News – VFW POST 7327

Post update

Commander’s Article

Hello folks and welcome to our 2023 newsletter. Yes, we still have a newsletter. I know we have not been very good at getting this out to you, and I do apologize for that. The good news is that with the use of Constant Contact, we have been keeping in touch with all of you throughout the year when we need to, especially the important bits and pieces. With Constant Contact my goal has been to limit the material coming out of the Post Home to the most important and time-sensitive information, for instance, dates that the VA has been dealing with this year in regard to the Pact Act. I really did not want to fill up your email with weekly blasts. With all that said, I am letting you know that we’ve updated (and are still working on it) the post website. Basically, we redesigned it and turned it into more of a news and information site with relevant links. This will give the individuals who write the news articles access to the site to post information and announcements whenever they wish. This will also allow me and the Auxiliary President the ability to get information out sooner rather than later.

When we created the website, we wanted to make it as clear as possible with the domain name. We also wanted to be sure folks could find us, so we own a few website names, which keeps scammers from using our name. All of the addresses listed here are pointed to one site: springfieldvfw.org, post7327.org and vfwpost7327.org. The site is also protected from scammers with the “https.” The new design offers us the ability to update information quickly, especially Veterans Administration changes/ policies. We will also be posting updates for ongoing fundraiser events like the Army-Navy game tailgate, as well as the projects we’ve done in the past and want to start back up, like distributing Buddy Poppy’s at the Ft. Belvoir Exchange and the local Giant(s), organizing the Highway Cleanup program, and assisting the Honor Flight blankets program with the South County Middle School students.

Another advantage to the redesigned site is that the Auxiliary will be updating their information going forward. We will also have members only page/information where we will be posting meeting minutes as well as any Quartermasters reports. I am working on fixing the protection plan to keep the members only information secure. When this is completed, I will send out a blast email with directions on how to access the documents. My goal is to have all relevant information out there for members to see. Since we are a 501C (19), our financials are public records, but meeting notes are not. As a side note, our Facebook (FB) site is currently having difficulties in that FB does not like what we are posting. It seems that promoting Veteran causes is considered a violation of FB’s community standards. So, posting updates there is a bit difficult right now. I am working on getting out of FB “jail.” The link on the top of the website will take you to our FB page when it is active again. The American Legion was in “jail” with us for a few weeks, and I will touch base with them to see how to fix it.

We’ve also made it easier to share information on the different VFW national programs, like Patriot’s Pen and Voice of Democracy with QR codes that can be used via cell phone. For example, you can use your phone to access the site and share the code/link with anyone. The link takes you to a fillable form directly on the vfw.org site. The benefit is you can send this to anyone who is looking to take part in either program. The post awards 3 prizes in each of the programs. 1st place gets $275; 2^nd place gets $175; and 3rd place gets $75. The winners are forwarded to District 10 for judging and are eligible for its awards and, if they win the District they will be advanced to the Department of Virginia for consideration for the National Grand prize. VOD is $35,000 and PP is $5,000. The deadline for applications is Monday October 31st. I’ll make it a point to be at the post that day to collect applications.

That’s all for housekeeping. Let me point out the programs that we cosponsored with the Springfield American Legion Post 176 over the past year and a few programs that will be coming up. On May 7th the Commander of the American Legion and I invited local Vietnam Veterans to an appreciation event at the American Legion. The following expresses the spirit of the event:

The 550 Vietnam Veteran members of Post 176, along with countless others, including those who did not return home, were celebrated on Sunday, May 7th. A large banner, signed by members and guests prior to the event, was hung at the entrance to the Post. American Legion Commander Kevin Gaddis spoke of the 550 Vietnam veterans, the 65 Korean War veterans, and the 16 World War II veterans who still consider Post 176 their home Post. He also recognized the Gold Star wives in attendance.

MOPH Commander Angelo Wilder said that he does not regret serving in the military, “What I regret is the homecoming.”

VFW Post 7327 Commander Joseph Byrnes, told the audience, “The best way to honor them today is the fact that you are here.”

Virginia Delegate Kathy Tran, whose family fled Vietnam when she was only seven months old, shared that the memories of the Vietnam war are still close to the hearts of everyone.

Pat Herrity, Springfield District Supervisor since 2007, said, “It is absolutely critical…that we make up for that lack of a hero’s welcome” of which those who fought in Vietnam were deprived.

Roger Schultz, Lieutenant General (retired), spoke of his career. “I’m a soldier…when we take that oath, it changes us.” He went on to thank the Gold Star wives and asked the crowd to remember the POW/MIA.

American Legion First Vice Commander Dennis Madtes provided the POW/MIA remembrance, with an explanation of each item on the display. “They are commonly known as POW/MIA, but we call them brothers and sisters.” Tim Park from Post 177 played TAPS on the bugle to end the ceremony.

On a personal note, this Welcome Home celebration was well overdue.

We’ve participated in several other joint programs, and I will be adding their story to the website when I receive the images of the events. Please stay tuned; however, I would like to acknowledge two of the most important events: Memorial Day services and Patriots Day (September 11th remembrance). Both were very touching. I had a chance to speak with folks at each event. Based on the conversations I had, I feel these functions are a great benefit to the veterans community and help bring more attention to our causes.

In closing, the redesigned website will help to keep you informed as long as you are accessing it! I will continue to send out email blasts as events warrant. Don’t be surprised when you click on a notice, and it takes you to the website.

Be safe and remember that if someone asks you if we are open, let them know the Springfield VFW Post 7327 is open for business, and our business is helping all veterans.

The Buddy Poppy Story

The poppy movement was inspired by the poem “In Flanders Fields” written by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae of the Canadian forces, before the United States entered World War I. Poppies were flowering in the spring of 1915 on the battlefields of Belgium, France and Gallipoliow, growing wild amid the ravaged landscape which was the inspiration for Colonel McCrae’s poem.

Selling replicas of the original Flanders’ poppy was originally sold to provide relief for the people of war-devastated France. Shortly after World War I, Madame E. Guerin, founder of the American and French Children’s League, became concerned that the free world was forgetting too soon those sleeping in Flanders Fields. Guerin began attending the conventions of any serviceman’s organization that would allow her to speak. Her request was always the same – to enact the following resolution: “Be it resolved that every member, if possible, and his or her family shall wear a silk red poppy.”

In April 1919, the “Poppy Lady”, as Madame Guerin was now known, arrived in the United States. When the Poppy Lady turned to the VFW for help, the organization readily agreed to take over from the American Legion. In May 1922, the VFW conducted the first nationwide distribution of poppies in the United States. Then, at its National Encampment in Seattle in August 1922, the organization adopted the poppy as the official memorial flower of the VFW.

A plan culminated to pay disabled and needy American veterans to make the poppies. This plan was presented to the 1923 National Encampment for approval. Immediately following the plan’s adoption, a VFW poppy factory was set up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was from these early disabled poppy makers that the name which would be the flower’s trademark came. The name grew out of the poppy makers’ remembrances of their buddies who never came back from war. Undoubtedly, because it expressed so simply the deepest significance of the Poppy Plan, the name stuck. All over the country, the little red flower became known as the “Buddy Poppy.”

In February 1924, the VFW registered the name “Buddy Poppy” with the U.S. Patent Office. On May 20, 1924, a certificate was issued granting the VFW, under the classification of artificial flowers, all trademark rights to the name of “Buddy.” No other organization, firm, or individual can use the name “Buddy Poppy.” The VFW has made this trademark a guarantee that all poppies bearing that name and the VFW label are the work of bona fide disabled and needy veterans.

Posts receive their profits from donations received in exchange for poppies to the public. National by-laws require that the profits from these sales be placed in the post’s Relief Fund to be used only for the following purposes:

- - - - For the aid, assistance, relief, and comfort of needy or disabled veterans or members of the Armed Forces and their dependents, and the widows and orphans of deceased veterans.
        For the maintenance and expansion of the VFW National Home and other facilities devoted exclusively to the benefit and welfare of the dependents, widows, and orphans of disabled, needy, or deceased veterans or members of the Armed Forces.
        For necessary expenses in providing entertainment, care, and assistance to hospitalized veterans or members of the Armed Forces.
        For veterans’ rehabilitation, welfare, and service work.
        To perpetuate the memory of deceased veterans and members of the Armed Forces, and to comfort survivors.

No matter what the cost of maintaining and supplying the Poppy Shops, the memorial poppy is never sold, but given in exchange for a contribution.

Today, VFW Buddy Poppies are assembled by disabled, needy, and aging veterans in VA Hospitals and domiciliaries across the country. The majority of proceeds derived from each donation conducted by VFW Posts and their Ladies Auxiliaries is retained locally to provide for veteran services and welfare. The minimal assessment (cost of Buddy Poppies) to VFW units provides compensation to the veterans who assembled the poppies, provides financial assistance in maintaining state and national veterans’ rehabilitation and service programs, and partially supports the VFW National Home for orphans and widows of our nation’s veterans.

Join the “HIGHWAYS HEROERS” Of VFW Post 7327

ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY Clean-Up Our Next Adopt-A-Highway cleanup is scheduled for Saturday, 14 October 2023 with an "inclement weather" date of Saturday, 21 October

We will follow the model we successfully implemented during our last several Adopt-A-Highway sessions to safely and confidently conduct our clean-up. As a quick review, we will meet in the parking lot of TGI Fridays which is next to our section of the Franconia-Springfield Parkway (6751-B Frontier Drive, Springfield, VA) at 8:00 AM. We coordinated with TGI Fridays’ manager to ensure that our vehicles will be welcome in the parking lot and we can also use the area for drop offs/pick-ups if desired. We will then walk to our section of the road, so no one has to ride in anyone else’s car. All necessary equipment – reflective vests, gloves, grabbers, and orange garbage bags – snacks and bottled water will be provided. Pants, long-sleeve shirts, and boots are encouraged.

This remains an important and highly visible community service project along a busy stretch of road that includes official signs recognizing VFW Post 7327’s “adoption” of this part of the Parkway. This is also a good opportunity for all members of the Post and Auxiliary to participate and to make sure that our stretch of the Franconia-Springfield Parkway, to include theVeterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Bridge, will be “standing tall and looking good” for Veterans Day (11 November 2022). If you haven’t been to a VFW or Auxiliary meeting lately, this is a great chance to re-connect with Post 7327, your Comrades in the VFW, and Auxiliary members too. All are invited and friends, family, and community members are welcome.

After the cleanup is complete, some of us may choose to enjoy carry-out or lunch at TGI Fridays.
If you have questions or want more information, please contact Marty Holland, 703-232-5611 or martyholland@verizon.net.

Message from Your Auxiliary President

Where has the summer gone? It just seems to have whizzed past me. I guess that’s good since it means that we’ve been busy. Over the past few months, we took part in the Vietnam War Veterans Welcome Home with the American Legion Post 176. This long-overdue event was well attended and highly successful.

While I was visiting family in Galesburg, Illinois, over the Memorial Day weekend, I had the honor to present city Alderman Dwight White, a veteran, with a Vietnam Veteran’s pin and a Presidential certificate of service. I was also invited to join the local VFW Post’s contingent in the city’s Memorial Day Parade. It was a highlight of my trip.

In June, the Auxiliary again teamed up with the American Legion for Sonny’s (Magnificent) Fish Fry. The proceeds that were collected from the desserts and the two 50/50’s that were held were shared with the Legion. It was voted that our portion of the proceeds would go to the Messiah Methodist Church’s Weekend Backpack Program, which we have contributed to throughout the past year. At one-point last spring, Auxiliary Sisters Ittylene Neal and Marilynn Bianco helped with the distribution of food for the program. Both were extremely impressed with the scale of the project. They reported that the volunteers that day were filling 1600 bags in two rows with enough food to last the weekend. The filled bags would be distributed to various Springfield area schools. In September we again donated to this project, which helps provide nutritious food to 434 food insecure children in our community. The Bakeless Bakesale that started in July has been quite successful.

Thank you all for your generosity. Linda Byrnes, Treasurer and Membership Chair, reports that, as of our September meeting, Auxiliary membership is at 94.6%. We are slowly closing in on 100% plus 1. Way to go! Again, this year we will pick our free life member winner from those who have renewed their membership by September 30. Good luck to all.

Our fall plans are still in development. However, we have decided to support the DC VA Medical Center’s “Winterhaven for Veterans.” The aim of this initiative is to help homeless male and female veteransand veterans transitioning from homelessness to stable housing. Items (new only) needed for men/women include: undergarments; long undergarments; winter hats; winter gloves; socks; shoes/boots; winter coats (can be dry cleaned); and comfort kits (toiletries, no razors); and monetary donations (make checks out to the DCVA Medical Center earmarked for this cause). All donations must be at the Post Home by October 31.

In addition, there will be Veterans Day, Buddy Poppy, tailgate, and holiday events. Everything we do can always use more helpers. We’d love to have you with us. We meet on the second Wednesday of the month in person and online at our Post Home at 7:00pm. You can always contact me at 703-899-2252 or pres@vfwpost7327auxiliary.org.