Fall 2011 - Jewish War Veterans of the United States

MESSAGEOctober and November have been quite busyfor me. I have been asked to attend a number offunctions in Washington, DC representing JWV.Many of these events involve JWV’s membershipin The Military Coalition (TMC). This is aninfluential consortium of 34 military and veteransorganizations. PNC Bob Zwieman is a foundingmember of the group.Here is a brief sampling of the events Iattended:October 5 - Attended The Military CoalitionAward Ceremony honoring Congressman TimWalz. It was held at Reserve Officers Associationoffices on Capitol Hill.October 11 - Along with Chief of Staff MikeLiebowitz and National Judge Advocate AlanCornblatt, attended Congressional viewing ofmemorial plaque to Jewish Chaplains held inSenate Hart Building.October 24 - Spoke at the dedication ceremoniesat Arlington National Cemetery forFROM THE COMMANDERNational Commander Allen E. Falkthe Jewish Chaplains’ Memorial Plaque. Also,along with National Auxiliary President ElaineBernstein, placed wreath at The Tomb of theUnknown Soldier.November 4 - Represented JWV at AnnualBoard of Directors meeting and regular monthlymeeting of The Military Coalition held at officesof the Air Force Association in Arlington,Virginia. I had the honor of voting to reelectNational Executive Director Herb Rosenbleethas President of The Military Coalition Boardof Directors. Also attended a luncheon at JWVNational Headquarters with the office staff.Purpose was to thank staff for their great serviceat the Jacksonville Convention.November 5 - Represented JVW at “Macks’Marines” USMC birthday luncheon held at TheMarine Corps Barracks, 8th & I, Washington,DC.November 11 - Served as a member of theVeterans Day National Committee 2011, representingJWV. Alongwith my wife Leah,attended White Housebreakfast hosted bythe President andMrs. Obama. Then,we were transportedto Arlington NationalCemetery to observe the President place a wreathat the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. I then saton the amphitheatre stage while President Obamaaddressed the assembly. We then attended a receptionfor the host organization at the MarriottCrystal Gateway.The functions that I attended in DC haveshown me how respected JWV is amongst themilitary and veterans communities in DC. Oneof the top reasons for this respect has been theeffort of our National Executive Director HerbRosenbleeth who works hard to ensure our interestsare represented in our nation’s capital.NEWSFROM CAPITOL HILLBy Herb RosenbleethColonel, U.S. Army(Ret)National Executive DirectorVETERANS DAYThis past Veterans Day, VA Secretary EricShinseki directed changes and additions to theVeterans Day celebrations here in Washingtonto make this holiday more distinguishable fromMemorial Day. Veterans Day is primarily intendedto thank living veterans for their dedicated andloyal service. Memorial Day is the day set asideto honor America’s war dead.In 1954, President Eisenhower signed a billproclaiming November 11 as Veterans Day, andcalled upon all Americans to rededicate themselvesto the cause of peace.Eisenhower issued a Presidential Order directingthe head of the Veterans Administration(now called the Department of Veterans Affairs),to form a Veterans Day National Committee toorganize and oversee the national observanceof Veterans Day. The National Commander ofthe Jewish War Veterans of the USA serves as amember of this committee which, in addition toplanning and coordinating the National VeteransDay Ceremony, supports a number of VeteransDay Regional sites.Starting with this year’s Veterans Day,Secretary Shinseki created a Veterans Day concerton the day before Veterans Day to furtherdistinguish this holiday from Memorial Day.National Commander Allen E. Falk representedJWV on the dais at the Arlington NationalCemetery program. During this ceremony,our JWV Department of DC carried both theAmerican flag and the JWV flag with the Star ofDavid clearly visible against the blue sky.In addition to representing JWV on thedais at Arlington National Cemetery, NationalCommander Allen Falk represented JWV at thereception hosted by the Military Order of theWorld Wars. National Commander Falk, whoserved as a Marine Corps Captain in Vietnam,was warmly greeted by several Marines whonoticed his “Red One” lapel pin. I was extremelyproud to escort National CommanderPhoto by Herb RosenbleethFalk and his lovely wife, Leah, at this reception.The President of our Ladies Auxiliary, ElaineBernstein, and her husband, PNC Paul Bernstein,who is JWV’s National Executive CommitteeChairman, also participated at Arlington and atthis reception. JWV was well represented in theWashington, DC, Veterans Day ceremonies.4 The Jewish Veteran Fall • 2011 www.jwv.org