Ray Arendell VFW Post 2280

Today, September 20th is the 2019 National POW/MIA remembrance day.

Please take a moment today to reflect upon the sacrifices made by many to ensure the freedoms that we have and to remember those  that have still not yet been accounted for.  According to the DPAA website, the number of service members still unaccounted for is staggering.  We still need to  press for a full accounting of those  that are still missing and/or being held.

For a listing of the Missing and Unaccounted-for by name, please visit the DPAA website:  http://www.dpaa.mil/

The numbers for our local area are as follows:

NE – 793

IA – 1488

MO – 2296

A a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars,  you have most likely  heard of the VFW National Home for Children, if  by no other means than the  pray that is said during normal post meetings.

But what is the VFW National Home for Children?   The National Home is  just one  way the the Veterans of Foreign Wars help keep it’s commitment to  help our fellow service members and their families.  It is more than just a home for  children.  It is a support facility for the entire family.   The effects of  war can take it’s toll on not only  the veteran, but also  the members of their family.   The  can include emotional wounds, financial stress, fractured family relationships, hopelessness and more can often be the outcome  now, recently or from earlier generations.

There are many ways to help support the VFW national Home – one of which is becoming a member.  There are other ways as well.  The Senior Vice Commander for the State of Nebraska has initiated a fund raiser to help the home.  Many  people have commented that as a State Commander,  he should not  have a ponytail.   So  to that end,  Joe has decided to  Auction off the right to cut off his Ponytail.  The winning  bidder, gets the right to snip off the ponytail immediately following his installation as the Nebraska State Commander in June 2019.  All  the money raised will be donated  to the national Home.

You can read about this fundraising event and others at the VFW national Home for Children’s website.

Ponytail Auction

The  2018  Annual  Nebraska Veterans of Foreign Wars  Golf Tournament information is  below.

When:  September 7th, 2018 (Friday)

Where: Willow Lakes Golf Course – 12301 S. 25th Street Bellevue, NE

Time:  1pm Shotgun Start

We are still looking for  Sponsors.  If  you  would like to become a Sponsor,  please see the Sponsorship  Form.

Willow Lakes is the only Robert Trent Jones designed course in Nebraska

Format:  Four Person Texas Scramble

*Cost: ($80.00) Per Person   -   Money raised goes towards New Buses needed for the Veterans Homes and VFW Scholarships

Entry fee includes: Golf/Golf Cart

**Food**Flag Prizes**Door Prizes**

Sign up early: Entry Deadline 27 AUG 2018

Soft spikes or soft soled shoes only

Golf appropriate attire

Lunch will be served at the course before we tee off.

Questions or for reservations: call Joe Smith   (402-661-9875)

Or email: vfwgolfhack@cox.net

Entry Forms/Fees can be  mailed to:

Mailing address:

VFW 2280 C/O Joe Smith

1416 Betz Rd

Bellevue, NE 68005

Post 2280 once again  participated in  the VFW Patriot’s Pen,  Voice of Democracy, and Teacher of the Year  programs.

Congratulations  to  our  Post  Winners:

Patriot’s Pen:

1st Place - Clara C.

2nd Place – Owen S.

3rd Place – Nathan M.

Clara also tied for  3rd place in District 10 Competition

Voice of Democracy – Melissa I. from Bellevue West High School

Teacher of the Year -  Ms. Carrie B.  from  Twin Ridge elementary School, Bellevue NE.  Carrie was also the District 10 winner.

Post 2280 Honored by ENVH

VFW Post  2280  was  honored  and  presented a Certificate of Appreciation from  the Easter Nebraska  Veterans Home.  Post  2280 sponsors/hosts  a cookout  each  month  for  residents  at  the  veterans  Home.  members  of  the  post  and  some  volunteers  from  Offutt AFB  help  prepare and  serve  the  meal as  well  as  sit  and  talk  with the  residents.  The  Post  also  has  a few  members  that  volunteer  at  the  Home  on a regular  basis.

September 4, 2015 (Friday)                                                   1PM Shotgun Start

Willow Lakes Golf Club                                                          12301 South 25th St., Bellevue NE

Willow Lakes is the only Robert Trent Jones designed course in Nebraska

Format: Four Person Texas Scramble

*Cost: ($80.00) Per Person     Money raised goes towards New Buses needed for the Veterans Homes and the MAP Program

Entry fee includes: Golf/Golf Cart

**Food**Flag Prizes**Door Prizes**

Questions or for reservations: call Joe Smith  (402-661-9875)    Or email: vfwgolfhack@cox.net

Sign up early: Entry Deadline 21 AUG 2015

Soft spikes or soft soled shoes only

Golf appropriate attire

Lunch will be served at the course before we tee off.

*AGF Holders ($65.00, E1 – E4 $75.00)

Team  registration  form  can be  downloaded by  clicking  here:

For the month of October, our Nebraska City location has chosen to support the Military Assistance Program (MAP) —Veterans of Foreign Wars VFW Department of Nebraska. For every new Facebook like our page receives this month, we will donate $1.

Help them us reach Their  goal of a $500 donation!

Nebraska City – First Nebraska Bank – facebook 

First National Banks Likes Brochure

Veterans should be aware of a marketing scam targeting callers trying to reach the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Call Center or GI Bill Call Center. A marketing company has established two fraudulent numbers that differ from the two official VA call center numbers by one digit. If the fraudulent number is dialed by mistake, the answering party will offer a gift card and try to obtain personal and financial information, including credit card information, from the caller. The answering party may even transfer the caller to the VA after the caller’s information is obtained. The numbers to be avoided are: 800-872-1000 (the VA National Call Center number is 800-827-1000) and 888-442-4511 (the VA GI Bill Call Center number is 888-442-4551). VA has notified law enforcement authorities to address this situation.

The VA refers to Gulf War Syndrome as Gulf War Veterans’ Medically Unexplained Illnesses.

“Gulf War Veterans’ Medically Unexplained Illnesses” Which effects all those who have served in the Persian Gulf from 1990 till 2016.

Major military operations are; Operation’s Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Provide Comfort 1 and 2, Northern Watch, Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn, and certain areas of support for Operation Enduring Freedom.

Here are excerpts from the VA web site on Gulf War Veterans’ Medically Unexplained Illnesses.

“Prominent condition affecting Gulf War Veterans is a cluster of medically unexplained chronic symptoms that can include fatigue, headaches, joint pain, indigestion, insomnia, dizziness, respiratory disorders, and memory problems.”

“VA refers to these illnesses as “chronic multi symptom illness” and “undiagnosed illnesses.” We prefer not to use the term “Gulf War Syndrome” when referring to medically unexplained symptoms reported by Gulf War Veterans. Why? Because symptoms vary widely”.

“VA presumes certain chronic, unexplained symptoms existing for 6 months or more are related to Gulf War service without regard to cause. These “presumptive” illnesses must have appeared during active duty in the Southwest Asia theater of military operations or by December 31, 2016″,

“For VA benefit purposes, Gulf War service is active military duty in any of the following areas in the Southwest Asia theater of military operations at any time during the first Gulf War starting August 2, 1990 through the Iraq War. This includes Veterans who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003-2010) and Operation New Dawn (2010-2011)”.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis-Lou Gherig’s Disease is Veterans Affairs recognized and connected to Gulf War Veterans’ Medically Unexplained Illnesses.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis-Lou Gherig’s Disease already listed under diseases associated with Gulf War Syndrome.

http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=666

http://www.research.va.gov/news/research_highlights/als-092603.cfm#.UhgRA1oo5aQ

http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/gulfwar/medically-unexplained-illness.asp#ALS

Parkinson Disease website’s associating Gulf War Syndrome as a cause of Parkinson’s Disease but not Veteran Affairs recognized.

http://www.medpagetoday.com/PublicHealthPolicy/MilitaryMedicine/8671

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-douglas-fields/new-suspect-in-gulf-war-s_b_483875.html

http://www.veteranstoday.com/2009/09/19/parkinson-s-disease-and-gulf-war-90-91-veterans/

Multiple Sclerosis website’s associating Gulf War Syndrome as a cause of MS but not Veteran Affairs recognized.

http://www.va.gov/gulfwaradvisorycommittee/docs/MS_Haselkorn.pdf

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/06/14/gulf-war-illness-study/2417677/

http://www.lef.org/protocols/health_concerns/gulf_war_syndrome_01.htm

http://www.georgetown.edu/news/physical-evidence-of-gulf-war-illness.html

This article presented to us by:

Shawn W. Wilbur
Service Officer
VFW Post 2280
Bellevue Nebraska

Blinded Veterans Association
Nebraska Regional Group

VFW 2280 Member represents Veterans at  business Opening

On Friday, August 2nd, 2013,  Bellevue  welcomed a new  business, Take Aim, to  the area.  As part of the opening day  events,  a veteran  from  each  conflict since WW II  forward  was selected  to  be part of  the first round of shooters at the range.  VFW Post Commander , Joe Smith was  selected as part of  that group.

Veterans At Take Aim Ribbon Cutting

The opening activities also included a “poker Shoot” to see who could get the best poster hand. Joe represented the VFW well with a winning hand of 4 of a kind with his well placed shots. Congratulations Joe.

VFW Wins Poker Shoot