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NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID

LAS VEGAS NV

PERMIT NO. 3178

Paradise Post 149 P.O. Box 70184

Las Vegas, NV 89170 Ph. (702) 606-4633

Fall 2018

Post meetings are held the 2nd Sunday of each month at 0930 (SAL at 0830) at the

Leatherneck Club, located at 4360 W Spring Mountain Rd, at Arville).

For calendar and information on Paradise Post 149, go to www.Post149.org

For information on the American Legion National HQ, go to www.Legion.org

“If you are going to win any battle, you have to do one thing: You have to make the mind run the body. Never let the body tell the mind what to do. The body is never tired if the mind is not tired.”

- Gen. George S. Patton

A word from our Post Commander, Bob Bencsko

It’s newsletter time again! First, I would like to thank all

of the Post members for the support that you have given

me during my transition as Post Commander. As we

move along I look forward to working with all of you in

future post activities this year and next.

Cooler weather and the holidays are coming soon;

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. During this time

with our families, let us remember our troops, filling our

shoes at those positions we once held; doing what needs

to be done. Let’s remember those sacrifices as we now

spend time with our families.

We will have our Holiday party on December 15th at the

Leatherneck Club this year; details to follow soon. I hope

you can make it out as it will be a great opportunity for

you to meet other members that you may have missed

throughout the year. If you haven’t been that active, I

challenge each of you to make one meeting, come out to

one event, and meet your fellow Legionnaires as we are

all part of the Post 149 family.

Bob Bencsko, Commander

“Age wrinkles the body. Quitting wrinkles the soul.” – General of the Army, Douglas MacArthur

Adjutant’s Corner

If you aren’t getting your copy of the Legion Magazine each month, it may be because you haven’t renewed your 2019 dues. The magazine subscription is based on the month you paid your previous year’s dues. If you paid your dues in July of 2017, your subscription stops at the end of July 2018. This is one of the reasons that we ask people to renew their dues early each year.

Renew your membership online at www.legion.org/renew.

As always, feel free to contact me directly if you have any membership issues. My e-mail is info@Post149.org and my phone number is 702-493-3028.

- Vic “Doc” Moss, Adjutant

Post 149 Executive Board

Commander — Bob Bencsko 702-606-4633 Adjutant – Vic Moss 702-493-3028 1st Vice – John Conte 616-581-1304 2nd Vice – Dennis Soukup 702-283-8559 Sgt at Arms– Paul Harris 702-526-3302 Service Officer – Joe Meyer 616-581-1304 Chaplain – Jessy Dixon 501-230-7925 Finance Officer – Tom Lisa 702-524-0162 Judge Advocate – Oscar Shaw 702-383-8330

“Leadership is a potent combination of strategy

and character. But, if you must be without one, be

without strategy.” – Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf

From: The Desk of the 2nd Vice Commander

The College school year has begun that means I must

now multi task. However on the brighter side I have now

had a meeting with the Department Chair of nursing.

Therefore in the matter of the 40&8 nursing scholarship

the Nursing Program will begin the arduous task of

finding viable candidates to bring forward and accept

our matching funded scholarship. Looking forward to

introducing the Nurse candidates later this fall at a

General meeting.

Recently, our Post installed and dedicated a flag pole at

The Road Kill Grill, as a way to thank the owner, Chuck

Frommer, for his ongoing support for the Veterans

Community. The pole has a temporary plaque that will

be replaced with a granite stone that is being provided to

us at cost, through Bunker Mortuary.

The Post calendar is busy and great riding weather has

arrived. Now is a good time to Pre-Flight that

motorcycle and insure its road worthiness. I understand

we all cannot do all the Run's listed just make the one's

you can count. Oh, and you don’t have to be on a

motorcycle to join us.

Lastly, we will be staffing the booth during Las Vegas

Bikefest, Oct 11-4. If you have some free time and can

help out a bit, e-mail 2ndVice@Post149.org, and I can

add you to the schedule.

“It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not

care who gets the credit.” – President Harry S. Truman

Veterans Crisis Line

Are you ever in need to just talk to someone? Help

is available at your fingertips. The Veterans Crisis

Line is available 24/7. Call 1-800-273-8255 or go

to https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/

Contrary to popular belief, there are not 22 Veterans

a day who take their own lives; the number is closer

to 16, which is still too much. Moreover, the

primary risk pool are not those coming home from

Iraq and Afghanastan, but are Vietnam and Gulf

War Veterans, and only 35% of those are enrolled

in the VA Healthcare system. Regardless, if you’re

down and out, reach out; we’re here to help

From our Sergeant at Arms:

We’ve all seen POW/MIA Tables, but not everyone knows the meaning of what is on the table. Here is a script that is used for the POW/MIA remembrance:

Before we being our festivities this evening, we will recognize our POW's and MIA's.

We call your attention to this small table which occupies a place of honor near the head table.

It is set for one symbolizing the fact that members of our armed forces are missing from our ranks.

They are referred to as POW's and MIA's, our Comrades in arms. They are unable to be with their loved ones and families tonight, so we join with them in this humble tribute.

This table, set for one, is small, symbolizing the frailty of one prisoner alone against an army of his suppressors.

The single rose in the vase reminds us of the family and friends of our missing brothers who keep the faith while awaiting their return.

The red ribbon on the vase represents the red ribbons worn on the lapels of the thousands who demand with unyielding determination a proper accounting of our brothers who are not among us tonight.

A slice of lemon on the plate reminds us of their bitter fate.

The salt sprinkled on the plate reminds us of the countless fallen tears of families as they wait.

The glass is inverted - they cannot toast with us this night.

The chair is empty - they are not here.

The candle is reminiscent of the light of hope which lives in our hearts to illuminate their way home, away from their captors, to the open arms of a grateful nation. Let us pray to the Supreme Commandant that all of our Comrades will soon be back within our ranks.

Let us remember.

Veterans Home Bingo

Several times a year, members of our Ladies

Auxiliary go to the Nevada State Veterans Home in

Boulder City, to help out with the weekly bingo

games. Recently, our Post Commander and Adjutant

tagged along to help out, and our Commander, Bob

Bencsko, took the reigns as the Bingo Caller

Extraordinaire.

This year's “Early Bird” dinner is going to be a house party at our Post Adjutant's house. We will be serving spaghetti and meatballs provided by an amazing Italian cook, and Post member. Your 2019 dues must be paid before or at the party, so please renew at www.legion.org/renew. All PUFL and 2019 New Members are welcome, as are SAL and Auxiliary Unit 149 early birds. RSVPs are requested so we can have a good head count. Please reply to info@Post149.org.

Veterans Villages: An Important Part of our Community

Just about everyone in the Veterans community knows about Veterans Village, but did you know that there are actually four villages, with two more on the drawing board? Recently, several members of our Post 149 family met with Dr. Arnold Stalk, founder Veterans Village, who gave us a tour of one of the villages. Veterans Village has grown from the single village at 1150 Las Vegas Blvd. So., which was designed to help homeless veterans transition to permanent housing, to a comprehensive program that has become a part of the permanent housing system. All of the villages work with the HUD/VASH housing programs, and coordinates efforts with the VA to help house our fellow Veterans. Veterans Village 1 is still an emergency and transitional housing program, comprised of motel type accommodations for short term needs. Residents have access to some basic pantry items, but are limited to foods that can be prepared in a microwave over, as there are no cooking facilities in the rooms. Veterans Village 2, which is located at 50 North 21st St., consists of 204 efficiency apartments, each with a small kitchen with stoves and ovens. On site is a well-stocked food pantry, thanks to a number of community partners, an amphitheater, dog park, and 24-hour crisis intervention center. Very soon, a number of highly modified and converted shipping containers, will become small apartments as well. Each container has a separate bedroom, shower and rest room, as well as a small kitchen area, large enough for a table and chairs.

Veterans Village 3 is the only assisted living facility, geared exclusively to Veterans in the Las Vegas community, and designed to accommodate Veterans in need of Amenities include TV/cable, free Wi-Fi, computers, dining facilities, laundry services, and a beautiful recreation room. Services include care coordination and case management, supportive services, transportation, dietary services, and medications management. It is not a skilled nursing facility like the Nevada State Veterans Home in Boulder City and does not require a medical referral. Veterans Village 3 is located at 100 S. 14th St.

Veterans Village 4 and 5 are currently being rehabbed, while Veterans Village 5 being slated to open first. This village, which is directly behind Veterans Village 2, is geared towards women veterans with children, and will work in conjunction with Shade Tree, to provide permanent housing for homeless women veterans with children. And if that’s not enough, Veterans 6 is on the drawing boards, with property in final stages of acquisition. What makes all of the Veterans Villages unique, is that these are true, grass-roots efforts, supported by both individuals and local corporations alike. No tax dollars have been used in terms of direct contribution, nor government grants. Donations large and small are needed to help fund and maintain the villages, but as important as money is, in-kind donations are even more important. Of course, food drives to stock the pantries are always welcome. For information on Veterans Village, go to https://vvlv.org/

“True patriotism is better than the wrong kind of piety.” - Abraham Lincoln

Sons of the American Legion Raffle

There is still time to support our SAL Squadron by entering a raffle for a great shotgun that can be used for home defense, as well as field use. The Mossberg Maverick 88 Field/Security is a 12-guage pump-action shotgun with interchangeable 28” and 18.5” barrels.

Proceeds from this raffle help fund our SAL programs. Each year, members of the SAL are the largest contributor to the American

Legion Child Welfare Foundation.

Tickets are $10 each. Simply fill in your name and phone number,

and send $10 per ticket to SAL Squadron 149, PO Box 70184, Las Vegas, NV 89170

You do not need to be present to win. Drawing to be held at SAL Meeting on Nov 18, 2017 (due to Veterans Day Weekend) at the Leatherneck Club, 4360 Spring Mountain Rd. at 0830

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Our Post takes pride in donating $1 per capita to every charitable program that we support, and we believe that

we donate the highest per capita than any other Post in the Department of Nevada. Here are some of the programs:

The American Legion Legacy Scholarship

The American Legion Legacy Scholarship is a needs-based scholarship designed to fulfill a financial gap remaining after all federal and state educational grants/scholarships available to an eligible applicant have been utilized.

Eligibility: Children of U.S. military members who died while on active duty on or after Sept. 11, 2001.

Children of post-9/11 veterans having been assigned a combined disability rating of 50 percent or greater by the Department of Veterans Affairs also qualify.

What: Each needs-based scholarship provides up to $20,000 in aid for undergraduate or post-graduate college. Recipients may reapply for additional annual awards up to six times.

National Emergency Fund:

Eligibility: Open to Legionnaires and Sons of The American Legion members. Applicant must have been displaced from their primary residence due damage sustained during a declared natural disaster. Membership must be active at time of disaster and the time of application

What: Grants up to $3,000 per individual and $10,000 to Legion Posts.

Purpose: Not meant to replace or repair items, only to meet most immediate needs (i.e., temporary housing, food, water, clothing, diapers, etc.) during the period immediately following the disaster. The NEF does not cover insurance compensation or monetary losses from a business, structures on your property (barns, tool sheds, etc.,) equipment or vehicles.

Operation Comfort Warriors

What: Operation Comfort Warriors is a program dedicated to meeting the needs of wounded, injured or ill military personnel by providing them with comfort items not usually supplied by the government. OCW ensures that patients at U.S. military hospitals and warrior transition units are given items like sweat suits, DVDs, puzzles, electronic devices, books, calling cards and more. OCW also provides larger items such as ping pong tables, entertainment centers, computers, kayaks and other recreational goods for use by wounded warriors in common areas.

How it Works: The Legion contacts officials at military hospitals, warrior transition units and surrounding communities, and obtains lists to determine which items are needed by wounded, injured or ill servicemembers. Once a need is identified, the items are ordered by the Legion and delivered in an expeditious manner. It's as simple as that. No red tape

How Recipients Benefit: Today, wounded warriors need a variety of items to help in their recovery. Some patients might need loose-fitting sweat suits to cover their healing wounds without adding pressure to burns sustained during a rocket attack. Others might need an iPod to help drown out the tinnitus that has plagued their ears since their vehicle struck an IED. Still others might need fitness equipment to rebuild strength in their muscles. From gift cards to patients at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, to electronics for Marines at Camp Pendleton, OCW represents the Legion's expression of gratitude. These gifts will not make our wounded warriors whole again, but they do express the Legion's gratitude.

How you can help:

Tax deductible donations can be made to our Post, which will combine all donations that we receive and add to the money that we already budget each year. Simply send us a check with a note indicating which program you would like to support, and we will ensure your wishes are met. Or, you can go to www.legion.org and donate directly to the program.