Four Chaplins Day

(Lawton,Ok 03 Feb 2019)
Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019 will mark the 76th anniversary of the sinking of the United States Army Transport Dorchester and the selfless acts of four Army chaplains aboard. 

The Dorchester tragically sunk on Feb. 3, 1943, while crossing the North Atlantic, transporting troops to an American base in Greenland. A German U-boat fired a torpedo that struck the Dorchester, killing 672 of the 902 officers and enlisted men, merchant seamen and civilian workers aboard. Many of those survivors owe their lives to the courage and leadership exhibited by four chaplains of different faiths, who, in sacrificing their lives, created a unique legacy of brotherhood.

As soldiers rushed to lifeboats, Reverend George Fox (Methodist), Jewish Rabbi Alexander Goode, Reverend Clark Poling (Dutch Reformed) and Father John Washington (Roman Catholic) comforted the wounded and directed others to safety. One survivor watched the chaplains distribute life jackets, and when they ran out, they removed theirs and gave them to four young men.

As the Dorchester sank, the chaplains were seen linked arm in arm, praying.

American Legion posts nationwide remember Four Chaplains Day with memorial services that pay tribute to the courageous chaplains and the brave young men who lost their lives on that fateful night.

Martin Luther King Junior Day



 

(21 JAN 2019-Lawton, OK) Lowery-Whitehead American Legion Post 29 in Lawton Oklahoma would like to share one of our favorite quotes on #MartinLutherKingJrDay.


Dr. King is quoted as saying: "Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?"

 How does the American Legion help others?

Each year, American Legion department service officers help thousands of veterans receive VA benefits they earned through service to their country. The Legion conducts, promotes and supports hundreds of career fairs for veterans and transitioning servicemembers, bringing employers face to face with job hunters.

Through Operation Comfort Warriors, the Legion raises funds to provide comfort items for U.S. troops recovering in military hospitals and transition units worldwide.
Legion staff lobbies Congress for better quality of life for U.S. military personnel.

Through American Legion Baseball, nearly 100,000 young men get to experience teamwork and competition each year. The Legion provides more than $138,000 in scholarships through The National American Legion High School Oratorical Contest. And Legion Riders, through the annual Legacy Run, have raised more than $2 million for the Legacy Scholarship, helping ensure the children of U.S. servicemembers killed on or after Sept. 11, 2001, have a chance at a college education.

 

76th Anniversary of Four Chaplains Day 3 February 2019



Reverend George Fox, Rabbi Alexander Goode,
Reverend Clark Poling and Father John Washington

Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019 will mark the 76th anniversary of the sinking of the United States Army Transport Dorchester and the selfless acts of four Army chaplains aboard.

The Dorchester tragically sunk on Feb. 3, 1943, while crossing the North Atlantic, transporting troops to an American base in Greenland. A German U-boat fired a torpedo that struck the Dorchester, killing 672 of the 902 officers and enlisted men, merchant seamen and civilian workers aboard. Many of those surviv...ors owe their lives to the courage and leadership exhibited by four chaplains of different faiths, who, in sacrificing their lives, created a unique legacy of brotherhood.

As soldiers rushed to lifeboats, Reverend George Fox (Methodist), Jewish Rabbi Alexander Goode, Reverend Clark Poling (Dutch Reformed) and Father John Washington (Roman Catholic) comforted the wounded and directed others to safety. One survivor watched the chaplains distribute life jackets, and when they ran out, they removed theirs and gave them to four young men.
As the Dorchester sank, the chaplains were seen linked arm in arm, praying.

American Legion posts nationwide remember Four Chaplains Day with memorial services that pay tribute to the courageous chaplains and the brave young men who lost their lives on that fateful night

Quilts to Cover Veterans Offered by Volunteers

William "Buzz" Sawyer (L) exchanges
information with Don Henke (R)

(Lawton, Oklahoma - 19 JAN 2019) Lowery-Whitehead American Legion Post 29 in Lawton, Oklahoma spoke with Don Henke after the 19 JAN 2019 Fire Base Lawton Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 751 General Membership Meeting held at the new Bingo Country location – 1826 NW 52^nd St. in Lawton, OK to learn more about Quilts to Cover Veteran.

“The quilts are free to all Veterans, “said Henke. He wants Veterans to know all Veterans are eligible to receive a quilt. There is no requirement to be a member of the American Legion or Vietnam Veterans of America . The only requirement is the recipient uses the quilts.

Speaking of the lady who makes the quilts Henke said, “She’ll tell you: She wants everybody to use them. Do not fold them up and put them in a cubbyhole some place. Use them.”



One of the quilts from Quilts to Cover Veterans

The quilts (pictured to the right) are made by ladies based out of Fort Cobb. After information is received from a Veteran making a request for a quilt, a date is set up for the Veteran to receive it. The volunteers want to cover all Veterans.

To receive a quilt, please contact Don Henke (580) 919-7589 or (580) 248-3082.

Story and Photography by Chip Bates

U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs Town Hall 17 JAN 2019

(17 JAN 2019)  United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilke was  part of a town hall held on the internet today. The web event can be found at https://bit.ly/2DgeFSu The town hall lasted one hour and fifty minutes and featured speakers from different departments from within VA. Speakers included: VA Secretary Robert Wilke, Dr. Richard Stone – Veterans Health Administration, Dr. Paul Lawrence – Veterans Benefits Administration, Randy Reeves – National Cemetery Administration, Cheryl Mason – Board of Veterans Appeals, Dr. Lynda Davis – Veterans Experience Office, Dr. Kameron Matthews – Community Care, and Dr. Keita Franklin – Suicide Prevention. This report will focus on Secretary Wilke’s report to the town hall.

Wilkes started the town hall off by touting two positive reports concerning VA stating for the first time in VA’s history Partnership for Public Services has declared VA one of the best places to work in the federal government. The second report Secretary Wilkes spoke about stated VA care is as good or better than Americans receive in any part of our country. He went on to say to VA is still improving and people are noticing.

Wilkes announced the Appeals Modernization Regulations (AMR) will be published by the Federal Register on 18 JAN 2019 VA. Implementation of the regulations would begin 18 FEB 2019.  Speaking further, Wilkes said AMR “gives Veterans more choice and control in the claims and appeals process and will result in quicker decisions.”

VA Secretary Wilke went on to discuss priorities for the upcoming year.

Wilke sited ending Veteran Suicide as his single most important priority stating suicide is a national public health issue that affects communities across America. He pointed to the VA’s Improvements concerning mental health care for veterans through telehealth and same day mental health services. Wilke would go on to say VA wants to educate empower and mobilize as many people as possible to join in veteran suicide prevention efforts as part of a public health approach that looks beyond the Veteran and brings in peers, family members, and communities to prevent suicidal behavior before it occurs. The VA Secretary pointed to the 400 suicide prevention coordinators and their teams that currently connect Veterans with care and educate communities about suicide programs and suicide prevention resources that can be found at every VA medical center to highlight this new approach.

Secretary Wilke spoke next about next about how the Whitehouse VA hotline [(855) 948-2311] was launched in June 2018 as part of the modernization effort. The hotline answers Veteran’s needs and concerns anytime of the day seven days a week. He spoke highly of the hotline’s 82% case resolution rate and the average seven second wait time to speak with an agent.

Wilke gave a brief overview of the Veterans Welcome Kits (https://www.va.gov/welcome-kit) He described them as a way to guide Veterans through: going to school, transition to jobs, buy a house, acquire health care, retire, and aging Veteran care. VA feels these Welcome kits need to be in more veteran hands.

When discussing the VA Mission Act, Wilke described it as the most transformative piece of legislation in the history of VA. The Community Care Program is expected to be operational by June 2019. It is anticipated to Improve service for veterans and payment times for Community Care partners by consolidating VA Community Care programs.

The last item Secretary Wilke discussed was the replacement of an aging electronic health records system. The VA is now connected with DOD, private health care companies, and private pharmacies creating an interoperable holistic record that from the day an American citizen begins service in uniform. Veterans will no longer need to carry paper records of any type in regard to service connected injuries or illness.

General Membership Meeting 16 JAN 2019

Lowery-Whitehead American Legion Post 29 holds general membership meetings on the third Wednesday of every month 7:30 PM at La Felisitas 2102 NW Cache Road in Lawton, Ok (the corner of 21st Ave and Cache Road.) Each meeting there is a 50/50 drawing. Tickets are one for $1 or six for $5. The winning ticket receives half the money in the pot and the remaining half raises funds to finance post activities. 

For more information please contact Lowery-Whitehead American Legion Post 29 at (405) 300-8330
AmericanLegionLawton@Gmail.com
facebook.com/AmericanLegionLawton

Department of Veterans Affairs Considering Letting Veterans Use Private Doctors

#LoweryWhitehead American Legion Post 29 in Lawton Oklahoma has been monitoring a story concerning new options the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is considering when it comes to #VeteranHealthcare.

The reports from several media outlets suggest VA is taking a hard look at new rules that would allow Veterans to access walk-in clinics on a co-pay system. It would also be easier for Veterans to receive care in privately run hospitals and have the government pay for it.

Reports suggest VA hospitals have struggled to see 7 million Veterans annually. The new rules would be meant to eliminate the long wait times VA notoriously experiences due to "the crunch of an aging Vietnam Veteran population and an influx of Veterans from Iraq, Afghanistan, and the War on Terror." While the move may do much to give quality health care to Veterans in a timely fashion, it may potentially move billions out of the VA hospital system.
President Donald J. Trump is expected to comment on the issue during the State of the Union Address.

#VAHealthAndRehabilitation
National American Legion Press Association (NALPA)
The American Legion Department of Oklahoma