May 2009
Rtd. General "Stormin" Norman Schwarzkopf and Admirers
Tanya aka "The Colonel," daughter of VFW Life Member Roger Caper and wife Renate, during a charity Sporting Clay Shoot in Tampa, had the privilege and honor to meet chat with General Schwarzkopf, retired commander of Dester Storm fame, with fellow US Air Force ROTC Cadets, Lori Wilhelm and Ashlee Young.
"It doesn't take a hero to order men to battle. It takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into battle." General Norman Schwarzkopf
A tribute to the American Vietnam war veterans who volunteered to continue the fight against the communist enemy in a forgotten war in a forgotten African country.
Our numbers dwindle now and fade.
Will history prove a mark we made?
I doubt we'll merit but a line -
Just memories which are yours and mine.
But in our hearts we thought it right
To make a place for black and white.
Our cause, though just, our spirits strong,
Oh history, will you prove us wrong?
Le men deride and have no care,
We can with price state "I was there!"
Author David Blacker was a friend and comrade who served in the same regiment as Roger Capper during the Rhodesian Bush War and wrote the poem in 1984.
April 2009
Dear Comrades,
In the March meeting, nominations for officers were held and the April meeting will be nominations and elections. So come to your meetings and see what is going on. The Installation of Officers will be on Saturday, May 16 at 6:00 PM.
On Saturday April 25, the Masonic Lodge - one of the oldest building in Apopka - will have a fundraiser dinner at our Post. They need our help, so please buy your dinner tickets and come out. Tickets are $20.00 prepaid. For more information see the flyer in our newsletter or call the Post at 407-889-8266. The public is welcome to this event.
We are working to finish the museum, tag donated items, hang pictures and in general get ready to bring school students to see it. If you have a little time to spare we can use your help.
The Tallahassee trip is on hold as they haven’t got a date yet. As soon as I have it we shall let everyone know.
In closing, don’t forget to pray for the safe return of our troops to their families and loved ones. United we stand. God bless the USA.
Commander Artie Vecchio
Dear Comrades
Everything is going well here at the Post and we really appreciate those of you that come to help on Wednesday and Saturday mornings to keep the building looking good. We welcome your continuing support.
Do not forget that the Relay For Life is coming up on April 17th and 18th at the the Apopka High School. We will have a table and tent and offer corn on the cob and cold drinks for donations. Other booths will also have a variety of food. Our VFW team is again being led by Jim Ferguson. See Jim to volunteer to get donations or to help man the tent. Do not forget April 15th, “Tax Day” is almost upon us, so gather up the paperwork and get it in on time.
Marv Suriff, Junior Vice Commander
Words from the Chaplain
In the Christian church, the week commencing this year on Sunday, April 5th, known as Palm Sunday and concluding on Easter Sunday, April 12th, is universally known as Holy Week. Palm Sunday is so-called because it celebrates Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem as the Jewish population spread palm fronds before Him.
During Holy Week, two days occur that are of particular significance. They are known as “Maundy Thursday” followed by “Good Friday.” The word Maundy is derived through Middle English, and the Old French mande`, both derived from the Latin mandatum.
The source of our term for the Friday before Easter, “God Friday”is not clear. It may be the corruption of the English phrase “Gods Friday,” according to Professor Laurence Hull Stookey. It is the common name for the day among English and Dutch-speaking people.
Apart from the solemn liturgical significance of these two days, some interesting customs surround them that date back centuries.
The Maundy Thursday celebrations in the United Kingdom today involve the Monarch (since 1952, Queen Elizabeth II) offering “alms” to deserving senior citizens, (one man and one woman for each year of the sovereign’s age) These coins, known as Maundy Money or Royal Maundy, are distributed in red and white purses. This custom dates back to King Edward I.
The red purses contain regular currency and is given in place of food and clothing. The white purse contains currency in the amount of one penny for each year of the Sovereign's age. Since 1822, rather than ordinary money, the Sovereign gives out Maundy coins which are specially minted 1, 2, 3 and 4 penny pieces and are legal tender. The service at which this takes place rotates around English and Welsh churches, though in 2008 it took place for the first time in Northern Ireland in Armagh Cathedral.
In many historical Christian countries, buns are rationally eaten on “Good Friday,” with the cross standing a is a symbol of the crucifixion. The custom is believed by some to pre-date Christianity, although the first recorded use of the term “hot cross bun” is not until 1733. It is believed that buns marked with a cross were eaten by Saxons in honor of the goddess Eostre` (the cross is thought to have symbolized the four quarters of the moon.) Eostre is probably the origin of the name “Easter.” Others claim that the Greeks marked cakes with a cross much earlier.
Chaplain
February 2009
Dear Comrades
On
March 28, 2009 the Post will have a Mardi Gras, with everything. Food, drinks, beads and all the festivities of a New Orleans Mardi Gras. Jason Grolund will be the chef-and a very good chef he is. Jason is doing it all and we need to help him by selling tickets. I need your support on this one. [Please sponsor a float in the parade.]
On
April 25, 2009 the Masonic Lodge, housed in one of the oldest buildings in Apopka will have a fundraiser dinner for their Lodge, to be held here at VFW Post 10147. Please support this fundraiser by attending this dinner. For more information call the Post. The public is welcome to this event.
Only $20.00 prepaid reservations by April 22, 2009.
Menu: Beef brisket
Potatoes
String beans
Salad, rolls & dessert
The last week in March or 1st week in April Representative Bryan Nelson will get all the dates, etc for the trip to Tallahassee and we will publish them in the newsletter. If you are interested in going contact the Post.
If you haven’t been to the Post lately come and see your new ballroom, we have installed 7 chandeliers.
In closing, don’t forget to pray for the safe return of our troops to their families and loved ones. United we stand. God bless the USA.
Artie Vecchio. Commander
From the Chaplain
On February 25th occurs a day in the Christian calendar know as Ash Wednesday. It is a day that has its roots in ancient Hebrew times, when ashes were used as a sign of mourning or penance. The old Testament Book of Samuel has several references of people tearing their clothes and putting ashes on their heads. That’s where our modern day expression “sack cloth and ashes” comes from. Ashes also symbolized death and today reminds us of our mortality. Most of us are familiar with the words “ashes to ashes and dust to dust” used at grave site ceremonies. They come from the book of Genesis when Abraham confessed: “I am nothing but dust and ashes.”Today, most mainline Christian churches hold a penitential service that concludes with the “Imposition of the ashes.” This involves marking the forehead of a penitent with a simple cross using ashes that have been rendered from burning palm crosses or fronds used at the Palm Sunday celebration the previous year. The use of ashes in God’s rituals also dates back into Hebrew history. It was first recorded in the bible in the book of Numbers during the time of Moses. Anyone wishing to witness a penitential Ash Wednesday service can do so at all Roman Catholic , Episcopal, Methodist and Lutheran churches, and most Presbyterian, Church of God, Church of the Nazarene and Wesleyan churches. I shall be conducting such a service at the Tangerine Community Church at 7:00 PM.
January 2009
Dear Comrades,
I would like to wish everyone out there a prosperous and great 2009.
On January 3rd we had a wonderful dinner, catered by out friend, Victor L. Gonzalez, Owner/Chef of the Trattoria D'Urbino Italian Grill in Ocoee. Dinner was followed by a fabulous stage show performed by The Central Florida Rat Pack in a tribute to Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr, and Dean Martin.
State Representative Bryan Nelson and his wife, Debbie graciously helped out behind the bar. Thanks for their support.
Mayor Land and his lovely wife, Betty had a great time.
A fun time was had by all and the proceeds from the event will be used to assist local troops serving in the war zones and their familes in need.
For all who supported this event, I thank you.
Jim Tice, Sr. Vice Commander
First,, may I belatedly wish everyone a peaceful, healthy New Year. I ahve avoided using the word "prosperous" as is customary at this time of year because that may not be as easy in the hard economic climate we are told will be our lot fo rthe foreseeable future.
Given that hard times are comiong, prosperity will be difficult to achieve, We will need all of our material resources to care for ourselves and our families. Yet it is possible to prosper. WE have all learned that in order to get, one must give, and all of us hav so many ways to give. In his first letter to the Corianthians, Chapter 12, St Paul talks about the many God-given gigts we all have. It's all about service, something that we as veterans fully understand. These God-given talents wer not given to us for our own private enjoyment. Our primary purpose in life is to serve one another, achieving this by using the various talents and abilities with which we have all been blessed. This, I believe, is a route to prosperity in the coming year, that by giving we may recieve.
May we all prosper in 2009 by our service to others, that in serving them we serve our Maker and so beome the instruments of his purpose.
Tom Lisle, Post Chaplain