January 15, 2012

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