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V.F.W.
St. Mihiel Post #247
3302 Leavenworth, Omaha, Nebraska 68105-1916
Phone: (402) 344-0714
Post Commander: Jack A. Manzer
Senior Vice CMDR: Mike Miloni
Junior Vice CMDR: Arnie Lammers
Quartermaster: Tom Falconer
Chaplain: Duke Williamson
Judge Advocate: Don Roth
Service Officer: Ken McDonald
Surgeon: Jay Myers
Auxiliary President: Bonnie Gerlt
Auxiliary Treasurer: Barb Falconer
Thomas H. Parker, Editor
JAN – FEB 2015
the customers who come in. Without this we would not be
able to keep the kitchen open. Tom can also be found during
Commander’s Corner
Post Breakfast cooking as well, and this newsletter and our
HAPPY NEW YEAR!! The start of another. Hope
website are also thanks to Tom (Tom is not a VFW member
the Lord has blessed you and everything
but is a Volunteer). Also, Jay Meyers and
Upcoming Special Events
is well for you and your family. Sitting
Kenny McDonald who come down and
here trying to summarize last year and
● Pancake Breakfast ●
cook in the kitchen during Post Breakfast
look forward to 2015 is not that easy
Sunday, 11 JAN 2015
when their schedule allows. Next there's
when you think of all the good friends
Sunday, 08 FEB 2015
Jackie for her help with bartending and
that have passed through the post and our
Sunday, 08 MAR 2015
organizing funeral luncheons. Then, Mike
lives, some I can't even think of their
Auxiliary Bake Sale
Miloni Capt. of the Honor Guard duties. I
names, but they were friends to all and the
8:00am – Noon
would also like to thank the Ladies
post. So, I believe, if we (the Post and
Auxiliary for their doing funeral luncheons
● Commander’s Spaghetti ●
Members) keep up our good work, the
and the many other activities they do for the
Wednesday, 14 JAN 2015
Lord will keep sending us the help
post and members. The last person that
Wednesday, 18 FEB 2015
needed.
stands out as a Volunteer Plus is Arnie
Wednesday, 18 MAR 2015
Membership is always a topic of
Lammers. I thank him for all he does, which
5:00 – 7:00pm
concern. Membership is down and dues
is all that is not done by someone else. If not
are due so send them in as soon as
● St. Patty’s Day ●
for Arnie, and John Lopez the Post would
possible. Membership is the backbone of
Tuesday, 17 MAR 2015
not be the Post that we as members enjoy.
the Post. This is your VFW so it is up to
Corned Beef & Cabbage
So I salute Arnie, and John for his efforts in
YOU, not the other guy, and your VFW
Noon
keeping the Post the Best in Omaha.
Post is all-volunteer and we need your
Jack A. Manzer
● Sandy’s Karaoke ●
help. Volunteers do not need to be
Commander
Friday Nights
members, come one, come all.
8:00pm – Midnight
Our Post is "still afloat" in large
ADJ/QM’s Report
part due to the efforts of our volunteers
● Texas Hold ‘Em ●
and officers that keep this VFW in
November and December was an
Saturday nights 6:00pm & 9:00pm
operation. I thank all the volunteers, and
especially busy time for us. Our annual
Benefit Tourney Last Saturdays
ask that others would come in and help.
Kids Christmas Party was a success as
5:00pm Start Time
Every little bit helps and I know that lot
always, thanks to our fabulous Auxiliary.
One Points Session Follows
of volunteers are taken for granted like
Now that annual members are being
Read your Post Newsletter for
Tom Falconer, Post Adj/QM, for keeping
renewed on your anniversary date I do not
Details!!
all the Post bills and records straight.
have to remind people about cards expiring
Another person that no one sees is Millie
the end of the year. Just a reminder that the
● Hall for Rent ●
Olson. She puts in many hours a month
annual fee is now $44.00. I know I
(402) 344-0714
helping with the Newsletters, removing
mentioned this a year ago but thought it
names of past members and sorting zip codes. Maybe this
worth repeating. Now would be a good time for those that
sounds like a small thing, but that is one small thing that is
have thought about becoming a life member please consider
DONE. Then there is Betty Roth who is down here every
the “Life Membership Installment Plan”. Fee schedule is
Pancake Breakfast along with Dot Kargle, (who also is one
provided below:
of our volunteer bartenders) and Tanya Nippert. Also,
AGE BY DEC 31 LIFE MEMBER
12-MONTH
Bonnie Gerlt is here waiting tables. These are small jobs, but
FEES
PLAN
if not done, the Post would suffer. Because without their
Thru age 30
$425.00
$38.64
help we would not be able to put on a Post Breakfast and
31-40
$410.00
$37.27
that is income that we would lose. Then there is the Kitchen
41-50
$375.00
$34.09
where Tom Parker can be found day after day cooking for
Auxiliary Meeting 09 JAN @ 7PM; House Comm. 16 JAN @ 6PM; V.F.W. Meeting 16 JAN @ 7PM
V.F.W. Post 247
-2-
51-60
$335.00
$30.45
61-70
$290.00
$26.36
71-80
$225.00
$20.45
81+
$170.00
$15.45
A prospective member or a current annual member
(at any time of the year) can join this plan by making an
initial payment of $35.00. The $35 fee keeps the member in
good standing during the installment period and is not
applied towards the total amount due. Upon enrollment in
the Life Membership Plan, the member will receive a
“Provisional Life” membership card, indicating membership
in good standing with the installment plan. A permanent
Life Membership card will be issued when the Life
Membership fees have been paid in full.
While it seems that with all of the positive feedback when I
put MIRTHFUL Moments in my portion of the newsletter
that I would continue and I will from time to time but I
recently received some funny sayings that have been
published over the years from a fellow life member. Thanks
“Pat” Thornton! The following is a few I hope you will
enjoy:




Germs or no germs, kissing is dangerous. It has
put an end to a lot of bachelors.
When Indians were running this country, there
were no taxes, no debts, and the women did all the
work. White men thought they could improve on a
system like that!
My grandmother started walking five miles a day
when she was seventy two. She’s ninety-seven
today; and we don’t know where the hell she is.
Grandma, I ate all the peanuts in the candy dish.
“That’s okay. Since I lost my dentures, I can only
suck the chocolate off them anyway.”
One final note, our Post meeting in March (3rd Friday)
will be 1st and 2nd call for nominations of officers. Please
attend, we need some fresh blood along with fresh ideas.
Tom Falconer
Adjutant/Quartermaster
Honor Guard Colors
Hello Comrades,
The Honor Guard was called on to perform a
couple of color guard functions this last quarter. We were
also called out for one funeral.
I hope everyone had a great Christmas, and look
forward to this New Year.
We will start our new year with the District 10
Memorial Day ceremony at West-Lawn Hillcrest Cemetery.
I will also start getting our parade schedule lined up for
2015.
I am going to call all members of the Honor guard
to set up a meeting in February, or March?
JAN – MAR 2015
Again I want to thank all of the members of the
honor guard who participate, and our Post members who
help make our post a positive asset of the community.
Mike Miloni, Captain
V.F.W. Post 247 Honor Guard
Auxiliary News
Happy New Year everyone!! I hope all of you had a
wonderful, blessed Christmas, and I wish only the best for
the coming year.
The children's Christmas party was by far the best.
Santa did a great job, and the kids all loved the presents he
gave them. I want to thank all of the following people who
made the party the huge success that it was:
ladies from auxiliary post 247, everyone who baked or
bought items from our monthly pancake breakfast bake
sales(all money earned went toward the Christmas party) 4
Kings poker club, Tom Parker, Charlie and Georgia
Centrello, anonymous donor, the VFW for the hot dogs and
chips. Also, Betty Roth our special story teller, Ruth
Lathrop who lead us all singing holly jolly Christmas songs,
and a very special thank you to Santa's helpers: Dot Kargle,
Tonya Nippert, and Renee Kargle.
Pancake breakfasts are the 2nd Sunday of each
month, and we would appreciate any donated baked goods
to sell at these. The money collected from the remaining
breakfast bake sales for this year will go towards the
department of Nebraska cancer fund.
Mark your calendars for the following dates:
 January 9th - Ladies auxiliary meeting 7 p.m.
 January 16th - VFW meeting Awards will be
given to our Voice of Democracy winners
 February 1st - District 10 Awards banquet,
Springfield Post 9558 2 p.m. Luncheon will follow
awards ceremony.
 February 6-8 Mid-winter conference, Lincoln, NE,
Holiday Inn.
 February 13- Ladies auxiliary meeting, 7 p.m.
 March 13-Ladies auxiliary meeting, 7 p.m.
My closing quote comes from the legendary Jackie
Robinson: “A life is not important except in the impact it
has on other lives.” Let us all keep doing our best to help
our fellow veterans, their families, and everyone around us!
Sincerely,
Bonnie M. Gerlt
POST OPENING HOURS
Wednesday – Saturday 4:00pm
Just Checking!!
If you read our newsletter, bring in this coupon on any
Friday night and receive one free drink (soda, beer [tap,
bottle or can], liquor or coffee
Auxiliary Mtg 13 FEB @ 7PM; House Committee 20 FEB @ 6PM; V.F.W. Mtg 20 FEB @ 7PM
Auxiliary Mtg 13 MAR @ 7PM; House Committee 20 MAR @ 6PM; V.F.W. Mtg 20 MAR @ 7PM
V.F.W. Post 247
JAN – MAR 2015
-4-
VFW POST SOP REPLACES BY-LAWS
April 2015 meeting is the “Post’s Convention”.
Members will be voting on replacing the By-Laws with an
SOP. The District did this last year and based on their
model we will try to do the same thing. It will eliminate the
continuing changes made at National Conventions and will
not have to be approved by Department and subsequently by
National Headquarters. Copies will be made available to
members at the Post meeting in January but if you do not
intend to attend that meeting but plan on attending the one in
April, copies will be available doing normal Canteen hours.
January:
 17 – Persian Gulf War Began (1991)
 27 – Vietnam Peace Accord Signed (1973)
February:
 01 – National Freedom Day
 14 – Valentine’s Day
March:
 02 – Vietnam War Began (1965)
 03 – Star Spangled Banner Made U.S. National
Anthem (1931)
 08 – Daylight Savings Time Begins
 17 – St. Patrick’s Day
 19 – Operation Iraqi Freedom Began (2003)
 20 – Spring Begins
 31 – Somalia Campaign Ended (1995)
MOVING?
If you have moved, please let us know your new address
because the magazine from National and our semi-monthly
newsletter will NOT be forwarded to your new location. It is
cost prohibitive to both of us. We do want to keep you
informed on activities going on in the Post and the National
magazine does have very interesting articles that I am sure
you will find of interest. Last but not least it does cost us
money for every return newsletter
Thomas Falconer
Hall for Rent
[Non-meeting nights]
Call us for details:
(402) 344 -0714
St. Patty’s Day @ VFW 247
Come join us for Corned Beef and Cabbage, Carrots &
Boiled Potatoes for a $6.00 donation per plate!!
Tuesday, 17 March 2015
Food Service begins at Noon!!
Fly Your Flag Proudly
January:
 01 – New Year’s Day
 19 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday
February:
 12 – Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday
 16 – George Washington’s Birthday Observed /
President’s Day
March:
Other Dates of Interest: