! For more information and eligibility status, come on in to the Post and ask to talk to an auxiliary Officer.


Members Please be advised that our meeting hours will be changed to 6:30 pm starting  the month of April. The Auxiliary meets every 3rd Tuesday of the month.
 
Sincerely,
 
Eloise Sharp, President Auxiliary
 

CHAPLAINS CORNER
 
He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Psalm 91:4
 
Please join us at The Washington State Patriotic Day 5 March 2022, 1600hrs at Pioneer Middle School DuPont for a special program that is open to all Washington State Citizens who wish to honor our Veterans, and First Responders! See flyer below. 
 
God Bless,
 
Dolores Lopez, Chaplain Auxiliary Post 969
 

 
VETERAN SERVICE OFFICER 
 

One of the hardest parts of being a Veterans Service Officer is helping the loved ones of Veterans’ who passed away and are mourning their loss while trying to figure out how they are going survive because they have lost a huge portion of their income due to the loss of the Veteran’s VA benefits. Unfortunately, in many cases, there isn’t much a VSO can do because the benefits stop at the time of death of the Veteran. However, under certain circumstances, they may be eligible for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC). DIC is a tax-free monthly benefit paid to eligible survivors of military Servicemembers who died in the line of duty or eligible survivors of Veterans whose death resulted from a service-related injury or disease.

Before I get into the eligibility of DIC, I want to briefly talk to the Veteran. Brothers and sisters, get your documents in order! As you already know, dealing with the VA can be a challenge to navigate and sometime even frustrating. Make sure your family knows where to find your DD-214. Brief them on what your current rating is, when each diagnosis was rated with the VA, and how to contact a VSO at the VFW so they can help them with your burial reimbursement and applying for additional benefits they may be eligible for. If you don’t have a copy of your DD-214 or know what is needed, reach out to me or another VSO.

So, who qualifies for DIC? A Veteran’s dependent may be eligible for VA benefits or compensation if you meet one of these requirements.

  • If you were a spouse, one of these must be true: You lived with the Veteran or service member without a break until their death, or if you’re separated, you weren’t at fault for the separation. 
  • And one of the following must also be true: You married the Veteran or service member within 15 years of their discharge from the period of military service during which the qualifying illness or injury started or got worse, or you were married to the Veteran or service member for at least 1 year, or you had a child with the Veteran or service member.
  • If you remarried, you can receive or continue to receive compensation, if you remarried on or after December 16, 2003, and you were 57 years of age or older at the time you remarried, or if you remarried on or after January 5, 2021, and you were 55 years of age or older at the time you remarried.
  • In cases where the spouse did remarry eligibility for DIC is established in any case in which the remarriage of the surviving spouse is terminated by death, divorce, or annulment
  • If you are a surviving child, all of these must be true:  You aren’t married, you aren’t included on the surviving spouse’s compensation, and you're under the age of 18 (or under the age of 23 if attending school).
  • If you’re a surviving parent, both of these must be true: You’re the biological, adoptive, or foster parent of the Veteran or service member, and your income is below a certain amount as defined by the regulations at the time of application.

If you have questions or need help submitting your VA claim, contact Mel West at 253-376-8216 or vso@vfw969.org.

 

 

EVENTS
 
If you would like to rent the VFW hall for a party or event please contact our Post Junior Vice Tracy Worwood @ (253) 766-7171.
 
Our Club Board is looking for volunteers who may want to bolster up their resumes by volunteering at our Canteen (Cooking, Serving, Bar work).  For details please contact Club Board Chairman Tracy Worwood @ (253) 766-7171 
 
We also are looking for member volunteers to help with event planning, set up, and clean up.  We take pride in creating fun activities and events.  Your ideas are important to us and we are here to listen!  
 
 
 
 
 
 
FOR PUBLISHING PURPOSES, PLEASE SUBMIT NEWSLETTER COMMENTS AND FLIERS TO POST ADJUTANT LEYLA OXFORD AT ADJ@VFW969.ORG NO LATER THAN 7 CALENDAR DAYS PRIOR TO THE 1ST OF EACH MONTH 
 


 


 
 
 

 



 
 

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