American Legion
"The River Vets Newsletter"
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"Serving Rio Vista And Its Veterans Since 1925"
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CURRENT MEMBERSHIP
204 Registered
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There has been some confusion by some members as to the events for February. On Thursday,
February 14th
, Post 178 will conduct its normal monthly meeting beginning with Happy Hour at 1630 hours, and then the regular membership meeting beginning at 1900 hours. We will begin the meeting with a presentation by the organization called "Paws For Purple Hearts" and then continue into the monthly meeting as usual. Guest will be permitted to stay for the presentation portion that evening.
For further information please call the Post 178 office @ 374-6554
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NOTICE:
Do You Need A Ride Home?
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POST 178 monthly meetings are held on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 1900 Hours,right after our HAPPY HOUR. We are noticing that many members leave the hall with their wives, and are not participating in the monthly meetings. The Happy Hours and other events are for you the members to enjoy. All we ask is that you attend one monthly meeting, so you know what's happening in Post 178. If you leave because of a need for a ride home after a meeting, please see one of the Post 178 officers, who will be most happy to be sure you have a ride home. All we ask is for you to attend and be an active member of this Post once a month. Remember:
"We all have two lives.
The second one starts when we realize we only have one."
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On Friday,
February 15th
, a special
RSVP
Invitational Lunch for the Post 178 Auxiliary only, will be held. This is a recognition and thanks to the Auxiliary for their generous contributions to this Post and to the Fisher House during the year. This will be a catered lunch and served by the Post 178 Executive Board.
If you received an invitation, please RSVP to the email Invite you were sent.
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American Legion posts are stepping up in different ways to assist those members of the Coast Guard in need during the U.S. government partial shut-down. Among those is American Legion Post 178 of Rio Vista.
As per Commander O'Brien, "o
ur local Coast Guard has been caught up in the Government shutdown. The community has stepped up to give much needed support. The American Legion modified its Temporary Financial Assistance (TFA) program to assist Coast Guard personnel who have minor children. The TFA support has a 24-hour timeline from receipt of application to direct financial support for the member. This has been directly supportive locally. American Legion stands tall. The Rio Vista Food Pantry has been very helpful with support from donations and assisting the Coast Guard members as needed. We are involved in that support as our members donate to the cause. We are also working on direct gift card donations to support them during the government shutdown. Bear in mind that the Coast Guard members are under strict
legal
and
ethical
guidelines due to the nature of their job. We must follow their rules.
TFA grants are made possible through donations to The American Legion Veterans and Children Foundation. The foundation supports veterans and military families in need, as well as American Legion service officers who provide free VA benefits and health care assistance to veterans. Donations to the Veterans and Children Foundation can be made at
www.legion.org/donate
.
"Please Help Today!"
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2019 Thunder Over The Bay
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On March 30-31, 2019, Travis Air Force Base will host its biennial airshow. This year’s airshow will be the first of its kind honoring Hometown Heroes with No Bounds. Featuring local aerial demonstration teams, local first responders including displays from CAL FIRE and California Highway Patrol, local military units and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, our “Thunder Over the Bay” airshow will highlight the preparedness, sacrifice and dedication of our local service members.
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Did You See The
130th Rose Parade
?
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American Legion National Commander Brett Reistad wore a smile while waving to the crowd for the entire 5.5 miles, two-hour ride on the Legion Family’s Tournament of Roses Parade float. The parade had an estimated 700,000 people watching in person, while another 4 million were expected to tune in on either ABC, NBC, Hallmark Channel, Univision, RFD-TV or KTLA. “I really think it gave us some fantastic exposure,” Reistad said. “People were very supportive as we passed. A lot of ‘God bless the USA’ and ‘thank you for your service.’ And they never stopped. The crowds just went on and on and on.
“And there were Legion Family members along the way that were very supporting, yelling out their post numbers. It was really great."
“I think it was a great step forward,” he said. “I think there was a lot of pride across the country. I think people around this country saw us at our best. One hundred years of service to America, and we’re going to continue to do so.”
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December 15th, 2018 was designated as National Wreaths Day Across America and abroad. Ceremonies took place across all 50 states. It was to say:
REMEMBER the Fallen. . . HONOR those who Serve. . . TEACH our children the value of Freedom. Welcome to the Wreaths Across America.
This year, on Saturday, December 14, 2019 at 12:00 PM, Wreaths Across America will be helping a participating cemetery to Remember and Honor our veterans by laying Remembrance wreaths on the graves of our country's fallen heroes. Please help us honor and remember as many fallen heroes as possible by sponsoring remembrance wreaths, volunteering on Wreaths Day, or inviting your family and friends to attend with you.
Thank you so much for supporting the Wreaths Across America. Your Post 178 is an active yearly donor to this cause.
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The Annual New Years Eve Dinner/Dance
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On Monday, December 31st, 2018, Post 178 held its annual New Year's Eve Dinner/Dance. It is a celebration for both Post 178 members and the community to ring out the old year, and usher in the new. A hundred and sixteen people filled the American Legion Hall, which was fully decorated for the occasion by the Post Auxiliary. Our Commander, Noel O'Brien, welcomed the group, followed by grace from Pastor Ella Ray Toscano. A super prime rib meal was catered by Chef Arvell Howell and his crew to make the evening a time of fun and enjoyment. Music was provided again by "After Glow".
After dinner, the mood was festive with dancing and celebrations. At 2100 hours the group watched the dropping of the ball on the big screen TV from New York City and then continued the party atmosphere until mid-night when the entire group watched and counted down to the Mid-night Hour on the west coast. It was a blast and enjoyed by all that attended the evening event.
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Folks,
2019 is moving at a rapid pace already. The New Year’s Eve party started the year off right.
Our local Coast Guard has been caught up in the Government shutdown. Our community has stepped up to give much needed support. The American Legion modified its Temporary Financial Assistance (TFA) program to assist Coast Guard personnel who have minor children. The TFA support has a 24-hour timeline from receipt of application to direct financial support for the member. This has been directly supportive locally. American Legion stands tall. The Rio Vista Food Pantry has been very helpful with support from donations and assisting the Coast Guard members as needed. We are involved in that support as our members donate to the cause. We are also working on direct gift card donations to support them during the government shutdown. Bear in mind that the Coast Guard members are under strict
legal
and
ethical
guidelines due to the nature of their job. We must follow their rules.
Auxiliary appreciation. The board members are hosting an appreciation day for the auxiliary members who have done so much for this Post – and continue to do so. We will be hosting a luncheon for them. Pauline Crews and Jenan O’Brien have the details.
Baseball... There has not been much community support for the Little League Baseball in Rio Vista over the past two years. It may be a sign of the times. Parents commuting to work and other sports activities being developed within the community could be contributing factors. It might be time to look at American Legion Baseball interests. If you are interested, let me know.
We are planning more events this year… the Event Planning Committee is in place and doing a great job. Interest ideas so far have been: Baseball Game trips; Fishing Trips – we can possibly buy the boat for the day if we fill it from our members and friends; Golden Gate Fields Horse Racing; Wine tasting and other possible events. Bring me your ideas.
The coffee pot is on at the Hall. Come in and have a cup coffee – or tea. We are also developing Hall activities in support of our American Legion members.
Working on personnel files is a tedious necessity. Members, if you have not already done so, please bring your DD-214 to me at the Veterans Hall. American Legion District is driving that requirement. I plan to meet all our members for a 15 minute update, letting you know what we are doing and asking what you’d like to do for the Post.
The Veteran Home plans are continuing to go forward. We are still discussing a VA Clinic possibility with VA. I will be meeting with the New Director and Planning Department soon.
Respectfully,
Noel O'Brien
Commander Post 178
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During the past year, Post 178 has been recognized by the number of new Veterans who have joined, and how our numbers keep multiplying monthly. This month, we would like to say "WELCOME" to the following individuals, who have joined us.
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WELCOME
Michael Boehme
Philip Corbett
Kenneth Dismuke
Leslie Rich Jr
Eugene Kodner
George Vasquez
Mel Williams
Michael Black
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JOIN THE AMERICAN LEGION
RENEW NOW!
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BY MAIL
: You will receive a letter in the mail about renewing your membership just send your payment by USPS.
IN PERSON
: Come by the office which is open daily for your convenience or to the monthly Post 178 General meeting with your payment.
Extend your membership through December 31, 2018 now, to ensure you can continue to make a difference for fellow veterans!
Our National Commander is right — Congress and the Department of Veterans Affairs depend on The American Legion. That's because:
- We are the voice of the veteran.•We are the conscience of a nation that honors military service and patriotic values.
- Without us, government would not know how to effectively fulfill its mission to support and honor our nation's veterans, members of the Armed Forces, and families and communities across this land.
That is why it's important for you to renew your membership for our Post through 2018
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Check Your New Increased 2019 Benefit Rates
Good news! VA
Compensation
and
pension
benefit rates have increased 2.8% based on the cost-of-living adjustment effective December 1, 2018. The new 2019 rate for your benefits in January begins with your December 31 payment.
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Solano Veterans Office Top County For Benefits Delivery
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The Solano County Veteran Services Office again lead the way by delivering more benefits to the resident veterans and their dependents than any other county in the state.
More than $34 million in benefits were provided. There are 34,000 resident veterans in Solano County, and another 56,000 dependents. The work was highlighted as part of the county’s Annual Report, in which the Board of Supervisors, administration and department heads note the achievements of the past year. The report includes emergency service response, financial reporting, health programs and events and a number of other highlights.
By Todd R. Hansen -Reporter for Fairfield Daily Republic
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What Happened to Our Flag Retirement Ceremony?
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Because of the fire dangers and high winds, the event which we had scheduled for our November 8th meeting was postponed. At present, we are rescheduling this event to our General Meeting date of January 31st. We will share this evening as a teaching project for our local Cub and Boys Scouts . The Rio Vista Fire Department will help monitor the actual burn.
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"HAPPY HOUR MENU"
February
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Thursday February 7th
MENU
Hamburger/Cheeseburger
Hot Dogs
Chicken Wings
Nachos
French Fries
Thursday February 14th
(
Challenge Coin Nite
)
$1.00 Beer and $3.00 Well Drinks with your coin
YOU MUST SHOW YOUR COIN
MENU
Hamburger/Cheeseburger
Hot Dogs
Chicken Wings
Nachos
French Fries
Thursday February 21st
Menu
Potato Bar & All the fixins
Hot Dogs/ Chili Dogs
Thursday February 28th
MENU
Fix Your Own Taco Bar
Beef or Chicken
Salad
Chips and Nacho Cheese
LEASE NOTE:
We are using a food order form for your convenience.
These may be found on each table by your table number.
Please fill-out the form with your name, table number and food order.
Take the form to the Bar window to process.
NOTICE:
NO alcohol drink may be brought into the American Legion Hall per State of California ABC Ordinance
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Calendar of Coming Events
February
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February 3rd
Auxiliary Team Meeting
American Legion Hall
1400 Hours
February 7th
–
Executive Board Meeting
American Legion Hall
1500 - 1600 Hrs
"
Happy Hour”
–
1630 to 2000 Hours
February 14th
- Post 178 General Membership Meeting
1900 Hours @ the Veterans Hall
Happy Hour
from 1630 - 2000 Hours
~Challenge Coin Night~
February 15th
Post 178 Auxiliary Luncheon
1:00 - 3:00 PM
February 21st
Happy Hour
1630 - 2000 Hours
February 28th
Happy Hour
1630 - 2000 Hours
NOTICE:
NO
alcohol drink may be brought into the American Legion Hall per State of California ABC Ordinance
**********************************************************************************************
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Tickets are on sale soon!
For More Information
Call 374-6554
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Post 178
St Paddy's Day Dinner
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Sunday
March 17th, 2019
Where: American Legion Hall
Doors Open: 1630 Hours
Dinner Served: 1730 Hours
Cost: $20.00 per person
Menu
Corned Beef & Cabbage
Potatoes
Vegetables
Salad
Rolls & Butter
"NO HOST BAR"
Featuring
"Irish Coffee"
Jameson Whiskey
Guinness
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Please remember all our deceased brothers, especially
MAY THEY REST IN PEACE!
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“
M
ay you live to be a hundred years,
with one extra year to repent.”
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"Move over, I'm in a hurry!"
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The following local merchants support the membership of Post 178. We ask that you give them your patronage when possible. You can receive a
Veteran discount
if you display your Post 178 membership card at time of purchase.
Together we are a commmunity!
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NEW - Gabe's Fades for Hair Styling
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The new barber in town is located at 37 North 2nd Street. If you want a cut above, then this is the place to visit. Offering haircuts, shaves, styling and more, Gabe's will make you look like a new man. As a get acquainted offer, all Vets from Post 178 will receive a $5.00 discount off the price of a haircut, which is normally $20.00. Just show your Post 178 Membership Card. All cuts are by appointment only so call (916) 806-6704 today or go on-line to:
https://squareup.com/appointments/book/E1YHXX0EHFNEX/gabe-s-fades-rio-vista-ca
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Located at 201 Main St is
The Pizza Factory
. With its famous slogan of
"We Toss'em, They're Awesome",
this parlor offers the best pizza, pasta and sandwiches. It is known for its signature pizza called The Humphrey, after the humpback whale which deviated into the SF Bay not once, but twice, stopping at the Rio Vista Bridge.
This is the neighborhood pizzeria where family and friends have been gathering for a slice since 1978. When ordering, if you show your Post 178 card, Veterans receive 15% off the pizza.
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Want the best Long Island type hot dog in the area? Try
Larry's Famous Dogs
at the cart at the Hwy 12 and Main St intersection. A familiar fixture for several years now at this location, Larry offers his customers the best old fashion hot dog experience.
If you tell Larry you're from Post 178 and display your American Legion Post 178 membership card, you will receive 50 cents off the price of the Larry's Combo which includes a dog, chips, and soda.
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After a long wait,
Angello's Deli
at the corner of 4th and Main St in Rio Vista has opened. Offering the best experience in real Italian deli sandwiches, this is the place for lunch. The meats and cheeses are fresh and of highest quality served on a variety of breads. Come in and experience for yourself this deli cafe.
If you present your American Legion Post 178 membership card with your bill, you will receive $1.00 discount off your lunch.
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Located in the heart of Rio Vista at 210 Main St, the iconic cafe called
The Striper
, has been serving great breakfasts to the community for nearly 15 years. This cafe has all the old-time fan favorites, including weekend specials like SOS and Eggs Benedict. Open daily from 5:30 AM til 2:00 PM, drop in and enjoy breakfast or lunch any time of the day.
By informing the waitress that you are a Veteran and displayjng your American Legion Post 178 membership card, you will receive a 10% discount off your total bill.
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Your Comments
If you have any comments or suggestions for this newsletter, please forward them to:
Jim McCracken
178Adjutant@gmail.com
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