Post 126 General Membership Meetings:

Sunday, April 1- 9:15 AM – Temple Beth Shalom

Barry Reisman, presenting the "Jewish Radio Revue." Barry is the host of one of the longest running radio programs in the Delaware Valley (43 years). He will present recorded interviews with famous people Jewish and non-Jewish stars, klezmer music, and other Jewish music. This is a social event just for our Post 126 members and their friends. Feel free to bring your spouse, friends, and potential members and eat a Jewish style breakfast while listening to the Jewish Radio Revue.

For example:

No charge – just enjoy the fun. Sunday, April 1 starting at 9:15 AM at Temple Beth Shalom

Monday May 7, – 7:30 PM at Temple Beth Shalom

Presentation by Lions Gate Chief Executive Officer , David Z. Ross, and Chief Operating Officer, Barbara Finkleman. Lions Gate is a South Jersey Independent, Continuing Care, and Jewish Traditional Community. Lions Gate will be dedicated in April 2007. This is your opportunity to ask questions about this new concept in assisted care for the Jewish elderly which is located in Voorhees. It’s a beautiful facility that is sponsored by the South Jersey Jewish Community.

June 3, Sunday – Installation Brunch, at the Palace of Asia at Howard Johnson, 2389 Route 70 West, Cherry Hill. $5.00 for paid up members with reservation; $7.50 at the door; $10.00 for non-members. For more information and to make your reservation, see the enclosed flyer.

I just read an article published in The Seattle Times and written by Rick Montgomery, titled "Most Americans Untouched by War." The article starts out as follows:

We as Jewish War Veterans, patrons and friends of the JWV know more than other Americans about the horror of war and understand our warriors/heroes are "now" fighting against an enemy of the United States while in some terrible conditions. No matter what you think of the reasons for this war in Iraq or even Afghanistan, let’s continue to join together as Jewish War Veterans and support the men and women in harm’s way.

JWV Post 126, with your support, will continue helping the current warriors and Veterans that have served our country in the past.  Continue looking for e-mail, USPS mail, and answering machines messages for information from our Post about how you can continue to support the Veterans.

We are in the process of re-establishing a "Service Officer" for the Post.  A Service Officer is the person you can go to with questions and request for assistance on any Veteran related issue. That person should be in place by May.

Sunday morning, April 1 starting at 9:00 AM, is what I call the Thank You for being a member of JWV Post 126 breakfast.  Radio Host of 40 Years Barry Reisman will present to all in attendance his recorded interviews and news from famous and not so famous people over the last 40 years. I've heard Barry present and he's entertaining and funny.  Bring your better half, friends, potential members, etc.  Location is Temple Beth Shalom. Come and enjoy yourself, it’s free and the food is great.

Monday, May 7 starting at 7:30 PM is our May General Membership Meeting at Temple Beth Shalom. At this meeting we'll have senior representatives from the new Lions Gate Community make a presentation on their new assisted care community, giving the facts of what services are provided and how much it will cost.

We have a lot of activities planned for these next three months, please participate in as many as possible. here's a list of a few of them: Memorial Day Ceremonies in Cherry Hill, Beverly National Cemetery, recognizing our departed comrades, visits to Vineland Hospital, and the list goes on.

Feel free to contact me at 856-667-5791 if you would like to suggest or discuss any of our activities.

Respectfully,

Nelson L. Mellitz

Commander Post 126

Monday, April 16th.

The time is now to send in a deposit: $50 by May 1, 2007 to be eligible for a special drawing. Please see the enclosed flyer for details of this major event at Kutcher’s Resort in the Catskills.

The winner will receive one year’s dues free of charge. To enter, contact Commander Nelson Mellitz at 856-278-3041. Deadline for submissions is May 1, 2007.

Camden County's Veteran Affairs Office has moved to:

3 Collier Drive

P.O. Box 1535

Blackwood, NJ 08012

The new telephone number is: 856-374-5801

The new Fax number is: 856-374-5302

The House Armed Services Committee held a markup ON March 20,2007 on H.R. 1538, the Wounded Warrior Assistance Act of 2007.  The Committee reported the bill favorably to the U.S. House of Representatives on a vote of 59 to 0.

            This bipartisan legislation is the first step to address the problems brought to light by the inadequate living conditions and the administrative snafus experienced by some service members at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. "I am pleased that our Committee has moved expeditiously to make the changes we can adopt fairly quickly, such as improving training and reducing caseloads for case managers so service members and their families can get the help they need when they need it.  The bill would also improve the transition for service members when they leave the Armed Forces and enter the Department of Veterans Affairs system.  As the Armed Services Committee continues its work on the Fiscal Year 2008 National Defense Authorization bill, we will have the opportunity to examine more comprehensive reforms to ensure that our forces receive the high quality care our nation has an obligation to provide", said House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-MO).

H.R. 1538, the Wounded Warrior Assistance Act of 2007, provides the people, training, and oversight mechanisms needed to ensure that our wounded warriors feel secure that they will always receive committed quality care and that the system will not fail them.  The legislation also sets the stage for much needed reform of administrative processes that will restore member confidence in the integrity and efficiency of the disability evaluation system and begin the process of achieving a truly seamless transition of service members to the Department of Veterans Affairs programs.

Three amendments to H.R. 1538 passed by voice vote: an amendment by Congressman Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), which would require a study and a report on the type of support services currently offered by the Department of Defense for the families of recovering service members; an amendment by Congressman Todd Akin (R-MO), which would ensure that funds designated in the legislation for medical care may not be transferred to cover administrative requirements in the bill; and an en bloc amendment. 

COMMUNICATIONS:

If you have an email address, but have not received an email message from the Post in the last month, please send your name and email address to dsinger26@comcast.net . Due to computer difficulties, it was necessary to reconstruct the email list and some addresses may have been dropped or changed.

Respectfully submitted,

David Singer, Post 126 Adjutant