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Tehachapi VFW Veteran Appreciation Event a success

On Saturday, March 15, the Tehachapi Veterans of Foreign Wars hosted a successful veteran’s appreciation event. Over 60 local military veterans, their families and friends enjoyed the event. Tehachapi Mayor Deborah Hand kicked-off the event with a heartfelt “thank you” to the participants, which included veterans of World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom. Also in attendance were representatives from the California Veterans Assistance Foundation, Kern County Veterans Services Department, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Soldier’s Angels and Wounded Warrior Project.

The event was educational as well as inspirational, reminding us all that we have the power to make a difference in a veteran’s life. Following the formal presentations, the guests enjoyed an Irish potluck dinner and live music from Flashback. The event was a huge success and the Tehachapi VFW Mountain Post 5948 would like to thank all of the veteran friendly representatives for their willingness to attend the event and share their outstanding services with our veterans, their families and friends. The Post would also like to thank everyone who took the time to prepare a dish for the potluck…you made a difference. Lastly, the VFW would like to thank Albertson’s and Save Mart for their generous donations.

The Origins of Veterans Day

In 1921, an unknown World War I American soldier was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. This site, on a hillside overlooking the Potomac River and the city of Washington, D.C., became the focal point of reverence for America’s veterans.

Similar ceremonies occurred earlier in England and France, where an unknown soldier was buried in each nation’s highest place of honor. These memorial gestures all took place on November 11, giving universal recognition to the celebrated ending of World War I fighting at 11 a.m., November 11, 1918 (the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month). The day became known as “Armistice Day.”

The first celebration using the term Veterans Day occurred in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1947. Raymond Weeks, a World War II veteran, organized "National Veterans Day," which included a parade and other festivities, to honor all veterans. The event was held on November 11, which at the time was designated Armistice Day. Later, U.S. Representative Edward Rees of Kansas proposed a bill that would change Armistice Day to Veterans Day. In 1954, Congress passed the bill that President Eisenhower signed proclaiming November 11 as Veterans Day.

On Memorial Day 1958, two more unidentified American war dead were brought from overseas and interred in the plaza beside the unknown soldier of World War I. One was killed in World War II, the other in the Korean War. In 1984, an unknown serviceman from the Vietnam War was placed alongside the others. The remains from Vietnam were exhumed May 14, 1998, identified as Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie, and removed for burial. To honor these men, symbolic of all Americans who gave their lives in all wars, an Army honor guard, the 3rd U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard), keeps day and night vigil.

A law passed in 1968 changed the national commemoration of Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October. It soon became apparent, however, that November 11 was a date of historic significance to many Americans. Therefore, in 1978 Congress returned the observance to its traditional date.

Phony Heroes

Recently, federal authorities charged a member of the Three Valleys Municipal Water District board of directors, with falsely claiming he won the Medal of Honor. The charge, a misdemeanor, carries a maximum penalty of a year in prison. It seems lately, that more and more of these phonies are making the news. While the debate on the validity of the War in Iraq remains a heated topic, support for the troops is omnipresent. Perhaps it is this overwhelming support for today’s service member that is creating this surge in phony heroes.

The web site Hometown heroes affirms that thirty years ago returning Vietnam veterans were told not to wear their uniforms into town, due the negative responses the unpopular war often evoked. Today, Vietnam veterans are (finally) becoming recognized for their dedicated service to the extent that large numbers of veterans who served in other theaters, and even men who NEVER served in uniform, present themselves as Vietnam veterans. The problem is not confined to non-Vietnam veterans either.

Virtually any military patch, pin, ribbon or medal can be easily and cheaply purchased on the Internet or in local military surplus and supply stores. This has made it easy for anyone who wants to (illegally) upgrade a Bronze Star to Silver, obtain and wear a Purple Heart never earned, add a colorful "Ranger Tab", or sport a Green Beret. There are organizations among Rangers, Special Forces, and Navy Seals that aggressively pursue and expose the "fraudulent elite".

There is no more aggressive pursuit of impostors however, than that conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to expose, prosecute, and even imprison the very worst of all phonies....Medal of Honor impostors. They range from a sitting judge in Illinois (who claimed TWO Medals of Honor for heroism in Lebanon), to a truck driver in Florida, to a California real estate executive. The phonies are sometimes veterans, sometimes even combat veterans. There are others who have draped our Nation's highest award for military valor around their neck, who have never served in uniform.

It is often said that imitation is the greatest form of flattery; however, fallaciously representing yourself as a military veteran (combat or not) should be considered treason and those found guilty of such an offense need to be punished accordingly.

History of the National League of POW/MIA Families' POW/MIA Flag

In 1971, Mrs. Michael Hoff, an MIA wife and member of the National League of Families, recognized the need for a symbol of our POW/MIAs. Prompted by an article in the Jacksonville, Florida Times-Union, Mrs. Hoff contacted Norman Rivkees, Vice President of Annin & Company which had made a banner for the newest member of the United Nations, the People's Republic of China, as a part of their policy to provide flags to all United Nations members’ states. Mrs. Hoff found Mr. Rivkees very sympathetic to the POW/MIA issue, and he, along with Annin's advertising agency, designed a flag to represent our missing men. Following League approval, the flags were manufactured for distribution.

On March 9, 1989, an official League flag, which flew over the White House on 1988 National POW/MIA Recognition Day, was installed in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda because of legislation passed overwhelmingly during the 100th Congress. In a demonstration of bipartisan Congressional support, the leadership of both Houses hosted the installation ceremony.

The League's POW/MIA flag is the only flag ever displayed in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda where it will stand as a powerful symbol of national commitment to America's POW/MIAs until the fullest possible accounting has been achieved for U.S. personnel still missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War.

On August 10, 1990, the 101st Congress passed U.S. Public Law 101-355, which recognized the League's POW/MIA flag and designated it "as the symbol of our Nation's concern and commitment to resolving as fully as possible the fates of Americans still prisoner, missing and unaccounted for in Southeast Asia, thus ending the uncertainty for their families and the Nation".

The importance of the League's POW/MIA flag lies in its continued visibility, a constant reminder of the plight of America's POW/MIAs. Other than "Old Glory", the League's POW/MIA flag is the only flag ever to fly over the White House, having been displayed in this place of honor on National POW/MIA Recognition Day since 1982.

Please join the members of the Tehachapi Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5948 in honoring National POW/MIA day, Friday September 21 at 6pm.

Letter: You are not forgotten

It seems that there are more flags displayed on the July 4 than any other American holiday. While my allegiance to the flag is unwavering, there is another flag, not as prominently displayed as Old Glory, that is equally worthy of respect and tribute, the POW/MIA flag.

There are 58,249 names listed on the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial Wall. Approximately 1,200 of these names are listed as missing (MIA's, POW's and others). I cannot imagine the emptiness one must feel to have to grow up not knowing a parent lost to a war, or worse, not having the closure of knowing what happened or where it happened. To countless families and comrades, this feeling of emptiness is unremitting.

So why do we fly the POW/MIA flag? The answer is simple: we fly the flag as a symbol of our concern and commitment to achieving the fullest possible accounting of Americans who still remain unaccounted for.

The importance of the POW/MIA flag lies in its continued visibility, a constant reminder of the plight of prisoners of war and those missing in action. Other than Old Glory, the POW/MIA flag is the only flag ever to fly over the White House, having been displayed in this place of honor on National POW/MIA Recognition Day since 1982.

POW/MIA recognition is not limited to the Vietnam War; the Defense Prisoner of War and Missing Personnel Office maintains a database of POW/MIAs from World War II, the Cold War and the Gulf War.

You are not forgotten: four simple words that represent so much to so many. Take a moment to reflect on this when the nation honors its POW’s and MIA’s on Sept. 15.

— Tech. Sgt. Mike Minton AFRES

Veteran motorcycle club seeking members in Tehachapi area

The POW-MIA Riders is a motorcycle club made up of veterans from all branches of the service. We have active, reserve forces and retired members. The purpose of the club is to foster a motorcycle riding brotherhood dedicated to the POW-MIAs, while demanding a full accounting of all POW-MIAs.

In addition, each club chapter adopts one or more charitable or veteran’s organizations to which it shall donate all profits which exceed the club chapter’s maximum operating funds. The POW/MIA Riders members all have two things in common: we want a full accounting of all POW/MIAs and we are veterans helping veterans.

The POW-MIA Riders accomplish this by doing what we enjoy doing the most: riding our motorcycles in numbers to veteran events, supporting our community events and helping all fellow veterans that need the help and encouraging all citizens of this great nation to keep the flame burning until we have a full accounting of our brothers that still have not come home.

To become a member all you need to have is an honorable discharge, a DD-214, be on active duty or a member of the Reserve Forces and have the will to help and support the cause.

For more information. call Mike Minton at 822-1904 or visit www.powmiariders.com/.