http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/vfw/ en-us Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:07:12 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2391486/posts Vietnam veteran robbed, killed on his way to deposit VFW money William Burtner had helped raise money for WWII vets' trip to Washington Army veteran William Burtner survived Vietnam and dedicated his life to helping other veterans. On Monday, Burtner was about to enter a bank in Midlothian to deposit money that the south suburb's Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2580 had raised during a benefit. He never made it inside. Burtner, 65, was assaulted and robbed outside the bank. He died Wednesday night in Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. An autopsy Thursday concluded Burtner died of hypertensive... chicago tribune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2391486/posts#comment Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:07:12 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2389362/posts <p>Contact your Senators and let them know what you think!</p> <p>U.S. veterans or subsidies for United Nations (U.N.) bureaucracy.</p> Email http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2389362/posts#comment Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:20:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2382523/posts WASHINGTON, Nov. 9, 2009 – Deployed and hospitalized servicemembers are expected to make about 120,000 calls home this Veterans Day, and it won’t cost them one thin dime. The Veterans of Foreign Wars organization is once again offering “Free Call Day” through its Operation Uplink program. USAA, which offers financial services to servicemembers, is sponsoring the day of free phoning, which is expected to total some 1 million minutes. “We are very pleased to join forces with USAA, an association recognized as a devoted friend and advocate of the military community, to offer a special Veterans Day Free Call Day,”... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2382523/posts#comment Mon, 9 Nov 2009 23:33:32 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2363440/posts WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. veterans criticized President Barack Obama's lengthy review of Afghan war strategy, saying on Thursday the drawn-out debate in Washington was a direct threat to troops and the nation's defense. The head of Veterans of Foreign Wars, a group representing 1.5 million former soldiers, issued a tersely worded statement urging Obama to follow the advice of his military commanders, who want more troops for the eight-year war. "The extremists are sensing weakness and indecision within the U.S. government, which plays into their hands," said Thomas J. Tradewell Sr., a Vietnam veteran and head of VFW. This was... Reuters on Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2363440/posts#comment Thu, 15 Oct 2009 22:51:21 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2357033/posts Deep in the heart of the Mojave National Preserve in California stands a five foot cross carefully disguised in a plywood box. The U.S. Park Service was forced to cover the cross until the Supreme Court decides whether the cross can remain in its place as a monument to fallen soldiers during World War I, or whether it must come down because its presence violates the Constitution. The case is the latest in a recent flurry of challenges to religious symbols placed on public property. The cross was constructed more than 70 years ago by the Veterans of Foreign Wars.... ABC News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2357033/posts#comment Wed, 7 Oct 2009 20:53:57 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2350573/posts Expressions on the Vets faces are priceless. White House http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2350573/posts#comment Tue, 29 Sep 2009 07:09:53 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2349099/posts Here is a video report about a "Flag Burner" who was duct taped to a VFW Flagpole as punishment for his having burned an American Flag that flew over the post in Valley Falls, New York. The man had gotten angry because the bartender at the post would not serve the man because he was drunk. In anger, he went outside, took the flag down and burned it. The flag had flown over a fox hole in Iraq where several Americans died. The post commander hunted the man down and "gave him some options." The option the man chose was... Freedom's Lighthouse http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2349099/posts#comment Sun, 27 Sep 2009 00:14:02 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2332453/posts VETERANS RIGHTS ADVOCATES UNDER ATTACK BY SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS AND MEMBERS [Snip]Article... What vets don't know is how the American Legion, VFW and other groups have advised the DVA and Congress, led us, every step of the way, to the total failure and utter disaster we have now. These groups "played" at helping vets but became a home for political extremists or dimwits addicted more [sic] grandstanding than the hard work required by informed veterans advocacy. Veterans Today http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2332453/posts#comment Fri, 4 Sep 2009 22:04:25 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2318201/posts Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, I am honored and humbled to stand before you as Commander-in-Chief of the finest military the world has ever known. And we're joined by some of those who make it the finest force in world-from Luke Air Force Base, members of the 56th Fighter Wing. Whether you wear the uniform today, or wore it decades ago, you remind us of a fundamental truth. It's not the powerful weapons that make our military the strongest in the world. It's not the sophisticated systems that make us the most advanced. No, the true strength of... KTAR http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2318201/posts#comment Mon, 17 Aug 2009 21:49:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2318069/posts Here is video of President Barack Obama speaking today at the Veteran's of Foreign Wars meeting. Obama criticized the "defense establishment" and Congress for creating "exotic projects" that he says drains the defense budget. Obama assured veterans that he will see to it they are taken care of, and said their health care would diminish at all under his plans for Health Care Reform. Obama received polite, but what I would characterize as muted applause from the veterans during his appearance there. . . . . (Watch Video) Freedom's Lighthouse http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2318069/posts#comment Mon, 17 Aug 2009 18:52:47 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2318009/posts Obama is speaking before the VFW now. Except for a dozen people or so, they are sitting on their hands. Vets know who the real Obama is. Occasional applause for apple pie statements. For the most part, silence. Fox News Channel http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2318009/posts#comment Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:16:00 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2317785/posts President Barack Obama plans to speak at the annual VFW convention in Phoenix on Monday. A speech before the nation's largest organization of combat veterans is a summertime tradition for presidents. Obama spoke to the group last year as a presidential candidate. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs has said that Obama will discuss the United States' responsibilities to maintain the world's finest military. Gibbs also says Obama will speak about the nation's responsibility to the men and women of the armed services when they return home from combat. The president has been in Arizona since Saturday evening on the final... KSWT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2317785/posts#comment Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:22:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2314366/posts VFW: Woodstock Wasn't the Only Thing Happening 40 Years Ago By Colleen Raezler (Bio | Archive) August 12, 2009 - 13:47 ET    While some in the media have been dusting off their love beads, bell-bottoms and broomstick skirts in an effort to wax nostalgic about Woodstock, the VFW has reminded its members that the world did not stop for those four days in August 1969. In fact, for 109 American soldiers, the world ended that weekend.VFW Magazine honored those soldiers in the August 2009 cover story, "While Woodstock Rocked, GIs Died." Much has been made over the "half... NewsBusters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2314366/posts#comment Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:38:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2308387/posts CLEARWATER — Stung by fierce criticism, the Clearwater City Council on Monday canceled a plan to remove about a dozen flagpoles and American flags from city property to save money. "We're going to leave all the flags as is," Mayor Frank Hibbard said after a lengthy and contentious discussion of the topic at a council meeting Monday morning. Council members criticized City Manager Bill Horne for not telling them about the flag removal plan that city staffers had come up with. Instead, the council first learned about it from the St. Petersburg Times. Council member George Cretekos said Horne had... TampaBayOnline http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2308387/posts#comment Wed, 5 Aug 2009 01:29:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2307904/posts The Clearwater council on Monday canceled staff plans to take down flagpoles and American flags at some parks and facilities. Clearwater won't lower flags Stung by fierce criticism, Clearwater has canceled a plan to remove about a dozen flagpoles and American flags from city property to save money. After the story appeared on tampabay.com on Friday, nearly 300 readers posted comments, with many calling for Clearwater officials to be summarily fired. City leaders also got what the mayor described as "an unrelenting volume of phone calls." For full story: http: //www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/article1024460.ece The St. Petersburg Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2307904/posts#comment Tue, 4 Aug 2009 14:54:01 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2307401/posts The city today scrapped plans to take down some of its 60 odd flags after the mayor and city council members received a barrage of angry emails and telephone calls over the weekend, some of them from veterans. City Manager Bill Horne's staff had recommended slightly more than a dozen flags – out of 59 – be removed to save the city money. Some flags were on property no longer maintained by the city. Others were at maintenance buildings or the like that were far out of the public eye. Mayor Frank Hibbard and city council members were rankled that... The Tampa Tribune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2307401/posts#comment Mon, 3 Aug 2009 21:09:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2307094/posts CLEARWATER — The Clearwater City Council plans to discuss the removal of several American flags, an act that has drawn widespread ire, during a work session this morning. Kevin Dunbar, Clearwater's parks and recreation director, ordered the removal of 13 flagpoles from across the city last week. He said budget cuts made it impossible to properly care for the flags. So Dunbar had city workers pull the poles out of the ground. The last flagpoles were removed Friday. City Council members and Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard were never consulted before the removal. Public reaction to news of the flag removal... TampaBayOnline http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2307094/posts#comment Mon, 3 Aug 2009 15:06:50 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2306932/posts City Manager Bill Horne didn't think taking down Old Glory at a few city properties would be a big deal. He was wrong. Several weeks ago, city workers started removing American flags from city properties. In all, 13 of the city's 50 flags came down, according to Mayor Frank Hibbard. But the cost-cutting measure has sparked outrage, especially among veterans groups, prompting city leaders to revisit the decision at a workshop this morning. "It's a knock at our country," said John Smith, canteen manager at the Hercules VFW Post 2473. "It's the only city in the United States that has... The Tampa Tribune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2306932/posts#comment Mon, 3 Aug 2009 11:13:21 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2305977/posts CLEARWATER — Here's probably the most bizarre casualty of shrinking government budgets you'll hear. The city of Clearwater can no longer afford to fly the American flag. Clearwater's parks and recreation director ordered the removal of 13 flagpoles from across the city this week saying budget cuts have made it impossible to properly care for the flags. "Over the last three years, the parks and recreation staff has been reduced by 25 percent,'' explained director Kevin Dunbar. "When you have a flagpole, you have certain responsibilities. The flag has to be lit at night, if a flag has a rip... The St. Petersburg Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2305977/posts#comment Sat, 1 Aug 2009 15:57:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2304464/posts With the 40th anniversary of the '60s cherished rock concert, the so-called "Sixties Generation" remembers fondly those four days in August 1969. Instead, VFW magazine commemorates the 109 Americans killed in Vietnam then. Newsweek described the as "a youthful, long-haired army, almost as large as the U.S. force in Vietnam." One of the promoters saw what happened near Bethel (nearly 40 miles from Woodstock), N.Y., as an opportunity to "showcase" the drug culture as a "beautiful phenomenon." The newsmagazine wrote of "wounded hippies" sent to impromptu hospital tents. Some 400,000 of the "nation's affluent white young" attended the "electric pot... VFW http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2304464/posts#comment Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:40:26 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2302212/posts "While Woodstock rocked, GI's died" is the cover article. 109 died in Vietnam during the 4 days Woodstock was held from Aug 15-18, 1969. 'Time', 'Newsweek' and various other liberal rags are not only lifting up the various hippies and drug addicts, but made remarks like: "it may well rank as one of the significat political and sociological events of the age", and "deplored the 3 deaths that occured there" (one a heroin overdose), mentions the "need for more authentic service" and so on but refers to the Vietnam war as a "meaningless war in the jungles of southeast asia"... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2302212/posts#comment Mon, 27 Jul 2009 20:25:49 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2272525/posts Post Chaplain Wayne Rudell began the ceremony in honor of Flag Day with a prayer, “ ... Most gracious Lord, you have given to us the symbol of the flag to represent the United States in every nation when it is flown ... This flag has flown in every war and our flag is still flying in the middle of battles as a symbol of freedom for all who see it. Today it is time to retire the service of these flags and give them honor for their duty. We do this by burning each flag to put it in... Sierra Vista Herald/Bisbee Review http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2272525/posts#comment Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:49:27 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2260828/posts The National Commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Jeff Roy, and Governor Sarah Palin, will hold a press conference at 10:00 am on May 30, 2009 at Mt View VFW Post 10252 located at 3105 Mt View Drive, Anchorage. The purpose is to launch an extraordinary expedition by America’s heroes to successfully summit 20,320 ft. Mt. Denali, the highest peak in North America, after more than a year of intensive preparations. Commander Roy will introduce the members of this team of wounded warriors who symbolize the strength of our Nation and those who defend it. TransWorldNews http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2260828/posts#comment Fri, 29 May 2009 20:50:47 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2258006/posts Some see it as the universal symbol of sacrifice in World War I, others see it as the undisputed sign of Christianity, but it will be up to the Supreme Court to make a final determination as to whether a 7-foot cross remains standing in a California desert to memorialize war veterans. The cross was first erected in 1934 in what is now the federally protected Mojave Desert Preserve by a group of veterans whose doctors advised them that the desert heat would help them recover from shell shock. Veterans today say this war memorial and others like it across... Washington Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2258006/posts#comment Mon, 25 May 2009 21:42:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2257749/posts As the nation once again honors those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country, the Veterans of Foreign Wars is struggling to recruit a new generation of warriors returning from Afghanistan and Iraq. Newsmax.TV's Kathleen Walter takes a look at what VFW members are doing to ensure the organization survives for decades to come. newsmax.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2257749/posts#comment Mon, 25 May 2009 12:51:02 GMT