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VFW, Ace Hardware Honor Veterans With 1 Million American Flags - Saturday, May 26, 2018
In the true spirit of Memorial Day, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. (VFW) is collaborating with Ace Hardware to honor veterans by pledging to give out 1 million American-made flags nationwide. On Saturday, May 26, consumers are encouraged to visit participating Ace stores to receive a free 8” x 12” American flag*, while a second flag is donated to a local VFW Post to be used for marking and honoring veteran graves this Memorial Day. (Read more)
Local Memorial Day activities - May 28-30, 2018
Our Post is involved with several Memorial day Activites around Garner again this yeaar. Please attend any or all of them.
- Sat, May 26 – 10:00 AM - Montlawn Memorial Park – the Sons of the Legion will be setting out flags in the Veterans section in preparation for Monday. Help is needed.
- Mon, May 28 – 11:00 AM - Montlawn Memorial Park - Annual ceremony in Veterans section, comments followed by flag raising back to full staff.
- Mon, May 28 – Veterans’ memorial at Lake Benson Park – tours of memorial from 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM with the program from 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM.
- Mon, May 28 - 2:30 – 3:15 PM at the Transitions LifeCare Veterans Garden, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607, as we pay tribute to our brave military service members who died fighting in a war.
- Wed, May 30 - 2:00 PM – Lawndale Manor – visit with the patients and remember residents and their family members who served
As you can see, it will be a very busy schedule and assistance is needed for each activity. It can be as easy as attending a service or posting a service flag. But we do need help. See contact the Post if you can help. Lunch will be available at the Post after the event at Montlawn on Monday. Please bring a side dish.
Shootout for Soldiers - June 2-3, 2018
Shootout for Soldiers is a 24 hour lacrosse event benefiting American veterans. The event is fun. It’s not a tournament or about recruiting. The event is all about supporting those who serve our country. There are 24, 1-hour games in a row and a running score is kept between the two teams, Stars and Stripes. Participating teams play in one 1-hour slot during the event and the event is open to men’s and women’s teams of all ages. The funds raised by the teams benefit our four national charity partners: Team Red White & Blue, Army Ranger Lead the Way Fund, Semper Fi Fund, and the Gary Sinise Foundation as well as two local charities in each location. The Raleigh event will begin at 7 PM at Cardinal Gibbons High School with the Veterans’ Game, followed by the two top fundraising high school teams at 8 PM.
Looking for items for unit of Deployed marines - ongoing
One of our members has a grandson whose Marine Corps Unit has been deployed to Afghanistan and are in need of our support. They have requested the items shown below. We have a box set up in the Post for these items, and we have shipped the first box already, but additional boxes will be sent If you would like to make a cash donation, drop it by the Post and we will go purchase more needed items. They have requested:
- Dove shampoo, Dove bar soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant (Old Spice)
- Games, cards
- Jerky, Slim Jims, granola bars, gummy bears, Cheez-its, instant oatmeal & grits, microwave popcorn, nuts, trail mix, dried fruits, ramen noodles, powdered drink mixes for water and coffee, cookies, tuna/chicken in foil packs.
Vets and care givers keeping in touch with family - ongoing
The VA Caregiver Support Program would like to introduce a new partnership with CaringBridge. It is a non-profit that allows people going through a health journey to create a free, secure and private website to keep family and friends updated on their health, treatment and recovery. CaringBridge has created a customized and dedicated landing page for Veterans, Service Members, and their Caregivers to connect with family and friends. The Caregiver Support Program and CaringBridge welcome those in need to create a website and experience the support of their loved ones.
Monthly VFW Visits to hospitalized veterans - Change in schedule
Our Post joins with the Garner American Legion for monthly visits to hospitalized veterans at both the Durham VA and local Garner nursing homes. Read about the visits here. Check our calendar page for our recently updated schedule, then join us when you can.
Dreams for veterans - ongoing
Dream Foundation’s Dreams for Veterans program tailors the Dream experience to veterans and their families. Dream recipients are US military veterans who served from World War II to the present, those who served honorably during peacetime or during conflict. Dreams for Veterans honors our veterans’ service by fulfilling their final Dream, providing them, their families and caregivers inspiration, comfort and closure at the end of life. If you know of someone to which this applies, check out their website at: www.dreamfoundation.org/veterans
Cancer Insurance for Auxiliary Life Members - Ongoing
As a member of the VFW Auxiliary, a portion of our annual membership dues goes towards paying the premium on a cancer insurance policy in the event you are stricken with cancer. However, for Life Members, since there are no annual dues, we need to collect the insurance fee ($10) from our Life Members in order for you to be covered. If you are a life member, and have not already paid your insurance, you can send your check for the fee to our Treasurer Gerri Griggs, in care of the Post at 1706 West Garner Road, Garner, NC 27529.
Discounts at Lowe's Home Improvement - Ongoing
Lowe's is proud to offer 10% off eligible purchases every day to active military personnnel and veterans. Enroll today at lowes.com/military.
New Veterans Service Center in Garner - Ongoing
The North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs announced that it has opened a new service center in Garner at 315 Bellaris St. The Veterans’ Service Center offers assistance to veterans in filing for VA benefits and can link veterans to a vast network of public, private, and non-profit resources for employment, healthcare, housing, personal services and education opportunities. Walk-ins are welcome and no appointment is necessary. They are opened Monday through Friday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM, and on Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Contact them at 984-232-7060.
Caregiver Support - Ongoing
Are you a caregiver for your veteran? The VA offers many types of support for Caregivers. Check them out at: VA Caregiver Support.
Military Benefits - Ongoing
There are many military benefits that you may not know about. Check out a
list of some of them.
Troops to Teachers - Ongoing
The Troops to Teachers program is set up to meet the needs of current veterans and students. New legislation passed expanded in 2013 the program to all veterans with an honorable military discharge. Read more about the Troops to Teachers program in this interactive quiz.
VFW Foundation of North Carolina - Ongoing
The VFW is a 502 (c) 19 organization, which is reserved for non profit organizations for veterans. The (c) 19 designation in the Federal Tax law limit our donations, as many companies only donate to 501 (c) 3 organizations. However, the VFW Foundation of NC is a 501 (c) 3 organization, which works with the VFW in support of our programs. Many corporate sponsors are set up to donate to the (c) 19 organizations. So both are available for donations to help veterans.
We accept old worn flags - ongoing
Do you have an old worn flag that needs to be destroyed? If so, drop them by the VFW any day, and we will handle it for your. There is a box outside our door to drop them off, day or night. They will be destroyed in accordance with the US Flag Code.
Thanks to our many volunteers - Ongoing
Each month, many of our members work at the Post and in the community to support our veterans. To thank them all in each edition of the Post Newsletter, takes a lot of room - due to the number of people to thank. So we are now listing them here, with a big Thank You, so we don't miss anyone. Check out who we thanked this month.
Supporting our Military
View this inspiring presentation from the third graders of Tussing Elementary, Colonial Heights, Virginia. At the end of the song you can order the sheet music.
Did you know you can send packages overseas by contacting NCPacks4Patriots, a nonprofit organization formed with the mission to support troops and their family members by providing care and comfort items and expressions of appreciation for their service and sacrifices.
Our Post has several family members serving in the War on Terror. Also, the Post has adopted three Military units based from Garner, Cary and Knightdale US Army Reserve Centers.
Click here or on the yellow ribbon at the top of every page, to see how you can support our service personnel and their families.
A great video about why we do what we do to support our military.
They need us, and we need you!
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