The Rest of the Story

I had recently posted about a serviceman in Afghanistan not being offered but two hot meals a day. While this is somewhat true, it wasn’t the whole story.

After communicating with an American Legion 13^th District Officer and then talking with the mother I realize maybe I had missed or not been told the whole story. While the men and women in Afghanistan are given only given two hot meals a day and do have reduced meal hours at the bases, this has nothing to do with the cutting of expenses by the federal government. This decision is made for the bases that are transitioning to local control. Also while they are served only two hot meals a day, they are also offered MREs for breakfast and for a midnight meal if wanted.

From my first conversation with the mother, I was under the impression that they were only offered the two meals and anything above that they had to purchase or go without. In the future I will need to investigate these claims a little better.

But it still kind of discussed me that even so, none of our representatives in congress ever replied to my correspondence or questions regarding this issue. At least I was able to find out the answer through our American Legion.

As Post Service Officer of the American Legion in Lena Illinois, it is still my job to handle these sorts of issues. If anyone has any veteran or service personnel issues, please feel free to contact me.

 

Regards,

The Navy Vet

Soldiers Need Our Support!

What I'm about to say should at least disgust most of us and really make us wonder where this nation is headed.

It had been brought to my attention recently that there was a serviceman serving in Afghanistan that wasn't getting but two meals a day, because the government was cutting back on their expenses by doing this. I made contact with the mother of that serviceman and she confirmed to me that this was true. She said that the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Sharana, that her son was stationed at had decided to not serve breakfast to our men and women stationed there because they didn't have the money to continue to serve three meals a day. She also mentioned that depending when the service person stood duty they may not even get that because hours have also been reduced at the chow halls. Because of possible repercussions for this serviceman I will not mention a name. She also mentioned that she had heard it was happening at some of the other FOBs.

Another friend of mine had a son serving in Afghanistan, so I decided to ask him to check with his son and see if he was getting three meals a day, where he was stationed. His son's reply was that while he was at a small base he was receiving all his meals, but that he had heard at some of the other FOBs, that they are being denied one meal as well as other needed equipment and supplies, including ammunition because of expense cuts.

This is not right. I'm sure our government can find some other budgeted areas than this to cut. We can not cut our federal expenses on the backs of our men and women in uniform. I am providing this information up the chain of command in the American Legion and asking for their support in this matter. I have also contacted Congresswoman Cheri Bustos, Senator Richard Durbin and Senator Mark Kirk and informed them as a veteran as well as Post Service Officer for the Lena American Legion that I was upset and saddened by this news. I told them that the federal government should spend no more money, on any other program, until they can find the money to provide needed food and supplies to our service personnel stationed in Afghanistan and other duty stations overseas. That if we can't afford to feed our men and women serving in Afghanistan, or give them the supplies needed to complete their jobs, we need to bring them home now.

As of yet, I have heard nothing from any of these individuals. Will keep you posted!!!


Regards,
The Navy Vet

Veterans' Day 2012

This year has just flown by. I can't believe I haven't posted since Memorial Day weekend, but what better time than Veterans' Day to get back into posting.

The Le-Win High School is having a program on Monday, November 12 to honor our veterans. I have included copy of the program to this posting. If you can make it, it would be great and I'm sure the school would appreciate your attendence at this event.

Have a enjoyable and well deserved Veterans' Day. It's because of the veterans and their service to this country that we have this holiday.

Regards,
The Navy Vet

Memorial Day Weekend

While this weekend signals the start of summer, it is a time when veterans and families reflect, remember and honor those that sacrificed to give us the freedoms we enjoy. If you can, please do participate in some of the Memorial Day festivities in your area. Lena Memorial Day activities are following:

Friday, May 25 and Saturday, May 26 - Memorial Day Weekend commences in Lena with “Poppy Days”. The American Legion Family (Legion, Legion Auxiliary and Sons of the American Legion) will be distributing poppies at various locations on these days.

Monday, May 28, Memorial Day - The American Legion Auxiliary will be serving breakfast from 7 – 9:30 AM at the Legion, located at 316 W. Main in Lena.

Memorial Day Parade 10 AM - The parade begins from the Legion home to Lena Burial Park and the Veterans’ Memorial. All veterans and active duty service men or women are welcome to join us in the march to the Veterans’ Memorial and back after the ceremony. If you wish to do this please be at the Legion by 9:45 AM at the latest. Also participating in the parade will be all members of the American Legion Family, Miss Poppy (Avery Baldauf), Boy Scout Troop 91, Le-Win High School band and Choir.

  

Memorial Day Program “For God and Country” – The program at the Veterans’ Memorial will be led by Lena American Legion Commander David Trumble. This program includes selections by the Le-Win High School Band and Choir. The Guest Speaker will be Pastor Rick Bader of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Lena IL. The names of our departed comrades will be read by Robert Bing Wells, who has been doing this for many years. After the reading of names there will be a Firing Squad salute and playing of Taps. At the conclusion of the program we will march to the memorial on Main Street by the cannon for the playing of the National Anthem and raising of the flag there and then finish our march back to the Legion home at 316 W. Main.

In case of rain - the ceremony will be conducted in the Le-Win High School gymnasium.

The American Legion Celebrates 93 Years

On the 15th of March, the American Legion celebrated it's 93rd Birthday. This day kind of came and went like most without any mention of this event in the local news. I should have promoted this event and written up something for the paper but like most I also was busy it seems and kind of let the day slip by.
Earlier in the week I was in Marshalltown, IA for work, and eating in a restuarant when a man wearing a VietNam Veteran hat sat a couple of seats down from me at the bar. I asked what branch he served in and he said the Marines and we struck up a conversation at that point. We talked about our time in service and about general items like the upcoming NCAA tournament and who we felt might be the stronger teams. He was a trucker and would be heading east in the morning and I was heading to Tama Paper to work there. As we finished our meals and drink and headed our separate ways I thanked him for his service and he thanked me for mine and then we wished each other the best the next day as we headed to work.
This sort of relationship with someone I never have met, but where we share a common bond is what service to country and the American Legion is all about. It's where like minded individuals that have served their country and come together to make sure that this nation never forgets what sacrifices our veterans make for them.
To the American Legion I wish a very Happy Birthday and to that trucker I met, keep it between the lines good buddy, 10-4 and God Bless. And to all you veterans Thank you for your service!

2012 SAL Raffle Calender Fundraiser

The Lena Sons of The American Legion are currently selling their 2012 Raffle Calenders. Sales are limited to 800 and will end June 30th. Contact Scott Olberding or any SAL member if you would like to participate. Funds raised go to support various Veterans projects locally. You can also e-mail us at lena.sons@yahoo.com for additional information

Legion Work Day Rescheduled for February 4th

Legionnaires,

Because of the snow we have rescheduled our Work Day at the Legion for Saturday, February 4th at 9:30 am to wax the floors. If you would like to relive those days of running a floor buffer or waxing the floors show up then. If you just want to show up to give morale support that is fine also. See you February 4th.

Also some upcoming dates to remember. We will be presenting colors at the following basketball games:

Saturday, January 28 - Girls Game around 6:50 pm.

Tuesday, February 14 - Boys Game around 6:50 pm.

Any questions regarding this contact Bob Bussian 815-369-4245.