Jemes McMillen, Pittsburgh PA — $200

Herman G Siever Jr., Pottstown PA — $200

George R Winkler, Gettysburg PA — $200

Fred D. Hormel, Oakdale PA — $200

David A Priebe, West Grove PA — $200

Willard W Phoenix, Souderton PA — $200

Wallace Frenchak, Butler PA — $200

Larry M Heinly, Albrightsville PA — $200

George Coan, Scranton PA — $200

Harry C Miller Jr., Summit Hill PA — $200

Raymond L Carl, Cleveland GA — $250

William N Gibboney, Tyrone PA – $250

Barry L Schleig, Coal Township PA — $250

Nancy L Stockley, Dillsburg PA – $250

George Novotny Jr., Perkiomenville PA — $500

Bruce V Gardner, Little Genesee NY — $1000

Raymond A Robinson, Butler PA — $2500

Walter W David, Frankenmuth MI — $10,000

Click Here for a printer friendly version of the winners and the winning tickets

Needless to say, everyone gets a bit anxious in the winter.  But there are some things we can do to help get through winter reasonably active and mentally healthy.

Safety and Health: Winter can be a scary time for anyone especially the elderly, who fear slipping on ice or wonder whether they’ll be able to pay the heating bills. There are a few things that we can do for ourselves or for our friends and family to help alleviate these sources of anxiety.

Keep driveways and walkways shoveled and free of ice. You can hire someone to clear driveways and walkways; though, some communities offer free driveway-plowing services to senior citizens. Call city hall to find out if this service is available.

Find out about heating bill assistance. If getting bills paid is a worry, contact your local Area Agency on Aging to find out if you or your loved one is eligible for an energy assistance program.

Change furnace filters. For maximum efficiency, this may need to be done as often as once a month.

Check the home for drafts. Draft prevention is an important factor in preventing colds and muscular pains, but it also helps to keep the electricity and gas bills down. Do a quick inspection of any cold air coming in through the windows and doors. These problems can easily be fixed by buying an insulation kit and some draft stoppers.

Chores:  Help with the grocery shopping   Whether you have to go and get some of the groceries yourself or accompany them to the supermarket, make sure that they have some help especially when the weather is particularly miserable. Ensure that their refrigerator and pantry is stocked with the basic essentials that lead to a healthy life.

Socializing: When it’s cold and dark, it’s easy to get isolated. Before you or your loved ones begin feeling lonely, think about how you can help them connect with others during the cold winter months. When it’s safe to venture out, be sure your loved one can get out and about.

Keep up social commitments if possible. Continue to be active in your community and the American Legion, arrange rides to church, the senior center, or to other activities.

Don’t forget group meals. Many communities have group meals for seniors. There might be a senior center in town, or the hot meals might be served at a community center. There are sometimes activities after these meals. Bingo, cards, blood pressure checks, and the opportunity to visit with others can provide a needed break in a seemingly long day.

Prepare and share a meal. You might like to enjoy a quiet meal together. Or if a neighbor offers to bring a casserole, suggest she stay and have a meal.

Entertainment at home: Sometimes, it’ll just be too unpleasant to get out. Or maybe your loved one is homebound by a physical or mental disability. There are still some things that we can do to brighten those long months.

Buy and fill a birdfeeder. You can find birdfeeders that attach directly to a window, so your loved one can easily see the ongoing show the cardinals and chickadees provide.

Offer to pick up and return books and videos. Your local public library may even have a delivery service for homebound people.

Send a letter. Even long-distance caregivers can bring some light into a dark day. Make a point to send a note or letter, especially in the winter. Yes, an old-fashioned letter in this age of electronic communication means a lot.

Watch for signs of depression: During winter, when stress levels and isolation increase, be sure to watch for persistent sadness, discouragement, reduced energy, and sleep problems.

Many people are unwilling to admit being depressed for fear of being seen as weak or unstable.

Recently, The American Legion, 31^st District of Pennsylvania presented Senior High School History teacher Brad Wetzel and his students of the Vietnam: Tour of Duty class with a $500 check in support of their educational excursion to Washington, DC to visit the Vietnam Memorial planned for March 29, 2012. 

During the Vietnam: Tour of Duty class, students have the opportunity to meet Vietnam War veterans who graciously discuss their story.  A major component of the course is the reading of David Maraniss’s They Marched into Sunlight.  The book examines three major areas, the leadership of The Johnson Administration, the struggles of the protest movement and the struggles of battle in Vietnam.  A major character of the book happens to be a local hero named, Mr. Thomas Hinger. 

In preparing for the culminating experience in Washington DC, students will choose one soldier from the 58,000 plus whose name is inscribed on the Vietnam Memorial wall.  They will then spend several class periods researching this individual.  Students will find out, to the best of their ability, who this soldier was, what he liked to do, what his hobbies were, where he went to school, what the name of his wife or his children were, etc.  They will go to the respective panel on the Vietnam memorial and make an etching of their soldier.  They will then take the etching and safely put the name on their person and ‘bring him home.’

In addition to the Vietnam Memorial, students will also visit the Lincoln Memorial, The World War II Memorial, the Korean Memorial, and visit The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and watch the presentation of the changing of the guard.  Upon returning to class, students will then retrieve their etching and bring them to class and present to the class what name they brought home and who exactly this person was and will explain what this project means to them.

Vietnam: Tour of Duty class teacher Brad Wetzel said, “I have made the trip three times.  Each time I have witnessed some of my students and our veteran guests weep in raw emotion.  We have witnessed the visitors’ reaction to the Vietnam memorial and have been moved to see the real healing process up close as our guests pay their respects at the wall.  In my nearly twenty years of service in public education, but I have rarely if ever watched as my students become so emotionally moved in a lesson.  More importantly, the value of this project can be found in the healing the veteran guests receive which they should have received 40 years ago.”

William Lozier, Finance Officer, American Legion Post 446 said, “We served our country and through the legion, we are still serving our communities and helping out schools; that is why we wanted to support this class trip for the students.”

To date, the class has received a total of $800 toward their $2,000 goal for their trip from American Legion District 31, Legion Home Association of Jeannette, Legion Club of Mount Pleasant and from individual donors.  If you or your organization would like to support this trip, please contact Brad Wetzel at Greater Latrobe Senior High School. 

Photo Caption

American Legion members present Greater Latrobe Senior High School students and history teacher with a check toward the Vietnam: Tour of Duty class education extension to Washington DC.

From left to right:
     Kerrie Gill, Commander, American Legion, Department of Pennsylvania
     James Guiher, Commander, American Legion, 31st District of Pennsylvania
     Victoria Watson, Greater Latrobe Senior High School Junior
     Adella Hillebrecht, Greater Latrobe Senior High School Senior
     William Lozier, Finance Officer, American Legion Post 446
     Brad Wetzel, Senior High history teacher and Social Studies Department Teacher Leader.

Legion family members,

Past Department President Virginia Holden (1967-1968 Unit 472) has passed away.

Service for Virginia  Holden will be Tuesday November 29 at 11:30 AM  at the:

Our prayers go out to Virginia’s family and friends.

SAL Alternate NECman, Ken Warner has been admitted to York Hospital. Ken will be having surgery on 11/30/2011. I received an email from Kathy Warner and she indicated that Ken has a blockage of 99% in his main heart artery and 92% blockage three others. As soon as she provide me with any further information, I will pass it along. Please keep Ken in your prayers.

Cards can be sent to:

Ken Warner
3971 Sticks Road
Glen Rock, PA 17327

Department Service Officer Glenn King wants to thank the Legion family members who sent cards or attended his father’s funeral. 

Mario Maloberti’s Wife Sara wanted to thank all who sent cards, flowers or attended Mario’s services, and also all who made a donation to the Pennsylvania American Legion’s Homes for Homeless Veterans Corporation in Mario’s name, it is appreciated.

Yours in comradeship,

Kit D. Watson

Department Adjutant

Pennsylvania American Legion

P.O. Box 2324

Harrisburg, PA 17105-2324

kit@pa-legion.com

717-730-9100

Fax 717-975-2836

Calling out to our Legion family —

One of our Homeless Housing Units in Coraopolis is in need of furniture.  We are painting, cleaning carpets and getting it ready for occupancy, but we need some furniture.  We have one bedroom suite that has been donated.

We need living room furniture and another bedroom set.  No large bulky furniture because the rooms are small. 

If you have anything that is “gently” used, please contact me.

bj

The HFHV also produces a sponsorship ad book.  Please place your ads and ask your community leaders, businesses, and other non-profits to support our program and place an add.  A full page ad is $70, 1/2 page is $50 and 1/4 page is $40.  This is a great way to support the homeless program!

Please include payment with the dinner ticket and/or ad order.  Make your check payable to PA American Legion Housing for Homeless and mail it to:

Deadline for the ads are December 23, 2011 and the deadline for dinner tickets are January 5, 2012

Thank you for your support!

Click Here for ticket information

Click Here for donation letter

Looking for ways to support and honor U.S. military servicemembers and veterans who protect our security and freedom? You may have a Legion member who is currently serving overseas that you can send care packages to but, if you don’t have a specific name of someone to send to then please use the following information.

In years past, you could wrap up a care package and mail it to “Any Service Member” for the holidays, but with increased mail restrictions, the Pentagon is asking people to help through financial contributions, letter-writing and e-mail, purchasing authorized pre-made care packages, or volunteering time through non-profits.

Below are links to programs that offer aid to our military — everything from care packages to emergency services to military family support. Show your pride in our armed forces today, either by purchasing a gift or card for a servicemember, or donating to programs that support our military.

Cards, Letters, Gifts, and Care Packages

In addition, the U.S. Postal Service is no longer accepting “Any Service Member” or “Any Wounded Service Member” letters or packages. Mail to “Any Service Member” that is deposited into a collection box will not be delivered. The following charitable organizations help send gifts, cards, and care packages to our troops:

The Billy Blanks Foundation - The Billy Blanks Foundation was founded by the creator of Tae Bo. One of the foundations many projects is sending care packages to U.S. Servicemembers in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Adopt a Platoon - Support the troops through gifts and sponsored mail.
Any Soldier - Sponsor care packages to servicemembers in Iraq.
Army and Air Force Exchange Services - Purchase gift certificates for active and hospitalized servicemembers.
Blue Star Mothers - Organizes postcards to troops and care packages, and is currently petitioning Congress for reduced air fares for servicemembers.
Books for Soldiers - Donate books, movies, and more.
Cell Phones for Soldiers - Donate your old cell phones, which pay for calling cards for our troops.
Commissary Gift Certificates - Give the gift of groceries — buy or donate gift certificates.
DefendAmerica - Send a virtual thank-you card.
A Million Thanks - Collects emails and letters of appreciation for our armed forces.
Operation Air Conditioner - Help pay for air conditioners and heaters for the troops.
Operaton Dear Abbey - Send greetings and messages of support.
Operation Give - Donate toys to be given to the children of Iraq.
Operation Gratitude - Contribute to care packages sent to our servicemembers.
Operation Homefront Hugs - Contribute to care packages, or adopt a servicemember.
Operation Troop Aid - Provide care packages for our deployed U.S. Servicemembers.
Operation Uplink - Donate a calling card to help keep servicemembers in touch with their families.
Operation USO Care Package - Sponsor a care package for $25.
Treats for Troops - Purchase care packages for Soldiers.

Help with Mailing Packages
Instructions on Sending Mail to Servicemembers - Straight from the U.S. Postal Service, instructions and recommendations on sending individual mail to servicemembers.

Click here for some ideas of things to send in your care packages

1. Fayetteville, N.C.
2. Colorado Springs, Colo.
3. San Angelo, Texas
4. Carlisle, Pa.
5. Madison, Wis.
6. Topeka, Kan.
7. Syracuse, N.Y.
8. Kenner, La.
9. Tuscon, Ariz.
10. Cheyenne, Wyo.

Livability.com announced that it included Carlisle in its selection of the 10 best places for military veterans to live.  The website created the list in honor of Veterans Day and listed cities for veterans looking to retire or start a second career.

Carlisle, the smaller part of the Harrisburg-Carlisle Metro Area, was founded in 1751 and offers a quaint downtown, a collection of technology-based firms and a strong service industry. The city is home to the Carlisle Barracks, which hosts the U.S. Army War College. The college ranks among the oldest and most senior military educational institutions in the country. The state of Pennsylvania doesn’t tax federal pensions, and there’s a VA medical center about 30 miles away.

Carlisle is located in the Cumberland Valley, an area lush with forests and mountains. Across the Cumberland Valley there are a variety of recreational and cultural attractions that appeal to both tourists and residents. These attractions include the Williams Grove Speedway, several golf courses, art galleries, wineries, hiking, hunting and much more.

Population: 18,159

Median home price: $144,200

Unemployment rate: 7.4%

55 and over: 31%

According to Livability, cities were chosen based on quality-of-life attributes, including moderate climate, low cost of living and unemployment rate, as well as availability of outdoor recreational opportunities and cultural amenities. There was some additional consideration given to cities with close proximity to military installations and VA hospitals.

The website’s editors also looked at cities close to military bases, which give veterans access to other resources, such as free legal advice and counseling, discounted food and household goods as well as equipment
rentals.

Carlisle made the list in part for its close proximity to the Carlisle Barracks and the U.S. Army War College.

The PA State Civil Service Commission will be offering a veterans employment outreach day on December 15^th.  Following is a brief notice and attached is a promotional flyer.  Thank you very much for your assistance! 

ATTENTION VETERANS!  The State Civil Service Commission is holding a Veterans’ Employment Outreach day on December 15, 2011 in Harrisburg at the PA Fish and Boat Commission offices.  Presentations at 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. will include information on civil service employment opportunities; veterans’ preference; and the application, testing, and hiring processes.  Recruiters will be available for individual meetings with interested veterans.  Please see the attached flyer for more specifics. 

Thank you and have a nice day!

Suzie 

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