DATELINE
  
The Official Newsletter of 
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Post 295                                                                       30 April 2014
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NEXT MEETING:
  
THURSDAY, MAY 8th 7 PM
  
Montgomery Village Golf Course, Grill Room
  
 
Dear Greetings! ,

I am pleased to report that unless something happens Post 295 will finish the Membership year in 1st place in the 301-500 member category. We have reached 134.831% of our membership goal. Our goal was 356 members, we are now at 480 members for the 2014 Legion year. Remarkably there are still 68 members who have not renewed their membership for 2014. 

 

In order to keep records up to date your membership information is listed in the box on the left. Should the information be incorrect please send in the correct information.

 

Thank you for your service. 

 

Bob Ouellette

Post Commander

Membership Information

 
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Helping others in the aftermath of disaster

 

Show Your Pride


Show your proud of being a member of the American Legion. Order your Legion Cap from National's Emblem Sales.

Order your Post 295 - City Cap, with Maryland Emblem
here.
  


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MEDIA ALERT:

 

National Commander Daniel M. Dellinger will be making th following TV appearances today, May 7th 2104 to discus the Department of Veterans Affairs spurred on by the Special Report that patients where "Dying in Line."

 

* NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams to discuss issues pertaining to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

 

* The CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley. Broadcast times for the NBC and CBS News vary by region, so check your local listings.

 

* Lou Dobbs Tonight on the Fox Business Network, 7 pm Eastern Time

 

 

Secretary Shinseki called on to Resign

 

In front of local media and a live Internet audience, American Legion National Commander Daniel M. Dellinger today called for the resignations of Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki, Under Secretary of Health Robert Petzel and Under Secretary of Benefits Allison Hickey.

 

Dellinger cited poor oversight and failed leadership as the reason for calling for the resignations - something The American Legion hasn't done regarding a public official in more than 30 years.

 

"Gen. Eric Shinseki has served his country well," Dellinger said. "His patriotism and sacrifice for this nation are above reproach. However, his record as the head of the Department of Veterans Affairs tells a different story. The existing leadership has exhibited a pattern of bureaucratic incompetence and failed leadership that has been amplified in recent weeks."

 

Dellinger pointed to allegations from multiple whistleblowers of a secret waiting list at the Phoenix VA Health Care System that may have resulted in the death of approximately 40 veterans, that VA previously had acknowledged that 23 veterans throughout the health-care system have died as a result of delayed care in recent years, and a the findings of an investigation by VA's Office of Medical Inspector that clerks at the VA clinic in Fort Collins, Colo., were instructed last year how to falsify appointment records so it appeared the small staff of doctors was seeing patients within the agency's goal of 14 days, according to the investigation.

 

"These disturbing reports are part of what appear to be a pattern of scandals that has infected the entire system," said Dellinger, noting issues that have come up in Pittsburgh, Atlanta and Augusta, Ga. "Those problems need addressed at the highest level - starting with new leadership. The existing leadership has exhibited a pattern of bureaucratic incompetence and failed leadership that has been amplified in recent weeks."

Dellinger said that the failure to disclose safety information or to cover up mistakes is unforgivable - as is fostering a culture of nondisclosure. "VA leadership has demonstrated its incompetence through preventable deaths of veterans, long wait times for medical care, a benefits claims backlog numbering in excess of 596,000, and the awarding of bonuses to senior executives who have overseen such operations," he said. "Some veterans have waited years to have their claims decided. That same leadership has failed to provide answers to why these issues continue to occur."

 

Dellinger said that while errors and lapses can occur in any system, "The American Legion expects when such errors and lapses are discovered, that they are dealt with swiftly and that the responsible parties are held accountable.

 

This has not happened at the Department of Veterans Affairs. There needs to be a change, and that change needs to occur at the top. "

When asked by media what the Legion would do if the trio didn't resign, Dellinger said a draft of the request was being sent to the White House.

 

"This is a very serious situation," he said. "The administration needs to take steps now. It's long overdue. Whenever you're talking about a patient's life - a veteran's life - in jeopardy, it's always serious."

 

Dellinger also wrote an op-ed piece calling for the resignations. Read it here

  
Is this the next home for American Legion Post 295


Historic building that has been completely renovated into a new office building with 3000 sq ft of office space, 2000 sq ft of storage.  There are 4 offices on the 2nd floor, for the Post Officers and programs. 
 
There is a large room for  meetings or events, an area suitable for a canteen area. The conference room is suitable for a museum display.
 
In addition to all of that there is a very good room that can be used to house the ITLM machines.
In addition to all of that there is a lot of parking, hardwood floors and is monitored with a security system.
 
Robert Pumphrey built this house to have a store downstairs and house his family upstairs. The store-front windows on the north-east corner are closer together. Henry Mateny, a local cattle dealer, married the Pumphrey's daughter, Helen, and inherited the house in the 1930s. The decorative gable bracketing and palladian window in the gable as well as the projecting bay on the front make this a unique example of vernacular Victorian architecture. 
INSTANT TICKET LOTTERY MACHINES on the way.....
 
American Dream
American Dream
When the Maryland Legislature passed a law that authorized American Legions in Montgomery County to be able to have Instant Ticket Lottery Machines we began to search for a Post Home. The revenue from these machines will be able to sustain the rent and utilities for a Post Home.

We are beginning the process of applying for a lottery license in order to operate 5 of these machines. They can be available for the public to use to benefit our Legion programs. We would hope to be in a Post home and have these machines in place sometime in August.