Welcome to the Smith-Pletcher Post 779 Website
Updated January 27, 2012
DEAN RIPKA
1912 - 2012
CHARTER MEMBER DEAN B. RIPKA PASSED AWAY JANUARY 19TH AT THE AGE OF 99
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We were privileged to have Dean's family for a luncheon at our Legion Post after the ceremonies honoring Dean had concluded.
We are very grateful for the members of our Post, as well as the Club staff for their efforts in hosting the Ripka family's luncheon.
It was an honor to have Dean as charter member, an officer, and an active member of our Post for over 66 years. We will all miss Dean very much.
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An album of photos of Dean has been placed on our Facebook Page.
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We have a new post email address. It is legionpost779@gmail.com
Drop us a test message to get your email address on our new list.
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Watch the NFL playoff games this weekend at the Club!
Sunday January 29 at 7:00 p.m.
NFL Pro Bowl!
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Questions about membership, dues, and any other questions about our Post, please click on "Contact Us" on the left side of this Home Page
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Attention all members!
The Red Cross BLOOD Drive collected 35 pints of blood during the December 1st blood drive!
Post 779 thanks all the kind people that contributed the gift of their blood so that others will have the blood they need, when they need it! We also thank all the VOLUNTEERS that donated their time to assist the Red Cross in carry on this event.
The next Blood Drive will be at our Post Home on Wednesday, February 2nd, 2012 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
You're continued support of this worthwhile event would be appreciated!
Please give blood so the RED CROSS can help others LIVE!
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Attention all Event Coordinators!
Please make a list of all the volunteers that gave their time in putting on your event. Post 779 will post the names of all volunteers on this website so we can recognize their effort!
Please EMAIL your list of names, the event, and date of the event to:
Mike Tarone at Miket156@juno.com
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Veterans Van Officially Launched
With significant assistance from the Smith-Pletcher Post, the Veterans Van for Centre County has become a reality. The Post Donated $1,000, the Auxiliary donated $1,000, the Sons of the American Legion donated $500. Other individuals from our Legion donated funds to this project too.
Commissioners Steve Dershem and Jon Eich both gave brief addresses to the people that attended the event and thanked the organizations and individuals that donated funds to make this 5-year project a reality. Holly Serface deserves a huge "Thank You" for all her efforts coordinating Federal, State, and Local governments, Veterans Service and Community Volunteer Organizations, as well as individuals that donated funds. Holly has already signed up 10 Volunteer drivers for the Veterans Van and will probably be adding more as time goes on.
Disabled Veterans or Veterans that have no means of transportation to the VA Hospital in Altoona need to call the Community Help Centre at 800-494-2500 or 237-5855 to set up an appointment. You will receive a phone call from the RSVP (Retired & Senior Volunteer Program) office to verify your appointment date and to gather more information about your appointment. If you do not hear from the RSVP office within 4 days, you need to call them at 355-6816 to have your appointment scheduled. You must schedule your reservation at least 2 weeks before your appointment at the VA Hospital.
http://www.co.centre.pa.us/veteran /veterans_van_transportation.pdf
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Memorial Day 2011______________
More pictures are in the Photo Gallery
We have updated the newsletter page and added several items on military history there.
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Link to tribute to WWII Vets
This is a good 2 minute video
Here is a second short video.
http://www.jensensutta.com/slideshows/RTB/
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Mike Tarone is now editing and adding content. Send any information you would like posted on this website to Mike at miket156@juno.com.
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Check out the female Marine Pilot featured on our From the Web page.
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New Facebook Page
Facebook users can Click on the Like Button below to receive updates.
(RAO)
These are issued twice a month and contain a ton of information. Some of it applies to all veterans and active duty personnel. It is worth scanning it. More information is on our Newsletter Page. Click on the link below to see the 15 October 11 Bulletin.
October 15 RAO Bulletin
Here is a good link to a news story about a veteran honoring fellow veterans and the public support for his work.
http://www.comcast.net/video/honoring-fallen-vets/1536192981/
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This is a link to a video tribute to our armed services. You may be surprised to hear who is having a sing along with the troops.
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=5MtdIO23MKM
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A note from Senator Jake Corman on the small games of chance legislation now being debated in the Pennsylvania Legislature.
August 5, 2010
Dear Post 779,
In the past, you have contacted me with regard to small games of chance legislation. I appreciated hearing from you on the matter and would like to provide an update. Please know that I am supportive of legislation increasing limits for small games of chance. In fact, as Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I moved Senate Bill 211 out of committee earlier this session.I do believe that increasing the individual and weekly limits for small games and chance will help volunteer, social, and fraternal organizations generate revenues during tough economic times. Further, I recognize that this will help to alleviate the financial challenges of increased service and equipment costs, the recruitment of new members, and the constant need to raise money.
Additional legislation that allows for proceeds to go to operating expenses and includes taverns as licensed facilities has been introduced. Specifically, Senate Bill 1301 and House Bill 169 are currently in the Senate Finance committee.Last year, a proposal to tax proceeds of small games of chance was debated during budget negotiations. Please know that no legislation has been introduced to tax the proceeds of these games for volunteer, social, and fraternal organizations. Senate Bill 1301 does put forward a tax on proceeds, but only for taverns that the bill seeks to include as licensees. Should this bill come before the Senate Finance Committee or full Senate for a vote, I will certainly take your thoughts and concerns into consideration.
I trust that this information has been helpful. Please do not hesitate to contact my office again on this or any other state-related matter.
Sincerely,
Senator Jake Corman
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The POST is currently at our all time high for membership. Thanks to all who helped us get over the top.
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Lowes Discounts to Veterans
The note below is from Holly Serface, Director of the Centre County Veterans Affairs Office
Dave,
I just called Lowes yesterday because many veterans have been calling me
in reference to this. Some of the cashiers are confusing picture ID
cards with military ID cards. You need to be on active duty or a 20
year military retiree or medically retired (100% service connected) with
a military ID card in order to get the 10% at Lowes. Apparently,
recently some of the cashiers were accepting the veteran's discharge or
DD 214 for the 10%. Many veterans have been calling me to find out how
they could get the ID card. Again, you have to be active duty, military
retiree or 100% service connected medically retired in order to get the
10%. I know that some of our veterans are getting the 10% with their VA
Medical ID card, but, again, I guess it depends on which cashier's line
you get into.
I am not sure what they are talking about for the Legion card, but I can
guarantee you, the Legion card, will not suffice. I know this because
this has been going on in Florida for a long time at all the Lowes
stores. Once this store trains all the cashiers in what to look for,
they will not get the 10% unless they meet the above categories. They
have finally stopped those people using their DD 214 or military
discharge for the 10%.
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American Legion Newsletters can be viewed on line
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New Feature
Check out the postings in our new tab "From the Web"
We will put new patriotic and military related postings received from the web here. Send in one if you have a good one.
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More posters are in our From the Web Section
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News of interest to Veterans and Active Duty Service Members
We have two new features that we are adding to the website. They are the RAO Bulletin and the Veterans Legislation Update. These two documents contain a wealth of information on current events and legislation affecting our military service members and veterans. Some of the information is on pending legislation that ranges from tax rules to chiropractic care for all veterans. Status reports on the number of Reserve and National Guard members that have been activated.
Please take a minute and look at the table of contents and see the range of information that is available.
Click on the link to view the information.
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POST 779 VETS HONORED FOR THEIR SERVICE IN VIETNAM
Nate Summers, Gary Way, Denny Royer, and Marshall Brooks pose with Representative Kerry Benninghoff after the ceremony.
Vietnam War veterans were honored at a ceremony at the
Representative Benninghoff has been a strong supporter of Veteran's Interests.
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The Halloween Party was a lot of fun for those who attended.
If you have photos to add to the gallery or our Facebook Page, email them to the webmaster.
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Post 779 Commander James Hafer
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Newsletters
We have posted three newsletters from the Centre County Veteran's office in the newsletter section. There is a wealth of good information in them. Please take the time to look them over.
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Free Membership
The Post has voted to pay the dues for all of our WWII veterans. If you are a WWII vet and receive a dues notice, just return it with the note WWII Vet and we will process your card. We also pay the dues for all 50 year members and all of our members who are on active duty. If you are in one of these groups, please return your dues notice with a note to the Post and we will take care of your membership.
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If you are interested in becoming a paid up for life member click here for more information and an application.
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Post Scholarship Each year the Smith-Pletcher Post 779 awards a $2,000 scholarship to a Penns Valley High School student to use to further their education. For more information on this and other Legion scholarships, click on the link above.
Additional information on a scholarship for nursing students is also available on the Scholarship page.
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William Harold Smith - Age 21
Chester Pletcher Age - 20
These are the hero's that the Post honors with it's name.
Never forget their sacrifice
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The Post recently erected a plaque in the memory of Donald Lucas who was killed in the Vietnam War at age 20.
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We have added a paragraph on obtaining military discharge records in the E-newsletter and in the "GET RECORDS" sections of this website.
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The Smith-Pletcher American Legion Post 779
Since our charter in 1946, The Smith-Pletcher American Legion Post has been welcoming VETERANS from all branches of our Armed Forces. Today, we continue to welcome all military personnel serving our country. Joining our Post enables you to continue serving your God, Country and Community Our mission is to implement the goals, aspirations, dreams, peace and blessings for our country, friends and families embodied in our preamble below.
Smith-Pletcher American Legion Post 779 has three primary entities, the American Legion Members, The American Legion Auxiliary Members and the Sons of the American Legion Detachment Members.
