The Jewish the Jewish
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
THE JEWISH VETERAN Volume 69 • Number 3 Jerome Blum Elected 2015 Convention Highlights National Despite the rain, Jewish War This year’s Convention includ- Commander Veterans members gathered in ed many interesting speakers with Tampa, Florida, for JWV’s 120th diverse backgrounds, including Annual National Convention, while Joyce Loftin of the Florida National the Ladies Auxiliary met simultane- Cemetery, Lindsay Roberts of the ously for their 87th Annual National Veterans Crisis Line, Dan Cohen, Convention. JWV would like to author of the newly published thank all speakers, participants, at- Single-Handed, about Jewish Medal tendees, volunteers, and staff mem- of Honor recipient Tibor Rubin, and bers for their help in creating such a Marc Liebman, a former Naval great event. Officer and Naval Aviator, who The week began with a rainy transformed his love of writing into Monday morning bus tour of his- a career and is also a member of toric Ybor City, which was founded J W V. in the 1880s by cigar manufactur- Retired Marine Corps Major PNC David Magidson, left, and Jerry is a life member ers and populated by thousands of General Arnold Fields spoke Major General Baruch Levy. of the JWV John L. immigrants, from countries such about his work with The United Committee meeting, where they as Cuba, Spain, and Italy. The sun States of America Vietnam War conducted a question and answer Levitow Post 45 CT. came out for our afternoon at the Commemoration program. He session. They both thanked JWV A Vietnam veteran, Clearwater Marine Aquarium, and his colleague, Lieutenant for being a national partner with the he was assigned to the home of a dolphin named Winter, Commander John Supple, pre- 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam USS Vance, a Destroyer the star of the movie Dolphin Tale. sented all the Vietnam Veterans War Commemoration Committee. Escort Radar Picket The Aquarium rehabilitates marine in attendance with lapel pins, and Major General Baruch Levy, animals, such as sea turtles and ot- profusely thanked them for their Chairman of TZEVET, also joined Ship. ters, before releasing them back service. They also were special us at Convention to offer a briefing Jerry has held into the wild. guests at the Vietnam Veterans Continued on page 9 numerous JWV positions, including Post Commander, Vietnam War Commemoration Department The Jewish War Veterans is very Corps Major General Arnold Fields some things to make up for. We Commander, fortunate that Retired Marine and Navy Lieutenant Commander need to reach out and thank and and Department John Supple of The United honor our Vietnam veterans” he Quartermaster. States of America Vietnam War emphasized, before surprising the In his spare time, Commemoration, part of the US audience and treating them to a Jerry is also a member Department of Defense Office of stirring rendition of “No Man is an Island,” based on the poem by John of many other veterans Commemoration, were able to join us at Convention. Donne. service organizations, The keynote speaker for the Maj. Gen. Fields noted that we and is very active in his second business session, Maj. Gen. now “recognize the aftermath of the synagogue and Relay Fields shared his thoughts on the Vietnam War, but when our troops for Life. He is look- importance of commemorating the came home, my brother among ing forward to serving Vietnam War and reaching out to them…they saw more combat there all 7.2 million Vietnam era veterans in one year than I saw in my entire JWV as your National and their families. “The American Marine Corps service. They came Commander. Major General Arnold Fields. people realize, as do I, that we have home in circumstances we did not Continued on page 13 Upcoming 2015-2016 JWV Teleconferences THE JEWISH Your opinions and ideas count! All JWV members are encouraged to VETERAN join in and participate by calling this toll-free number: Dial 1-866-266-3378 and enter the JWV Code Number: 202 265 6280#. The Jewish Veteran is the Official Publication of the Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America Enter the full number, including the # sign. All calls start at 8:00 PM EST National Commander Jerome Blum November 5 ........Growing a Department National Editor Monroe Mayer, PNC December 8 .......Engaging Younger Members Associate Editor Richard Goldenberg National Executive Director Herb Rosenbleeth 2016 Managing Editor Jordana Green January 7 ...........NEC Plans Graphics/Production Editor Christy Turner February 2 ..........Cooperating with Other VSO’s Editorial Fellow Robert M. Zweiman, PNC March 3 ..............Women in the Military April 7 .................Leadership/Five Year Action Plan EDITORIAL OFFICE June 2.................Convention Plans and Preparation 1811 R Street, NW • Washington, D.C. 20009 Telephone (202) 265-6280 x504 September 8.......Convention Review Fax (202) 234-5662 E-mail [email protected] Web Site www.jwv.org The Jewish Veteran is published 4 times a year: Amazon Smile Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall, by the If you shop at Amazon.com, you can have a portion of Amazon’s profit from your purchase Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America donated to our museum. at 1811 R Street, NW Go to Amazon’s website and sign in. Search for “AmazonSmile.” Washington, DC 20009 Under AmazonSmile, select “Jewish War Veterans USA National Memorial Incorporated” Periodical postage paid at Washington, DC, and at (this is the way it’s spelled on the site; it’s also an old name for the museum organization) as additional mailing offices. the organization you would like to have receive your “gift.” Postmaster: Send form 3579 to Jewish War Veterans, 1811 R Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009. Each time you sign in thereafter, you’ll be given the option of selecting your AmazonSmile designee to receive a gift (paid by Amazon) based on the dollar value of your purchase. Subscription price in the United States is $5.00 per year, included in membership. Nonmember subscrip- There is NO price mark-up to cover the donation; it comes out of Amazon’s profit. Even if it’s tions:$10.00. Single copies:$2.50. just a few cents, it’s more than the museum would have received if you just paid Amazon. Photos and articles submitted to The Jewish Veteran shall be used at the discretion of the organization. The opinions expressed in signed articles and letters in this magazine are not necessarily those of JWV. Get Social with JWV Online! Advertising information and rates available from the Use our social media to share pictures and keep Editorial Office. JWV assumes no responsibility for products and services advertised in this publication. in touch with JWV members and friends. © 2015 by the Jewish War Veterans of the USA. NPA#112285 facebook.com/JewishWarVeterans ISSN 047-2018. twitter.com/JewishWarVets Reproduction without permission is prohibited. Display your JWV Membership proudly! DEPARTMENTS The JWV supplies store isn’t just YOUR LETTERS 3 for pins and poppies! MESSAGE FROM THE COMMANDER 4 You can also custom order polo NEWS FROM CAPITOL HILL 4 shirts, Post flags, badges, caps and jackets! DISPATCHES FROM THE EDITOR 5 COMMENTARY 6 MEMBERSHIP CORNER 11 Call Pat Ennis at 703-753-3733 JWV AROUND THE COUNTRY 14 Email: [email protected] NOTES FROM THE COMMITTEES 16 Or click the link NEW MEMBERS 18 on the JWV homepage PEOPLE AND PLACES 18 REUNIONS/IN SEARCH OF 18 For JWV caps, call Keystone Uniform Cap Corporation • MUSEUM NEWS 20 Phone: 215-821-3434 • Fax: 215-821-3438 TAPS 22 http://www.keystoneuniformcap.com/Jewish-War-Veteran-Caps.html YOUR LET TERS New Programs For Posts Due to the accelerated demise of the World Thank you Mike War II, Korean and Vietnam veterans, there is I wish to thank the Jewish War Veterans for help- a widening gap from the Middle East, Iraq and ing my husband and myself throughout the past Afghanistan veterans. Time has now come for few years. the National Jewish Veterans to rethink and re- Most of all I wish to thank Mike for his pro- adjust our Post meetings to the present views fessionalism, compassion and assistance in help- and needs of the younger generation of veter- ing us. ans. As Commander of JWV of Maryland Post My husband died in April 2015. He was an 167, I have adopted a new, improved program Army World War II veteran on disability. Mike format that has been initiated for more livelier, made sure that I had everything I needed to sus- interesting, participating and informative meet- tain my life. He gave so much of his time to ex- ings. The meetings will be FORMAL/SOCIAL plain all the benefits that were available to me. and will include current events and open floor I am very much indebted to the Jewish War discussions. Another addition will be “Front and Veterans and to Mike. May you all continue to do Center” featuring members relating stories about such good work. their service experiences. We will encourage all Name withheld upon request newer Veterans to join JWV to carry on tradi- tions, camaraderie and the future of the oldest [Editor’s Note: The program being referred to is Veteran organization in the Nation. the National Service Officer Program.] Frank Bressler, Commander, Post 167 MD Museum Visit Regarding Tibor Rubin On behalf of our Commander Len Markovitz and those on our recent bus trip to the museum, we I enjoyed Michelle Melinger’s recent article re- thank you and your staff for the excellent tour. garding a California library being named for We commend you on the improvements and up- Corporal Tibor Rubin. dating at the museum.