JOSEPH JOHNSTON

Department Commander

December is here and along with it comes reflections of another year being passed into history while at the same time we celebrate with our families in this season of blessings to us all. I want to take this time to reflect on the members of our office staff and all that they do for us throughout the year. Will Davis tries to keep us all on track with our Chapter financials and that indeed is a daunting task—but through it all he maintains great humor and treats us with kindness and respect. Larry Frazee is newest to the staff but has taken our fiscal management under his wing and keeps us informed regarding the DAV budget and expenditures he has done a yeoman’s job of keeping us within regulatory guidelines and maintained a clean audit report each year. Sherry Williamson is a mother to us all—she is the Ohio DAV institutional memory and keeps us all on track and on task. She was only a child when she came to the DAV and has been here for over 32 years. She believes in the DAV and reminds us of our duty when it is necessary. Frank Williams is our Adjutant and friend. He left retirement and gave the DAV his time so that we could fill a much-needed void at the Department when our previous Adjutant left to become the Franklin County Veterans Service Officer. Frank is an honest and upright man, and has a tough job to accomplish but does so with skill and vigor. I consider all these people my friends and I hope that you all do as well. Next time you speak to one of them on the phone tell them how much you appreciate their being there for us and the DAV! I also know that many of our friends and families are out of work this Christmas season because of the poor economy and my friends it may get worse. I ask each of you who are blessed to have work and able to make ends meet be especially giving this year to your church, your community and your acquaintenances who are in need. I have especially enjoyed the many Chapter Christmas parties that I have been honored to attend at your invitation and hope that you all have the most blessed and happy holidays this year!

In late February I will be attending the Mid-Winter conference at Washington, D.C. with our Ohio contingent and will be speaking with our Ohio Senators and/or their staff members. We will also be meeting with some House members or their staff. If you have an issue you would like me to address, please let me know what they are over the next few weeks before we make our final plans and presentations for this important annual event.

This is also the time when I would like to announce my forthcoming candidacy for the National DAV progressive line. With your support and the Department of Ohio, I will attempt to be elected to the 4^th Jr. Vice Commander or Higher Office at the National Convention which will meet in Denver, Colorado this summer. However, I can only achieve this goal with your support and I humbly ask you to give me that support in this endeavor. If I receive your support, I will move forward with this goal and hopefully serve both Ohio and the National DAV for many years to come. I hope to bring respect, dedication and dignity to our State and the DAV in general. I will forever remain your friend and comrade.

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

Nat’l. Hdqrs., DAV (877) 426-2838

NSO Office, Cleveland (216) 522-3507

NSO Office, Cincinnati (513) 684-2676

Washington Office, DAV (202) 554-3501

Cincinnati HSC,

Sheila Clements (513) 475-6443

Dayton HSC, (937) 268-6511

Gene McCorkle Ext. 2962

Wade Park HSC, (216) 791-3800

Walter Dryja Ext. 3395

Chillicothe HSC (740) 773-1141

Ext. 7916

Columbus Clinic, (614) 257-5487

Michael Hackworth

Brecksville HSC, (440) 526-3030

Don Branford Ext. 7353

Warren Clinic (330) 392-0311

Youngstown Clinic (330) 70-9200

Ext. 105

Veterans Administration 1-800-827-1000

DATES TO REMEMBER

February 22-25, 2009 DAV Mid-Winter Conference, Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington, VA

March 22, 2009 Fourth District Meeting, Montfaucon Chapter #27, 2802 Airport Highway, Toledo, Ohio at 2 p.m.

March 28, 2009 Auxiliary Commander Kathie Johnson’s Testimonial Dinner, Eagles, Wapakoneta, Ohio.

April 11, 2009 First District Meeting, Harold J. Hursh Chapter #131, 4620 Trenton-Franklin Rd., Middletown, lunch beginning at 12 noon, meeting to begin at 1 p.m.

April 18, 2009 Testimonial Dinner Commander Joseph Johnston, Holiday Inn Eastgate, Cincinnati, Ohio

June 25-28, 2009 DAV Department Convention,

The Crowne Plaza, Dublin, Ohio.

August 1, 2009 Forget-Me-Not, John W. Covert Chapter #47, East Liverpool, Ohio

August 22-25, 2009 DAV National Convention, Sheraton Hotel Denver, Denver, Colorado

Sept. 24 – 26, 2009 DAV Auxiliary Fall Conference, Drawbridge Inn, Fort Mitchell, Kentucky.

October 9-11, 2009 DAV Department Fall Conference, The Crowne Plaza, Dublin, Ohio.

Feb. 28 – Mar. 3, 2010 DAV Mid-Winter Conference, Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington, VA

June 24-27, 2010 DAV Department Convention,

The Crowne Plaza, Dublin, Ohio.

July 31 – Aug. 3, 2010 DAV National Convention, Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia

October 8-10, 2010 DAV Department Fall Conference, The Crowne Plaza, Dublin, Ohio.

CHAPLAIN’S CORNER

Sorry I haven’t been writing here lately, but I have been battling it out with my foot going back and forth to the doctors. I am better now, but as soon as they get the date set, I have to have another surgery on the same foot. This will make the fourth. I have to have a complete ankle bone replacement. Well that’s enough about me. I would like for all of you to read these two poems. The first one is:

PRAYER FOR OUR COUNTRY HEAVENLY FATHER

You are the real foundation of nations raising them up to serve and care for the people dwelling in their boundaries.

I thank you for making me a citizen of this land of freedom and unlimited opportunity – these United States.

Send forth your spirit to this country and make it a source of wisdom and strength, order and integrity throughout the world.

A PRAYER FOR PEACE

Lord make me an instrument of your peace!

Where there is hatred…let me sow love,

Where there is injury…pardon,

Where there is doubt…faith,

Where there is despair…light,

Where there is sadness…joy.

O divine master, grant that may not so much seek,

To be consoled…as to console,

To be understood…as to understand,

To be loved…as to love you.

It is in giving…that we receive

It is in pardoning…that we are pardoned

It is in dying…that we are born to eternal live.

I love and pray for everyone of you every day.

Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

NOTES FROM YOUR STATE ADJUTANT

Thought for January: When making your New Year’s Resolutions, please resolve to do your best to work together with your fellow Veterans to help make better lives for America’s Disabled Veterans and their families. Volunteer at the nearest VA Medical Center or VA Clinic. Or, at least, visit with a Veteran and/or his/her family to see if they need help during the cold, winter weather. All of us have needs, but there is always someone who is much more in need than we are. Help provide transportation, even a ride to attend your Chapter Meeting would help.

Will Davis, who works part time for Department Headquarters, signed up a new member. How many have you signed up? Remember to sign up Auxiliary Members, too.

Actor Gary Senise, who appears in numerous videos helping promote DAV, was awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal on December 15, 2008. This is the 2^nd highest civilian award given to citizens for exemplary deeds performed in service to our Nation. Gary is regarded as a true friend of US Soldiers and does not hesitate to travel into war zones to express his admiration and personal support for those who defend America.

DAYTON VET CENTER WILL GET ONE OF NEW VA SERVICE VANS: The new 38 foot motor Coach, very similar to DAV’s Mobile Service Van , will carry Vet Center Counselors and Outreach Workers to Community events, including Homeless Standdowns; County Fairs and Vet Reunions, providing non-medical readjustment counseling, psychological counseling for traumatic experiences as well as family counseling when needed for the veteran’s readjustment.

VETERAN WEB LINKS UPDATE: I am providing the following web-sites with information on Veterans Benefits and how to file/ask for them. Many sites explain how to obtain books, military and medical records, etcetera: CARES Commission: www.va.gov/vbs/bva/ Center for Women Vets www.va.gov/womenvet/ Center for Minority Veterans www.ga.gov/centerforminorityveterans/ Clarification on changes in VA Health Care for Gulf War Veterans www.gulfwarvets.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/000016.html/ Compensation Rates: http://www.vba.va.gov/bln/21/Rates/comp01.html Establishing Combat Veteran Eligibility: www.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=315 Forms and Records Request: www.va.gov/vaforms/ Veterans Legal Benefit info http://valaw.org VA National Hepatitis C Program www.hepatitis.va.gov/ VA Benefits Main Page www.vba.va.gov/

As always, keep our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan in your thoughts and prayers as they fight, like we have fought, to keep America free. Never shall we forget that Freedom is not Free!!

Information Bulletin

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

NOTES FROM YOUR STATE ADJUTANT