THE FRANK E BOOMA POST 6

 NEWSLETTER

Founded 1919

May 2009

 Commander -- Frank Desper

COMMANDER’S MESSAGE

Post Color Guard will present the colors of our nation at a memorial service in the USS Albacore Park on Monday, May 25, 2009.  After a small break the Memorial Day parade starts at 1:00 p.m.  The parade will step off from Citizens Bank parking lot, proceeding towards downtown turning onto Congress Street, turning onto Middle Street and turning again onto Richards Avenue, it will finish inside South Cemetery at the Civil War Monument.  During this or anytime of year, you can pick up a grave marker flag at the Post.  While I’m on the subject of flags, if you have a tattered flag that needs to be retired, bring it to the Post for Flag Day to be held on Sunday, June 14, 2009.  Also on flags, I attended a meeting of the Central Veterans Council and after our discussion, they, along with the Marine Corps Detachment, the V.F.W. family and Post 6 made donations to purchase over 1000 (6”) small flags to give out before and as we march the parade route.  We had a great turnout by the membership last year, please consider marching again?  I would like you to propose a little more help this year; the first is; for those of you who march, would you help pass out the small flags to the spectators as we march, the second is; I submitted to the city permission to sell Post memorabilia at a Post designated booth (on the parade route).  I am looking for 2 people and the third is; helping the Sons-of-the-American-Legion with the B-B-Q after the parade which is held in the City Hall parking lot on Junkins avenue. As you know, during any veteran historic occasion we give our respects to our fallen friends and comrades.  If it wasn’t for “us” Veteran’s banding together, the phrase, “America, the land of the free and the home of the brave” would not have any meaning.  It is my sad duty to report that Carlton “Charlie” Cassidy (37 year member) has been called to the Commander of us all, may his soul go marching on.  P.S.  I added an extra page to the newsletter for you.  It was submitted by a veteran to Department Headquarters for all to read.  Please take a moment to reflect on her views as it touches your core values as a veteran.

 Frank Desper, Post Commander

 JUNIOR VICE COMMANDER’S MESSAGE

I want to thank everyone that came out to vote this year, we had a good turnout and have a few changes in our officers. I am sure they will do a good job and I congratulate them and wish them well. It was a pleasure to have served you this year as Jr. Vice Commander and I will be here to serve the Post in any way that I can.

John Moulton will be taking over as Jr. Vice Commander and we have already started planning for our next events for the year. Please give him the support you gave me. I am sure he will do a great job.

 Richard “Brooksie” Brooks, Post Jr. Vice Commander

ADJUTANT’S MESSAGE

 There will be a revote for the position of Post Adjutant and Chaplain. Voting will take place in the Post home at the next scheduled meeting, Thursday, May 21, 2009. Post meeting will start at 6 p.m.

The following candidates were elected to Post offices.

  George McCall , Post Adjutant

 POST 6 COLOR GUARD MESSAGE

 Our next Fish Fry will be Friday, May 1, 2009.  Thank you for your loyalty and please continue to support us. 

 Your 2 Time National Post 6 Color Guard

 SQUADRON COMMANDER’S MESSAGE

 I would like thank my outgoing officers and the members of the Squadron for a great year as your Squadron Commander.  I want to congratulate Commander Grant Bergeron and his officers for the upcoming 2009-2010 year.  Best wishes and good luck, may you have a successful year. The next SAL meeting is Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at 6 p.m.  It would be nice to see you there.  Do not forget Surf & Turf every Saturday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.  The S.A.L. will be doing it on Saturday, May 9, 2009. 

 Michael Hunt, S.A.L. Commander

 SQUADRON ADJUTANT’S MESSAGE

 I would like to thank all the people who took the time to come out and vote for their newly elected officers. The results of the SAL elections are as follows:

 Our next SAL meeting is on Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at 6 p.m.

Bob Prendergast, S.A.L. Adjutant

BAND SCHEDULE

 May 2nd – Downtown Rhythm

May 8th – Karaoke w/DJ Darlene

May 9th – Crazy River Band

May 16th – Bill Vendasi

May 23rd – Alan Roux

May 30th – Front Page

GRILLE STEWARD’S MESSAGE

Spring is here and we have some great entertainment coming this month.  Crazy River Band is new to the Legion so come on in and check them out.  We had a fantastic month in April.  I hope everyone enjoyed the entertainment.  Cinco de Mayo is Tuesday, May 5, 2009 with drink specials as well as giveaways – come celebrate!  Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 10, 2009 and we will be have a Sunday Brunch free to the members and their guests from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. In the Grille we will be having mimosa and bloody mary drink specials.  Bring a mother and enjoy the day.  We will also be having a Father’s Day Brunch on Sunday, June 21, 2009 with the Motown sounds featuring Bill Lumas starting at 3 p.m.  Do not miss this.  We will be having draft beer specials throughout the day so mark your calendars.  Remember summer is right around the corner, so stay cool and safe.  See you in June.

Sue Desper, Grille Steward

SURF & TURF SCHEDULE

May 2nd – Post

May 9th – S.A.L.

May 16th – Unit

May 23rd – Color Guard

May 30th – Grille

BENEFIT DANCE

Donna Leclair is a member of Portsmouth Unit 6, American Legion Auxiliary, who has a life threatening cancer.  The benefit will be held Saturday May 23, 2009 at the V.F.W. Hall in Portsmouth from 3:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.  Entertainment by the Family Affair Band.  We will also be raffling off many of the items that were donated by area business and people for this event.  A $10.00 donation per person is requested.  Hope to see you there. Thank you, her family and friends.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

I would like to thank the membership for having faith in me and electing me to a third year as your President. I am sure that with the slate of Officers you elected, along with myself, this Unit will have a great year working along side Legion Commander Frank Desper and Squadron Commander Grant Bergeron.

I would like to thank the out going slate of Officers for their time and conviction to this Organization and being willing to work together to accomplish all that we did over the last year.

In this Bulletin you will find a copy of the form for submitting recipes to the Auxiliary Cookbook that the Auxiliary gave permission to be made.   Please only put one recipe on this form. If you need more please make a copy of the form.

Poppy Days are Friday, May 29, 2009 and Saturday, May 30, 2009. If you have a few hours available to help us distribute Poppies please show up at the Post to get the Poppies and go out and distribute the Poppies. Additional information is at the Grille.

Department Convention is Thursday, June 25 through Sunday, June 28, 2009. The delegates to Convention will be there to attend meetings and bring back information to the membership. Hopefully Unit #6 will return with a few awards.

The next Unit meeting will be on Thursday, May 14, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.

I would like to congratulate our own Richard "Brooksie" Brooks upon his election as the President of the Central Veterans Council.

The Unit would like to wish Happy 80th Birthday to George McCall . We succeeded in keeping the surprise party a surprise, a little too well. George arrived about 3 hours after the party started due to other commitments as he is the Department Commander.

Sheila Brooks, Unit President & District #3 Director

A Point of View
By Patricia Salwei

I approached the entrance to Fort Belvoir's medical facility last year as an old veteran puttered towards me.  Easily over 80 years old, stooped and slow, I barely gave him a second glance because on his heels was a full bird colonel. As they approached, I rendered a sharp salute and barked, "Good morning, Sir!".  Because they were heel to toe, I began my salute as the old veteran was about two paces from me.  He immediately came to life! Transformed by my greeting, he rose to his full height, returned my salute with pride, and exclaimed, "Good morning captain!".  I was startled, but the full bird behind him was flabbergasted.   The colonel stopped mid-salute, smiled at me and quietly moved on. As I entered the clinic, the utter beauty of the encounter preoccupied me. What prompted the old man to assume that I was saluting him? Perhaps he just thought, "It's about time!" After all, doesn't a veteran out rank us all? I turned my attention to the waiting room taking a moment to survey the veterans there.  Service people rushed around, loudspeakers blared, and the bell for the prescription window kept ringing.  It was a whirl of activity and the older veterans sat quietly on the outside seemingly out of step, patiently waiting to be seen.  Nobody was seeing.

My old friend stayed on my mind.  I began to pay attention to the military's attitude towards its veterans.  I witnessed indifference: Impatient soldiers and airmen plowing over little old ladies at the commissary; I noticed my own agitation as an older couple cornered me at the Officer's Club and began reminiscing about their tour in Germany.

To our disgrace, I have also witnessed disdain: At Ramstein Air Base terminal, an airman was condescending and borderline cruel with a deaf veteran flying Space Available; An ancient woman wearing a WACS button was shoved aside by a cadet at the Women's Memorial dedication in D.C.; A member of the color guard turned away in disgust from a drunk Vietnam vet trying to talk to him before the Veteran's Day Ceremony at the Vietnam War Memorial. Have you been to a ceremony at the Wall lately?  How about a Veteran's Day parade in a small town?  The crowds are growing faint. Why do we expect the general public to care if we don't?  We are getting comfortable again. It is not my intention to minimize the selfless service of our modern military; my comrades are the greatest people I know.  But lately I'm wondering if the public's attitude towards the military isn't just a reflection of thee active duty military's attitude towards its own veterans. It's time to ask -- do we regard them, do we consider them at all?  How does our attitude change when the hero is no longer wearing a uniform?  I was proud to wear my uniform.  Can I admit that I thought it was cool?  There is no denying that there is something about our profession, combined with youth that feeds the ego a little.

We have all seen a young pilot strut into the Officer's Club with his flight suit on.  He matters; he takes on the room; he knows he can take on the world.  But, one day he will leave his jet for a desk, and eventually he will have to hang up that flight suit, like a super hero hanging up his cape. How will we measure his value then?  He will no longer look like a pilot, an officer, a colonel.  He'll just look like an old man coming out of the clinic with his prescription.

But, is he no less a hero?  Will anybody remember or care about all the months he spent away from his newborn daughter while making peace a possibility in the Balkans?  Probably not, our society has a short memory.  Maybe it is not for the protected to understand.  Rather, it is my hope that when a young lieutenant walks by him they will each see themselves reflected in the other - one's future, the other's past.  In that moment, perhaps, the lieutenant will also see the hero, now disguised as an old man, and thank him.

The truth is there are heroes in disguise everywhere.  I used to wonder why people would want to chat with me when I was in uniform, telling me about their four years as a radio operator in Korea.  So what?  I wasn't impressed relative to my own experiences.  Now I understand that they were telling me because nobody else cared.  Proud of their service, no matter how limited, and still in love with our country, they were trying to stay connected.

Their stories were a code for "I understand and appreciate you, can you appreciate me?"  The answer is yes.  I separated from the military in February.  I'm out of the club.  Still, I want you to know that I'll attend the parades, visit the memorials, and honor you while my kids and your kids are watching. Then, maybe someday when I'm an old woman riding the metro, a young airman will take a moment of her time to listen to one of my war stories.  I, in turn, will soak in her beauty and strength, and remember.

Today as I reflect on my adventures in the Air Force, I'm thinking of that ancient warrior I collided with at Fort Belvoir.  I'm wondering where he is, if he's still alive, if it's too late to thank him.  I want to start a campaign in his honor - Salute a Veteran.   Yes, this started out as a misunderstanding on my part.  But, now I get it.  That day was the first time in my life that I really understood what it meant to salute someone.  Dear veteran, I recognize and hail you!  I do understand what I have and what you have given to make it possible.  So I'm wondering if we meet on the street again.  May I salute you?