january-february 2014

266 London Bridge Road
Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403
(928) 855-5640
www.vfw9401.org
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2014
Views Editor: Mary Stray-Salisbury
Contact Information:
Phone: (928) 706-4044
Email: Views9401@suddenlink.net
VFW Post 9401 Lake Havasu City
Thank you for supporting your VFW Post.
VFW's TROOP SUPPORT
AT A GLANCE
Since 2006, over 7.3
million free connections
home for deployed troops
and hospitalized veterans.
♦ More than $4.6 million in
grants toward emergency
financial aid to over 3,450
military families.
♦ Hosted nearly 2 million
military families at events
worldwide since 2007.
♦
Through NMS, the VFW offers
support and assistance to the
military community in many ways.
We are here to help military
members and their families weather
long deployments and cope with
emergency financial situations. But,
our help doesn't stop there. Find out
more about what we offer and find
out how you can help.
Some say they've got your
back. We prove it.
Joan McDermott
2013-2014 Commander Post 9401
COMMAMDERS COMMENTS:
Post 9401 is beginning another year! All of you – comrades and
auxiliaries – contribute every day to the many ways we provide
outstanding support and create the most welcoming place for
veterans in Lake Havasu City. We are so happy to welcome our
winter visitors, who contribute to the success of our Post, as well.
November was an extremely busy month. It began with Chuck
Wittmaak’s Western Days party. Once again we coordinated the
Flag Retirement Ceremony for the city; literally thousands of �lags
were appropriately retired at Campbell Ranch. The Veterans Day
commemoration on November11th began with over 100 veterans
in local motorcycle groups leading the parade. Lietz-Fraze Funeral
Home presented their �irst annual Veteran of the Year and
Auxiliary Member of the Year Awards to Dave and Sharon Eaton
for their many years of consistent support in assisting grieving
veterans’ families. Hospice of Havasu provided information and
completed free advance directives for Post members. A 2nd annual
Car and Bike Show was very ably organized by Sister Linda Smith;
the event was enjoyed by light-hearted entrants and other guests
on a perfect Fall day. There were also a Poker Run and the annual
Pearl Harbor Golf Tournament, coordinated by Comrade Fred
Mohun, Chairman.
December began with events recognizing VFW Voice of Democracy,
Patriot Pen, and Teacher of the Year program local winners (see
the article in this issue of The Views). Chairman Frank Emery once
again coordinated the events. Post 9401 also sponsored the
associated District 8 recognition banquet. There were a multitude
of holiday parties, dinners, and a New Year’s Eve celebration with
entertainer, Gary Peasley, presiding. Special ‘thank you’s’ to Lynda
Rodgers, Canteen Manager, Luke Peterson, Kitchen Manager, and
volunteers and staff who always assure that the details of all the
happenings at the Post are enjoyable for everyone. (- continued -)
I would especially like to thank you, on behalf of
all the veterans who will receive the
overwhelmingly generous donations to the
Christmas stockings drive. You filled all 120
stockings! The donations were sent on their way
by Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home on Friday,
December 20th. Thank you, too, to our Sisters,
led by Darlene Salazar, President, who made
Christmas joyous for many needy families with
Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets and
with Christmas presents donated by Post
members for children in families who could not
meet the wishes of their little ones this year.
In the next few months we will be reviewing
many options to make the Post even more
functional – and ‘user-friendly’. There will be
some changes on the dining menu. The House
Committee are looking at a variety of innovative
changes along with all the ongoing small, but
necessary, maintenance and upgrading tasks
required to keep the Post functioning smoothly.
Beginning after the holidays, we will begin
recruiting for next year’s slate of Post officers
and appointed members. If you currently hold a
position and would like to continue for another
year or would like to consider another role,
please see me or one of the other officers. Fred
Mohun has informed me that he definitely will
not continue his role as Quartermaster next year.
If you have an interest in serving the Post and
our veterans in a substantial way, this position
would definitely be a way to do that! I can
assure you from my own personal experience
that, no matter in what position you have an
interest, there are many knowledgeable
comrades who are very willing to assure you
receive all the orientation you might need!
Joan McDermott
2013-2014 Commander Post 9401
QUARTERMASTER’S CORNER
Happy and Healthy New Year to all!!! Welcome back to all our winter
visitors. Thank you for supporting Post 9401.
On March 15, 2014, we will be hosting our annual VFW Golf Tournament at
the Island in Lake Havasu. Sign up is 8:00am and we start at 9:00 am. We
will have raffle drawings, 50/50 and cash prizes. It is Texas Scramble format.
To make this works, we need volunteers to sell tickets, work the event and a
host of other things. We will have a meeting at the Post on January 8, 2014 at
11:00 am to organize our efforts. This is THE Post Fundraiser. It is the only one we have just for the Post for the
year. The funds from this assist us in maintaining the Post in order provide help to our veterans. Please help us in
this effort and have some fun, too! Thanks
Yours in Commandership,
Fredrick J. Mohun, Quartermaster
… “Please pay your dues so you can continue to
enjoy the benefits of membership” …
From Your Canteen Manager:
Greetings and Happy New Year to everyone.
Hope your holidays were joyful and you all
enjoyed your time with families and friends.
Another sold out event; our LAVFW
Oktoberfest chaired by Hilde was, as always, a
big success. The food was excellent and the
trio performing were very good as well.
Thanks to the sisters who helped in the kitchen
and serving: Marlene, Jan H., Darlene, Babs
and everyone who helped.
We’ve had several functions these past
few months and they have all been very
successful and profitable for our Post
and Veteran’s Programs. Thank you so
very much to all of the wonderful
volunteers who chair and assist with
these events. The MAVFW Chili Cookoff and Costume Party was so much fun.
Western Days was great as well. The
Pearl Harbor Golf Tournament went off
without a hitch thanks to everyone’s
hard work. Thank you to Doug and
Ethel for hosting their wedding
reception at our Post.
Our Veteran’s Day Parade and ceremony
at Wheeler Park and afterwards was
wonderful and attended by so many in
our community. We can all be very
proud of our organization and our
Commander Joan and all who helped
(and there were a lot). Special thanks to
Kristen, Stephanie, Holly and Zach for
coming to our Post afterwards for
cocktails/auctions/ and most of all – lots
of fun. Manny (what a good sport)
dancing around in the auctioned
(thanks, Tuna) dress was priceless.
They, raised another $60.00 for our
Veterans.
Lietz-Fraze have been so
generous to our veterans and they are
very much appreciated.
Thanks to Kathleen and her helpers for
the delicious Spaghetti Dinners for
LAVFW Cancer Aid and Research and
the VFW Riders.
Nothing but
compliments all around.
Our VFW Golf Tournament will be
March 15th and we will be needing
volunteers to help with this event.
Also coming up in March is our USO
Show and Dinner – details next Views. If
you’re interested in being in the show
see sign-up sheet or Linda Smith or
Colleen.
We again have a shuttle service for our
members in case you need a ride home
at no charge. Just let bartender know if
(-continued-)
you would like to use this service. Our
company now is Day and Night Shuttle.
Regarding our bartenders; I would like
to make everyone aware that all of
these women have attended the
Arizona State Liquor Laws Class and are
knowledgeable of our Arizona State
Laws. They all have licenses issued by
the State. They have also been taught
the rules and regulations of our VFW
Post and VFW National policies. They
have also attended Mohave County
Food Handlers Class and have these
certifications as well. These ladies are
trained and experienced and just a
reminder - THEY ARE ALL VOLUNTEERS!
Just thought you might like to know.
See you at the Post!!
God Bless America and God Bless our Troops!
Lynda Rodgers
Canteen Manager
Our upcoming events include (also see attached calendar):
Monday, 1/13/14 LAVFW CAR Spaghetti Dinner 5PM-7PM
Saturday, 1/18/14 LAVFW Initiation 12N and Wine Tasting 2PM
Wednesday, 1/22/14 House Committee Meeting
Monday, 1/27/14 LAVFW CAR Spaghetti Dinner 5PM-7PM
Saturday, 2/1/14 Young Marines Pancake Breakfast – time tbd
Sunday, 2/2/14 Super Bowl Party 4PM – pizza and wings, plus stuff
Saturday, 2/8/14 MAVFW Senior Prom Dinner and Dance
Monday, 2/10/14 LAVFW CAR Spaghetti Dinner 5PM-7PM
Monday, 2/24/14 LAVFRW CAR Spaghetti Dinner 5PM-7PM
Wednesday, 2/26/14 House Committee Meeting
Check at Post for details, additions and/or changes.
VFW POST 9401 REVISED AND IMPROVED MENU
SUNDAY BREAKFAST MENU
Served 8:00am — 11:30am
2 eggs, hash browns, toast
• add Ham, Bacon or Sausage
Steak & Eggs
Diced Ham & Eggs
Chicken Fried Steak & Eggs
Biscuits & Gravy
1/2 order B.&G
Extra Gravy
3 Pancakes
• Short Stack
Eggs Benedict
Ala Carte
1 Pancake
1 Egg
Side Ham, Bacon or Sausage
Hash Browns or Home Fries
Side of Toast (2 Slices)
Milk or Juice
Coffee or Tea
$3.75
$5.25
$9.25
$5.25
$7.00
$3.75
$2.75
$ .50
$3.00
$2.25
$6.50
$1.75
$1.00
$2.50
$2.00
$1.00
$1.50
$1.00
Breakfast Buffet
The 2nd & 4th Sunday $7.00
—ALL OUR SERVERS ARE VOLUNTEERS—
LUNCH MENU
Served Tuesday thru Thursday 11:30-1:30pm
Chili Size
Ortega Burger
Mushroom Burger
Plain Hamburger
Ham & Cheese
Reuben
TUESDAY
$6.00 Cheese Burger $6.00
$6.00 Bacon Burger
$6.00
$6.00 Pork Tenderloin $6.00
$5.50 The Works Burger $6.50
$5.50 Patty Melt
$6.00
$6.00
WEDNESDAY
Oriental Chicken
French Dip
Philly Cheese
Open Faced Prime Rib
*THURSDAY
Tacos
$1.50
Shrimp Plate $5.50
Soup or Chili Cup
Bowl of Soup or Chili
Onion Rings
French Fries
$6.00
$6.00
$6.00
$6.50
Taco Salad
ALL EXTRAS
$2.50
$3.50
$2.50
$2.00
$5.00
$ .25
All Lunches served with your choice of French Fries, Cottage
Cheese, Onion Rings, Cup of Soup or Chili (*Not available on
Thursdays)
FRIDAY DINNER MENU
Served 4:30pm—7:30pm
We Proudly Serve Prime Rib the
1st & 3rd Friday of Each Month*
“ALL OUR BEEF IS ANGUS”
*Prime Rib 10oz (1st & 3rd Fri.)
*Prime Rib Luke Cut (1st & 3rd Fri.)
Rib Eye Steak 10oz
Rib Eye Luke Cut
6 PC Deep Fried Shrimp
Beer Battered Cod (All You Can Eat in house)
For any Combo Add
$ 3.00
Baby Back Ribs (2nd Fri.)
Ribs Only
$ 6.00
Baked Pork Chops (4th Fri.)
$15.75
$19.75
$ 9.75
$15.25
$ 9.75
$ 8.00
$ 9.00
$ 8.00
All Dinners include:
Salad—Potato—Vegetable—Roll
—ALL OUR SERVERS ARE VOLUNTEERS—
VFW POST 9401 WINNERS IN VOICE OF DEMOCRACY AND
PATRIOT’S PEN PROGRAMS HONORED
Frank Emery, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Voice of Democracy Chairman, Bridget Jacobs, 4th Place,
Thomas Anderson II, 3rd Place, Kealey Williams, 1st Place, Adrianna Levine, 2nd Place, and Paul Hilton, tied
for 4th Place.
The Voice of Democracy Program for high school students is initiated annually at the local VFW Post
level. Students create their own essays. Each entrant must submit a written and an oral recording of their
work. The theme for 2013-2014 was: “Why I'm Optimistic About our Nation’s Future”. Students
create their own essays. Judging is based on originality, content, and delivery. The participants in the
program were presented with scholarship donations at an informal ceremony at Havasu High School on
Friday, December 13th.
Patriot’s Pen entrants are drawn from grades 6 through 8. Written essays submitted must contain no less
than 300 and no more than 400 words. The theme for 2013-2014 was: “What Patriotism Means to Me”.
Students must demonstrate a thorough understanding of the theme. They must present relevant
facts and relate them to their own experiences. Readers look for clarity in the explanation of the
theme.
Patriot’s Pen winners: Cole Tabura, 1st Place, Brissy Doway, 2nd Place, Jordon Erienson, 3rd Place
(all from Thunderbolt Middle School). Hanna Walgren, Lidin Fernandez, Elizabeth Heideman,
and Trinity Vessells (Thunderbolt Middle School), and Tatum Krel (Havasu Preparatory Academy)
were also recognized for their submissions.
Students can ask a teacher or youth group leader to supervise their progress in the competitions.
Then students can contact a local participating VFW Post and established a contact person who is a
member of that Post or its Ladies Auxiliary. Additional information regarding these programs can be
found in the Programs segment of the State of Arizona and National VFW website.
The Post also hosted the VFW District 8 Awards Banquet honoring Voice of Democracy, Patriot
Pen, and Teacher of the Year winners on December 7th.
Joan B. McDermott
Commander, VFW Post 9401 (928-230-4931)
PRESIDENT’S PAGE
Dear Sisters,
I want to thank you for your help
and for the wonderful year we
have had so far. I hope you all had
safe and happy holidays.
Some of you may not know, but
2013-2014 President Darlene Salazar
we helped 17 families for
Thanksgiving and Christmas with food baskets and gifts. We
were able to do this in great part because of Gary and Jan
Molenrich who take the cans in for us. Thanks also to Jan for
helping me with the food shopping for the baskets. And a BIG
THANK YOU to our Men’s Auxiliary for the $1,000 donation for
these food and gift baskets. You are AWESOME…!
2013-2014
LAVFW 9401 OFFICERS
President: Darlene Salazar
darlenechirrick@gmail.com
Sr. Vice: Carrie Bogdanovich
ngc6818@gmail.com
Jr. Vice: Bobbi Johnston
Treasurer: Dallas Emery
frankemery@npgcable.com
Secretary: Jan Howarth
janhow@frontier.com
Sisters, if you have questions about a program/chairmanship
please speak to the chairman or myself. We have had some
misinformation being given out. Someone may THINK they
know the correct answer and give you the wrong one.
Don’t forget we meet on the 2nd Thursday of the month at 6 PM.
Chaplain: Joani Goll
mjson5@npgcable.com
Thanks again for all you do to support our Auxiliary!!!!
1st Trustee: Jan Polyard
With Sisterly love,
2nd Trustee: Lynda Rodgers
lynda.rodgers@yahoo.com
Darlene Salazar
LAVFW 9401 President
3rd Trustee: Suzie Gleason
suzieg@frontiernet.net
Conductress: Mary Salisbury
mcsalisbury@npgcable.com
Guard: Babs Schafer
Patriotic Instructor: Midge Rowe
Food and Gift baskets distributed.
Thank you to all those who
donated gifts, food, money and
time. You make our VFW, LAVFW
and MAVFW proud!!!
Historian: Marlene Austin
marlene3490@npgcable.com
MESSAGE ABOUT MEMBERSHIP
Sisters,
Thank you to all our sisters that paid their membership dues early.
It’s so important to keep your dues current so you don’t miss out
on the benefits we have to offer.
However, if you have not paid your 2014 dues, you will be dropped
from the roster and this will likely be your last copy of the Views. If
you are having problems paying, please contact me. My home phone number is 928855-7049. This is your Auxiliary and we are here to help you if at all possible. If you
know of a member who needs help, please let us know.
Many thanks go to Hilde for calling those who haven’t paid yet. I very much appreciate
your help.
Sincerely,
Dallas Emery
Auxiliary Treasurer/Membership Chairman
Dear Sister,
This letter is an appeal; asking you to update the information that we have for you.
Please verify that we have your correct mailing address and phone number. If you have
an email address, we would like to have it. In case you have not heard, the Post has
switched to email for the Post newsletter, “The Views”. Please fill out the form and
return to the Post; please print legibly. Thank you,
Dallas Emery
LAVFW 9401 Treasurer
Name: _______________________________________________________
Address: _____________________________________________________
City, St, Zip: __________________________________________________
Phone Number: ________________________________________________
Email: _______________________________________________________
LAVFW 9401
“BUNKO”
SAT, MARCH 1, 2014
11:00 a.m.
FOOD-PRIZES-FUN
Requested Donation
$10.00
All proceeds to:
CANCER AID &
RESEARCH
For More Information Contact Kathleen Forslin: 928-230-9310