I hope each of you
has started the New
Year with the idea
that it certainly will be
better than 2011. The
main purpose for making New Year resolutions
is to set in motion an opportunity
to look back and correct many things that
each of us have forgotten to do and we
promised others we would do. It also
gives us time to evaluate some new things
we should be doing.
At our ages, most of us are retired.
Many of us are no longer contributing to
things that are important in our lives. It is
a good time to take a look at what we
might contribute to society. Many of us
have been a little more fortunate than others,
so little things that we can do sometimes
mean a lot to those who no longer
can contribute by doing things such as visiting
old friends and those who are in the
hospital, or delivering meals in our communities.
We just become sedentary and
do nothing except gripe about little things
that are not very important.
You know, I see many older ladies who
do not get out of the house often. I see others
who gather just to sit and talk as they
crochet or knit gifts for others who may
not have warm hats to wear because they
lose all their hair from chemo, or who
can’t even afford to buy one.
I also know many men who never have
been very sociable, who meet with people
they used to work with, and then find that
a couple of them have similar problems.
They find something to do together to
keep their minds busy and even form
some type of group so others can join
them for breakfast or lunch or go together
to visit shut-ins.
I note from many of the newsletters I
receive from different chapters that they
have scholarship funds. Some still arrange
to be available when there is a problem
with one of their chapter friends. I truly
believe that those of us who are retired
still have much to offer and can still make
a difference in our communities.
We also get a lot of exercise when we
get up and go someplace, rather than just sitting and thinking that the whole world
is going to pot. I know many of our members
have major health problems. And,
many are 100% disabled veterans. They
find it difficult to get to the VA. Yet, those
of us who are still able to drive could
make sure that we furnish a little help getting
those vets to the VA facility or, even
better, becoming a VA Clinic or Hospital
Volunteer. You are never too old for this.
I am very hopeful that a Congressional
Bill Number can be placed on the KWVA
website in February so our members can
ask their U.S. Representatives or Senators
to support the change of the IRS Manual.
The definition of a Korean War veteran in
the IRS’ 501(c)19 Veterans Association
says only a veteran who served during
June 25, 1950 through January 31, 1955 is
considered to be a Korean War veteran.
This change is necessary so any armed
services veteran who has earned the
Korean Defense Service Medal may be
considered as a war veteran by the IRS.
They have maintained the peace in South
Korea since January 31, 1955.
The Armistice was not a Declaration of
Peace, only an agreement to stop the firing
of weapons. The peace in South Korea has
been broken many times in the last 59
years, and South Korea is still in danger of
being attacked again. If this bill is passed
by Congress, we can solicit membership
of over one million people--plus eligible
Korean Veterans.
As I mentioned in my previous President’s Message, the KWVA will be
contacting all of our Life, POW, MOH and
Gold Star members to check on them so
our database can be brought up to date.
We have found that many times we do not
receive any information about a death,
especially of those members who are not
in a chapter.
We will be asking all those members
contacted to return a special request card
mailed to them so we know they are still
with us. This is a very important step to
save funds now spent on printing and
postage, which are becoming critical.
Your answers will save a lot of wasted
funding when we need it.
The KWVA Board of Directors will
have its first Board Meeting in
Washington, DC. The members will be
attending the 28th yearly meeting of “The
Gathering” in 2012. During this meeting,
the Board will also attend the ceremony
for the July 27, 1953 signing of the
Armistice. This information will also be
placed on the Website when information is
furnished by “The Gathering.” Any
KWVA members who wish to do so can
attend.
As a reminder, the 2012 KWVA
Membership Meeting will take place in St.
Louis, MO, October 10 – 14, 2012. The
hotel will be the Doubletree Hotel St.
Louis at Westpoint. A chapter will be setting
up the various events and will also set
the required costs of the different events.
As soon as it is available, information about the meeting will be in
the March-April issue of The Graybeards and on the KWVA website.
Our election process has begun. Those who are running for the
various open offices have their resumes in this edition of our magazine.
The Ballot for Voting is included. The election will be completed
by May 15, 2012. Those elected will take office on June 25,
2012.
I hope you will take the time to vote for those you wish to represent
you
William F. Mac Swain
National President, KWVA/US