POST &

AUXILIARY

MEETINGS

3RD Thursday,

both 7 p.m.

Benson VFW Post 2503 OCTOBER 2017

www.VFWPost2503.org

POST 2503 OFFICERS 2017-2018

Commander: Ricky Johnson Sr. Vice Commander: Duke Humphrey

Jr. Vice Commander: Ross Winn Quartermaster: Ryan Sudbeck

Chaplain: Dennis Kerr Surgeon: Terrence White

Judge Advocate: Tom Penke Officer of the Day: Bill Fead

Adjutant: Tom Penke Guard: Ron Karn

AUXILIARY OFFICERS 2017-2018 President: Lynn Krause

Sr. Vice President: Pat Dembowski

Jr. Vice President: Judy Erb

Treasurer: Sue Stark

Secretary: Pat Dembowski

Chaplain: Nora Van Cleave

Conductress: Jan Brown

Guard: Linda Humphrey

Patriotic Instructor: Geri Brown

From the Commander

Greetings!

Our F-84F Thunderstreak Jet out front has been re-

painted and the new decals will appear soon. Thanks to

the Post House and Building Committee for leading the

way on the Jet Revovation Project. Thanks also goes out

to all our Post Canteen patrons who have stuffed bills

and coins into the Jet Renovation Jar on the Canteen Bar.

More thanks go out to the Post Quartermaster Ryan Sud-

beck and to his hamburger chef Ross Winn for a success-

ful Post Horseshoe Tournament.

In other news, Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steak-

burgers at 7419 Dodge Street has selected VFW Post

2503 to receive the contributions their customers have

donated for veterans’ causes. The original Freddy was a

veteran, and since Freddy’s supports the Post 2503, let’s

support the 74th & Dodge Freddy’s whenever we crave

frozen custard and/or a steakburger. Also, for those inter-

ested veterans, the VFW Nebraska Fall Council of Ad-

ministration and Homecoming will be held at The Com-

fort Inn & Suites on 70th and Grover on October 6 and

7. Important reminder for all veterans who want to get

verified to shop at ONLINE Exchanges. Please register

at VetVerify.org to become eligible for ONLINE ONLY

shopping—Eligible veterans can begin shopping at

ONLINE Exchanges on November 11, 2017. And we are

still in need of volunteers to become Honor Guard mem-

bers. Any VFW Post 2503 member who would like to

join the Post Honor and Color Guard, please contact

Tom Penke at 402-330-6860. Last but not least, the Post

is still in need of kitchen volunteers for Hamburger

Night and Taco Night.

Ricky L. Johnson,

Post Commander

Honor Guard

Meeting

2nd Thursday

every month

7:00 pm

From the Auxiliary President

Hello Auxiliary Members, I have some important information to pass on to you.

First some of you have inquired why you’ve paid your

dues but have not received your new membership cards.

Let me explain to you why: men can now join the Auxil-

iary; hence, the name Ladies Auxiliary is no longer

Ladies Auxiliary, but VFW Auxiliary. That means new

cards with the name VFW Auxiliary need to be made, so

it is taking longer for these new cards to come from the

National Office in Kansas City. So please be patient.

The second issue concerns Memor ial Services the Aux-

iliary provides for deceased members. Yes we do provide

such a service as long as the deceased is a member in

good standing of the Auxiliary, and that means she or he

has paid her or his dues and has a current membership

card. There is no charge for this service; however, the

family of the deceased needs to inform us as soon as pos-

sible that the deceased would like to have this service.

The reason for the needed information is to notify mem-

bers, so they can participate, purchase flowers, and make

arrangements with the mortuary. If you have any ques-

tions or unfortunately have need of this service, you may

call Lynn Krause President at 402-553-7562. I will be

happy to assist you in any way.

Department President Carol and Commander Larry’s

Homecoming and Fall Conference is October 6-7 at The

Comfort Inn at 7007 Grover St in Omaha. I hope many

can plan to attend, the meeting on the 7th . There will be

an informative meeting for Auxiliary officers and chair-

men, so if any officers or chairmen have questions, this is

the place to be. The meetings start at 8 am.

Our District meeting is on October 8th at 2:00 p.m. at the

Millard VFW Post 8334, 5083 So.136th Street. I hope to

see many from Post 2503 there.

And don’t forget about the Craft Fair on November 18.

Come and do some Christmas shopping.

Loyally submitted,

Lynn Krause

President Zeta Anderson Auxiliary

ANNOUNCEMENT

Please place any paper

suggestions for the

Newsletter in the

Post Newsletter Box on the

south wall on the canteen

bar-top or in the Suggestion Box by the

front door. For those with email access,

please email suggestions to the Newsletter

Editor at

editorvfwpost2503@gmail.com

LADIES OF THE AFTERNOON The Post 2503 Sewing Ladies always welcome new members to

create items to be distributed to the Eastern Nebraska Veterans

Home, the VA Hospital, Lutheran Family Service, and other nursing

homes and hospitals.

Assistance is welcomed for various sewing projects: Lap

Robes, Bibs, Fleece Cancer Hats, and Neck pillows.

Donations of cotton cloth materials are appreciated as

well as financial assistance to support the purchase of

needed sewing materials.

Please contact Nora Van Cleve at 402-571-5213 to join

in on the fun. It really is!

PLEASE DONATE

YOUR EXTRA

FOLDING CHAIRS TO VFW POST 2503

Just drop them off at the Post THANK YOU!

ADDRESS or EMAIL

CHANGE LATELY?

If so, please send the new

information to VFW Post

2503 by letter or email to

editorvfwpost 2503@

gmail.com titled Attn: Post

Membership or Attn:

Auxiliary Membership.

Please provide full name and new address

and new email.

TACO THURSDAY

IS BACK!

NEW RECIPE

STILL ONLY $2.50

PER TACO

October 12

5:30 PM

More from the Auxiliary President

Get ready for our annual

AUXILIARY CRAFT SHOW!

Saturday November 18, 2017

9 A.M. to 3 P.M.

For more information please

contact

Geri at 402-943-9067 OR Linda at lindaldh1@cox.net

JOHN HOWELL is the Post 2503 Volunteer of the

Month

For the past year, John

dutifully has shown up

on Wednesday evening

to buss dishes for our

Hamburger Nights.

Please thank John the

next time you see him

(which will probably be

next Wednesday).

Congratulations on a job

well done.

Meet MAXWELL ADAMS

who you may see some time

around the Post working to-

ward his Eagle Scout Badge.

He will be refurbishing Post

parking signs, benches, and

picnic tables. Also, he will be

adding Purple Heart parking

signs and a flower garden to

enhance the Post’s appear-

ance to the public.

Give Maxwell a big “Thank

You!” when you see him.

For anyone wishing to have the Post’s Newsletter

emailed to a specific email address, please contact

Tom Risinger at web4@risinger.us. Please include

your phone number in case there is trouble with

your email.

Also, please state if you are a Post member or non-

member. Lastly, do not reply to the email address

the newsletter originates from. It is not monitored.

Thank you to all the dedicated Honor

Guard members for their participa-

tion. We are still looking for more

members for the Honor Guard.

All Post members should be signed

up with the VA. This is a benefit we

have all earned.

If you need information on how to

sign up, ask one of the Honor Guard

members. We will help you.

Thank You for your service.

Ricky Johnson

Honor Guard Captain

HONOR GUARD

7419 Dodge St Omaha, NE 68114

At the VFW Post 2503 September meeting, the

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

franchise at 74th & Dodge Streets presented

VFW Post 2503 a check for $291.12.

The Freddy’s manager explained that the

original Freddy was a WWII Army veteran and

wanted to assist veterans in America.

So at all Freddy’s locations, customers may

contribute money to veteran causes.

And the 74th & Dodge location has decided

that VFW Post 2503 should be the destination

for those donations. Please patronize this Freddy’s location on

Dodge Street just across the street from Sears

and just behind the Longhorn Steakhouse. And

look for the Veterans Donation Box to support

Post 2503.

Freddy’s General Manager Mike Gibilisco presents Commander

Ricky Johnson with the check for Post 2503 from customer

donations.

VFW Post 2503

SANDFLEAS Volleyball Team

is still playing on Monday nights

through October at

Tanner’s Bar & Grill on 90th Street.

Come on out!

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AUXILIARY MEMBERS!

As the Hospital Chairwoman for 2017-2018, I need the following

information by meeting night each month: Volunteer Hours at the

VA Hospital, Non-VA Hospitals, the Open Door Mission, Victory

House, and other places. Dollar Amounts of donated money or

donated items; e.g., store-bought cookies. Please call me prior to

meeting night to provide any of the above information at 402-391-

2292. Or better yet, get involved—ATTEND A MEETING!

Connie Dohse Ross

Hospital Chairwoman

Like to Play Poker?

Post 2503 hosts a group of people, men and

women, who play every Tuesday from

4:30—9:30 pm.

Please call Mary Ryder,

(402) 614-5111 (Cell ) or

(402)-332-6086 (Home)

to join the group.

COLUMBUS DAY

OCTOBER

9th

PLEASE FLY YOUR FLAG

AUXILIARY MEMBERS!

If you have any news regarding an Auxiliary

member’s illness or death, please notify the Auxiliary

Chaplain, Nora Van Cleave at 402-571-5213 OR Lynn

Krause at 402-553-7562.

Thank you.

TAKE THE NEXT STEP UP YOUR

LADDER OF COMMITMENT. . . . .

JOIN THE HONOR GUARD

Call Tom Penke at 402-330-6860

From the Chaplain Brothers and Sisters,

The first three weekends in November I will

be appearing in the Bellevue Little Theater

production of M*A*S*H. They gave me the

one character I didn’t want: Frank Burns. I

don’t feel much in common with Frank

Burns on television, but in the movie version

of M*A*S*H, Frank is a person of faith,

with very human flaws. I think many could

find something in common with that. Frank

taught a local Korean boy the English lan-

guage with the beatitudes in the Bible, while

the other doctors gave him porn. That is

something Frank would never do. Everyone

else was constantly complaining about simp-

ly being sent to Korea. Frank complained

about many things, but not that. Sometimes,

playing a character in a play can bring you

to think about people in a new way.

I have a feeling that someone has it in his

heart to be a substitute chaplain in my ab-

sence. Often I am required by work, or by

my kid in college, to leave town sometimes.

If I could teach a few people the ropes of

how to cover the chaplain section of the

meeting, it will be very helpful. There has

been quite a stir lately about kneeling at the

national anthem, black lives matter, the

NFL and all that. It has me thinking. No-

body kneels respectfully in protest — at a

confederate flag. That flag was never sup-

posed to be about equality and justice any-

way. Our stars and stripes mean something.

There is actually something worth protest-

ing when we don’t live up to our ideals. The

national anthem is a symbol of national uni-

ty. We feel upset if someone kneels during

our national anthem. When people say they

are marginalized, or denied justice, many

refuse to hear it. Many of us are very quick

to react in anger. But we are slow to under-

stand others. St. Francis of Assisi might

have some words for us about that. I only

speak for myself, and not any other veteran

on this topic. But I joined the Army to pro-

tect and uphold the Constitution, not to seek

the privilege of being angry at people I disa-

gree with. If I wanted to simply be an angry

flag waver, I could have just stayed home.

Jesus says to love God, and our neighbor.

He never mentioned a flag.

In faith,

Dennis Kerr

Post Chaplain

AMVETS, also known as

American Veterans, is the

largest and oldest veterans

service organization that is

open to and fights for all

veterans and their families.

AMVETS Mission Statement:

To enhance and safeguard the entitlements for all American

Veterans who have served honorably and to improve the

quality of life for them, their families, and the communities

where they live through leadership, advocacy and services.

AMVETS is looking for new members.

To join, please contact

Commander Beverly Butcher

At

402-250-2159

ACTION

NEEDED!

Volunteers are needed for the

kitchen crews

to assist in the kitchen and the

dining room

for a few hours each month.

To volunteer please contact

Tom Penke

at

402-330-6860

KEYSTONE CITIZEN PATROL

ANNUAL BREAKFAST

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 5TH

AT VFW POST 2503 9 AM TO 1 PM

ALL YOU CAN EAT!

Adults: $6; Kids under 12: $3

Pancakes, Sausage, Scrambled

Eggs, Coffee & Milk

OPEN TO PUBLIC

Money goes to the annual

scholarship program

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Permit #610

Omaha, NE

V.F.W. Post 2503

8904 Military Road

Omaha, NE 68134

NOTICE:

All articles should be in the Newsletter Box, IN WRITING, at the Post no later than October 23rd, for the November newsletter. If articles are not submitted by the deadline, they will have to wait for the next newsletter. Thank you.

From Your Honor Guard Captain

Ricky Johnson

MILITARY RITES: August, 2017

Military Members

Deceased Cemetery # Hours

08/02/2017 Joseph Lawless Omaha National 10 30

08/03/2017 Robert Buczkowski Omaha National 7 21

08/07/2017 Kester Formen Hillcrest 12 36

08/09/2017 Arthur Sackett Hillcrest 9 27

08/11/2017 Vernard Labs Forest lawn 6 18

08/17/2017 Virgil Jarzynka Calvary 8 24

08/18/2017 John Schwisow Hillcrest 11 33

08/21/2017 Dennis Smith Hillcrest 3 9

08/23/2017 Frank Insolera Jr. Calvary 10 30

08/24/2017 Warren Phillippe Forest Lawn 8 24

08/25/2017 William Chadderdon Omaha National 10 30

08/25/2017 Donald Holm Omaha National 10 30

08/25/2017 Tyler Owen Omaha National 10 30

08/28/2017 Maurice wade Jr. Forest Lawn 6 18

*Post Member

Month Total: 14 Funerals, 120 Member Participation, 360 Hours

CANTEEN HOURS

Monday Closed

Tuesday thru Thursday 4:00 pm—10:00 pm

Friday 4:00 pm—10:00 pm

Saturday Noon—10:00 pm

Sunday Noon—8:00 pm

PHONE: 402-571-8397

Name_____________________________________________ Phone # ________________________________________

WORDS ON BRICK

Line 1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 Line 2 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 Line 3 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1 _1

Checks Only—No Cash Return this form to the Post

The Post is selling Memorial Bricks around the

memorial walk and flag. Memorial Bricks are being sold by Post 2503 to be

put around the outside of the Memorial flag pole.

These bricks will cost $60.00 each. They will be for

VFW, Auxiliary, AMVET & Auxiliary members,

their families, and people they sponsor. They will be

memorials for living or deceased people. They will

be ordered once a year on April 1st, for installation

by Memorial Day each year. Max 16 spaces per line,

3 lines, and cost $60.00 per brick.

SEE INSIDE FOR:

Honor Guard Volunteers

Kitchen Volunteers

Freddy’s Donations

ROOM RENTALS Please keep in mind that the Post is available for your

meeting/party plans, Monday through Friday during

the day. Contact Geri Brown at 402-943-9067 to

reserve your date. Spread the word to your friends

and family. The Post looks great decorated for

weddings, birthdays, and graduation parties, too.

TAKE THE NEXT STEP UP YOUR LADDER OF

COMMITMENT. . . . . JOIN THE HONOR GUARD

Call Tom Penke at 402-330-6860