Welcome to the new online home of Inland Empire Fleet Reserve Association Branch #38, located in Spokane, WA. Our branch covers the Inland Northwest.
The Inland Northwest covers the area of Northern Idaho, Montana, Eastern Washington and parts of Northeastern Oregon.
May 18, 2013 is the annual Lilac Festival Parade that is held in the evening. This parade celebrates all military services and is an annual event held in Spokane, WA. If you can make it, please attend to celebrate all military members that are serving, have served or have given their lives while serving.
Please pass this on to all Veterans on your e-mail list.
In the attachment below are web-sites that provide information on Veterans benefits and how to file/ask for them. Accordingly, there are many sites that explain how to obtain books, military/medical records, information and how to appeal a denied claim with the VA. Please pass this information on to every Veteran you know. Nearly 100% of this information is free and available for all veterans, the only catch is: you have to ask for it, because they won’t tell you about a specific benefit unless you ask for it. You need to know what questions to ask so the right doors open for you and then be ready to have an advocate who is willing to work with and for you, stay in the process, and press for your rights and your best interests………
The National President of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Fleet Reserve Association, Diane Hoover, is asking for monetary support with her chosen chairity project “America’s Vet Dogs”.
A challenge has been made for each member of both the Fleet Reserve Association and the Ladies Auxiliary to donate just one dollar each for this very deserving project. You may make your donations to the following locations:
1. LAFRA.VetDogs.org
2. Text VETDOGS LAFRA to 20222 to give a $10.00 tax-Deductable Gift
3. Check or Money Orders made out to the LA FRA and mailed to NFS Karen Smith, 5820 Wonder Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76133.
More information on the LAFRA Charity – LAFRA NP Charity
Updated information on the Northwest Regional 2013 Convention and the 86th FRA/81st LAFRA National Conventions have been posted under the Conventions tab. Please take note and make your reservations for the conventions early.
THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW
November 15, 2012
In brief:
Mead resident elected to regional Fleet Reserve post
MEAD – Mead resident Margret Burke was elected Northwest region president of the Fleet Reserve Association.
Burke will serve as a member of the association’s national board of directors for 2012-’13, representing members in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Alaska, Hawaii, Japan and the Philippines.
Burke is a member of Branch 38.
Burke began her military career in the U.S. Army during Vietnam War and joined the Naval Reserve in 1966 following her Army discharge. She retired from military service in 1987.
At the recent FRA National Convention held in Reno last month Shipmate Peg Burke from Spokane Branch #38 was installed as the 2012-13 NW Regional President. SPNW Burke will sit on the FRA National Board of Directors as well as represent the shipmates in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, Japan and the Philippine Islands.
Listed below are the various business offering free meals on Veterans Day. Below them is attached the .pdf document that lists the requirements for each business that is offering these meals and other discounts.
Free Meals: Olive Garden, Applebee’s, Goldent Corral, Chili’s, T.G.I. Fridays, Hooters, Texas Roadhouse, Subway, Krispy Kreme Doughnut, Denny’s Restaurants.
Other Discounts on Veterans Day: Skyridge Inn Bed & Breakfast, Cabella’s Outdoor Store, Home Depot & Lowe’s, Sportsclips, Sleep Number Stores, Sonic Car Wash, and a list of companies that may offer discounts but not all locations participate.
From the mid-1960s up until Hillyard VFW 1474 began its major cleanup involvement, the cemeteries were neglected. Overgrown with weeds and trees, the place was a dumping ground for trash and old tires. The cemetery was also hit by vandals who made off with fencing and headstones and desecrated some of the graves. Paul Manly has asked for help in clearing and cleaning up of Evergreen and Rest Haven Cemeteries, and the Inland Northwest Wildlife Council has risen to the challenge and asking for help. These Cemeteries reside in our Organizations neighborhood and are full of Civil War soldiers. This is a project that should be near and dear to everyone.
If you wish to volunteer to help please meet at the following location and bring some of the equipment listed:
August 18, 2012 8:00 am – 12:00 noon
Gather at the Inland Northwest Wildlife Council Facility (Market &
Francis area)
ITEMS TO BRING: Gloves, Knee Pads, Rakes, Shovels, Pitch Forks,
Garden Hand Tools, Weed Eaters, Wheel Barrows, and a Metal Detector
if anyone has one.
History of Cemeteries: For the past 20 years, members of Hillyard VFW 1474 have been the main caretakers of Evergreen Cemetery, which is on the west side of Market Street just south of Mead. Now, they are the cemetery’s owners.
Recently, the deed for the almost 14-acre site was handed over to the Hillyard Evergreen Cemetery Association – a group formed mainly by VFW 1474 members. Paul Manly is the newly appointed director and caretaker.
Manly said there are 12 marked Civil War soldiers’ graves at the Hillyard Evergreen Cemetery and many more Civil War graves with missing headstones. About 400 graves are spread out over the hillside north of Hillyard, and the earliest ones date to 1909, when the cemetery was opened by the Hillyard Masonic Lodge.
Guest opinion to Spokesman Review by Rear Adm. Douglas J. Asbjornsen, USN, Deputy Commander, Navy Region Northwest: Strong Navy still essential
America needs a strong Navy now more than ever.
America’s Navy is our nation’s front line in war and in peace, operating on, above and below the sea. Think of the Navy as America’s “away team,” deployed around the world, defending our nation’s interests every day. ……………..(cont’d in .pdf document from Spokesman-Revew). Navy Week 2012
