GENERAL ORDERS

1. STATE COMMANDERS MESSAGE:

Well comrades 2003 is gone. I hope that you and your family had great holidays and all your wishes came true. The Department of Virginia has accomplished many good deeds and have taken care of many of this country's heros. The work you completed this year has been exceptional. But, our work is never completely done. We have troops that are still in harms way, veterans and families still in need of our assistance and citizens of this country who need to be educated about the sacrifices of the military to maintain our freedoms. We must continue to commit ourselves to working for the goals and ideals of the VFW. I ask each of you to continue the work of our great organization and to remember that our fight is never over. We must continue to operate as "Team Virginia" and be "United For Service to America."

Respectively,
Pete Snelling State Commander

2. MEMBERSHIP:

Congratulations to the Posts who have reached 100% , but we still have a long way to go. If any of you need help, please do not hesitate to call and will gladly help you attain your goal.

Tom Hines
State Senior Vice Commander

3. WINTER COUNCIL CLASS:

I will be conducting a class on how to retrieve "mem stats" off of the National Website. It will be held Friday January 16^th at 10:00 a.m. and Sunday January 18^th at 9:00 a.m. The location will be announced at the hotel.

Also, if anyone has an e-mail address please forward it to stateheadquarters@vfw-virginia.com
And we will be happy to add you to our e-mail address book.

Kim A. DeShano
State Adjutant/Quartermaster

4. GENERAL ORDER CUT OFF DATES:

The cut off for General Orders is the 20^th of the month. NO EXCEPTIONS.

5. DISTRICT MEETINGS:

FIRST - TBA

SECOND - 03-06-04 Post 4411 FRANKLIN, Meeting 1:00 PM , Representative State Surgeon Jimmy Lee Wallace

THIRD - 03-06-04 THIRD DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS, Meeting 2:00 PM, Dinner to follow. Representative State Judge Advocate Charles (Doc) Crouch

FOURTH - 02-08-04 AMELIA VETERANS CENTER 2:00 PM, Representative Junior Vice Commander Dan Boyer

FIFTH - 02-15-04 Post 4637 MARTINSVILLLE, Meeting 12 Noon, Representative Commander Pete Snelling

SIXTH - 02-08-04 FLOYD VAMC BLDG 76, 2nd FLOOR, 2:00 PM, Representative State Judge Advocate Charles (Doc) Crouch

SEVENTH - 01-11-04, POST 2123 WINCHESTER, Lunch 11:30 AM, Meeting to follow, Representative Senior Vice Commander Tom Hines

EIGHTH - 03-14-04, POST 7589 MANASSAS, Meeting 1:00 PM, Representative Senior Vice Commander Tom Hines

NINTH - 01-11-04, POST 4667 MARION, Register at 11:00 AM, Joint Meeting 11:30 AM, Representative Commander Pete Snelling

TENTH - 02-22-04, Post 8241 MCLEAN, Meeting 1:00 PM, Representative State Surgeon Jimmy Lee Wallace

ELEVENTH - 12-28-03, POST 1499 LEXINGTON, Lunch 11:30 a.m., Meeting to follow Representative Commander Pete Snelling

TWELFTH - 1-04-04, POST 1994 ABINGDON, Meeting 11:00 a.m., Representative Commander Pete Snelling

THIRTEENTH - 03-14-04, POST 10546 SPOTSYLVANIA, Meeting 1:00 p.m., Representative State Judge Advocate Charles (Doc) Crouch

6. CHANGES IN THE ROSTER:

Chief-of-Staff Rex Faris telephone 276-952-2532 home, 276-953-3994 fax

12^th District Commander Kenneth Suthard telephone 423-306-7055

VFW Post 484 P O Box 13203, Roanoke 24032-3203

Post 392 Adjutant Allen Hardin, 614 Pheasant Run, Virginia Beach 23452, telephone 757-831-3443

Post 993 JVC William S. Bass, Sr., 12 Vail Place, Portsmouth 23702, telephone 757-485-2848

Post 1860 Adjutant Robert L. garter, 197 Marissa Court, Front Royal 22630

7. QUARTERLY AUDIT REPORTS:

Attention is directed to Section 218, Manual of Procedure Duty of Trustees, Form P-113. Trustees Report of Audit, must be prepared in detail at the close of each quarter, one of which ended September 30^th which is NOW PAST DUE at State Headquarters.

8. IMPORTANT 2003-2005 DATES:

January 16-18, 2004 State Winter Council Meeting; Clarion Hotel, 500 Merrimac Trail, Williamsburg, Virginia, 23185. Rates are $52 per night, telephone 757-220-1410, FAX 757-220-4662 PLEASE NOTE THE CUT OFF DATE FOR RESERVATIONS WAS DECEMBER 12TH.

July 16-18, 2004 School of Instruction Lynchburg

August 14-20, 2004 National VFW Convention, Cincinnati, Ohio

November 19-21, 2004 Southern Conference Louisville, Kentucky

August 20-26, 2005 National VFW Convention, Salt Lake City, Utah

9. SPECIAL ORDER NO. 133 - MEMBERSHIP TERMINATION LUM H. CAGLE POST 1264

His eligibility having been questioned under the provisions of Section 108 of the National By-Laws and the veteran having failed to submit proof of campaign medal service which would qualify for membership, it is hereby ordered that the name of Lum H. Cagle, Membership No. 5086072, be removed from the rolls of Irvin L. Manning Post No. 1264, Roanoke, Virginia, and his membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States terminated by reason of ineligibility.

By order of
Edwards S. Banas, Sr.
Commander-in-Chief

10. SPECIAL ORDER NO. 139 - MEMBERSHIP TERMINATION OF JERRY L. RAY POST 1264

His eligibility having been questioned under the provisions of Section 108 of the National By-Laws and the veteran having failed to submit proof of campaign medal service which would qualify for membership, it is hereby ordered that the name of Jerry L. Ray, Life Membership No. 1480193, be removed from the rolls of Irvin L. Manning Post No. 1264, Roanoke, Virginia, and his membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States terminated by reason of ineligibility.

By order of
Edwards S. Banas, Sr.
Commander-in-Chief

11. HOSPITAL REPORT:

Surely, since November 1st, members of your Post visited someone sick or in the hospital! It only takes a few minutes to fill out the paperwork, and give your Post, your District and the State the recognition you and they deserve. Please get your reports in on a timely basis.

Jimmy Lee Wallace
Hospital Chairman

12. AMERICANISM REPORT:

Thirty-eight reports have been received from 34 Posts. Status as of 19 December 2003.
DISTRICT 1 - Posts not reported: 176, 824, 960, 2296, 4856, 5500, 6002, 7167, 8629, 9358, 9636
DISTRICT 2 - Posts not reported: 392, 993, 2582, 2894, 3160, 4809, 8545, 9382
DISTRICT 3 - Posts not reported: 1426, 2239, 2583, 3125, 4639, 6364, 8046, 8356, 8529, 9224, 9501, 10387, 10654, 10657, 11124
DISTRICT 4 - Posts not reported: 2163, 2584, 5313, 5371, 7819, 7897, 8048, 8163, 8228, 8599, 8617, 8759, 8902, 9618, 9855, 9954, 10570, 10571
DISTRICT 5 - Posts not reported: 647, 873, 1115, 2820, 6130, 7568, 7800, 8467DISTRICT 6 - Posts not reported: 484, 776, 1033, 1264, 1444, 1841, 2157, 4165, 4299, 4318, 4491, 4522, 4920, 5311, 5895, 7854, 8184, 9805, 9877
DISTRICT 7 - 621, 1150, 1860, 2123, 4698, 6044, 7899, 9292, 9760, 9872
DISTRICT 8 - Posts not reported: 472, 1177, 2524, 3103, 4468, 7589, 7728, 8208, 9835, 9865
DISTRICT 9 - Posts not reported: 1184, 2719, 4667, 7136, 7328, 7360, 7969, 9343, 9696, 9864
DISTRICT 10 - 1503, 5412, 7916, 8469, 8815, 9274
DISTRICT 11 - Posts not reported: 452, 632, 1499, 3060, 3136, 4204, 4805, 4989, 7578, 7701, 7814, 8479, 8644, 9339, 9480, 10773
DISTRICT 12 - Posts not reported: 1994, 3782, 4301, 5715, 6975, 8652, 8979, 9600, 9830, 10298, 10310, 10611
DISTRICT 13 - Posts not reported: 1827, 2044, 2217, 2613, 7638, 8169, 8436, 10295

Posts reporting for the first time since 11 December
:District 3 - Posts reported first time: 9808
District 5 - Posts reported for the first time: 7726

J. Gary Wagner
Vice Chairman for Americanism

13. SAFETY REPORT:

The following Posts have submitted Safety Reports for the 1^st half as of November 7, 2003:
District 1 - 176, 824, 960, 2296, 3219, 4856, 5500, 6002, 7167, 8252, 8629, 9358, 9636
District 2 - 392, 993, 1211, 2582, 2894, 3160, 4411, 4809, 8545, 9382
District 3 - 1426, 2239, 2583, 3125, 4639, 6364, 8046, 8356, 8529, 9224, 9501, 9808, 10387, 10654, 10657,11124
District 4 - 622, 637, 2163, 5313, 5371, 7059, 7166, 7819, 8048, 8163, 8228, 8617, 8759, 8902, 9855, 9954, 10570, 10571
District 5 - 647, 4637, 7568, 7726, 7800, 8467
District 6 - 776, 1444, 2157, 4299, 4318, 4491, 4522, 4920, 5311, 5895, 9760, 9877
District 7 - 621, 1150, 1860,2123, 2447, 4698, 6044, 7899, 8613, 9292, 9660, 9760, 9872
District 8 - 1177, 1811, 2524, 3103, 4468, 7589, 7728
District 9 - 956, 1184, 4667, 6000, 7136, 7328, 7360, 9343, 9640, 9696
District 10 - 609, 1503, 3150, 5412, 7327, 7916, 8241, 8469, 8815, 9274, 9478
District 11 - 452, 632, 1499, 2216, 2424, 3060, 3136, 4204, 4805, 7157, 7578, 7701, 7814, 8279, 8479, 8644, 9339, 9480,10826
District 12 - 1994, 8979, 9600, 9830
District 13 - 2044, 2217,8169, 8947, 10546

This is the final Safety Report for the First Half.
Please use the new Safety Report forms and mail all reports to Department Headquarters. Team VFW, Team Virginia!

14. COMMUNITY ACTIVITY REPORT:

Post's which have not submitted Community Activity Reports for the second half.
DISTRICT 1 -176, 824, 960, 2296, 4856, 5500, 6002, 7167, 8629, 9358, 9636
DISTRICT 2 - 993, 2582, 2894, 4411, 4809, 8545, 9382
DISTRICT 3 - 1426, 2239, 2583, 3125, 4639, 6364, 8046, 8356., 8529, 9224, 9501, 10387, 10654, 10657, 11124
DISTRICT 4 - 637, 2163, 2584, 5313, 5371, 7897, 8048, 8163, 8228, 8599, 8617, 8759, 8902, 9618, 9855, 9954, 10570, 10571
DISTRICT 5 - 644, 647, 873, 2820, 6130, 7568, 7800, 8467
DISTRICT 6 - 484, 1033, 1264, 1444, 1841, 2157, 4165, 4299, 4318, 4491, 4522, 4920, 5311, 5895, 7854, 8184, 9805, 9877
DISTRICT 7 - 1150, 4698, 6044, 7899, 8613, 9292, 9760, 9872
DISTRICT 8 - 472, 1177, 2524, 3103, 4468, 7589, 7728, 8208, 9835, 9865
DISTRICT 9 - 1184, 4667, 7328, 7360, 7969, 9696, 9864
DISTRICT 10 - 1503, 5412, 7916, 8469, 9274
DISTRICT 11 - 452, 632, 2424, 3060, 4805, 7578, 7701, 7814, 8479, 8644, 9339, 9480, 10773
DISTRICT 12 - 3782, 4301, 5715, 6975, 8652, 8979, 9600, 9830, 10310, 10611
DISTRICT 13 - 2044, 2217, 2613, 7638, 8436, 10295

Lynn Harris
Community Activity Vice-Chairman

15. YOUTH ACTIVITY REPORT:

The following posts have NOT reported youth activities.
District 1: 2296, 4856, 7167, 9358
District 2: 100%
District 3: 2239
District 4: 637, 2584, 7897, 8048, 8599, 8902, 9618
District 5: 873, 2820, 8243, 10840
District 6: 484, 1264, 1444, 1841, 4165, 4920, 7854, 8184, 9805
District 7: 1150
District 8: 472, 8208, 9865
District 9: 2719, 7969, 9343, 9864
District 10: 100%
District 11: 4204, 4989, 7701, 7814, 10773
District 12: 3782, 4301, 5715, 6975, 8652, 10298, 10310, 10611
District 13: 1827, 2613, 7638, 8169, 8436, 8717, 10295, 10574

Jim Martin
Youth Activities Chairman

16. INSPECTION REPORTS:

Henry E. Cluney
State Inspector

17. 2003-2004 PATRIOT'S PEN (YOUTH ESSAY)/TEACHERS PROGRAM:

Patriot's Pen Deadlines
Theme: "MY DREAM FOR AMERICA"

PATRIOT'S PEN DEPARTMENT FINALISTS

IST PLACE Danny Jarrell, District 4, Post 7166
Grade 8 Parkview Middle School, South Hill

2^nd PLACE Ariel A. Talts, District 5, Post 647
Grade 8 Sacred Heart School, Danville

3^rd PLACE Phillip Betts, District 7, Post 9760
Grade 8 JW Middle School, Berryville

Please note District 12 did not submit a final report.

18. VOICE OF DEMOCRACY:

2003-2004 STATE WINNERS
First Place - Christa J. Byker Virginia Beach, Virginia Sponsored by Post 392
Second Place - Travis J. Mitchell Tazewell, Virginia Sponsored by Post 7136
Third Place - Tamara T. Dutton Herndon, Virginia Sponsored by Post 9478

Thank you,
Earle P. (Buddy) Weekley
State VOD Chairman

19. LEGISLATIVE

2004 LEGISLATIVE DAY ON THE HILL IN RICHMOND, 15 JANUARY 2004 The Department's "Legislative Day on the Hill" will be held on Thursday, 15 January 2004. Please reserve that date for the trip to Richmond. All VFW and Auxiliary members are urged to participate in this very important event. Legislators are most interested in meeting constituents from their respective districts. Do your part and show up. Numbers DO count. IMPORTANT! There has been a change in our meeting location. We will assemble at 8:20 a.m. in House Room #1 of the State Capitol Building. Use the street level entrance in the middle of the building on the Broad Street (uphill) side. Coffee and rolls will be provided for attendees. The issues that we will address with all 140 members of the General Assembly include those covered in the following article. SEE YOU IN RICHMOND!

VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS, DEPARTMENT OF VIRGINIA 2003-2004 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA Listed below is the legislative agenda that VFW Department members will discuss with our elected General Assembly members on 15 January 2004 in Richmond. However, the success of our efforts will depend, in large measure, on what we do before that date. All VFW and Ladies Auxiliary members are urged to contact members of the General Assembly IMMEDIATELY and request their support of our agenda. Without the widespread and vocal support of the VFW community we will not be able to attain our legislative goals. Again, numbers do count! A brief summary of the issues on our legislative agenda follows:

1. Inadequate Funding of the Virginia Department of Veterans Services (VDVS). An estimated 763,000 veterans reside in Virginia. Personnel cuts over the years have made it impossible for the VDVS to provide satisfactory service to veterans throughout the Commonwealth. These cuts have necessitated the closure and/or reduced operation of a number of needed Claims Agent Offices . Further, the VDVS reorganization, effective 1 July 2003, increased the VDVS's financial obligations. VFW Position: The Governor and General Assembly must support adequate funding of the VDVS in the 2004-2005 budget.

2. Study Resolution for a Third Veterans Care Center and a Third Veterans Cemetery in the Commonwealth. Additional Veterans Care Centers and Veterans Cemeteries are required in the Commonwealth to meet the near-term needs of the veteran community in Virginia. The VFW membership unanimously passed a resolution at its 2003 State Convention calling for additional Veterans Care Centers and Veterans Cemeteries. VFW Position: Support a Study Resolution to commence planning for a Third Veterans Care Center and a Third Veterans Cemetery in the Commonwealth. [Del. Jim Dillard, R-41st District, will sponsor a Study Resolution.]

3. Designation of Interstate Highways in Virginia as Veterans Memorial Highways. The designation of those sections of interstate highways within the boundaries of the Commonwealth of Virginia as Veterans Memorial Highways will be a fitting and visible tribute to those veterans who served our nation in past wars. VFW Post 7800 recommends that I-64, I-81 and I-95 be so designated to honor the veterans of World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. VFW Position: Support the bill to designate I-64, I-81 and I-95 as Veterans Memorial Highways honoring those military personnel who served in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. [Delegate Ward L. Armstrong, D-10th District, will introduce a bill for this purpose.]

4. College In-State Tuition for Dependents of Active Duty Military Personnel. Undocumented immigrants and foreign nationals who have lived in Virginia for at least three years now areentitled to pay in-state tuition rates at Virginia colleges and universities for family members who have graduated from Virginia high schools. Meanwhile, military families who have lived here at least three years because of their service assignments must pay the higher out-of-state tuition rates at colleges and universities if their official residence is in another state. VFW Position: Military families who live in Virginia because of active duty assignments should be entitled to the same in-state tuition privileges as undocumented immigrants and foreign nationals.

5. Memorialize Congress to Increase the Federal Burial Allowance. In its final recommendations in 2002, the Governor's Advisory Commission suggested that the Governor support a move to increase the federal burial allowance to veterans. While reviewing the operation and management of the Amelia Cemetery, the Commission found that the approximate cost per burial was $1,275. Currently, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provides a $300 burial allowance, relying on a substantial taxpayer subsidy to make up the $975 difference between the allowance and the actual cost of a burial. VFW Position: The General Assembly should memorialize Congress, Department of Defense, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to increase the federal burial allowance from $300 to a minimum of $750. 6. Effective Security for the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond. The Virginia War Memorial in Richmond presently does not have round-the-clock security protection. This important veterans' and tourist site had been provided such protection by the Capitol Police, but is now very vulnerable to vandalism and burglary. VFW Position: The General Assembly should assure that sufficient funds are appropriated to provide 24-hour-a-day security protection for the Memorial by the trained professionals of the Capitol Police.

RESOLUTIONS

The number of resolutions submitted thus far by Posts this VFW year has been disappointing. Post members are urged to commence preparations for the submission of resolutions for consideration at the next Department Convention. The policies of the VFW at both the Department and National level are set by resolutions and it is imperative that we, the membership, take the time to express our views on issues that we feel are important. All resolutions of statewide, regional and national concern must be acted upon at the Department Convention. This means that all resolutions must be submitted to the Department Adjutant/ Quartermaster no later than 30 days prior to the beginning of the 2004 Department Convention in Richmond (17-20 June 2004). Please disseminate this deadline to the Post membership. The importance of Post member involvement in the actual preparation of resolutions cannot be emphasized enough. The VFW is OUR organization and we, the members of 187 Posts spread throughout the Commonwealth, must get involved regarding the establishment of policy at Department and National Conventions. In recent years the great majority of resolutions approved or disapproved at the annual Department Convention were actually prepared at National VFW Headquarters. They were sent to our Department shortly before the annual Convention for review and recommendations, and were submitted by Department Posts/members for the 2003 Department Convention. Twenty-one were approved and one was disapproved by the General Membership at the Convention. To be blunt, we need more resolutions prepared by Post personnel in the Department. Apathy is an unmistakable sign of an organization in decline.

The VFW 2003-2004 Leadership Manual contains an excellent section titled "Resolutions" on pages 143-144. It is well written. The preparation of a resolution is a relatively simple matter. There are two parts. First, thereis a "Whereas" section which states the problem to be solved Second, there is a "Resolved" section which recommends a solution to the problem. In summary, Post members are urged to prepare resolutions on topics deemed important. Contact me if you need assistance. I will do my best to help.

John P. McAnaw
Legislative Chairman

21. ENVIRONMENTAL:

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to All. While it is the season to be jolly it is also a season to plan. Plan to make Virginia a better place to live, work and retire. We can be thankful Virginia is mostly exempt from calamities snowslides, mudslides or major forest fires that other states are plagued with. The goal of the VFW Virginia Environmental program is to help alleviate this damage as much as we can. Just a small group of dedicated Comrades are needed to put this plan into action. Of course, it will also be necessary to calculate such costs that may be involved. A good source of information can be obtained from local nurserymen, forest rangers and such. Please check with property owners or the local Sheriff's Department to determine what, if any permits should be obtained. Local fire departments sometimes do controlled burnings as a training exercise, and some local contractors may donate equipment to use for this clean up along with some good workers to help. Be sure to have VFW applications with you on the work day to see if any of your volunteers are eligible for the VFW. Remember to follow on what you starter and you will find other problems will find a way to work out themselves.

Ernest B. Glynn
Environmental Chairman