Sunday, November 16, 2008

December 2008/January 2009 Newsletter Issue 147

Chaplain’s Corner
by Bill Cummins, Chaplain

The Place Where You Live
It is a simple story, simply told. One day, a man walked into an antique shop and asked permission to look around. It was a rather exclusive shop frequented only by those who could afford to purchase articles made rare by their scarcity and age. The visitor seemed strangely out of place because he was poorly dressed, though clean; indeed it was clear from his appearance that he was a laborer whose face had been etched by sun and rain and whose hands were rough and worn. After more than a half hour, he left.

In about ten days he returned. This time he found a very beautiful piece of old glass and asked if he could make a deposit on it. Each week he made a payment, until at last the article was his. With much curiosity, the owner of the shop engaged him in conversation to determine, if he could, the use to which such a man would put his new purchase. “I bought it for my little room. It isn’t much, but I bring to it, from time to time, through the years, only the very best and most beautiful things. You see, that is where I live.”

To bring to the place where you live only the best and most beautiful - what a plan for one’s life! This is well within the reach of everyone. Think of using one’s memory in that way. As one lives from day to day, there are all sorts of experiences, good, bad, beautiful, and ugly, that become a part of one’s past. To develop the ability to screen one’s memory so that only the excellent is retained for one’s own room! All kinds of ideas pass through one’s mind, about oneself, about the world, about people. Which do you keep for your own room? Think it over now; which ideas do you keep for the place where you live?
It is well within the mark to say that the oft-quoted words of Jesus, about laying up for yourself treasures in heaven, deal with this same basic idea. The place where you live is where your treasures are. Where your treasures are is where your heart is. Where your heart is, is where God is.

“O come, Immanuel (God with us). Come dwell with us, God,” the prophets prayed. “Show us your way. Make your home with us. Save us from our sins and wrong.” And then we recall the prophets’ faithful promises.

“The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light…For unto us a child is born,… and his name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Merry Christmas, be happy, Chaplain Bill Cummins

CHRISTMAS PARTY!!!!!!
When? 6pm, December 8th.
Where? Swansea Improvement Association Building
How much? $10:00 per person.
Deadline for reservations: December 1st.

If you pay by check make it out to KWVA. Reservations must be paid in advance and received by December 1st. We are asking everyone to bring a gift, wrapped. There will be a 50/50. Hope to see you at the Swansea Improvement Association building.

FACING THE NEW YEAR
We pledge ourselves
To follow through the coming year
The light which God gives us:
The light of Truth, wherever it may lead; The light of Freedom, revealing new opportunities for individual development and social service; Thelight of Faith, opening new visions of the better world to be; The light of Love, daily binding humankind to God in ever closer bonds of friendship and affection. Guided by this light, we shall go forward to the work of another year with steadfastness and confidence.
Author Unknown

Joke of the month:
A mother was teaching her three-year-old daughter the Lord’s Prayer. For several evenings at bedtime, she repeated it after her mother. One night she said she was ready to try it on her own. Mother glowed with pride and listened to each word right up to the end. “And lead us not into temptation,” she prayed, “but deliver us some E-mail. Amen”


A Few Words from your PR Person
Our chili supper at the Oct. meeting was a great success thanks to chef Russ and his helpers. It was a good way to start the autumn season. Remember our Christmas Party at our Dec. meeting It will start promptly at 6pm followed with a short business meeting and a 50/50 drawing. Then there will be catered meal and a gift exchange. I will not mention anymore for fear of duplication by chairman Bill Cummins.

Thanks to all who attended the visitations for our two recent chapter members I'm sure the family members appreciated it during their time of grief.

Also, thanks to all who attended the Veterans Day ceremonies at the court house on a rainy day. It looks very good to see our chapter represented at these public functions and we also appreciated the respect shown to all of us veterans and to our country.

Support our food pantry by bringing canned and/or paper goods to our Dec. meeting. They need extra help at this time of the year.

Have a happy holiday season. Bill Juergens.

Friday, September 19, 2008

October/November Newsletter

Mouse Story

A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package. “What food might this contain?” the mouse wondered. He was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap. Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning. “There is mousetrap in the house! There is a mouse trap in the house!

The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, “Mr. Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it.”  The mouse turned to the pig and told him, “There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!” The pig sympathized but said, “I am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. Be assured you are in my prayers. The mouse turned to the cow and said, ‘There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!” The cow said, “Wow, Mr. Mouse. I’m sorry for you, but it’s no skin off my nose.”

So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer’s mousetrap alone. That very night a sound was heard throughout the house like the sound of mousetrap catching its prey. The farmer’s wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught. The snake bit the farmer’s wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital and she returned home with a fever.

Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took hatchet to the farmyard for the soup’s main ingredient. But his wife’s sickness continued, so friends and neighbors came to sit with here around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig. The farmer’s wife did not get well, she died. So many people came for her funeral. The farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them. The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness.

So, the next time you hear someone is facing a problem and think it doesn’t concern you, remember when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk. We are all involved in this journey called life. We must keep an eye out for one another and make and extra effort to encourage one another. Make sure you show this to everyone who has helped you out and let them know how important they are. REMEMBER: EACH OF US IS A VITAL THREAD IN ANOTHER PERSON’S TAPESTRY; OUR LIVES ARE  WOVEN TOGETHER FOR A REASON. One of the best things to hold onto in this world is a FRIEND.       Anonymous

Be Happy, Chaplain Bill Cummins

A Few Words from your PR Person

This is a reminder that at our Oct. meeting will be our annual Chili Supper.  We will start our business meeting at 6pm and chili will be at 6:30pm.  Bring appetites and desserts.  All donations will be appreciated.  A 50/50 will also be held as usual.  
Remember to support our food pantry.  Hope to see everyone there.  

Bill Juergens.

 

THE JOKE OF THE MONTH

Now I Believe!  Pastor Jackson used this story to illustrate the point of belief in his Sunday morning homily. An atheist was spending a quiet day fishing when suddenly his boat was attacked by the Loch Ness monster. In one graceful flip, the legendary beast tossed the atheist high into the air. Then it opened its mouth to swallow both the man and the boat. As the man sailed head over heels, he cried out, “Oh, my God! Help me!” Immediately, the ferocious attack scene froze, leaving the atheist hanging in midair. Then a booming voice came out of the clouds, “I thought you didn’t believe in me!” “Come on, God, give me a break,” the man pleaded. “Two minutes ago I didn’t believe in the Loch Ness monster, either!”


 

Friday, July 25, 2008

August/September Newsletter

TODAY
This is the beginning of a fresh new day, I greet it with hope. Today comes only once, and never again returns. I must show my love and be kind. God has given me this twenty-four hours to use as I will, I shall have a cheerful attitude. I must do something good with this day and not waste it. This is my day of opportunity and duty. I expect something good because I am going to help make it happen!

Today is a new day in my life, a new piece of road to be traveled, I must ask God for directions. Today I will be filled with courage and confidence. I must show my faith in God. What I do today is very important because I am exchanging a day of my life for it. The cost of a thing is the amount of my life I spend obtaining it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever, leaving in its place something I have traded for it. In order not to forget the price I have paid for it, I shall do my best to make it useful, profitable, joyful. The seeds I plant today determine my harvest in the future, my life will be richer or poorer by the way I use today.

Thank you God for today, I shall not pass this way again- What I must do-I’ll do today!--By Alfred A. Montapert

Be Happy, Chaplain Bill C.

To help reduce costs, you will receive the newsletter every other month, starting in August. Those of you who get your newsletter by mail will receive 4 50/50’s instead of the usual 2. As you know ½ goes to the Area Food Pantry ½ to the winner. Thank you for your support.

“Membership KWVA:” If you need a new membership card, send either a letter to the Membership Office, or email to membership@kwva.org. Mailing address: Korean War Veterans Assn., PO Box 22857, Alexandria, VA 22304-9285.

Daisy Days total receipts for May 2, 3, 31 and July 12 is $7,919.97.
A big “Thank You” to all of the workers:
Leroy G., Henry W., Russ K., Gladys K., Bob I., Carl B., Paul V., Ed G., Henry S., Ken S., Jean S., Alan P., Dixie P., Tom M., Billy G., Bill J., Bill C., Irvin W., Jim W., Merrill B., Don R., Jo R., and Chuck A..

New National Officers are:
President--William MacSwain
1st/Vice President--James Ferris
2nd/Vice President--Robert Banker
Directors:
George Lawhon
Leo Agnew
Jeffrey Brodeur
Luther Rice Jr.

A Few Words from your PR Person:
On the 29th of June a patriotic program was held at St. Matthews United Methodist Church honoring Korean Veterans. Awards were presented to the veterans; many of which were members of our chapter. I'm sure we are all grateful to the church for remembering us and for their magnificent performance of musical talent.

Continue to support our food pantry by contributions of canned goods and/or paper goods.

On the railroad of life, keep in mind that the light at the end of the tunnel may be an oncoming train.

See you at the next meeting. Bill J.

THE JOKE OF THE MONTH
When The “Tithe” Comes In: Two men were shipwrecked on a desert island. One was a churchgoer and the other wasn’t. The minute they arrived on the island, the non- church goer began screaming and yelling, “We’re going to die! There’s no food! No water! We’re going to die!” The other man was calmly propped against a palm tree, which drove the other guy crazy. “Don’t you understand? We’re going to die! What’s wrong with you?” “You don’t understand,” said the churchgoer, “I make one hundred thousand dollars a week.” “What difference does that make?” asked the non-churchgoer. “We’re on a desert island. We’re going to die.” The churchgoer smiled. “You just don’t get it. I make one hundred thousand dollars a week , and I tithe. My pastor will find me.”

DTV Conversion set for February 2009:
Your current television will work as it does now until analog broadcasting stops. Under federal law, analog service will continue until most homes (85%) in an area are able to watch the DTV programming. Even after the transition is over, your current TV will not become obsolete. A converter box can be used to receive broadcast DTV signals and change them into the format of your current television. In addition, if you use your analog set with a multichannel pay service like cable or satellite, it will continue to work as it always has. Even with a converter box, however, your current analog television will not be capable of displaying the full picture quality of DTV. To enjoy the full picture quality, you must have a DTV set. Subscribers to cable and DBS services should contact their providers regarding converter boxes for those services. Digital television (DTV) is a new type of broadcasting technology that will transform television as we now know it.By transmitting the information used to make a TV picture and sound as "data bits" (like a computer), a digital broadcaster can carry more information than is currently possible with analog broadcast technology. If you currently receive free over-the-air television programming on an analog television set, you will need a DTV converter box to continue to receive television service after February 17, 2009. DTV converter boxes are available now. To help consumers cover the cost of the converter box, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) will be issuing up to two converter box coupons valued at $40 each to households in early 2008. Information about the DTV converter box coupon program is available at http://www.ntia.doc.gov/. You will still need an over-the-air antenna in addition to the converter box to receive a digital signal on your analog television set. Your current antenna should work the same as before. Converting to DTV will also free up parts of the scarce and valuable broadcast airwaves. Those portions of the airwaves can then be used for other important services, such as advanced wireless and public safety services (for example, police, fire departments, and rescue squads). (Information taken from: http://www.kmov.com/dtv/). Also, see https://www.dtv2009.gov/ for information regarding coupons for the converter box.

Monday, June 30, 2008

Information update for the national organization

The membership office has moved. It is:
Korean War Veterans Association
PO Box 407
Charleston, IL. 61920-0407
Phone (217)345-4414
Fax (217)345-4415

Jamie Reynolds is the manager.

Also new National Officers are:
President William MacSwain
1st Vice President James Ferris
2nd Vice President Robert Banker

Directors:
George Lawhon
Leo Agnew
Jeffrey Brodeur L
Luther Rice Jr.

Friday, June 27, 2008

JULY NEWSLETTER

Chaplain’s Corner

by Bill C., Chaplain

Author of Liberty, Francis Scott Key was a respected young attorney, a graduate of St. John’s College in Annapolis . He had seriously considered the Episcopal priesthood before deciding to take up law. Early in the 1800’s he moved his law practice to Washington, D.C., where he was successful. In the War of 1812, primarily a sea battle for control of harbors and commerce, we were fighting to break out of a commercial blockade. Late in the summer of 1814 the British sacked Washington, D.C. Withdrawing, they took with them a patriot prisoner, William Beanes. Francis Scott Key and John S. Skinner, friends of Beanes, went to President James Madison and pleaded to be allowed to negotiate for the release of their friend. Madison agreed, and Skinner and Key went to Baltimore . They were allowed on the frigate “Surprise,” a British prisoner exchange ship, and there they negotiated. Key and Skinner did gain the release of their friend. But the three were detained on the frigate overnight because the British feared they would warn the patriots about an intended attack of Fort McHenry. Nervously, the three men paced the deck of the British frigate through the long night. Flying over Fort McHenry before the sun went down had been the American flag. At intervals through the night, seen by the “the rocket’s red glare” and “the bombs bursting in air,” their flag was still there, and they wavered between despair and hope. With dawn, a mist rose off the water, and they were not able to see the battlements of Fort McHenry. Then the mist broke and they could see the flag flying still! Inspired, Francis Key took an unfinished letter from his pocket and wrote, in a few minutes, almost all the line of the poem which is now our national anthem. When the three men returned to Baltimore, Key finished and polished his poem and set to the tune of a British drinking song, “To Anacreon in Heaven,” written by John Stafford Smith in England and popular in the colonies. The poem, printed on hand-bills, was distributed on the streets of Baltimore. A few days later, an actor, Ferdinand Durang, sang “The Star Spangled Banner” for the first time in public performance, in a Baltimore tavern. Immediately it became popular. Three months later it was played during the Battle of New Orleans. The Army and Navy picked it up, and eventually it was officially named the national anthem by Act of Congress on March 3, 1931. A whole nation still sings, and is inspired by “O say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light?” - Don H. Alexander
Be Happy, Chaplain Bill C.



“Membership KWVA:” If you need a new membership card, send either a letter to the Membership Office, or email to membership@kwva.org. Mailing address: Korean War Veterans Assn., PO Box 22857, Alexandria, VA 22304-9285.


A request from Carl B.:
All members who can recall the names of KIA/MIA from the Korean War please send the names to: Carl A. Bender, 500 Stone River Road, Belleville, Il 62221, email http://us.f654.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=BenderCE@aol.com, or call him at (618) 235-6550.
He is trying to help high schools establish a monument with the names of former graduates. He has been contacting Veteran Offices for State of Illinois and has been unable to find out the hometown of the KIA/MIA. From Illinois there were 22,000 plus KIA/MIA from WW II, 1748 from the Korean war, 2972 from Vietnam War, but he has no records from skirmishes since then. There is a plaque in the Belleville Public Library that lists the names of 42 men from Belleville KIA from WW I. The listing should include all members from all Service Branches.
So, if anyone can help with Carl’s project, please contact him directly in one of the ways listed above.


A Few Words from your PR Person:
On behalf of our chapter a giant vote of thanks is extended to Bob I. for his efforts in keeping the dues records up to date. His ability to do this job was a big help as to who has paid up and who was not. His replacement is Carl B..
While thanks are being passed out we are grateful to Commander Tom for the delicious chicken at our pot luck dinner at the June meeting. Also, thanks to all who furnished side dishes for the dinner. A good time was had by all.
See you at the July meeting Bill J..

Prayer for the United States
God please watch over America. Keep the glory in the stars. The boldness in the stripes. Please guard this land of ours. God watch over America. Keep us safe the day and night. With freedoms proudly displayed. Like and eagle in his flight. God please watch over America. And with our liberties impart. A new patriotic spirit. In each and every loyal heart.
--Chaplain Bill C.

THE JOKE OF THE MONTH
When church secretary Ms. Daisy answered the ringing phone, a man’s voice asked, “Can I speak to the head hog at the trough?” The secretary thought she heard what he said, but asked, “I’m sorry, who?” The caller repeated, “Can I speak to the head hog at the trough?’ Daisy thought a moment and then answered, “If you mean the preacher, then you may refer to him as ‘Pastor or ‘Brother,’ but I’d prefer you not refer to him as the “head hog at the trough!” To this, the man replied, “Well, I was wanting to give one hundred thousand to the building fund.” Quick as a wink, Daisy responded, “Hang on, sir, I believe I just heard his ‘oink.’


Answer to the word quiz: antidisestablishmentarianism.