Notes from the Editor

 

         The first thing I want to mention, so that everyone is aware of it, is that there will be a Voice of Democracy/Patriot’s Pen Award program on Tuesday, February 4th, at 5:30 PM, before the Post and Auxiliary meetings begin. I will explain this in more detail later in the newsletter, but please try to attend, to congratulate and support these students for their accomplishments!

   

     Hopefully, the groundhog will not see his shadow on February 2nd, and warm weather will be just around the corner.  We need a break after all the snow and winter storms of the last three weekends!

 

    This month, we observe Presidents’ Day, on February 17th, which celebrates the birthdays of two of our greatest Presidents, George Washington, on February 22nd, and Illinois’ own Abraham Lincoln, whose birthday is February 12th, a state holiday.

   

    Another notable day in February is Valentine’s Day, on February 14th. Since this is a Leap Year, we have 29 days in February, and plenty of activities at the VFW for each and every member!

   

     Tom Cleland, Editor

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Story from a Illinois State Trooper:

    I made a traffic stop the other day for speeding, and the driver turned out to be an elderly lady. I asked for her driver’s license, registration and proof of insurance.

    The lady took out the requested information and handed it to me. In with the cards, I was somewhat surprised to find, due to her age, a FOID card and a concealed carry permit.

    I looked at her and asked if she had a weapon in her possession at that time. She responded that she indeed had a .45 automatic

in her glove compartment.

    Something in the way she responded, body language or the tone of her voice, made me ask if she had any other weapons. She did admit to having a 9mm Glock in her center console. Now I had to ask, one more time, if that was all the weapons she had in the car.

    She responded that she did have just one more, a .38 Special in her purse. I then asked her what she was so afraid of.

    She looked me right in the eye and said, “Not a damn thing!”      

 

   

    My memory is not as good as it used to be...

    Also, my memory is not as good as it used to be.

 

    I very quietly confided to a close female friend that I was having an affair.

    She turned to me and asked, “Are you having it catered?”

    And that, my friends, is the sad definition of “OLD.”

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VFW and VFW Auxiliary Monthly Meetings

 

   The VFW and VFW Auxiliary hold their respective monthly meetings on the first Tuesday of each month(this month it is February 4th) at 7:00 PM at the Post Home, 11385 2nd Street.

   

ATTENTION!!  ATTENTION!!

    This month there will be an awards ceremony conducted to distribute the awards to the students who participated in, and won the top prizes in the Post/Auxiliary Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen contests. This will begin at 5:30 PM, before the regular meeting. Following a pizza party, to which students, parents, Post and Auxiliary members are invited, the winning Voice of Democracy speech and the winning Patriot’s Pen speech will be read. Please plan to attend this ceremony to show your support of these students, and listen to their winning speeches!  

 

    All VFW and VFW Auxiliary members are invited to attend the regular meetings.

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From Commander Ruben Hernandez:

   Thank you fellow Comrades and Auxiliary members for promoting the VFW mission: “Helping our Veterans and their families,” working as a team to perform public services, thus developing a positive reputation in the community through such projects as: providing back-to-school grants of $30 for students K-12; four $1,000 scholarships for Post/Auxiliary members, their children and grandchildren for post High School education; Patriots Pen and Voice of Democracy awards; Blood drives; meat raffles; food pantries and many more outreach programs that we support. Other activities are the First Friday Fish Fry and monthly dinners. We provide Service Officer assistance for veterans with healthcare/disability claims; our Honor Guard performs military funeral rites, marches in parades, and Presents the Colors at school assemblies. We also provide a place where Veterans can interact with other Veterans.  

    I feel compelled to let the Public know the Roscoe VFW Post 2955 is not just a bar; supporting our veterans and their families, and supporting our active duty troops is our primary mission.

 

    Thank you for supporting our “Sweet Reminders” show; it is SOLD OUT!

 

    THE VFW IS NOT A CLUB, BUT A PLACE FOR ALL MILIARY VETERANS WHO SHARE COMMON EXPERIENCES.

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From Auxiliary President Ann Stenberg:

    I hope everyone has had a good start to the New Year!

 

    Please attend the Voice of Democracy/Patriot’s Pen Award ceremony on Tuesday, February 4th at 5:30 PM, before our meeting. The Auxiliary will be ordering pizzas for the students, parents and Post/Auxiliary members attending. Since the Auxiliary splits the cost of

the Voice of Democracy/Patriots Pen programs with the VFW, come to the ceremony to see where our money goes, as well as supporting the students who participated. You will also be able to hear the winning speeches!

 

    Thanks to everyone who helped last month with either/both the District meeting luncheon, and the Fire Chief’s dinner. We appreciate you showing up to make these dinners a success!

 

    The Auxiliary will be hosting the monthly dinner in February. The entre will be pork roast, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, vegetable, salad, bread and coffee. Cost of the meal is $8.00. We will also be having a bake sale. Help will be needed for prep, serving and clean-up.

 

    The Auxiliary does the Meat Raffle twice in February; on the 1st and 15th, from 2:00 - 4:00 PM.   ___________________________________________________________

ROSCOE VFW’S FISH FRY IS BACK! 

    The Fish Fry is held on the first Friday of every month, from 4:30 - 7:00 PM. February 7th is our next Fish Fry. The meal will include fried or baked cod, along with Texas fries, hush puppies and a salad bar. The cost of this meal is only $9.00. Try it out!

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Sixth District Voice of Democracy & Patriot's Pen Banquet Results:

   Our Voice of Democracy entry, Bailey Reed, won the District Third Place award, and was awarded $200 at the District Banquet.    

    Isabelle Molitor, our Patriot’s Pen entry was the First Place winner at the District level. She was awarded $200 and her entry was

sent to Springfield for judging at the State level.

    Both students represented our Post and Auxiliary very well.

    Congratulations to both of these students, and also to all the other students who entered the contests.    

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Auxiliary Monthly Dinner

    This month, the Auxiliary will be preparing and serving the dinner to be held on Wednesday, February 19tht. Serving will be from

4:30 - 7:30 PM. The menu will consist of roast pork, mashed potatoes & gravy, vegetable, salad, bread and coffee. The cost of the dinner is $8.00 per person.

    Help will be needed on Tuesday, February 18th for preparation of the meal, plus more help will be needed on Wednesday for serving and clean-up. We will also need donations of baked goods for our Bake Sale.

    If you have any questions, contact President Ann Stenberg.

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From VFW Blood Donor Director, Chuck Ingle:

    Roscoe VFW Post 2955 will be hosting another Blood Drive on February 11, 2020. Whenever you see me at the Post, please take the opportunity to reserve your donation time; or call me anytime at 815-979-7152. The Rock River Valley Blood Center will conduct the Drive in the Hall from 2:30 - 6:30 PM. “Walk-ins” are always welcome, and we get extra excited about First Time Donors!

    As we begin the new year, for eligible donors, the gift of a pint of blood can potentially save three lives, guaranteeing an indescribable personal satisfaction! Thanks for a great 2019 donating blood, and for helping us in 2020 to increase the number of units donated!

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION!!

    Due to the dramatic increases to the minimum wage in Illinois, that took effect January 1st, the Board of Directors is raising the price of beer and mixed drinks sold in the Canteen. We have no choice but to do this; our beer and drinks will still be among the lowest in Roscoe and the surrounding areas. More information will be disseminated as it becomes available.  

    We thank you for your continued patronage and support.

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Snowmobile Club Meetings

    The 3rd Tuesday of every month, the Oaks Ridge Riders Snowmobile Club meets in the Hall or small meeting room around 6:30 PM.

If you are interested in snowmobiling, show up at meeting time.

   As part of the VFW’s on-going community involvement, the meeting space is provided to the snowmobile club at no charge.

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Karaoke

   Karaoke will take place on the first Friday of the month, February 7th, starting at 7:00 PM. There will also be Karaoke on the third Friday of the month, February 21st.  Come on in to listen to the music, sing along with your friends, or even try your own voice at the Karaoke machine. Everyone is welcome to sing or just listen!

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6th District Raffle

    The District is sponsoring a raffle with a First Prize of a Henry “Big Boy” lever action rifle (FOID required) or $500 cash;

Second Prize of Smith & Wesson 380 M & P handgun (FOID required) or $500 cash; and a Third Prize of $100 cash.

The drawing will be held May 17, 2020 at VFW Post 5418 - Rock Falls. Tickets are $10 per ticket, with only 1,000 tickets being sold. Tickets are available at the bar.

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Scholarship Applications:

    $1,000 Scholarship applications are available from the Office. Eligible applicants include VFW and Auxiliary members, in good standing, their children and grandchildren. This is for post-secondary education; universities, colleges, technical or trade schools. Applications are due to the Post by February 1, 2020. Contact Commander Ruben Hernandez for more information.  

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Meat Raffle

    A regular activity sponsored by the VFW/VFW Auxiliary is the Meat Raffle, held every Saturday afternoon from 2:00   4:00 PM. During this activity, ten (10) packages of meat are raffled off, with the first number drawn winning a package of meat, the  second number drawn winning pull tabs, and the third number drawn winning $3.00. This occurs for ten rounds, after which there may be a 50/50 raffle, with the winner awarded half of the money collected for that round, and/or additional pull tabs may be raffled off. At the conclusion of the Meat Raffle, all non winning tickets are thrown together, and three thickets are drawn, the winners choosing from

a $20, a $10, or a $5 bill.

   The VFW Auxiliary hosts the Meat Raffle the first Saturday of each month; the VFW works the remaining Meat Raffles each month.

   Occasionally new or different wrinkles are added to the Meat Raffle, so come on down, enjoy the fun and camaraderie, and

DON’T FORGET YOUR FRIENDLY BARTENDER!

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Sweet Reminders Show

    The Sweet Reminders show, set for Saturday, February 22nd, is  again “SOLD OUT!”  For the second year in a row, this show has

been sold out!

    The VFW thanks you for your support of this show, and special thanks to Bill Graves for again spearheading this venture!

Way to go, Bill!!

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Home Protection

    I got my concealed carry permit the other day and went over to the Gander Outdoors store to buy a 9mm gun for home protection.

    When I was ready to pay for the gun and ammunition, the cashier said, “Strip down, facing me.”

    Making a mental note to complain to somebody about the wackos running the cash registers, I did just as she had instructed.

    After all the hysterical screaming, and alarms going off had subsided, I found out she was referring to how I should place my credit card in the card reader!

    I have been asked to shop elsewhere in the future. They need to make their instructions to seniors a little clearer!

    I still don’t think I looked that bad...

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Upcoming Events

March 3   - VFW & VFW Auxiliary meetings

March 18 - VFW/Auxiliary Joint Corned Beef & Cabbage Dinner

March 312 - VFW Board of Directors’ meeting

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February Historical Happenings

February 2   - Groundhog Day

February 8   - Boy Scouts of America founded - 1910

February 12 - Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday

February 14 - Valentine’s Day

February 17 - Presidents’ Day

February 22 - George Washington’s Birthday

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    And just like that 1969 was fifty years ago!

 

    If your eyes hurt while you are drinking coffee, you need to take the spoon out of the cup!

 

   

 

   

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

   

   

 

 

 

 

 

       

 

 

 

         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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