2019 National POW/MIA Day
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
VFW National Home
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.
2018 Annual Veterans of Foreign Wars Golf Tournament
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
VFW Community Award & Scholarship Winners
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.
VFW Post 2280 Honored by Eastern Nebraska Veterans Home
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.
ANNUAL NEBRASKA VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS GOLF TOURNAMENT 2015
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:
Support the Military Assistance Program (MAP)
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!
VA Issues Fraud Alert
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.
Gulf War Veterans’ Medically Unexplained Illnesses
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
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