Mission Viejo VFW, City to Honor Soldiers: Memorial Day May 27th

Article Written by John L. Carson VFW Post 6024 Junior Vice Commander, Buddy Poppy Campaign Director USMC 1966 to 1972:Vietnam 1968-1969

On the last Monday of May, the United States celebrates Memorial Day, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.

This year it falls on May 27th.

Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971.

On May 5, 1868, General John A. Logan, leader of an organization for Northern Civil War veterans, called for a nationwide day of remembrance later that month.

“The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country. The date of Decoration Day, as he called it, was chosen because it wasn’t the anniversary of any particular battle.

The City of Mission Viejo will hold a Memorial Day Ceremony at 8:00 AM. Mission Viejo VFW Post 6024 will be present handing out Buddy Poppies and their Honor Guard rifle team will perform the rifle salute. Later the squad will again perform at the El Toro Memorial Cemetery in Lake Forest at 11:00 AM. Boy Scout Troop 727, sponsored by the VFW Post 6024 will place American Flags on all the veteran’s graves at the cemetery.

VFW? SOME QUESTIONS ANSWERED.

By John L. Carson

What is the VFW?

VFW stands for “The Veterans of Foreign Wars.” It is an organization started in 1899 by Spanish-American War Veterans at Columbus, Ohio to help veteran’s re-enter civilian society. Later around 1914, it became officially known as the VFW after several veteran’s groups merged. The organization later admitted veterans who saw action in subsequent wars and U.S. military expeditions.

The VFW received a charter from Congress in 1936. From the beginning, the VFW limited its membership to officers and enlisted men (and later women) honorably discharged from the military. Membership requires them to have served in any foreign war, insurrection, or expedition in the service of the United States Military.

The original purposes of the VFW were to promote comradeship among its members, to keep alive the memory of the dead, and to assist the widows and orphans of veterans. In 1925, the VFW established a National Home for Veterans' Orphans in Eaton Rivers, Michigan.

The purpose of the VFW is to speed rehabilitation of the nation's disabled and needy veterans, assist veteran’s widows and orphans and the dependents of needy or disabled veterans. The commitment also is to promote

Americanism by means of education in Patriotism and constructive service to local communities.

Why does the VFW hand out Buddy Poppies on Memorial Day and Veterans Day?

Volunteers, receiving no financial remuneration, run the vast majority of the VFW. The program’s support and assistance come the mostly from donations received. Twice a year, on Memorial Day, and Veterans Day hundreds of VFW volunteers man booths handing out Buddy Poppies.

The VFW accepts charitable, and voluntary donations in return. These two events are the only fundraisers the VFW Posts conduct. The Buddy Poppy Campaign started in New York City to raise funds for the returning veterans of WWI. The Poppy Campaign spread worldwide in Europe and British held territories.

Why Poppies?

This was the flower that rose and bloomed on Flanders’ Fields in Belgium after the battle on these fields from 1914 to 1918 which resulted in 600,000 deaths. The poppies were so brilliantly red that those who saw them, were reminded of the blood shed on the fields during the war. The sight inspired a Canadian Soldier, Lieutenant-Colonel McCrae, to write the poem, “IN FLANDERS FIELDS THE POPPIES BLOW.”

What does the VFW do with the financial donations from the Buddy Poppy Campaign?

The Mission Viejo VFW Post 6024, like the other 9,500+ Posts worldwide, uses the funds from the Buddy Poppy Campaign to support several causes.

The National VFW School Scholarships:

Each year Post 6024 hosts a Patriots Pen writing essay in the Middle Schools, and Voice of Democracy spoken essay for High Schools.

Voice of Democracy: Each year, nearly 40,000 high school students from across the country enter to win a share of the $2.1 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the VFW's Voice of Democracy audio-essay competition.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veterans_of_Foreign_Wars - cite_note-VFWP2014-18 The national first-place winner receives a $30,000 scholarship.

Patriot's Pen challenges students from grades 6-8, to enter to win one of 46 national awards totaling $55,000 as well as $5,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. for the national first-place winner. Students draft a 300-400-word essay, expressing their views based on a patriotic, annual theme chosen by the VFW Commander-In-Chief.

Scout of the Year– is the one who has demonstrated citizenship in school, scouting and the community. The first-place winner receives a $5,000 award, the second-place winner receives a $3,000 award and the third-place winner receives $1,000.

Post 6024 supports Boy Scout Troop 727, recipient of several Scout Troop of the year awards, Scout of the Year District and State awards, Scout Leader of the Year award, and numerous Eagle Scout recipients. The Scoutmaster, a Post 6024 member, also started the first California all girls, Boy Scout Troop (7272) in California. Troop 727 also was named the Most Active Scouting Troop in California.

Teacher of the Year:

Teacher of the Year recognizes three exceptional teachers for their outstanding commitment to teach Americanism and patriotism to their students. The VFW recognizes the nation's top classroom elementary, junior high and high school teachers who teach citizenship education topics – at least half of the school day in a classroom environment – and promote America's history, traditions and institutions effectively. One of Post 6024’s nominated teachers made it to the National Finals, and several have gone past district to the State finals.

Other local sponsored programs through Mission Viejo VFW Post 6024.

At least four times a year Post 6024 travels to the Long Beach Veteran’s Hospital to put on a BBQ for the Spinal Injury Ward. Live entertainment, food, gifts and camaraderie is willingly given to those that have given so much.

Each year Post 6024 hosts a BBQ and fun day for Camp Pendleton 1st, Marine Headquarters Division Marines and their families at Lake Mission Viejo. Food and entertainment is furnished for all the troops as a way of saying “Thank you for your service”.

In Addition:

Several Post members are also active in other veteran organizations such as the Mission Viejo Marine Adoption Committee, and the Mission Viejo Chapter of Wounded Warriors. Post 6024 also has an Honor Guard Rife Squad that performs at veteran’s funerals and holiday events.

Edward J. Kearns Memorial Post 6024

Mission Viejo is honored to have Edward J. Kearns Memorial Post 6024 in it’s city.

Who is Edward J. Kearns?

Mr. Edward J. Kearns is credited with starting the VFW Post in Mission Viejo. He served in the Navy in WWII aboard the USS McDougal, a heavily armed flagship for destroyer Squadron 9 assigned to protect shipping in the Pacific Ocean and provide close artillery support to troops on the ground. The ship won four battle flags in the Pacific Theater. Edward served 24 years with the Navy, retiring in 1962 as a Chief Boatswain’s Mate. Edward then retired after 20 years with the Postal Service. Kearns moved to Mission Viejo in 1980 where he was active in helping lay the groundwork for the new Mission Viejo Library. In 1987 he started the Mission Viejo VFW. I am proud to say he sat at my kitchen table, drinking coffee where he signed me up to the post in 1988.

For more information on VFW Post 6024 email: commander@vfwpost6024.”

Monthly meetings are held on the 2nd Monday of each month: 7:30-9:00 pm at the Norman P. Murray Center: 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo, CA 92692

John L. Carson

VFW Post 6024 Junior Vice Commander, Buddy Poppy Campaign Director

USMC 1966 to 1972: Vietnam 1968-1969