On April 22nd, 2023, VFW Post 392 member Stu Carson (Command Master Chief, USN, Retired) was one of several bus loads of veterans honored with a free trip to the USMC Museum in Quantico VA and multiple memorials in Washington D.C. as part of Old Dominion Honor Flight Mission #4. Stu was escorted by then Past Post 392 Commander Troy Wagers. Below is a letter Stu wrote detailing his trip and thanking those involved in the ODHF mission. To see a full size copy of the letter, simply click on it to open it. Our thanks to Stu for his gracious words!!

NOTE: We lost Stu on March 21st, 2024, a month shy of a year since he attended this Honor Flight Mission. We note this to advise those that may be considering going, or know someone that should go on an Honor Flight Mission, to sign-up before it is too late. ODHF is currently accepting applicants with service during the Vietnam War or prior, or more recent veterans with disabilities that may be expected to shorten their lifespan or otherwise preclude them from travelling to visit these memorials. Please visit Old Dominion Honor Flight to learn more and register as a Veteran attendee, Guardian, or in a support role.

2024-2025 SCHOLARSHIP NEWS

The Scholarship Program for VFW Post 392, VFW Post Auxiliary 392 and VFW Post 1211 had their first meeting on Monday July 22, 2024. Much was planned for this year. Anyone who is interested in helping with planning or judging the Scholarship Entries are invited to contact Program Chair Sue Sowers. If you judged in the past, the judging system has changed. All submissions are now completed online. Entries close on October 31st. We are now making final preparations to judge the online submissions, starting on or around November 1st. We will need assistance with judging, so if you can help, we hope to have volunteers from both Post 392 and Post 1211.

If you have any questions, please contact Sue Sowers at 757-641-0624 or suesowers46@gmail.com, or Marisa Tanner at wcseaprincess44@gmail.com. or 910-391-5654. This meeting will be held in the Auxiliary Room at Post 392.  If you are interested, PLEASE COME TO THIS MEETING. We cover all the Virginia Beach Schools, both public and private.

If you don’t want to work on the planning, and are more interested in Judging Essays, Artwork, Teacher of the Year, Scout of the Year and the Virginia Beach Community Service Awards (Law Enforcement Officer of the Year, Deputy Sheriff of the Year, 911 Responder of the Year, Firefighter of the Year, EMT of the Year, etc.

VFW Post 392 and Auxiliary and VFW 1211 have worked together on scholarships for the last couple of years. It takes ‘Fantastic Volunteers’ to get all this accomplished. If you are interested and cannot make the meeting, please send me your name, number and email so I can ADD you to the list of volunteers. Thank you for your support.

Sue C. Sowers Scholarship Chairperson
Suesowers46@gmail.com Phone: 757-641-0624

2023-2024 SCHOLARSHIP NEWS

VFW Post & Auxiliary 392 and 1211 accepted applications/entries for the VFW Auxiliary’s annual scholarships & contests for kindergarten through high school students who may compete for thousands of dollars in scholarships and prize earnings. The entry deadline was October 31st. All winning entries were sent to VFW Virginia District 2 for competition at that level. State and National Level competition has been completed. All of our Post winners listed below were recognized and received awards on April 11th, 2024, during our Community Service Awards Ceremony.

VFW SCHOLARSHIP JUDGING HAS BEEN COMPLETED. HERE ARE OUR WINNERS BY CATEGORY

VFW POST 392 ESSAY WINNERS, NOVEMBER 2023

PATRIOT’S PEN WINNERS

CHARLOTTE A. NGUYEN   GR. 7   STAR OF THE SEA 

EMMA M. FENDER   GR. 6   STAR OF THE SEA

LIAM GREGORY RADIGAN   GR. 6   STAR OF THE SEA

THIRD PLACE

CAMDEN R. MEDRANO   GR. 6   STAR OF THE SEA

VOICE OF DEMOCRACY  WINNERS

FIRST PLACE

ELI S. BARRITT   GR. 12   OAKTREE ACADEMY

SECOND PLACE

GABRIEL C. VANDERVELDE   GR. 12   OAKTREE ACADEMY

Voice of Democracy: Topic: ‘What Are the Greatest Attributes of our Democracy?’ This is type written and then dictated on a USB Drive or other electronic device.  3-5 minutes (+ or – 5 seconds max). Completed entry form.  You must be the sole author and dictation must be in your own voice and in English.  The body of the Essay must not identify you in any way.  Also, no music, singing, poetry or sound effects. Be sure to sign your entry. Grades 9-12 only. Open to public, private or parochial school students as well a home school study programs and dependents of US Military or Civilian personnel in overseas schools. One winner for every 15 entries move up to the next level, District. To see the 2024 National winner, visit this link: VFW 2024 National Youth Scholarship Winners Named - VFW.

Patriot’s Pen:  Topic: ‘How Are You Inspired by America?  A typewritten essay in English with no color or graphics.  300-400 words in length (+ or – 5 words max.)  Do not put your name on your essay.  Your entry form is your essays cover sheet. Essay must be the contestant’s original work and a product of the contestant’s own thinking.  No poetry is accepted.  Be sure to sign your entry. Open to public, private or parochial school students as well a home school study programs and dependents of US Military or Civilian personnel in overseas schools. One winner for every 15 entries move up to the next level, District.  Grades 6, 7, and 8 only. To see the 2024 National Winner, visit this link: VFW 2024 National Youth Scholarship Winners Named - VFW.

Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher Award:  All entering, please make sure you have all your information submitted, including Head and Shoulder Photo, completed and signed entry form, one page resume, up to 5 pages teaching experience including references, news articles, etc. Please make sure to read over the instructions with your entry. For further information, click this link: Teacher of the Year - VFW

All entries for Post 392 and 1211 should be mailed or delivered to: VFW Post 392, 2408 Bowland Parkway, Virginia Beach, VA  23454.  Any questions, please feel free to call Sue Sowers, Scholarship Chairman, 757-641-0624.

Voice of Democracy - This audio-essay program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves in a patriotic-themed recorded essay. The 2024-25 theme is: "Is America Today Our Forefathers' Vision?" Each year, nearly 25,000 9-12 grade students enter to win their share of more than $2 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program. The national first place winner receives a $35,000 scholarship paid directly to their American university, college or vocational/technical school. Other national scholarships range from $1,000-$21,000 and the first-place winner from each VFW Department (state) wins at least a scholarship of $1,000. For 2024 Applications must be turned in to VFW Post 392 by midnight, October 31, 2024.  Before submitting your essay, read the rules and eligibility requirements on www.vfw.org  or contact the Scholarship Chairman.

Young American Patriotic Art Contest - Students submit an original two-dimensional piece of artwork. Entry must have been completed during the current school year. Student entries must be submitted to VFW Auxiliary 392 by March 31, 2024. Students begin by competing at the local VFW Auxiliary level. The first-place winner from each Auxiliary advances to the Department (state) competition. Department first-place winners compete for their share of $34,000 in national awards, and the national first-place winner is awarded a $15,000 scholarship. To download an entry form, visit www.vfwauxiliary.org/scholarships.

3-Dimensional Dimensional Patriotic Art Contest - Students submit an original three-dimensional piece of artwork. Entry must have been completed during the current school year. Students begin by competing at the local VFW Auxiliary level. Student entries must be submitted to VFW Auxiliary 392 by March 31, 2024. The first-place winner from each Auxiliary advances to the Department (state) competition. Department first-place winners compete for their share of $4,000 in national awards, and the national first-place winner is awarded a $2,500 scholarship. To download an entry form, visit https://vfwauxiliary.org/scholarships.

Patriot’s Pen - Students in grades 6-8 may enter the VFW’s Patriot’s Pen youth essay contest for a chance to win their share of more than $1.4 million in state and national awards. The 2024-25 theme is: "My Voice in America's Democracy?" Each first-place state winner receives a minimum of $500 at the national level and the national first place winner wins $5,000. The essay contest encourages young minds to examine America’s history, along with their own experiences in modern American society, by drafting a 300- to 400-word essay based on a patriotic theme. Entrants are due to VFW POST 392 by midnight, Oct. 31, 2024. Before submitting your essay, read the rules and eligibility requirements at Youth Scholarships - VFW.

Any questions or to request entry forms or rules and regulations, contact the Scholarship Chairman at suesowers46@gmail.com or call 757-641-0624.

Scout of the Year: Scouts who are registered, active members of a Boy or Girl Scout Troop, Venturing Crew, or a Sea Scout Ship who have received the Eagle Scout Award, Girl Scout Gold Award, Venture Summit Award or Sea Scout Quartermaster Award.  Closed for the 2023-2024 Season. For further information, visit ScoutoftheYearBrochureandEntryForm.pdf (azureedge.net)

Greetings, 

We hope this email finds you, your family, and the members of your organization well.  Please allow us, at the Korean War Legacy Foundation, to reintroduce ourselves.  Our goal at KWLF, https://koreanwarlegacy.org/about-us/, is to preserve the memory and legacy of the Korean War so that future generations will understand the sacrifices that Korean War veterans made during the war in order to promote democracy and freedom.  

Our organization strives to preserve the memory of the Korean War and those who fought in it.  With this goal in mind, our newest project, THE 22  https://the22koreanwar.org/ , is a website designed to create an online community that honors and memorializes the service of all those who fought in the Korean War.  We hope to have profiles from all 22 participating nations in the war and eventually create lesson plans so that the Korean War has its rightful place in history classes across the country. 

We would like to invite you and your members to not only visit the website, but also create profiles to honor the heroes in your organization.  At KWLF we often feature these profiles on our Facebook page, and we plan on highlighting many of them at the Korean War Veterans Memorial Wall of Remembrance Dedication Ceremony this July in Washington D.C. 

We are aware that the new Korean War Veterans Memorial Wall of Remembrance might be inaccessible to many vets, and we hope that our site, THE 22, will serve as an extension of the memorial to honor both fallen soldiers and all others who served.  Please know that we are a non-profit organization and will never charge or solicit anyone on our websites.  Creation of profiles on THE 22  https://the22koreanwar.org/  is free and advertisement free.  We hope to highlight the VFW Chapter with the most profiles on our website and email blasts. 

Should you have any questions, we would be happy to help you navigate our websites.  

We thank you for your service and dedication to veterans,

 

UPDATES

Almost a century ago, the VFW National Home for Children began as a place where families left behind by war could remain together. Today, the National Home has evolved to meet the changing needs of America’s military and veterans’ families.

LEARN MORE

ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY WREATH LAYING

The Public can now lay flowers on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery for the first time in 100 years. Click this link for further information.

 

Know How TRICARE Regions Are Changing in 2025

TRICARE Communications sent this bulletin at 08/30/2024 11:04 AM EDT

Aug. 30, 2024 Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a webpage. Know How TRICARE Regions Are Changing in 2025 On Jan. 1, 2025, there will be changes to the TRICARE regions in the United States as part of TRICARE’s new regional contracts. While there will still be two TRICARE regions, six states currently in the East Region (Arkansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, Wisconsin) will move to the West Region. Read the article to learn more Don’t forget to keep your family’s information up to date in DEERS.

 

Changes to TRICARE Know Your 2024 TRICARE Health Plan Costs TRICARE Communications sent this bulletin at 11/08/2023 07:50 AM EST Know Your 2024 TRICARE Health Plan Costs With a new year fast approaching, you may see changes to your TRICARE health plan costs starting on Jan. 1, 2024. These costs may include enrollment fees, premiums, cost-shares, and copayments. Read the article to learn more For full information on the changes, go to https://tricare.mil/changes