Upcoming Calendar
Jul 4 12:30 pm	Parade—Rally Point 6th & Main. BBQ at American Legion Hall following parade.
Jul 6 9:15 am (and every Tuesday preceding the Post Meeting)	Staff Meeting— Traner's Conference Room
Jul 9 (and the 2nd Friday of each Month)	VFW Meeting—Senior Center Lunch at 11:30 am. Meeting 12:30 to 2:00 pm.
Jul 17	School of Instruction— Tacoma, Post 969
Sep 11 12:00 pm	District 1 meeting— Alderwood Boys & Girls Club
Sep 17-20	Fund Raiser—Smokey Point Rest Area Coffee stop.  Contact Phil Sacks for details.
Nov 1	Teacher of the Year Nominations, Voice of Democracy, & Patriot’s Pen entries due to Post.
Nov 5-6	Veterans Day Buddy Poppy Fund Raiser. See Bob Crawford for details.
Nov 13 12:00 pm	District 1 meeting— Alderwood Boys & Girls Club
Jan 1	Public Servant Nominations Due. Police, Fire, and EMT personnel.
Jan 8 12:00 pm	District 1 meeting — Alderwood Boys & Girls Club
Jan ?	Mid-Winter Convention— Yakima.  Dates to be announced.
Mar 1	Scout of the Year entries due to Post.
Mar 12 12:00 pm	District 1 meeting— Alderwood Boys & Girls Club
May 14 12:00 pm	District 1 meeting— Alderwood Boys & Girls Club
May 27-28	Memorial Day Buddy Poppy Fund Raiser. See Bob Crawford for details.
May 31	Memorial Day Ceremonies— Edmonds Cemetery
June ?	State Convention—Yakima.  Dates to be announced.

Maj. Joe Crecca, USAF, Ret.

About all I can say about Joe Crecca is “wow”.  Joe was a backseater in a F-4 and was shot down by a SAM during a bombing raid over Hanoi.  If you missed the June meeting, you missed hearing from a very special man.  Joe was held as a POW in North Vietnam for 6 years.  Behind Joe and hanging on the wall is Joe’s prison garb.  I suspect that everyone who has ever served in the military has wondered how he or she would react to being held as a POW. Listening to Joe certainly made me glad I never had to find out for myself.   Joe talked about parachuting out of a burning jet but  delaying pulling the ejection handle for a few seconds after the pilot punched out.  The pilot was killed when a second SAM exploded near the aircraft while Joe’s slight delay saved his life.  Joe keep us riveted to our seats (I looked at the members and I think everyone was mesmerized by the stories) while describing the torture, deprivation, and finally his release back to the “world”.  Joe’s faith in God, Country, and himself enabled him to survive.  The world and the country would be better off with more Joe Creccas in it and we were honored to have him speak to our group. 

Upcoming Programs

July	Erv Schmidt—The submarine duty during WWII

Post 8870 Participates in Mukilteo and Edmonds Memorial Day Services

The Post participated in the ceremony at Mukilteo’s Pioneer Cemetery on Remembrance Day on May 30th.  Mike Reagan gave the keynote address and the Post raised the colors.  Afterwards, we were invited to the Hogland House, a 108 year old home that is now a bed and breakfast for a reception.  A picture of our members preparing to raise the colors appeared in the Seattle Times with Mukilteo born and WWII Nisei veteran Mas Odoi whom we invited to assist us. 

On Monday, Memorial Day, we were at the Edmonds Cemetery bright and early.  The weather was cold, windy, and wet and the place was packed.  For the first time, we set up a “White Table” at the service.  As many in the audience were unfamiliar with this ceremony that honors our POW/MIA’s, Fred Apgar explained what each item on the table represented.  Gary Haakenson gave what we now know was his last speech (he has resigned as our Mayor and will be the Assistant to the County Executive).  Katarina Nguyen, our Voice of Democracy winner, read her essay and it was a moving ceremony as always.

Erv gave me a written report on his fund raising activities at the Cemetery on Memorial Day.  Erv and John Bush set up the card table at the cemetery gate, spread out the poppies, put up a VFW sign when Bruce Toney, Retired Coast Guard Captain of 30 years stopped by to give a hand.  In a half an hour they were out of poppies and had raised $152.  It sure is nice when a couple of guys take the initiative and show the “young bucks” how it’s done.  Thanks Erv, John, and Bruce for your assistance, particularly given the weather that morning.  As you can see in another article, the poppy drive was very successful.

Mary Justason Honored
with 40 Year

Fred Apgar delivered Mary Justason’s 40 year pin to her at her home in Snohomish.  Mary, a Quartermaster of  Post 8870 for a number of years, is unable to attend our meetings due to the distance but we wanted to honor her for her service to VFW and to our Post for the many years she has devoted to VFW.  So Mary, on behalf of the Post, congratulations and thank you for your service.

Poppy Drive - Most Successful in Post History

Thanks to the hard work of a number of Post members and led by Bob Crawford with Morgan Dotson assisting him, the Post raised over $9,500 during the Memorial Day fund raiser.  All of these funds are designated for the Relief Fund and are not used for Post activities or administration purposes.  At the next Staff meeting on July 6th (open to anyone who wishes to attend) the Post and Relief Fund budgets will be discussed.  Fred Apgar, Leroy Middleton, and Jim Adams will comprise the Relief Fund Committee and insure that the funds are allocated to help those activities that the Post has chosen to support.  As always, regardless of the funds available, the needs seem to outstrip the resources.  If anyone has specific projects they wish to support, please give your requests to one of the committee members who will then make a recommendation to either approve it or reject it.  Once the budget is approved by Staff, it will be presented to the Post for discussion and approval by those in attendance.  Again, if you have specific requests, please bring them to the Staff or Post meeting so they may be considered.  As a general comment, the Relief Fund committee has developed an overall philosophy in allocating funds.  Primarily, the funds will be used to assist veterans or veteran’s families in need in our Post area which includes Edmonds, Mukilteo, and Clinton.  Again, thank you to Bob Crawford and all the Post members who made this fund raiser so successful.

Duane Pounds Discharged
from Hospital

Duane ended up spending the 4 days of the State VFW Convention in the hospital rather than attending meetings.  He was discharged from the Vancouver Hospital only to find himself re-admitted to Northwest Hospital.  Why—a dog scratch.  Yep, a serious infection from what appeared to be a minor dog scratch on his shin.  He’s is on the mend and has been discharged and is recovering at home.

Post Officers
Selected to District 1

Duane Pounds was elected Sr. Vice Commander while Jim Traner was elected Jr. Vice Commander of District 1.  Our Post has been very active in attending District meetings and being involved in various positions at the District level.  Last year Ed Gray, Fred Apgar, Phil Sacks, and Duane Pounds all held position as officers or committee chairs in the District.