The Minnesota American Legion and Auxiliary LegionnaireVolume 96, Number 12 For God and Country December 2014 Minnesotans named to national Legion VA, Congress roll out new committees, panels Minnesota Legionnaires were named to four chairman- VeteransBy Al Zdon Choice program ships and two vice chairmanships for this coming year by Are you eligible for VA care, and did you get your National Commander Mike Helm of Nebraska. Veteran’s Choice card yet? You will. Serving as chairmen at the national level: All those who are eligible for VA health care — all -- Mike Bredeck of Madison will chair the Committee on nine million nationwide — will receive the Veterans Youth Education. Choice card by sometime in January. Nearly 700,000 eli- -- Chuck Kruger of Byron will be the chair of the gible veterans have already received their card. Conventional Armed Forces Committee. What can you do with the card? The Veterans Access, -- William Goede of Plainview will chair the National Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 was signed into Guard and Reserve Forces Committee. law in August, and the program began in November. -- Thomas Mullon of Eagan will chair the Health Essentially the Veterans Choice program, which is Administration Committee. temporary, tries to answer the issues that were raised by The two vice chairmanships announced included: -- Peggy Moon of St. Joseph will be a vice chairman of the Legion and other vet- Continued on Page 7 erans groups about long appointment times and long distances from VA But hang on, it’s not quite like Huey pilot facilities. Two groups of veter- had three ans will mainly benefit. winning the publisher’s lottery power I guess I’ve devel- One will be those who choppers oped somewhere, some- have appointments longer how, over time. shot out from than 30 days out. The sec- I’ve learned over the ond group are those who Veterans Affairs under him years that in such live more than 40 miles inevitable instances of from a VA hospital or and Rehabilitation learning news “too good clinic. By to be true” that in most Pages Those veterans can Tom Newman cases it’s important to do use their card to get care 8-10 your homework. from non-VA facilities. Is it possible that Santa, most comprehensive letter Some years back I had The program will last working in cahoots with the I’ve ever received outlining once before received an for three years, or until United States Federal a new program of such official looking piece of the money runs out. Government, decided to magnitude, I’ll concede it postal communication. The American Legion deliver the holiday season a provided all the necessary On that particular occa- warned in a recent press bit early to Veterans this information to understand sion it was an envelope Past Commander release, however, that year? the very basics of the pro- stamped “URGENT.” “the care is not a free pass That’s what I asked gram and what it may mean Contained was my notifi- for unlimited health care Bob Flaherty, 86 myself after clumsily for our Minnesota Joe and cation from Publishers Past Department from any provider you unwrapping the official Jane Veteran. Clearinghouse declaring Commander Bob Flaherty may choose in the private looking envelope marked to It certainly was a better me their official winner of of Forest Lake died Nov. 6, sector.” my attention from the U.S. read then the federal regula- over a million dollars in 2014. Before you can use the Department of Veterans tion itself - which by the cash and prize. Flaherty served as com- card, the VA must verify Affairs. Contained in the way made me feel very I remember dancing mander in 1988-89, part of your eligibility and pro- envelope were my new sleepy. my version of the Irish jig a long Legion career span- vide advance authoriza- Veterans Choice Cards. But not so fast, Batman. believing my ship had ning over 40 years. tion. You can’t simply use In addition to the card Unfortunately, I happen to finally arrived - I had hit He served as Third the card to get treatment was a letter outlining the be a nervous-nellie and my the big time. District Commander, 1979- at your local clinic. It Veterans Choice Program one bad eye has a frequent Now I generally don’t 80, Department must be pre-approved by and who to call in order to tendency to begin twitching prefer to revisit disap- Membership Director, the national VA. access non-VA healthcare uncontrollably when I pointing chapters from 1982-83, and Department In Minnesota, VA under the eligibility stan- receive information I my early adult life, but Vice Commander, 1985-86. operators at the dards and rules of the pro- believe either too good to let’s just say that with the He was also commander Minneapolis VA Health of his home post, Forest gram. be true or is information I exception of receiving a Lake Post 225. Continued on Page 3 Although it wasn’t the judge to be BS. It’s a super- Continued on Page 3 Continued on Page 5 ROBERT FLAHERTY A Christmas story A Sign at Bastogne By Al Zdon razor, had hit his best friend, who was in the same fox hole, in the back. Stan Kaminski Sgt. Joe Powell hunkered down was dead before Joe Powell could even further in his fox hole. extend his hand to him. Above his head, the world was He and Kaminski had been best friends exploding as another barrage of for over two years, starting with Airborne German artillery rocked the training at Camp Taccoa in Georgia. They ground, tore huge craters in the had trained together, jumped out of air- snowy landscape and shattered the planes together, and planned what they tall pines above. might do together after the war. Now, Two days earlier, an 88 shell Powell couldn’t get the memory of those had exploded among the pines and lifeless eyes staring back at him out of his sent wicked splinters of a tree mind. hurtling down on the troops in their fox holes. One piece, about the size qqqqq of a baseball bat and sharp as a Continued on Page 6 Page 2 Minnesota Legionnaire December 2014 PATCHES: I BUY PATCHES THAT I NEED I AM LOOKING FOR OLDER AIR FORCE, AIR NATIONAL GUARD, NAVY, NAVY AIR, SHIPS, COAST GUARD, ARMY, MN NATIONAL GUARD, USMC, JACKETS, HELMETS, National Commander’s Tour slate revealed CALL JOE, 612-801-4673 AFTER 6 The National -- North Branch Post 85, noon, 507-357-4787. -- St. Peter Post 37, Commander’s Tour sched- 6 p.m., 651-674-6100. -- New Ulm Post 132, 6 noon, TBA. ule has been announced for Wednesday, Feb. 4 p.m., 507-354-4016. -- Apple Valley Post Thinking of 2015. The tour will take -- Rosetown Post 542, 8 Thursday, Feb. 5 1776, 6 p.m., 952-431- * place across the state from a.m., 651-483-3535, Tosha. -- Redwood Falls Post 1776, Joan. Feb. 2-5. -- Le Center Post 108, 38; 8 a.m., 507-641-5406, National Commander Jerry Ludwig. *Viagra is a registered trademark of Pfizer & is not associated with Great Health Nutrition. Mike Helm of Nebraska will be visiting 12 posts in Viagra? four days in a tour that Try ‘The Silver Bullet’ crosses both northern and It only takes one! southern Minnesota. No Prescription needed . Low Helm was elected at the Cost . 36 Hour Performance national convention held 1360 University Ave. this year in Charlotte. 651-645-2315 The meetings at the 5192 Central Ave. NE 763-571-5544 posts will include breakfast, 1668 Robert Street lunch or dinner. The dinner 651-453-9150 meetings will be preceded by a 5 p.m. social hour. Traveling with the national commander will be Department Commander Peggy Moon, Department Membership Director Pat Logan, and Department Adjutant Randy Tesdahl. All posts that are at goal by the time of the visit will receive a certificate and have their picture taken with the national command- er. Those pictures will appear in the Minnesota Legionnaire. Those who plan to attend should made reservations Independent Rural Living with the hosting post. All Senior apartments for elderly and those with details about the meal and disabilities. Safe, convenient, comfortable, and its cost are being handled affordable rural living in Southeast Minnesota. by the local post. The place, time and con- Also available: Housing with tact information are listed Services, below. Nursing Home, The schedule includes: Subsidized Contact: Monday, Feb. 2 Rent, -- Moorhead Post 21, 8 Homemaker Samantha 507-864-7714 services or www.goodshep-rushford.org a.m.; Delyle Ishaug, 701- 361-3652. -- Detroit Lakes Post 15, noon; 218-234-7315, Eric Wilkens. -- Walker Post 134, 6 p.m., 218-547-1011, Tony. Tuesday, Feb. 3 -- Grand Rapids Post 60, 8 a.m., 218-326-9141. -- Brainerd Post 255, noon, 218-829-2249. s Worker’s Compensation s Antonio Tejeda Guzman Social Security Disability Attorney at Law s VA Disability Appeals A Veteran serving Veterans Display, Protect and Preserve Your Memorial United States 320-262-3669 Flag in a Beautifully Handcrafted Solid Oak Flag Case 877-544-3164 with a Glass Front, Removable Back and Engraved Plate 214 4th St. SW, Willmar www.tejeda-guzman.com with Name and Branch of Service of Veteran. “Made by Veterans for Veterans” Minnesota Veterans Home Phone: 651-539-2486 1200 E. 18th Street Fax: 651-480-0058 Hastings, MN 55033 December 2014 Minnesota Legionnaire Page 3 Tom Newman: Let’s look at the Did you get your card yet? Continued from Page 1 fineContinued print from Page 1of Veteranscare by the VA).Choice Veteran B can either Care System have been trained to refer very handsome set of emblazoned steel schedule their appointment by contacting veterans to the natio nal Choice Act Szechwan stake knives with authentic high the TPA for scheduling care close to home number to verify eligibility.