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Columns A Cup O' Kapeng Barako "Coin Ceremony" Honors Student-veterans
Columns A Cup O' Kapeng Barako "Coin Ceremony" Honors Student-veterans
| "Coin Ceremony" Honors Student-veterans |
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| Columns - A Cup O' Kapeng Barako | |||
| Written by Jesse Jose | |||
| Friday, 20 June 2014 08:51 | |||
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A "Coin Ceremony" to Honor Student-veterans at Green River Community College and its Partnership with VFW Post 1741 of Auburn, Washington
By Jesse Jose
A Cup O' Kapeng Barako
Note: This story was originally written for my
hometown paper, the Auburn Reporter and for VFW (Veterans of Foreign)
Wars Magazine, a national publication for veterans, and I wish it to
share it with all my "Kapeng Barako" readers, world-wide.
I t's called the "Coin Ceremony."
A pizza luncheon actually, held annually, at Green River Community College of Auburn, Washington.
It's more than a luncheon, it's a celebration in honor of student veterans of GRCC and VFW Post 1741.
"At this yearly event," said Timm Lovitt, the
Director of Veterans Affairs at the college, "we have some big-named
speakers come and talk about the importance of military service
... and to give all of the student veterans, who have not yet received a
GRCC Challenge Coin to thank them for all they have given," said Timm
Lovitt, the Director of Veterans Services at the college.
This year's guest speaker was Bill Peloza, the
former commander of VFW Post 1741 of Auburn, Washington and member of
the town's city council. Special guests who were in attendance
were officers of the VFW Post 1741 that include Pete Lewis, the former
mayor of the city of Auburn; Bob Newman, the Post's historian; John Ely,
the Post's service officer; Jesse Jose, the Post's surgeon; Mike
Sepal, the Post's former vice commander; and Joe Audino, a Navy WW
II/Korean war Navy veteran and Cuban crisis veteran and a prospective
member of 1741.
Dr. Eileen Ely, the president of the college and Dr.
Deb Casey, the vice president of student affairs also spoke at this
event. In attendance were 30 student veterans of the college. Pete
Lewis presented the ceremonial coins to all the veterans in attendance
and thank you-for-your-service hugs were given by Dr. Ely and Dr. Casey
at the end of ceremonial event.
A CEREMONY TO CELEBRATE A PARTNERSHIP: "It's
a great way for us," said Lovitt, "to honor the men and women who have
served. This year we thought it would be cool to combine the VFW 1741
pizza lunch with the ceremony and bring these two groups together to
celebrate the partnership we have and promote goodwill in this festive
event."
Lovitt, a former Army sergeant who saw combat
tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, said "VFW Post 1741 supports the student
veterans in several ways."
How?
"The first," he said, "is the annual scholarships
the Post sponsors. Each year the Post sponsors two student veterans,
soon to be three, a scholarship that helps out with their books and
other school supplies. The recipients are also
offered a free membership to the Post and that has been a pretty
successful in drawing new members out to 1741."
"The second is that the Post hosts a monthly pizza
lunch for the student veterans. The first Friday of every month the
Post buys several pizzas and we encourage our student veterans to come
and meet with each other. I provide a large space for the meeting on
main camps and we draw about 30 people each time." Lovitt said. "And
this raises awareness about the current events and activities, as well
as encourages the students to interact with VFW Post 1741."
The Auburn Post and GRCC have been partnering for
the past three years, said Lovitt. However, it has just recently been
seeing the fruits of the labor for the past nine months.
"During this time," Lovitt said, "we have seen new
student veterans step forward as Post officers, an increase in the
number of scholarships awarded, the creation of a SVA (Student Veterans
of America) chapter, and a more student veteran participation in post
activities."
"And that includes these pizza lunches," he added.
The SVA is a national non-profit organization
created to help provide help and guidance to student
veterans organization in higher education. The relationship between the
VFW and the SVA dates back to the founding of the SVA in January 2008
and was made official on January 3, 2013 with a signing of a MOU
(Memorandum of Understanding) between the SVA and the VFW.
This memorandum provide opportunities for the VFW
and SVA to pool their resources and help veterans and service members to
overcome many challenges, find strength in camaraderie and provide
expanded programs for veterans on college campuses nationwide.
Because of this memorandum, there are now 7,200 VFW
posts and 1,200 VA-accredited claims service officers, and SVA chapters
located on more than 700 college and university campuses, nationwide.
HOW THE PARTNERSHIP BEGAN: In
his speech, Bill Peloza related how this partnership between VFW 1741
and GRCC came into being. "Approximately, six years ago," he said,
"Mike Sepal, as VFW 1741 vice commander, and I, as post commnader
discussed ways and means of connecting with the GRCC's veteran
activities. Mike made contact with the Veterans Office at GRCC."
"I am also familiar with GRCC," Peloza said. "I've had connections here when I worked for the Boeing Company."
What came next from this initial contact was the
creation of the GRCC Veterans Office Relief Fund, and VFW Post 1741's
initial funding with "seed funds" of $500.00.
Tyler Oliver, a five-year Army Iraq war veteran and
now the president of GRCC's Veterans Club and Adjutant for Post
1741, thanked the Post that he was able to "make all ends meet
financially."
Oliver said that that he was the "recipient of a
clerical error on the part of the VA and it caused me to go without
benefits for almost three months, something that I have only now started
to overcome."
"These past two quarters at GRCC, I received a
general veteran scholarship, funded in part by the VFW 1741 ... and
this," Oliver pointed out, "has given me a safety net of sorts, allowing
me to purchase my school supplies."
Bill Peloza said that the Veteran's Lunch Pizza
Program was started because "we wanted a connection with student
veterans at GRCC. We wanted to recruit new candidates into the VFW
program."
This initial funding has grown in a positive way to
help veterans between paydays and other emergencies. "Post 1741 was
exceedingly happy to assist," said Peloza. "Why? Because that is the
mission of VFW. Help another veteran!"
"Three years ago, "Peloza said, "we initated our first Post 1741
GRCC $1,500.00 veterans scholarship. On the second year, we added a
second $1,500.00 scholarship. At our recent May monthly meeting, we
approved to award a third $1,500.00 scholarship for 2014. In addition,
the veteran awardee is given a Lifetime VFW Post lifetime membership.
"The monies that support the Veterans Relief Fund," said Peloza, "are gained by VFW Poppy Drives in the Auburn community.
MANY OTHER COMMUNITY ENDEAVORS OF VFW 1741: Peloza
also mentioned that VFW Post 1741 sponsor Sports, Eagle Boy and Girl
Scout programs and Youth Essay Scholarship Programs. Plus a community
Flag Program. "If we see a worn or torn 3x5 American flag," he said,
"we replace it for free and give the receiver an envelope and ask them
to make a conscionable donation to the Auburn Food Bank in Post 1741's
name."
For these community endeavors, Peloza said that the Auburn Post
was recognized with a VFW National Award and that award is "proudly
displayed in our Post."
Peloza concluded his eloquent speech saying that Auburn VFW Post
was designated an 'All American Post' in 2011/2012 by the National VFW
headquarters and "is very honored to be associated with GRCC and will
continue to assist veterans in our community."
"Thank you for allowing us to tell our important story and be part
of this 2014 Coin Ceremony celebration. God Bless our military branches
and those who have served and are serving our country. Freedom is not
free!"
That VFW adage is true: No one does more for veterans. VFW Post
1741 is out front, marching on, serving its veterans and its
Auburn community.
As Frank Bannister, the current commander of the Auburn Post, puts
it, "The future of our nation and VFW rest in the hands of the talented
young men and women present at the ceremony," emphasizing the point that
"America and the City of Auburn have a bright future" because of them.
PS: Thank you for reading this piece, Dear Readers. I am a
proud active member of this Post, and for all the things that we do for
fellow veterans and for our community. That's all. JJ
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| Last Updated on Tuesday, 01 July 2014 15:06 |
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