Glow Parking Names Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation as Primary Charity

KANSAS CITY, Mo., July 29 /PRNewswire/ -- The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Foundation has been named the primary charity of Glow Parking, LLC.


The VFW Foundation is expected to receive 1% of the company's net profit over the next twenty years. Travelers can reserve guaranteed best value airport parking nationwide by utilizing Glow Parking's online reservation system, www.glowairportparking.com.


"We are proud to announce today the beginning of what we hope will be a lasting partnership with the VFW Foundation," said Troy Prewitt, Chief Financial Officer for Glow Parking. "As a Service Disabled Veteran Owned business based in Kansas City, we recognize and appreciate the important and unique role the VFW plays in our community."


The VFW Foundation offers a variety of beneficial programs (all of which are implemented without cost to recipients). These include providing financial assistance to military families for rent, mortgage, utilities, vehicle repair, medical expenses and food/basic assistance - over $2.7 million awarded so far! The VFW Foundation also enables free communication options for troops in Iraq/Afghanistan and those they love back in the U.S. For example, the VFW Foundation has distributed over 11 million long-distance telephone cards and 33 million free long distance minutes. Moreover, VFW Veterans Service representatives recovered an astonishing $1.2 billion last year on behalf of veterans in their entitlement dealings with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Annually VFW members and its Auxiliary contribute more than 12.8 million hours of volunteerism in the community, including participation in Make A Difference Day and National Volunteer Week, and provide $2.1 million in college scholarships to middle and high school students.


"The VFW Foundation is extremely pleased to be the primary charity partner of Glow Parking, LLC," said Daniel M. Shea, VFW Foundation Director. "The wonderful generosity of Glow Parking is quite timely as it will allow us to continue many of our beneficial and urgently needed programs." Mr. Shea also recognized John G. Lowe, Foundation Deputy Director, and the entire staff for their efforts in developing this tremendous partnership with Glow Parking, LLC.


About the VFW Foundation

The VFW Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charity. The mission of the VFW Foundation is to support non-political initiatives of its parent organization, the Veterans of Foreign Wars that secure, manage and distribute resources to improve the lives of veterans, military service personnel, their families and communities. Charity watchdog groups such as the Independent Charities of America have consistently given the VFW Foundation a "Best of America" rating due to its low administrative costs.


About Glow Parking, LLC

Glow Parking, LLC is a Service Disabled Veteran Owned business. The Kansas City, Mo.-based company provides online travel related solutions for all travelers, including online airport parking reservations and fulfillment, through a nationwide affiliate airport parking network. Glow Parking, LLC is the first General Services Administration schedule holder to provide airport parking reservations.



SOURCE: Glow Parking, LLC

VFW Hosts Independence Day Celebration at Holloman

This year, Terry Benson, member of Post 7686 and Department Chief of Staff, wanted to help plan an Independence Day to remember in a town that never forgets.

Alamogordo, N.M., is home to Holloman Air Force Base and more than 5,000 retired veterans and 3,000 active duty service members, making it a prime location for a patriotic celebration.

“Post 7686 is constantly working with Holloman AFB,” said Benson. “Most of our memberships come from there. We knew we wanted to help so we applied for and received a VFW Military Assistance Program grant.”

Benson worked with Holloman Air Force Base Marketing Director, Amanda Gallagher, to host the event.

The celebration was held at the base and was open to anyone with military identification and their guests. More than 1,500 people turned out for family-style entertainment: go karts, small carnival rides, a car show, concession stands and, of course, lots of fireworks.

With the help of volunteers, a large circus tent was set up to provide shade on the hot day. Under the tent, free hamburgers and hotdogs were served.

“Holloman AFB is constantly sending troops to war, but because troops don’t depart in large units like the Army, they usually don’t receive a large send-off,” said Benson. “We wanted to shine light on those troops and acknowledge the many military retirees in the area.”

Six members of VFW Post 7686 hosted an informational booth at the event to give guests an opportunity to find out more about VFW.

“It was delightful to be able to share war stories with younger service members,” said Benson, “But it was even more delightful to give them an idea of what VFW is all about.”

“We work to give you what you need. That’s what I told them,” Benson concluded.

President Obama Signs Korean War Veterans Recognition Act

WASHINGTON – Yesterday, on the 56th anniversary of National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, President Barack Obama signed H.R. 2632, the Korean War Veterans Recognition Act. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY), adds National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day to the list of days on which the display of the flag of the United States is especially encouraged.

President Obama said, “The freedom, security and prosperity that we enjoy as a nation exists only because of the heroic and selfless sacrifices of America’s servicemen and women. Today, we owe special remembrance to the veterans of the Korean War, and especially the United States and allied combatants who made the ultimate sacrifice in Korea. For their courageous actions in pursuit of freedom and democracy for the Korean peninsula, these dedicated men and women deserve our unending respect and gratitude.”

From the White House (Office of the Press Secretary)

Photo Information: President Barack Obama signs H.R. 2632, the Korean War Veterans Recognition Act, in the Oval Office Monday, July 27, 2009. Monday was the 56th anniversary of National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day. Official White House Photo by Pete Souza.

This official White House photograph is being made available for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way or used in materials, advertisements, products, or promotions that in any way suggest approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.

VFW Racing Makes History!

Driving for our troops, Ron Hornaday, Jr. made NASCAR Camping World Truck Series history Friday at O’Reilly Raceway Park (ORP) taking his No. 33 VFW Silverado to victory lane to become the first driver to win four consecutive races.

VFW Sends A Little Bit of Home to Troops

Article published on MyStateline.com by Joelle Parks on Tuesday Jul 21, 2009

Troops serving in Iraq may be half a world away, but they can still get a little piece of home thanks to some local residents. The group is sending about 100 care packages a week to the soldiers.

"We are collecting items from our local Walgreens stores, they're [residents] purchasing items for one dollar an item and then we're sorting and shipping them to as many soldiers as we possibly can overseas,” says VFW Support Our Troops Organizer Amber Gillam-Lynch.

Just ask someone who knows. Loves Park resident Jim Boleyn served in Vietnam years ago and he says life overseas is not easy.

"They get everything from homesick to mad to everything else and little things like this really help you pull it together."

All of the boxes contain something different, from candy bars to favorite snacks to shampoo and conditioner. But every little bit of home can really make a difference to troops.

"Whenever you could get back to wherever you could get mail or packages, it was complete silence for everyone for about an hour. Just let everyone open their letters and read them two or three times," says Boleyn.

Although the VFW is proud to send the gifts, which go mostly to local soldiers, shipping is not cheap-twelve dollars a box to be exact.

"What we're .doing is so miniscule to what the soldiers are doing for us so it's the least we can do,” says Gillam-Lynch.

"We owe every one of them a great debt of gratitude. They're the reason we can stand her and do this," says Boleyn.

This Saturday night the VFW is having a fundraiser barbeque to help foot the cost of shipping the packages.


For more information you can go to www.vfwpost9759.com

Soldier Continues Family Tradition of VFW Membership

Staff Sgt. Laura Eng has been serving in Iraq since February 2008. She
initially served with the 327th Military Police Battalion, and extended
for a tour with the Joint Robotic Repair Detachment in Baghdad.

‘It’s Not Yesterday’s Army’

Reprinted with permission. Checkpoint July/August 2009

When Staff Sgt. Laura Eng returns from Iraq, she plans to join her father and grandfather—as a VFW member. In an e-mail to her family, Laura wrote: “Tell Grandpa he has to stay strong and healthy so when I come home, he can take me to join the VFW.”

Laura’s grandfather, Gordon J. Jones, served in the Japanese occupation after WWII and the Korean War. A VFW life member, he is a past national aide-de-camp, District commander and charter member of Post 3351 in Flandreau, S.D. He has been sick and in the hospital frequently in recent months.

“I wrote an e-mail asking if he would want to take me to sign up for the VFW,” Laura said. “I know sometimes if people have something to look forward to, they hang on and keep fighting. My plan worked—Grandpa is excited and already making plans to sign me up.”

One of the soldiers Laura served with in Iraq told her that his grandpa took him to VFW and signed him up as a life member. “It seems fitting to have a grandfather take his grandson and have him join, but I didn’t know how the older guys would take it when their granddaughters were joining,” she said. “It’s not yesterday’s Army.”

Gordon’s son and Laura’s father, Capt. Charles E. Jones, also is a life member. He gained his eligibility serving in 1991 Persian Gulf War. Laura also is earning her eligibility in the Middle East.

She arrived in Iraq in February 2008, and served four months in Ramadi and four in Taji with the 327th MP Battalion as a construction supervisor. She extended her tour in October 2008, transferring to the Joint Robotic Repair Detachment at Camp Victory in Baghdad, where she serves as an administrative sergeant. Laura describes her position as “handling anything that doesn’t involve the robots.”

“Our 25 personnel take care of over 3,000 robots in country,” she said. “I don’t do much with the robots other than drive them around the parking lot.”

A Letter to Family of Lt. Bradshaw, May They Find Comfort.

A Soldier Comes Home
Published in The Washington Post.com Wednesday, July 15, 2009

On July 5, The Post published a letter from Martha Gillis of Springfield [Va.], whose nephew, Lt. Brian Bradshaw, was killed in Afghanistan on June 25, the day that Michael Jackson died. The letter criticized the extensive media coverage of Jackson's death compared with the brief coverage of Lt. Bradshaw's death. Among the responses was the following letter, written July 9 by an Air National Guard pilot and a fellow member of the crew that flew Lt. Bradshaw's body from a forward base in Afghanistan to Bagram Air Base. Capt. James Adair, one of the plane's pilots, asked the editorial page staff to forward the letter to the Bradshaw family. He and Brian Bradshaw's parents then agreed to publication of these excerpts.

Dear Bradshaw Family,

We were crew members on the C-130 that flew in to pick up Lt. Brian Bradshaw after he was killed. We are Georgia Air National Guardsmen deployed to Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom. We support the front-line troops by flying them food, water, fuel, ammunition and just about anything they need to fight. On occasion we have the privilege to begin the final journey home for our fallen troops. Below are the details to the best of our memory about what happened after Brian's death.

We landed using night-vision goggles. Because of the blackout conditions, it seemed as if it was the darkest part of the night. As we turned off the runway to position our plane, we saw what appeared to be hundreds of soldiers from Brian's company standing in formation in the darkness. Once we were parked, members of his unit asked us to shut down our engines. This is not normal operating procedure for that location. We are to keep the aircraft's power on in case of maintenance or concerns about the hostile environment. The plane has an extremely loud self-contained power unit. Again, we were asked whether there was any way to turn that off for the ceremony that was going to take place. We readily complied after one of our crew members was able to find a power cart nearby. Another aircraft that landed after us was asked to do the same. We were able to shut down and keep lighting in the back of the aircraft, which was the only light in the surrounding area. We configured the back of the plane to receive Brian and hurried off to stand in the formation as he was carried aboard.

Brian's whole company had marched to the site with their colors flying prior to our arrival. His platoon lined both sides of our aircraft's ramp while the rest were standing behind them. As the ambulance approached, the formation was called to attention. As Brian passed the formation, members shouted "Present arms" and everyone saluted. The salute was held until he was placed inside the aircraft and then the senior commanders, the sergeant major and the chaplain spoke a few words.

Afterward, we prepared to take off and head back to our base. His death was so sudden that there was no time to complete the paperwork needed to transfer him. We were only given his name, Lt. Brian Bradshaw. With that we accepted the transfer. Members of Brian's unit approached us and thanked us for coming to get him and helping with the ceremony. They explained what happened and how much his loss was felt. Everyone we talked to spoke well of him -- his character, his accomplishments and how well they liked him. Before closing up the back of the aircraft, one of Brian's men, with tears running down his face, said, "That's my platoon leader, please take care of him."

We taxied back on the runway, and, as we began rolling for takeoff, I looked to my right. Brian's platoon had not moved from where they were standing in the darkness. As we rolled past, his men saluted him one more time; their way to honor him one last time as best they could. We will never forget this.

We completed the short flight back to Bagram Air Base. After landing, we began to gather our things. As they carried Brian to the waiting vehicle, the people in the area, unaware of our mission, stopped what they were doing and snapped to attention. Those of us on the aircraft did the same. Four soldiers who had flown back with us lined the ramp once again and saluted as he passed by. We went back to post-flight duties only after he was driven out of sight.

Later that day, there was another ceremony. It was Bagram's way to pay tribute. Senior leadership and other personnel from all branches lined the path that Brian was to take to be placed on the airplane flying him out of Afghanistan. A detail of soldiers, with their weapons, lined either side of the ramp just as his platoon did hours before. A band played as he was carried past the formation and onto the waiting aircraft. Again, men and women stood at attention and saluted as Brian passed by. Another service was performed after he was placed on the aircraft.

For one brief moment, the war stopped to honor Lt. Brian Bradshaw. This is the case for all of the fallen in Afghanistan. It is our way of recognizing the sacrifice and loss of our brothers and sisters in arms. Though there may not have been any media coverage, Brian's death did not go unnoticed. You are not alone with your grief. We mourn Brian's loss and celebrate his life with you. Brian is a true hero, and he will not be forgotten by those who served with him.

We hope knowing the events that happened after Brian's death can provide you some comfort.

Sincerely,

Capt. James Adair
Master Sgt. Paul Riley
GA ANG 774 EAS Deployed

VFW Post 3020 "Soldiers Welcomed Home"

VIDEO
This article was published on July 6, 2009 on CourierPostOnline.com by Barbara Rothschild, CourierPost Staff.

DELRAN — After the fireworks of July Fourth, South Jersey was the setting for a very special parade on Sunday.

To celebrate the recent return of New Jersey National Guard members who had been deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan -- the largest deployment of the state National Guard since World War II -- Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3020 hosted a day of activities for the troops.

Included among the returning soldiers being honored were about 20 from Riverside and nearby towns.

"We normally have small going-away parties for them. So this year we decided, "Let's just have one big party when they all get home,' " said Post Commander Tom Farrell, 63, a Riverside native now living in Burlington Township.

"As a Vietnam veteran who wasn't welcomed home, I can tell you that we didn't want that to happen to these kids," said Farrell, a Marine Corps veteran who was shot and wounded in Vietnam on Veterans Day in 1966.

Sgt. Harold Melander, 25, a Riverside native now living in Mount Laurel, returned home on May 31 after nine months in Baghdad.

A member of Alpha Company's 50th Brigade, 1-114 Infantry Unit, Melander provided protection for the highest-ranked intelligence officer in the Iraqi theater. It was his first deployment to Iraq, after spending time at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

"This post had our going away party here, so it's great we have our welcome home party in the same place," Melander said.

Melander was one of several Riverside High School Class of 2001 graduates deployed together, including 1st Lt. Matthew Neamand, 26, and Sgt. Steven Fuquay, 25, both of Riverside.

"This is awesome. The families in the VFW put together a great showing," said Neamand, a member of the 328th Military Police Company based in Cherry Hill.

Neamand, who got home in early June, served in detainee operations at Camp Cropper near Baghdad during his first deployment to Iraq.

"If I have to go back, I will," he said.

Fuquay, who returned home on May 29, was part of the 50th Brigade's "Foxtrot" unit out of the 250th Brigade Support Battalion. As an intelligence analyst at Camp Bucca, his job was to brief his superiors on threats and find ways to keep the troops safe.

It was Fuquay's first deployment to Iraq, after a stint at Guantanamo. In Iraq, he was accompanied by his younger brother Todd, 23, a specialist in the same unit.

Diane Fuquay, 51, of Riverside, said she lobbied the Army to post her sons together.

"I totally understand the separation," said Diane Fuquay, who met her husband, Steven, when they both served in the Navy.

"The thing that got me through this is that Steve and Todd were together. They weren't going to let anything happen to each other, so I slept good at night," she said.

Following a breakfast of waffles, eggs, bacon and home fries donated by a local merchant, the returning soldiers and their families climbed atop fire engines from Delran, Riverside and Delanco to ride in the parade. The route began near Riverside's Town Hall and ended at the Delran post located just past the boundary line separating the two townships.

A motorcycle escort of the South Jersey Chapter of Warriors' Watch Riders, the Delaware Valley Chapter of Nam Knights and others helped lead the way.

Many Riverside residents waved American flags and held up homemade "welcome home" signs.

Jose Pinho, 37, watching with his wife Maria, 37, and children Andre, 11, and Olivia, 4, said there are no comparable events in his native Portugal.

"It's nice that everybody comes home," he said.

Said Maria Pinho, "Riverside has a lot of people serving and you don't ever know it. So it's nice for the community to unite and honor them."

Kim Albanese, 49, has been in the National Guard for 28 years and would have been deployed to Iraq with this group had she not torn her Achilles' tendon last year.

"I've lived in Riverside all my life and this is the first parade like this going past my house," said Albanese, a full-time military technician.

Following the parade, returning troops, family and friends lined up back at the post for burgers, hot dogs, pulled pork and potatoes. Folks pitched horseshoes and tots romped in a moon bounce while the Riverside String Band played and a DJ spun hits.

Neamand presented the post with an American flag that had flown at Camp Cropper. Welcoming remarks were made by state VFW officials and U.S. Rep. John Adler, D-Cherry Hill, a member of Congress' Veterans Affairs Committee.

"We should keep our freedom precious in our heart. We'll keep doing this -- welcoming back the troops and thanking them -- until everyone is home safe," Adler said.

Reach Barbara S. Rothschild at (856) 486-2416 or barothschild@camden.gannett.com

A Need for the VFW

Blog posting by Matthew Claussen, Director for National Membership

Why is there a need for the VFW? Because most civilians are totally separated from the war. They aren’t personally impacted by it. There is minimal news coverage, citizens don’t have to sacrifice to support the war effort; and the reality is the burden for defending our many freedoms falls strictly on the backs of our troops and their families. VFW is here to remind people that our troops are still out there and still need our support.

I live in two worlds. I work in an office, I drive home to my house in the suburbs, and I settle in at night with my wife and beautiful kids. My other world is the one VFW provides me; contact with the of the military world. Unlike most Americans, the world that Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen live in means serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa, Kosovo, Korea, or guarding our shipping lanes—in 47 countries, 1 territory, and 11 bodies of water covered under the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. For them, there are redeployments and ruthless enemies to fight; wounded friends and buddies that will pay the ultimate price.
The VFW is doing more than paying lip-service when it comes to supporting the troops, and I’m pretty sure the VFW has played a huge role in how our returning troops are treated, compared to years past. One of my staff members talks about “running the gauntlet” of well-wishers at the Dallas airport when he came home on leave from Afghanistan. Like I said, there is a huge difference from what — not only Vietnam veterans experienced, but even those who served in Somalia and the initial phases of those returning from Afghanistan and Iraq .

Dave Rowland, a military officer who puts time in as a volunteer at our Washington D.C office, provides a rather moving personal perspective about the VFW. Read it here: http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=news.newsDtl&did=5046 . We’re all proud to welcome Dave and all service members like him home as they return from their deployments.

Most VFW members live in these two worlds: the civilian world and the military world. As such, we need to always continue to serve as a bridge between them. Simply put, it’s what the VFW is about.

Flag retirement ceremonies honor the dignity of Old Glory

Published: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 11:22 AM
By Jenny Peterson
Summerville Journal Scene

For the members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the red and white stripes on the American flag represent the servicemen who didn’t make it though battle. It pains the veterans to see the flag disrespected by not being disposed of properly.
That’s why several times a year, members at the VFW volunteer as state honor guards to give each flag a proper retirement ceremony — a burning ritual that is the only “official” way to properly honor the flag, according to the national VFW organization.

Robert Hill, a Sergeant E-5 U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War,
moved to Summerville four years ago and has been organizing the flag retirement ceremonies at the Ladson VFW Post 3433 on Bellwright Road.

“You get a feeling of pride after having done it,” Hill said. “We do it for the vets that aren’t here anymore.”

Hill has been part of five flag-retirement ceremonies at the post, properly disposing of torn, frayed and faded flags.

Hill and two other VFW members retired more than 60 flags at the most recent ceremony in June — a process that included unfolding the flags, placing them into a burning fire pit, and then burying the ashes — all executed in complete silence and closed off from public viewing. Cameras are not allowed.

The veterans wear a uniform of black pants, black patent leather shoes and a white button-up honor guard shirt with the state honor guard patch and American flag patch woven on the sleeves. A gold braid is attached to one side.

The types of flags retired vary from American flags to service flags and military flags. Hill said even Dixie flags have been retired at the post.

A special hand salute is given to flags that once flew over state and federal buildings, Hill said.

The rules for properly retiring state flags vary among Veterans of Foreign Wars posts, but they always include burning the flag in a solemn and ceremonial manner.

One ceremony detailed on the national VFB Web site states that local officials and members of the Ladies Auxiliary attended a ceremony in Winslow, Ariz. in 2004.

"Let these faded flags of our country be retired and destroyed with respectful and honorable rites, and their places be taken by bright, new flags of the same size and kind, and let no grave of our soldier or sailor dead be unhonored and unmarked,” said Post Commander Ron Gibbs at the ceremony, according to the article.

The only guests that have been invited to the ceremony at the Ladson post are local Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, so they can learn about the history of the flag retirement ceremony, Hill said.

More people in the community are learning about the service provided by the post, and the retirement ceremonies have been much more frequent.

“We used to do it once a year; (now) it’s every three months,” Hill said. “We don’t want people to throw flags away.”

At least one local company is helping to get the word out about the retirement ceremonies.

Ins-ty Prints, on Old Trolley Road, has put a box outside the business where residents can drop off their worn and used flags. Employees will deliver them to the VFW free of charge.

Vivian Taylor, with Ins-ty Prints, said the idea came from her father, owner Bob Antonsen, a retired Chief Master Sergeant in the Air Force, who fought in Vietnam.

“His real big thing is (that) you don’t take our flag and throw it in the trash can,” Taylor said. “If (my father) sees flags, he picks them up and brings them to the Summerville VFW. There’s a protocol to follow.”