Centennial Legion – Elected Officer and Veterans

As many of you know by now, the new commander of the Centennial Legion is COL. Houstin Spencer. As always, the VCA wishes the COL. their best and much success in the coming year.

Today we write about one the VCA’s very own! At the Annual Director’s meeting, the VCASNY’s own Initiatives Officer, LTC Herman N. Cohen was elected 2nd Vice Commander of the Centennial Legion. He follows in the footsteps of another VCASNY member who served as CLHMC Commander, the VCA’s current Adjutant, COL Matthew G. Cusack, Jr. who served from 1996 -1997.

Best wishes to one of our own!

At the meeting, LTC Cohen, who in civilian life works for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington, DC, distributed copies of a DVD he produced, called “Homes for Heroes”. The video is about grants available for severely disabled veterans to adapt their homes for wheelchair accessibility. You can view the video at the VA site here. He is currently working on a new video on assistance to Veterans having financial difficulties called “Alternatives to Foreclosure“. In addition, LTC Cohen’s monthly streaming Internet video broadcasts to Mortgage Lenders, National Service Organizations and Veterans on GI Home Loans and Grants can also be viewed at VA site here. Just go near the bottom of the page to the section labeled “Previous Broadcasts”.

If you are a Veteran, please go to these sites for information on receiving the benefits you’ve earned.

Centennial Legion – Boston and Plymouth

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It was a busy weekend for the VCA and its’ Centennial Legion sister organizations, and most participants only had time to go from event to event, while catching a little rest in between. The weekend began at a leisurely pace with a private tour of the Old North Church, and was followed by a nice complimentary reception at the Union Oyster House. The Oyster House is the “oldest restaurant in continuous service” in the U.S. Our thanks to BG Milano, Proprietor.

The VCA’s first event was the participation in the Change of Command Ceremony aboard the USS Constitution. It was a grand event hosted by the United States Navy aboard the oldest warship in the U.S. The mantle was passed from CAPT. Ed Hebert to COL. Houstin Spencer in grand style and ceremony. The VCA wishes COL Houstin their best as he takes on his new responsibilities.

In addition to dignitaries of the Centennial Legion, the key note speaker was MG Bray, Commander of the Rhode Island National Guard and Militia. The ceremony was followed by yet another complimentary reception at Warren Tavern. Warren Tavern had been visited by the likes of George Washington and Paul Revere. It was also the site of the first formal Masonic lodge in Boston. The libation was flowing and the food was fresh.

Saturday began with a drive up to Plymouth, MA for the VCA’s participation in the Plymouth Thanksgiving Day Parade. If you weren’t there, the best way to experience it is with photos. Please visit our Flickr Photostream to see many photos, and videos from this event and the weekend.

Stay tuned tomorrow for other Centennial Legion news from the 75th Annual Meeting regarding one of the VCA’s own officers.

The 75th Annual Convention of the Centennial Legion

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The 75th Annual Convention begins in Boston today at 1200 hours. Members of the VCA, as well as other historical units will participate in many activities including a Change of Command Ceremony aboard the USS Constitution, The Plymouth’s Thanksgiving Day parade, and a couple of tours in historic Boston.

Also know as “Old Ironsides”, the USS Constitution web site states that it is the “world’s oldest commissioned warship afloat, promotes the United States Navy and America’s naval heritage through educational outreach, public access and historic demonstrations, in port and underway” .

For more information on the event, please go to the Centennial Legion web site. Stay tuned for photos and reporting of the event over the next couple of days.

Veterans Reflections

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Veterans Reflections is a collections of stories from men and women that served from WWII to the present. They are stories based on experiences of service and their effect on the veteran. The stories will be published on www.defense.gov throughout the month of November in honor of Veterans Day. Here is the latest story on Michael Tripp, who actually became one of the more famous faces from the Vietnam War.

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Veterans Day 2010

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From the Revolutionary War to the “Cold War” to Afghanistan, young men and women have served our country with commitment, honor and courage. If I counted up wiki correctly, we have lost ~650,000 men and women during armed conflicts, and another ~1.5 Million were wounded during the history of our nation. There are another 83,918 that are still unaccounted for.

The VCASNY asks that you remember them all today and everyday, by supporting them, flying the flag, attending a parade, saying “thank you” to that nice elderly man down the block, and by never forgetting what they have given to support our country.

OohRah!

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As a former member of the greatest Air Force in the world, and a current member of a 220 year old Historic Military Command with regulations and traditions born of the United States Army, I have to admit that I still feel honored when I am in the company of these men and women. Please join the VCA in wishing a Very Happy 235th Birthday to the United States Marine Corps.

The official birthday of the Marine Corps is 10 November 1775, when the second Continental Congress passed a resolution to raise “two battalions of Marines”.

Happy Birthday to old and new friends alike. OohRah and Semper Fi!

From the VCA Command Sergeant Major

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Wearing a military uniform means more than carrying on a tradition, or identifying us as a member of a historical military command. It is an outward sign to the public of our competence and professionalism, and of the deep respect we share for our unit and our State and Country. The VCA has its own regimental uniform for Parade Dress, Mess Dress, and its own Corps Blazer. The Quartermaster section has posted descriptions of the proper wear of our regimental uniform. Additionally, Army Regulation AR 670-1 “Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia” provides a complete description of the Class A, Class B and ACU uniforms used by the VCA. Similarly, the transition document describing the new ASU (blue) uniform for Class A and Class B which is replacing the dress greens, is available via the web as ALARACT 202/2008 “US Army Service Uniform.”

We always strive to present a proper military image, with our clothing properly fitted and in good condition, neat and pressed as appropriate. Along with this is the proper wearing of our uniforms. For instance, a field jacket or all weather coat is never left open or half closed; it is always zipped / snapped / buttoned / belted when worn otherwise, it is carried. For the ACU, the ends of boot laces are tucked in, after being tied, under the tounge flap, and our trouser pockets are not bulging nor do we store items in any of the blouse pockets. And then there are some uniform-related caveats: typically, headgear or cover is worn outdoors and removed indoors. An important exception for the VCA is that cover is used both indoors and outdoors when the individual is under arms. When carrying our swords and musical instruments, we are considered under arms.

When we see a uniform problem with a fellow soldier, let the individual know. We should all make an effort to always check each other to ensure we are squared away; this is especially important before an event in front of a public audience or in front of a camera.

See this page for additional VCA uniform requirements and regulations

President Bush takes responsibility for approving water boarding

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Former President, George W. Bush has set off new rounds of criticism for his approval of “extreme” techniques used by the C.I.A. while interrogating al Qaeda suspects and other terrorists. President Bush tells Oprah Winfrey that there were at least two other techniques recommended, but he felt they went too far, even if considered legal. “The choice between security and values was real”, he says in his new memoir “Decision Points” due out next week.

“I thought about my meeting with Danny Pearl’s widow, who was pregnant with his son when he was murdered. I thought about the 2,971 people stolen from their families by al Qaeda on 9/11. And I thought about my duty to protect my country from another act of terror. ‘Damn right,’ I said.”, referring to his resolve. Any doubt the former President may have had, were alleviated by none other than terrorist Abu Zubaydah. Interrogation of Zubaydah led to the capture of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, whose compound was raided, and it was there that authorities found more plans of attacks on U.S. soil. According to the President, it was Zubayhda who told him “‘You must do this for all the brothers.'”

For more of this story, go here.

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Say thank you to a service-person. Go out and vote

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It has always been the Soldier

It is the soldier, not the Reporter who has given us Freedom of Press.
It is the soldier, not the Poet who has given us Freedom of Speech.
It is the soldier, not the campus Organizer who has given us the Freedom to Demonstrate.
It is the soldier,who salutes the flag; who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag,
that allows the protester to burn the flag.

Father Dennis O’Brien, United States Marine Corp. Chaplain

VA announces the backing of 19 Million home loans

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For more than 60 years, the VA and the G.I. Bill has provided Veterans and Active Duty personnel the ability to get a home loan without the need of a down-payment while providing the backing of the U.S. Government. On November 1, 2010, the VA announced that it is now backing 19 millions home loans. The GI market has also had the lowest foreclosure and lowest delinquency rates over the past 9 and 6 quarters respectively, as compared to the rest of the housing industry including prime loans. For more information , please see the VA Press Release here.

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VCASNY

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