VVA Chapter 1069 News Page 2018:

American Legion Post #346, Ganado TX, Memorial Day Program, Monday, May 28, 2018:
[posted on: 5-11-2018]

Monday, May 28th is Memorial Day! The Ganado, American Legion, Post #346, will be holding a short Memorial Day Program that Monday morning, to remember and honor the people who died while serving in the country's armed forces. The program will start at 8:00 AM Monday morning and will be held at the American Legion Post in Ganado. The program will include a reading of the names of those Jackson County residents who gave their lives while serving in the military. Clarence Schomburg, member of American Legion Post #346 will also give a short presentation.

The program is open to all Veterans and their families. Breakfast will be served AFTER the program and will be furnished by the Ganado KCs.

Memorial Day, is an American holiday observed on the last Monday of May, that honors men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971.

Leonard Sternadel, President of VVA (Vietnam Veterans of America) Chapter 1069, El Campo, Texas, will be the guest speaker. The main theme of his presentation will be (1) to give a short introduction to our chapter's involvment and participation with the 2015 visit of the Vietnam Memorial Traveling Wall to El Campo, and (2) a showing of the 27 minute video of the memorial service/ceremony that our chapter presented. We feel that presenting/showing this memorial service/ceremony is a fitting presentation for a Memorial Day program. VVA Chapter 1069 would encourage its membership to attend the program to show our support for VVA Chapter 1069. If you do attend, please wear your VVA Chapter vest and cap. Use the link below to view our past 2016 presentation at the Ganado American Legion Memorial Day program.

Use the link below to review the 2015 Memorial ceremony that our chapter participated in during the 2015 Vietnam Memorial Traveling Wall visit to El Campo.

Photos and maps showing the directions to and location of the Ganado American Legion Post #346 are shown below.

Above photo shows the Ganado American Legion Post #346. This particular American Legion group was originally chartered in 1923! The American Legion itself was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization. Focusing on service to veterans, servicemembers and communities, the Legion evolved from a group of war-weary veterans of World War I into one of the most influential nonprofit groups in the United States. Today, only 3 WW-II Veterans are still members of this Post.

Above photo shows the small granite memorial that sits in front of the Post building. On all four sides of the base, are the engraved names of those Jackson County residents that gave their lives serving their country.

The above photo shows the West side of the memorial base that includes the names of those Jackson County veterans that gave their lives while serving during the Vietnam War.

Again, the Memorial Day program starts at 8:00 AM, Monday, May 28, 2018. Breakfast will be served after the Program.

Photo above shows the location of the Ganado American Legion, Post #346. If you're coming from the El Campo direction, take the exit Ganado exit at the Dairy Queen store, and then follow the 59 feeder road to the Post building. If you're coming from the Edna direction, take the first exit coming into Ganado as shown, then follow the arrows to the Post building.

Above photo shows the location of the Ganado American Legion, Post #346.

VVA Chapter 1069 - Vietnam Veteran Family Fishing Day, Sunday, June 3, 2018:
[posted on: 5-11-2018]

Once again, the Sternadels (Leonard & Dana) will open up their catfish pond to our chapter membership for a fun day of fishing, eating, drinking and just plain good old commaradarie among us Vietnam Veterans and family.

Above photo - Looks like there's plenty of catfish in the pond!

Above photo map 1 of 4 - Sternadel catfish pond.

Above photo map 2 of 4 - Sternadel catfish pond.

Above photo map 3 of 4 - Sternadel catfish pond.

Above photo map 4 of 4 - Sternadel catfish pond.

For our new chapter members or for those members who may have yet to attend one of these family day fishing events, use the links below to see some of the family day fishing events from the past, 2013, 2014, 2016 years.

March 2018 - Congress passes full-year appropriations
[posted on: 3-25-2018]

John Miterko, our Veterans Advocate in Austin, has sent us some information regarding the federal government appropriations Bill that President Trump signed this past Friday. This week Congress passed a bill to fund the federal government until the end of fiscal year 2018. The agreement, which provides relief from sequestration budget caps for service members, veterans, and their families, funds the 2.4 percent pay raise for service members and fully funds America’s sacred mission to bring home missing Americans from long-ago battlefields. The omnibus also would provide a 9.5 percent increase for VA and fully fund VA’s new electronic health care record, authorize VA to provide mental health care for veterans with other than honorable discharges, require VA to improve claims processing for veterans exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, fund improvements to VA’s burn pits registry and other important improvements for veterans.

Miterko go this information from the VFW's "Action Corps Weekly" online newsletter for week of 3/23/2018. Use the link below to view or print the complete VFW newsletter as a PDF file.

Use the link below to visit the VFW's online weekly "Action Corps Weekly" webpage, which will contain a new VFW newsletter every week.

Miterko Report - Legislative Priorities 115th US Congress - March 2018
[posted on: 3-19-2018]

John Miterko, our Veterans Advocate in Austin, has sent us the TCVO's Legislative Priorities reports for the 115th US Congress. TCVO stands for "Texas Coalition of Veterans Organizations", of which John is a member. John will be presenting the 3 reports at the upcoming VVA TSC meeting, being held in El Paso, Texas, in April 2018.

CLICK HERE to read a report on the TCVO Priorities for 115th US Congress. The report lists the Veteran related Senate and House Bills that the John and the TCVO will be trying to get passed. The report also lists those Veteran related Bills that the TCVO has already helped get passed.

CLICK HERE to read a report on BurnPit Exposure Legislation for the Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. The report was written by the the Chief Policy Officer of the (IAVA) organization. This Bill may become the "Vietnam Agent Orange" issue for the IA and Gulf War veterans.

CLICK HERE to read report on VA Blue Water Expansion Proposal, including a plan to extend disability benefits to nearly 100,000 war veterans potentially exposed to Agent Orange on ships off the Vietnam coastline were sidelined 31 OCT over the ongoing dispute about how to pay for it. At issue is a change in VA policy 15 years ago that excluded veterans serving on ships off the coast of Vietnam, known as “blue water Navy veterans”, from being included in a class of former service members presumed to be exposed to Agent Orange.

Some background on John Miterko - he is also the Chairperson for the VVA TSC Government Affairs Committee and is also the Texas State Legislative Coordinator. Note that TCVO stands for "Texas Coalition of Veterans Organizations", of which John is a member. Their slogan is: "The Voice of Veterans in Texas". Their mission statement is: "The Texas Coalition of Veterans Organizations purpose is to present a unified position to governmental entities for the benefit of veterans - past, present and future". Their website lists 37 various Veterans organizations that are members of the TCVO. Their website appears to be an excellent source for finding out what Veteran Related Bills are currently being debated or voted on, in either the Texas Legislature or the U.S. Congress, and what the TCVO is doing to fight for Veterans rights. Miterko is also the VVA TSC (Texas State Council) Government Affairs Chairperson (State Legislature Coordinator).

John A Miterko
VVA Texas State Council
Government Affairs Chair
State Legislative Coordinator
Home: 512-263-3512
Mobile: 512-796-2140
Email: paladin_jam@yahoo.com

VVA TSC (Texas State Council) Meeting, April 6-7, 2018, El Paso, Texas
[updated on: 1-31-2018]

VVA TSC OFFICERS (2-yr term 2016-2018)

The VVA Texas State Council (TSC) is having their next State Council meeting in El Paso, Texas, on April 6-7, 2018 (see TSC Officers in image at left). This is the first of two meetings that the TSC will hold during the year. New TSC Officers will be elected at this meeting and winners of the TSC Scholarship will be announced. Two Delegates from every Texas VVA Chapter are required to attend these State Council meetings. The VVA Chapter 574 of El Paso, will be hosting this meeting. Use the link below to view or print the TSC meeting registration form. The deadline for Council Meeting registration is March 19, 2018! CLICK HERE for more information about the TSC El Paso Council Meeting

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