Massachusetts VFW celebrates groundbreaking for new post building.
Somerville, MA
–Members of the George Dilboy VFW Post in Somerville celebrated the groundbreaking for their new home on Summer street today. Many dignitaries were on hand for the event including Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Massachusetts State Commander Eric Segundo, Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone, Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Tom Kelly, Post 529 Commander Bob Hardy, Somerville Military Affairs and Veterans Services Commissioner Bryan P. Bishop and Lisa Gould, President of the Post 529 Auxiliary Unit. The new post building was made possible by the collaborative efforts of members of the post, City of Somerville officials and the developer of the property, The Dakota Partners, LLC., and is expected to be completed before Veterans Day in 2018.
VFW Post 529, named after PVT 1st Class George Dilboy, who was killed in action on July 18, 1918 at Belleau France during WWI, was chartered on October 13, 1920. Over the course of its long history it has been the home to veterans of all eras. In addition to taking part in Somerville’s Veterans Day and Memorial Day events, the post is involved with giving out scholarships, helping local veterans when needed, and in hosting a multitude of social events throughout the year. Over three dozen current members of the post came out on this nice November day to witness the historic event along with onlookers and members of the construction crew.
Massachusetts VFW State Commander Eric Segundo said, "This historic groundbreaking is proof that the Veterans of Foreign Wars is committed to being here for our veterans and their communities for many generations to come. This new building will ensure the history and the lineage of this post will remain and serve as a reminder of the sacrifices of all the veterans who have come before us."
Post Commander Bob Hardy, a Vietnam Veteran, said, "This new building is for our newest veterans and those who will follow them. World War II and Korean War veterans handed it to us Vietnam veterans and now we want to hand it off to the veterans of the War on Terror. Our goal is to have the post used by the members, by the community and by the veterans who live nearby for years to come."
According to Commander Hardy, the idea for the building was first talked about in 2008. After nine years he said he was relieved to see it finally happening. He thanked the City of Somerville and the developing partners for helping to make this project a reality for the post.
Congressman Introduces Bill to Privatize VA:
Congressman Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) recently introduced a bill that would break our promise to veterans. H.R. 4457, the Veterans Empowerment Act, would dismantle the VA health care system, charge veterans for service-connected health care, and reduce VA to an insurance program for veterans. Congressman Lamborn and bill cosponsors, Congressmen Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) and Trent Franks (R-Ariz.), must not be allowed to advance this dangerous proposal. Urge your member of Congress to oppose H.R. 4457 and let Congress know if they cannot take care of America’s veterans, then Congress should quit creating them.
Click here to take action!
High Demand for new Veterans ID crashes VA Site
: The Department of Veterans Affairs temporarily removed an online application process for new veteran identification cards after high demand crashed the webpage.
Some veterans seeking to receive the identification cards since the VA opened applications for them Wednesday were met over the weekend with error messages or a webpage that failed to load.
The cards were designed as proof of military service for veterans who don’t have VA medical cards or defense retiree cards. The website that veterans were instructed to apply for them, vets.gov, contained a message Tuesday that it had temporarily stopped the online application process.
VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS JOINS "WORLD WAR I POPPY PROGRAM."
The Veterans of
Foreign Wars is joining the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission in announcing the WWI Poppy
Program to raise awareness about World War I and generate funds for local VSO chapters all over the
country.
The VFW is proud to share with you the WWI Poppy Program; an opportunity to generate resources for
your Post while helping to honor the 4.7 million Americans who wore the uniform during WWI.
Poppies grew across the war-torn battlefields of Europe after World War I, and this year marks the 100th anniversary of the U.S. entering that war. From 2017 to 2019, the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission will tell the story of those American veterans, through events, exhibits, and memorial efforts, and the VFW is proud to be a partner in this important commemoration.
Click on the following link to learn about the WWI Poppy Program and how your purchase of a Poppy Kit helps build the new National World War I Memorial in Washington, D.C., while also helping to raise money for your Post.
Link: ww1cc.org/poppy
Here is a quick video that can help people understand why it is so important that we honor those who served during World War I: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_y4l49mZso.
The red poppy is an internationally recognized symbol of veteran remembrance. Its use began in World War I and was captured in the war poem "In Flanders Fields,” by Lt. Col. John McCrae.
