GIG LINE
By Marsha M. Brown
First things first folks; this coming Saturday, November 1, 2014 – 12:00 Noon to 4:00 PM our V.F.W. Outer Banks Post 10950 will sponsor a fundraiser picnic menu of hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and a soda or tea for only $5.00. The location? First Flight Lions Club parking lot at MP 5.5 in Kill Devil Hills (look for the Bingo sign west side of the bypass). This special event is being held to celebrate and SUPPORT all veterans whether they’re a V.F.W. member or not. As always, dedicated members of the respected organization encourage eligible veterans to join and/or transfer their membership locally; however, this get together is about more than membership. It’s an event to thank all veterans and to offer a platform of friendship, fellowship and a means of connecting with fellow comrades.
So, veterans…how about if you take the time next Saturday to join the V.F.W. for their special event and “all fall in”! Eat a yummy hot dog or hamburger, chips and soda (or tea) and visit with other awesome veterans just like YOU! You know the old saying about ‘strength in numbers’ right? It sure wouldn’t hurt to show the world just how many veterans there are in Dare County! Come together that day and embrace the love, respect and honor the public and fellow veterans have for you! It’ll be a fun day…so please don’t miss it!
Regarding the OBX Seafood Festival…did y’all go? If not, it was a beautiful day in more ways than one! Members of the Dare County Veterans Advisory Council (my sweetie pie Billy, Chairman Clarence Lewis, Frank ‘Dale’ Draper and veteran public/committee member Jeff Slaker helped man the Council booth where they provided vets with the most recent Veterans Benefit Booklet and an assortment of veteran related handouts. Early on they had hat pins to give away and there was also American Legion and V.F.W. information given out too. Billy said it was a really good turnout for the booth and that he and he other Council reps met new resident veterans to Dare County as well as numerous visiting veterans who had come to the Outer Banks just for the Festival that day.
Billy and the guys (as well as Lynda Hester and myself who are each Council members also) always enjoy meeting and greeting veterans on special occasions but a couple of things in particular that day especially impressed Billy; one being a veteran who had no official form of proof to show he had served his country. I mean it only goes to reason that vets don’t typically carry their DD-214 around with them on their person (though I have seen a few pocket sized versions). Billy said the gentleman was from another county but when he saw the Veteran I. D. Card we issue for our Dare County veterans, he wanted to know how he could get one himself or initiate the process of incorporating one where he lived. Simple truth? The ‘Card’ is only issued to Dare County resident veterans but…we’re always willing to share how we went about it with a veteran from another county if we’re asked. He like others we’ve spoken to in the last two years who were drafted or enlisted for a lesser than retirement age at discharge want something to prove they can carry on their person that acknowledges officially they are military veterans of the United States of America.
Another thing…Billy said they had a case of about 600 free Flag Etiquette pamphlets about how to take care of your flag to give out and when he came home there were probably 100 or less in the box. Many people wanted the booklets, asked for multiple copies and gratefully thanked the guys for providing them one to share with their kids, grandkids and others. Several teachers who were from Virginia stopped by expressing their sincere interest in the pamphlets to use in their classroom; to hang up in their class and to distribute to other teachers they knew.
In other words, approximately 500 pamphlets (provided/donated by the American Legion Post 26) were distributed that day to help teach others the proper way to handle, display and dispose of our most beautiful American flag. That one aspect of the day…people caring about our flag made Billy and the others happy…to know that teachers and others showed such interest and pride in our flag. Billy also said the teachers were eager to refresh themselves on the proper respectful way in which to show off our treasured symbol of freedom, heartache, sacrifice and loyalty to America. It was inspirational to a vet who sacrificed so much himself to honor our flag and the nation it represents and to know that people seemed to care so much.
Effective this week, there are now 333 resident veterans to Dare County who have obtained their Dare County Veteran I.D. Card! That means they’re saving money every time they patronize the businesses that give them a break by discounting their purchases of goods or services by at least 10%! If you’re interested in getting your ‘Card’, please go to the American Legion Post 26 located at 302 W. Lake Drive, Kill Devil Hills, N.C. 27948 (west side of the by-pass behind T-Tops Superstore each Wednesday 10:00am to 12:00 noon and get yours! Also…to reiterate…if you own a business or you work for a business who would like for us to come on site to issue the ‘Card’ to veteran employees, just contact us at your earliest convenience and Billy or I (252) 202-2058 will do our best to accommodate the time and date most convenient to your business hours. It only takes about 10 minutes per person – just remember to ask the veterans who want to get their ‘Card’ to bring their DD-214 (just for us to see, not copy or keep) showing Honorable Discharge along with a local Driver’s License. If the vet doesn’t drive or need a Driver’s License another form of picture I.D. will suffice too!
Until next time, be happy, be safe and be proud! Stand tall for our veterans whether you’ve personally served or not; wave your flags, hold your chin up; chest out and your shoulders back because WE…OUR COUNTRY…OUR NATION UNDER GOD IS THE GREATEST NATION ON EARTH!! Please folks, this year during the full week of veteran celebrations in Dare County beginning Saturday, Nov. 8th through Sunday, Nov. 16th, 2014 join in and give each other a well deserved pat on the back; hug each other; consider that if you were ever deployed…you each made it back home; think about what and who we have to be proud of…the greatest military men and women on the planet!
In these perilous times, our troops are subject to extreme danger. Hold them and their family members in the highest regard and together lets hold each other up, support each other and stand strong about your (our) faith. Pray for God’s blessings on our troops, on our beloved America and on Israel too. God bless you all and stay tuned…