Veterans Notes for the week of Jan. 22 to 28

Due to space considerations, the Veterans Notes sometimes contain only basic information regarding each post. For more information about scheduled activities, meals and more for a specific post, call or email that post at the contact listed.

+ The annual trip to Hawaii for veterans, their families and friends is now being organized. Many who have attended previously have enjoyed the endeavor with great tours, events and memorial services for our veterans.
This year’s trip will be from Feb. 21 to March 9, and will be organized again by Don McLean, U.S. Navy retired. Islands to be visited include Oahu (stay at the Hale Koa Hotel), Kauai (Marriott), Hawaii (KMC inside volcano) and Maui (Royal Lahina Resort).
For information or to register for the trip, call Don McLean at 352-637-5131 or email
dmclean8@tampabay.rr.com.

+ The U.S. Air Force is looking for prior enlisted men and women from all services interested in both direct duty assignments in previously obtained career fields or retraining into select career fields.
 “A nationwide drive is under way to fill openings requiring skills many veterans already possess,” said SSgt. Eric Hurley, from Inverness. “Some of the careers include aircraft electronics/mechanical areas, cyber operation fields, and various other specialties. Enlisted career openings that include the opportunities to retrain consist of special operations positions and unmanned aerial vehicle.”
Assignment locations are based on Air Force needs.
For more information, call 352-476-4915.

+ Citrus County Veterans Coalition has a new building holding freezers, refrigerators and all necessary requirements to provide food to veterans in need. Food donations and volunteers are always welcomed and needed.
The new CCVC location is on the DAV property in Inverness at the corner of Paul and Independence, off U.S. 41 north. Hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday. Appointments are encouraged by calling 727-492-0292.
CCVC general meetings are at 10 a.m. the fourth Thursday monthly at the DAV building in Inverness, 1039 N. Paul Drive off U.S. 41. All active duty and honorably discharged veterans, their spouses, widows and widowers, along with other veterans’ organizations and current coalition members are welcome. Members are encouraged to attend general meetings.
Come see what the Citrus Veterans Coalition is all about, and if you feel you can assist in the “Veterans Helping Veterans” program, please come on board as a member.
We provide food supplements and nonperishable foods to needy veterans through our “Veterans Food Pantry.” We provide assistance to needy and disabled veterans and their families with minor repairs to their homes through the generosity of volunteers who are in the plumbing, electrical and construction industry. We also provide funds for annual scholarships to veterans’ family members who apply through their school counseling services.
Annual membership donation is $10 for a calendar year or $25 for three years. The CCVC is a nonprofit corporation, and your donations are tax deductible. Current members should check their membership card for expiration dates, and renew with Gary Williamson at 352-527-4537, or at the meeting. Visit www.ccvcfl.org.

+ Blanton–Thompson American Legion Post 155, 6585 W. Gulf-to-Lake Highway, Crystal River. For information about the post and its activities, call Cmdr. Jay Conti Sr. at 352-795-6526 or visit www.post155.org.
American Legion Riders at Post 155 will host its second annual Super Spaghetti Dinner from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1, at the post home.
Cost is $6, which includes salad, all-you-can-eat spaghetti with meatballs and/or Italian sausage, garlic bread, dessert, coffee and iced tea. The public is welcome.
All money raised by the Riders is donated to various veterans’ and community charities. For more information, call Cindy Heather at 352-563-9926, or Post 155 at 352-795-6526.

+ American Legion Auxiliary Unit 155 meets at 7:30 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of every month at the post. The American Legion Auxiliary is the world’s largest women’s patriotic service organization with nearly 1 million members in 10,100 communities. The principles of the American Legion Auxiliary are to serve veterans, their families and the community.
Eligibility in the Auxiliary is open to mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, granddaughters, great-granddaughters or grandmothers of members of the American Legion and of deceased veterans who served during war time (also stepchildren); stepchildren; and female veterans who served during war time. Call Unit President Shawn Mikulas, 352-503-5325, or membership chairman Barbara Logan, 352-795-4233.
American Legion Auxiliary Unit 155 will have its annual Chili/Cornbread Cook-off and Chinese Auction Saturday, Jan. 28, at the post home, 6585 W. Gulf-to-Lake Highway, Crystal River. After the judging, the chili and cornbread will be available for purchase for a nominal donation.
If you would like to enter either chili or cornbread, have it at the post by 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 28.
While waiting for the judges’ decisions, enjoy the Chinese Auction, which will feature many items to win. Doors will open about 11 a.m. and the winning tickets will be picked about 2 p.m. All members and the public are welcome.
For more information, call Unit President Shawn Mikulas, 352-503-5325, or Barbara Logan, 352-795-4233.

+ H.F. Nesbitt VFW Post 10087, Beverly Hills, offers meals, bingo, golf, karaoke and pool. Review the monthly newsletter for activities and updates, and call the post at 352-746-0440. The VFW Post 10087 is off County Road 491, directly behind Superior Bank.

+ Edward W. Penno VFW Post 4864, 10199 N. Citrus Springs Blvd., Citrus Springs, 352-465-4864. Wi Fi is now available at the post; bring your laptop or any other item that will access the Internet and enjoy the free service.
Friday dinner from 5 to 6:30 p.m. will feature baked pork chops; cost is $8.
Information regarding any post events is available at the post or call 352-465-4864.

+ Disabled American Veterans Chapter No. 70 meets at 2 p.m. the second Tuesday monthly at the chapter hall, 1039 N. Paul Drive, Inverness, at the intersection of Independence Highway and U.S. 41. The chapter hall is on the corner of Independence Highway and Paul Drive.
We thank veterans for their service and welcome any disabled veteran to join us from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. any Tuesday or Thursday at the chapter hall. This is also the time that we accept donated nonperishable foods for our continuing food drive.
Our main function is to assist disable veterans and their families when we are able. Anyone who knows a disabled veteran or their family who requires assistance is asked to call Commander Richard Floyd 727-492-0290, Ken Stewart at 352-419-0207, or 352-344-3464.
Service Officer Joe McClister is available to assist any veteran or dependents with their disability claim by appointment. Call 352-344-3464 and leave a message.
Ambulatory veterans who wish to schedule an appointment for transportation to the VA medical center in Gainesville should call the veterans’ service office at 352-527-5915. Mobility challenged veterans who wish to schedule an appointment for transportation to the VA medical center in Gainesville may call the Citrus County Transit office for wheelchair transportation; call 352-527-7630.
For more information about chapter activities, veterans’ benefits or membership, Call Ken Stewart at 352-419-0207; leave a message, if desired, should the machine answer.

+ Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary Unit No. 70 meets at 2 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month at the chapter hall, 1039 N. Paul Drive, Inverness.
The auxiliary plans a visit to the VA nursing home(s) and needs toiletry items such as packaged razors, combs, hairbrushes, toothbrushes, shampoos and deodorant to fill ditty bags, They are also accepting cotton material and yarn to make ditty bags, lap robes, wheelchair and walker bags for disabled veterans.
The auxiliary membership has grown to include many more extended families. Call Auxiliary Commander Linda Brice at 352-560-3867 or Adjutant Lynn Armitage at 352-341-5334 for information.

+ Eugene Quinn VFW Post 4337 and Ladies Auxiliary, 906 State Road 44 E., Inverness.
Stop by the canteen and pick up a current monthly calendar.
Call the post at 352-344-3495 for information about all weekly post activities, or visit www.vfw4337.org.

+ The American Legion Wall-Rives Post 58 and Auxiliary, 10730 U.S. 41, Dunnellon.
Dunnellon Young Marines will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesdays.
For information about activities and the post, call Carl Boos at 352-489-3544.

+ Rolling Thunder Chapter 7, a POW/MIA awareness group, meets at 10 a.m. second Saturday at the VFW Post 10087 in Beverly Hills. Call Bob Bruno, secretary, at 352-201-1228.

+ A Marine Corps League Ladies Auxiliary Citrus Unit meets at 1 p.m. the third Tuesday monthly at the VFW in Beverly Hills. New members are welcome. Membership fee is $30 a year. Female relatives ages 16 or older who are a wife, widow, mother, stepmother, sister, daughter, stepdaughter, grandmother, granddaughter, aunt or daughter-in-law of honorably discharged Marines and FMF Corpsmen are eligible to belong to the Marine Corps League. Female Marines (former, active and reserves) and associate members are eligible for MCLA membership. Call President Elaine Spikes at 352-860-2400 or Secretary/Treasurer Joan Cecil at 352-726-0834 for information.

+ Hunger and Homeless Coalition — Anyone who knows of a homeless veteran in need of food, haircut, voter ID, food stamps, medical assistance or more blankets is asked to call Ed Murphy at the Hunger and Homeless Coalition at 352-382-0876, or pass along this phone number to the veteran.

+ Leroy Rooks Jr. VFW Post 4252 and Ladies Auxiliary 3190 N. Carl G. Rose Highway, State Road 200, Hernando; 352-726-3339. Send emails to vfw4252@tampabay.rr.com.
Everyone is welcome. Post and auxiliary meet at 6:30 p.m. every second Thursday.
Post honor guard is available for funerals, flag raisings and nursing home visits.
The public is welcome to the Friday night dinner and dance at 5 p.m.
See our post activities: Google us as VFW 4252, Hernando.

+ Dumas-Hartson VFW Post 8189 is on West Veterans Drive, west of U.S. 19 between Crystal River and Homosassa. Call 352-795-5012 for information.
VFW membership is open to men and women veterans who have participated in an overseas campaign, including service in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Korean Campaign medal remains open, as well. Call the post at the phone number above for information.

+ Joe Nic Barco Memorial VFW Post 7122, 8191 S. Florida Ave., Floral City. For information about the post and its activities, call 352-637-0100.
Friday is AUCE fish or three-piece chicken for $7.

+ American Legion, Beverly Hills Memorial Post 237, 4077 N. Lecanto Highway, in the Beverly Plaza, invites all eligible veterans and their families to visit our post and consider joining our Legion family: American Legion, Sons of the American Legion (SAL), or American Legion Auxiliary (ALA). Color Guard/Honor Guard accepting volunteers.
American Legion Riders Chapter now being formed. Visit the post for printed schedule or visit the website at www.post237.org. For information, call the post at 352-746-5018.
American Legion Post 237, 4077 N. Lecanto Highway, Beverly Hills, will host a poker run Saturday, Jan. 28, starting at 9:30 a.m. with registration at American Legion Post 237.  Last bike out will be 10:30 a.m. and last bike in will be 4:30 pm.
Cost for the event is $10 per rider, which includes a poker hand and a meal at the end of the run. Best Hand wins the poker run. No food will be served before 4 pm. All vehicles are welcome.
Proceeds from the American Legion Post 237 poker run will benefit Hospice of Citrus County and American Cancer Society Ovarian Cancer Research. There are six stops: including AmVets Post 441, Inglis; American Legion Post 155; IRRU; Fraternal Order of Eagles 4272, Homosassa; Scoreboard Sports Bar; and back to American Legion Post 237. There will be music and door prizes. There will also be a 50/50 drawing.
For more information, call 352-746-5018 or ride chairman John Roby at 352-341-5856.

+ The Korean War Veterans Association, Citrus Chapter 192 meets at the VFW Post 10087, Beverly Hills, at 1 p.m. the first Tuesday monthly. Any veteran who has seen honorable service in any of the Armed Forces of the U.S. is eligible for membership if said service was within Korea, including territorial waters and airspace, at any time from Sept. 3, 1945, to the present or if said service was outside of Korea from June 25, 1950, to Jan. 31, 1955. For information, call Hank Butler at 352-563-2496, Neville Anderson at 352-344-2529 or Bob Hermanson at 352-489-0728.

+ Allen-Rawls American Legion Post 77 and Auxiliary Unit 77 meet the first Thursday monthly at the Inverness Highlands Civic Center at 4375 Little Al Point Road, Inverness. Call Post Cmdr. Norman Brumett at 352-860-2981 or Auxiliary president Marie Cain at 352-637-5915.

+ U.S. Submarine Veterans (USSVI)-Sturgeon Base meets at 11 a.m. the first Saturday monthly at the American Legion Post 155, 6585 W. Gulf-to-Lake Highway, Crystal River. Visitors and interested parties are always welcome. Call Base Cmdr. Billy Wein at 352-726-5926.

+ American Legion Post 166 meets 1:30 p.m., first Saturday monthly at the Dumas-Hartson VFW Post 8189 Ladies Auxiliary facility on Veterans Drive, Homosassa, on the west side of U.S. 19 at Dixon’s Auto Sales across from Harley-Davidson. We meet in the small building to the left of the main building. All former and current post members, as well as all interested veterans, are cordially invited to be a part of American Legion Post 166.
For information about the post or the American Legion, call and leave a message for the post commander at 352-697-1749. Your call will be returned within 24 to 48 hours.

+ Seabee Veterans of America (SVA) Island X-23 welcomes all Seabees and Honeybees to its monthly meeting at 10:30 a.m. the third Tuesday monthly at Citrus Hills Country Club, Rose and Crown restaurant, Citrus Hills. Call John Lowe at 352-344-4702.

+ Citrus 40/8 Voiture 1219 and Cabane 1219 conducts its meetings at 7 p.m. the second Thursday monthly at the American Legion Post 155 on State Road 44 in Crystal River (6585 E. Gulf-to-Lake Highway). For more information about the 40/8, call the Chef De Gare Tom Smith at 352-601-3612; for the Cabane, call La Presidente Carol Kaiserian at 352-746-1959; or visit us on the Web at www.Post155.org.

+ Aaron A. Weaver Chapter 776 Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) meets at 2 p.m. the third Tuesday of January, March, May, July, September and November. All combat-wounded veterans, lineal descendants, next of kin, spouses and siblings of Purple Heart recipients are cordially invited to attend and to join the ranks of Chapter 776. To learn more about Aaron A. Weaver Chapter 776 MOPH, visit the chapter’s website at www.citruspurpleheart.org or call 352-382-3847.
The combat-wounded Patriots of Aaron A. Weaver Chapter 776 Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) cordially invite all veterans and the public to attend the seventh annual Purple Heart Ceremony at 11 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 18, at the Florida National Guard Armory, Crystal River.
The ceremony will commemorate the proud legacy of the Purple Heart and pay tribute to fallen heroes and wounded warriors.
The ceremony will also feature the MOPH Department of Florida Afghanistan/Iraq War Memorial Portrait Mural. The mural honors more than 300 Floridians who have fallen during the Afghanistan/Iraq campaigns and is the first memorial to bear both the engraved names and color portraits of those who fell. Vocalists Paul and Jackie Stevio will provide patriotic music.
For more information, visit the Chapter 776 web site at www.citruspurpleheart.org or call 352-382-3847.

+ Marine Corps League, Samuel R. Wall Detachment 1139 will conduct its regular meeting at 7 p.m. the third Wednesday monthly at DAV Post 70 in Inverness at the intersection of Independence Highway and U.S. 41 North. All Marines are welcome. Call Jerry Cecil at 352-726-0834 or Wayne Howard at 352-634-5254.

+ Marine Corps League Citrus Detachment 819 meets at 7 p.m. the last Thursday monthly at VFW Post 10087 on Vet Lane in Beverly Hills, behind Superior Bank. Social hour follows. All Marines and FMF Corpsmen are welcome. Meet new friends and discuss past glories. Call Morgan Patterson at 352-746-1135, Ted Archambault at 352-382-0462 or Bion St. Bernard at 352-697-2389.

+ Gilley-Long-Osteen VFW Post 8698 is at 520 State Road 40 E., Inglis, one mile east of U.S. 19. The Men’s Auxiliary meets at 7 p.m. the second Monday. LAVFW meets at 5 p.m. and the membership meeting is at 6:30 p.m. the third Wednesday at the post.
Call the post at 352-447-3495 for information about the post and its activities.

+ Fleet Reserve Association, Branch 186 will meet at 3 p.m. the third Thursday monthly at the DAV Building, Independence Highway and U.S. 41 North, Inverness. Call Bob Huscher, secretary, at 352-
344-0727.

+ American Legion Herbert Surber Post 225 meets at 7 p.m. the third Thursday monthly at the New Testament Baptist Church of Floral City, 9850 S. Parkside Ave. adjoining Floral Park, southeast side. All eligible veterans are welcome to join.

+ Landing Ship Dock (LSD) sailors meet at Denny’s in Crystal River at 2 p.m. the fourth Thursday monthly. Call Jimmie at 352-621-0617.

+ Suncoast U.S. Navy Armed Guard and Merchant Marine Veterans of World War II meetings for 2012 will be at 11:30 a.m. at Kally K’s restaurant in Spring Hill on the following dates: Feb. 11, March 10, April 14, May 12, Sept. 8, Oct. 13, Nov. 10 and Dec. 8.
 

+ Attention: USS Columbus vets — Navy and Marine Corps shipmates who served on the USS Columbus CA-74/CG-12 from 1944 through 1976 and the USS Columbus (SSN-762) past and present, if you would like to share memories and camaraderie with old friends and make new ones, contact Allen R. Hope, president, 3828 Hobson Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46815-4505; call 260-486-2221 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern Time; fax 260-492-9771, or email Hope4391@frontier.com.