January – March 2023

Cribbage Tournament March 25, 2023

The local Cribbage Club which meets on the first Wednesday of each month held a Cribbage Tournament at the post on Saturday March 25th. The ‘peggers’ played from mid-morning to late afternoon and enjoyed some great burgers and fish & chips served up by the volunteer kitchen crew of Ray Johnson, Bruce Mackamul, Mo Motier and Karen Bowman.
If you want to hold an event at the Post, give us a call at (760) 726-0472.

American Legion General Meeting March 11, 2023

Service Officer Art Haeussler gives a presentation on the VetChange program. Based on scientific research, VetChange can help build skills to better manage drinking and other problems Veterans can experience after deployment, including symptoms of PTSD. Follow this link to the website for more information: https://vetchange.org/home/index2 The VetChange Mobile APP can be found at: www.ptsd.va.gov/appvid/mobileVetChange_app.asp

Ray Johnson gives a short historical presentation on Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day. As a reference he cited a document issued in 2016 signed by then Governor Jerry Brown, proclaiming March 29th as Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day. At the time Ray noted that the honor was about 40 years too late, when in actuality the Day has historically been celebrated since 1974 when then President Richard M. Nixon declared March 29th Vietnam Veterans Day which coincided with the one-year anniversary of the withdrawal of U.S. combat forces from Vietnam on March 29, 1973. Today, the holiday is officially observed on March 29th and is referred to as National Vietnam War Veterans Day. In 2009, California Assembly Bill 717 was signed into law declaring March 30 as “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day” in California. Ray extends his apology for misspeaking.
Wendy Conlee (Committee Chair) and Christopher Swearingen (Scoutmaster Troop 709) thanked the Post for adopting and supporting Troop 709. Chris gave a brief history of the Troop, created in 1985 with just 6 members. Today the Troop has more than 50 members and is involved in many events all through the year involving camping trips to such places as Mammoth Lakes, Mt, Baden Powell and Santa-Inez. One item that was of particular interest was the  “Snow Storm Merit Badge” which entails living out in a snowstorm and building protective shelters and such. Unfortunately, this year’s event, looked forward to with much anticipation due to the recent snowstorms, had to be canceled due to TOO MUCH snow. “Be Prepared”. During the meeting a motion was passed to donate $500.00 to the Troop.

American Legion General Meeting February 18, 2023

Karen Bowman gives a report on the final tally of the Wreaths Across America Campaign for 2022. The Legion Auxiliary donated $1,825.00 to the Raise The Flag Campaign from the sale of 365 wreaths.
Ray Johnson Past Historian for Post 365 tells of his wife, Kay, and her recollections of the Battle of Formosa. She was living in Taipei at the time of the battle and watched from the hills outside the city as the American B-29’s and fighter planes engaged in the destruction of the Airfields on the Island. Her recollection of the drone of the B-29 engines was recalled more than 50 years later when a B-29 flying out of Carlsbad Airport flew over their house in Oceanside.

Valentine’s Day Dinner February 14, 2023

(L) VFW Auxiliary members Karen Bowman and Monica Camargo prepared the Valentine’s Day Dinner. (R) Hope, Jahnea & DJ did all the heavy lifting in the galley. Thanks to all these VOLUNTEERS for a fantastic dinner.
A great turnout for the Annual Valentine’s Day Dinner. The VFW Auxiliary thanks everyone for attending. (R) Legion Past Commander Steve Miller and wife Lynda out on a date!!!
Don & Martha Baker enjoy dinner with Ron & Rae Arnold
More happy diners… (L) Joy and Joe Jager (R) Rick and Rebecca Huff
A Great evening, fun for everyone who attended. (L) Jack Schafer and wife Coco. (R) Bob Braman and some of the Riders 365
(L) Kathleen Garcia and Mary Ann Maron – Heartbreakers, both!! (R) Music by Ed Burdette – great sounds!!
Past Commander Haywood Bagley, dinner and a pint or two, please. Thank you to Colleen Collazo for the photos.
…..Meanwhile, over at the Wildwood Crossing & Cantina, Dan Canright and his “Valentine”, Jan Grennier, spent a romantic evening out on the patio with some of Chef Willy’s creations….
Scallops, a nice salad and a glass or two of great wine. Great people and a great night.

Chip Dykes 37th Annual Super Bowl Party February 12, 2023

(Left) Superbowl Sunday – Ray Johnson hands Chip Dykes a couple of Philly Cheesesteaks.
They were in payment for the Philadelphia Phillies win over the San Diego Padres in the 2022 NLCS.
(Right) In what turned out to be the best part of the day, Chip takes a big bite.
The Eagles did their best, but came up short. Final score: Chiefs 38 – Eagles 35
Chip Dykes 37th Superbowl Party. It all started with 4 Marine Drill Instructors, a case of beer and a bag of pretzels. Nobody has attended all the parties. Zaida, Chip’s wife holds the record at 36. She missed the first, but only because she and Chip had not met yet. Chip has missed only 2, due to deployments, and Zaida held the parties in his absence. This year the crowd surpassed 90.

VFW General Meeting February 11, 2023

Tara Izzo gave a short presentation to the membership about Care Choice Health systems, Inc. and how they offer assistance to veterans. They will participate in the Humana Event at the Post on February 25th. For more information follow this link:  carechoicehomecare.com
The VFW received a thank you letter in response to a donation it made to the WW II Experience last December. Linda Dudik, President of the Organization, organizes the event every December 7th at the Little Oceanside Pier to commemorate the military who were at Pearl Harbor on “…a date which will live in infamy…”.
Post Cleanup Detail by Legion Riders 365 and the SAL Squadron 365- February 11, 2023
Jim Sliffe, with Butch Rafferty as his spotter, put a fresh coat of paint on the Legion/VFW Sign.
Ralph (Son) and Nick Rotas (Father) and Steve Kuhn on the Weedwhacker, do a little cleanup around the post.
Time for a break…

Joe Patton Celebration of Life February 5, 2023

VFW Post 7041 Commander Terry Moxley conducts the Celebration of Life Ceremony
Post Chaplain Jose Flores leads Post 7041 Officers and attendees in a prayer of remembrance for Joe Patton. At left are: Trustee Jonathan North, Adjutant Mark Storsteen, Sr. Vice Commander Bruce Mackamul and Post 7041 Commander Terry Moxley.
Celebration of Life presentation: We, the members of  VFW Post 7041, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States are here to pay a lasting tribute of respect to Joseph J. Patton, our departed comrade. When the call of our country was heard, comrade Patton answered that call. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War and a member of VFW Post 7041. As a brave man he served faithfully with an abiding faith in God, his country and his flag.
San Diego Sheriff Honor Guard present Beverly Patton with Flag commemorating Joe Patton’s service.
Kay Johnson (left) shares a moment with Beverly Patton (seated) and Beverly’s son, Elton.
At the conclusion of the VFW Ceremony and the San Diego Sheriff Honor Guard flag presentation, an “Open Mike” session brought forth many memories from friends, family, neighbors and fellow SDSO Officers. From stories up in Lone Pine about sleeping in John Wayne’s bed at the Dow Villa Motel, a Joe Patton hair dryer malfunction that took out power to three homes and Joe playing with the Alabama Hills band at Jake’s Saloon.
More stories about the early days on the SDSO and the Softball team, rookie cops writing citations that blew away in the wind, Joe’s office getting “TP’d” (and the request for forgiveness) and “Hot Stops” where Joe came to the rescue.
And memories from his neighbors about Joe hosing down disrespectful kids speeding up and down the street, the request from a neighbor that Joe get the band together and play at a party – an event that got Joe back to playing on a regular basis, and another neighbor’s memories of the garage parties, music, good food and raising dogs over the years, his God daughter remembering Joe as a very special person.
Joseph “JT” Trube, Joe’s grandson remembering his Granddad as a role model and a true hero.
Beverly Patton thanks the VFW, SDSO and all the attendees for their friendship and love for Joe over the past 50 plus years.
Thank You, Joe

MOC Pup Tent 40 Honored Guests January 14, 2023

MOC Pup Tent #40 Seam Squirrel Jonathan North introduces Grand Commander Jeaneen Austin. The organization’s services include supporting the VFW National Home for Children and veterans hospitals.
Honored Guests at our January Scratch are (L-R) – Richard Bostick Past Grand Commander, Dave Zalenka Past Seam Squirrel and Jeaneen Austin Grand Commander. All are members of Pup Tent 44.

Holiday Season is over…

Colleen Collazo, Karen Bowman and Kathleen Garcia take down the Christmas tree and put the post back in shape to start the new year. Thanks to the Auxiliary and all the people who helped dress up the post for the holiday – and to these ladies who have the always difficult job of trying to get everything “back into the box”.

January 1, 2023

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