American Legion Lt. B. R. Kimlau Chinese Memorial Post 1291
Legion Year 23 – 24 Newsletter No. 2
紐約華裔美國退伍軍人會會務簡訊
www.ltkimlau.com
October, 2023
Dear Legionnaires 親愛的會友：
We sincerely hope that you are enjoying your summer and that you and your families are safe and healthy. Although it is probably safe to say that the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic is behind us, we should continue to exercise caution and be vigilant with our health and safety.
The 105th New York Department Convention was held in Tarrytown, Westchester for the first time in the downstate area since the 1980’s. Since it was held in such close proximity, our Post was well represented at the convention. Convention delegates unanimously elected U. S. Army veteran Timothy J. Collmer of Daniel Goho American Legion Post 87 in Dansville to lead the Department of New York in 2023-2024. Commander Collmer has been serving as dean of the American Legion College of New York for a decade. Commander Collmer designated the Department of New York Temporary Financial Assistance Program, Operation Comfort Warrior and Be the One as his special projects for 2023-2024. Also, congratulations are in order for our Executive Committeeman Arvin Chin and Adjutant Gabe Mui, as they were elected 1st District Commander and 1st District Adjutant respectively at the district caucus during the convention. Adjutant Gabe Mui succeeded long serving District Adjutant Frank Gee and thank him for his dedicated services to the 1st District.
As we all know, Be the One suicide-prevention initiative was the top priority when New York’s own Vincent James “Jim” Troiola was elected National Commander one year ago in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. During his year as national commander of the American Legion, he has seen that the Be the One message is getting out there and that the formation of a new coalition with USAA’s Face the Fight has created the opportunity to get the message out to an even broader audience. He said he is excited about the opportunity of leveraging the resources, talent and expertise of the corporations, VSOs philanthropists and researchers so that Face the Fight can achieve its aspirational goal of significant reduction in veteran suicide.
The Legion’s Patriot Award was presented to Chip Ganassi Racing by National Commander Troiola for its dedication in promoting the values of The American Legion through a strategic partnership, which has resulted in new members and wide exposure of the nation’s largest veterans organization to mass audiences. Most importantly, by raising awareness of The American Legion’s Be the One initiative, Chip Ganassi Racing has elevated the discussion of veterans’ suicide and has likely saved lives. At the time of the national convention in Charlotte, Chip Ganassi’s lead driver Alex Palou, who drove The American car which has featured a prominent Be the One logo on its hood in the INDYCAR series has built an insurmountable lead for winning the championship in the series.
BE THE ONE, the Legion’s suicide-prevention initiative continues to be the focus and priority of the coming year. Daniel J. Seehafer of Wisconsin was elected and sworn in as the new leader of the American Legion during the American Legion’s 104th national convention in Charlotte North Carolina. In his acceptance speech he said Be the One was created for people who consider suicide, “veterans with suicidal ideations…。 as we continue to invest our time and resources to de-stigmatize the act of getting help. It’s ok to ask for help. It is ok not to be ok”. He believes the number of daily veteran suicide figures released by the VA a couple of years ago of about 17 per day is undercounted; he pointed out that number doesn’t include active-duty deaths. Also many veterans who died of drug overdoses were classified as accidents or unknown intent as the cause of death. He emphasized the only number he wants us to push is “one”, as in Be the One, one veteran, or their spouse, from taking his or her own life.
Addressing the 104th American Legion national convention, Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough told the audience with the Legion’s support, we have delivered more benefits to the veterans than any time in our nation’s history. He discussed the VA’s advancements in improving the suicide rate, implementing the PACT Act and reducing the number of homeless. He also said that the VA expanded its work force by 18% while Veterans Health Administration has increased its work force by 5%. He also praised the work of the Legion, including its 3,000 accredited service officers and their devotion to helping veterans.
It has been twenty-two years since the unforgettably tragic day that took nearly 3,000 lives on September 11, 2001. Many continue to suffer and our Post will not let it be forgotten by continuing to host a candlelight remembrance at Kimlau Square to pay tribute to the thousands who perished and honor the heroes who bravely risked their lives to save others. Adjutant Gabe Mui conducted the remembrance in place of the long time master of ceremony of the 9/11 event, Past Commander Hon. Randall Eng as was not able to attend due to COVID-19. The 9/11 remembrance was attended by the Department of Family Leadership; Commander Timothy J. Collmer; Auxiliary President Karen D. St. Hilaire, Detachment Commander Peter J. DeAngelis, New York State Assembly-member Grace Lee, New York City Councilman Christopher Marte, CCBA President Raymond Tsang, Lin Sing Association President Kenny Leung, Ning Yung Association President Kenny Ng and many other city and state government officials. All guest speakers spoke about their personal experiences and most of them still have lingering effects of this horrific event.
希望本會各會員及家人暑假快樂及平安健康。我們正經歷了一段漫長的時間逐慚在新冠疫情下步向回覆正常日常生活。雖然新冠疫情嚴峻之期已過，但我們仍需要注意衛生，健康安全為要。
自八十年代之今年首次在紐約下州舉辦第一百零五屆紐約州總會年會，由於這次年會在鄰近的威徹斯特舉行，本會不少會員擁約出席。大會代表一致選出來自上州丹斯維的服役於陸軍退伍軍人添莫西、科爾默為二零二三至二零二四年紐約州主席，他曾任紐約州美國退伍軍人大學校長多年，他指出任內特別服務主題分別有三項，提高所有紐約州退伍軍人對總會設立的臨時經濟援助計劃，舒適戰士行動及自當重任的積極募捐及認識其重要性。紐約第一區退伍軍人會亦依往例在年會舉行選舉，祝賀本會執行委員陳毓堂獲選第一區主席及幹事梅本立獲選第一區幹事。梅本立說非常感謝前第一區幹事朱灼輝多年為第一區服務，他將會盡力為第一區發揚會務。
去年在威斯康辛州密爾沃市舉行的全國退伍軍人總會年會來自紐約州的森特、詹姆斯、特羅奧拉確定其新一年施政方針是解決退伍軍人輕生念頭，他鼓勵我們必須擔負「自當重任」。他說在其任內，「自當重任」在會員們努力下廣傳起來，他更高興能與名聞全國的「美國退伍軍人汽車協會」合作組成新的聯盟「奮勇面對」，這是一個大好機會能藉與大型企業機構，各退伍軍人團體，樂於助人的慈善組織，深入研究的專才人員及資源，肯定可以將「奮勇面對」這個信息廣泛傳播而減少退伍軍人存在的輕生念頭。
美國退伍軍人總會主席特羅奧拉在年會中頒發給轍、格拉斯賽車集團年度的美國退伍軍人愛國獎，以表彰他們不遺餘力將退伍軍人會要旨「自當重任」廣泛傳播，提高民眾關注及認識，不但替退伍軍人會增加了更多新會員，而亦引發了許多退伍軍人輕生念頭的議論，因此可能輓救了不少退伍軍人。在年會舉行期間，轍、格拉斯賽車集團的主將亞歷斯、帕勞在印地跑車聯賽中駕駛著「自當重任」標誌的退伍軍人會車遙遙領先，擁有不可超越的優勢，勝算在握。
「自當重任」預防退伍軍人輕生念頭仍然是今年在北卡羅來納州夏洛特市舉行美國退伍軍人一百零四屆全國年會的焦點及行政方針來自威斯康辛州的丹尼爾、西哈弗當選為全美退伍軍人會主席致辭強調「自當重任」是為那些考慮輕生的退伍軍人而設的，我們將繼續盡力消除那些存有輕生念頭的退伍軍人求助的行為污名化。令他們感到尋求幫助是正確的，尋求幫助並不是一件羞恥的事而是可以做的。他認為幾年前退伍軍人管理局公佈的退伍軍人每天有十七人輕生的數字是低估了，他指出這數字並不包括現役軍人輕生人數，許多退伍軍人死於吸毒過量，這些數據被歸類為意外死亡或死因不明，他強調希望大家推動的唯一數字是「一個」，一名退伍軍人或其配偶不要結束自己的生命。
美國退伍軍人管理局局長丹尼斯、麥當納在全美退伍軍人第一百零四屆年會致辭指出因為能得到美國退伍軍人會的支持管理局為退伍軍人提供了有史以來更多的福利。他提及數項措施如降低退伍軍人輕生率，實施在戰場上染到化學毒的補償，減少及協助無家可歸的退伍軍人。他還指出，管理局增加百份之十八工作人員，退伍軍人健康服務增加百份之五，他讚揚退伍軍人會的協助，尤其是三千名持有合格為退伍軍人服務人員的無私奉獻，盡力協助那些求助的退伍軍人。
今年是九一一恐襲二十二年，近三千人在這恐襲事件中殉命，本會依往年一樣在劉錦忠烈坊舉辦燭光追掉會銘記二十二年前這一項令人永遠不會遺忘及悲慘事件，並向數千名遇難及那些英勇冒著生命危險拯救他人的英雄致敬。前任主席伍元天法官因染新冠而不能出席，今年燭光追掉會由本會幹事梅本立主持，參加社區人士眾多，州眾議員李榮恩，市議員馬替，中華公所主席曾偉康，聯成公所主席梁漢本，台山寧陽公所主席伍健平社區人士等，紐約州退伍軍人總會主席添莫西、科爾默，州婦女會主席凱倫、聖哈萊爾，州子弟部主席比得、德安傑勒斯總會領袖等。所有演講嘉賓致詞都談到了他們對這悲慘事件的個人經歷，而且他們仍然感受到這可怕恐襲遺留下深刻的印象，指出紐約華埠深受恐襲後的經濟衰退影響，在恢復過程中面臨諸多困難。
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Post Activities 會務
The following motions were approved during the June 25, 2023 General Meeting:
本年六月二十五日第一次會員大會通過下列各項議案:
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Approved the Lt. Kimlau Post 1291 2023-2024 budget plan.
通過本會二零二三至二零二四年度預算。
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Approve new members of the “Post Scholarship Committee” (Gabe Mui, Don Yee and Antonio Chuy) for the LY 2023-2026 term.
通過本會獎學金委員會新成員 – 梅本立、余超俊、朱超然，三人任期為二零二三至二零二六年。
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Approved new members of the “Post Compliance Committee” (Sean Tse, Antonio Chuy and Kenneth Wong) for the LY 2023-2026 term. Howard Chin to fill the position vacated by Commander Ong. Commander Ong will serve in the Compliance Committee’s as required by position.
通過本會順從法令委員會新成員 – 謝國寶、朱超然、黃建中，三人任期為二零二二至二零二六年。由於主席成為當然順從法令委員，陳煥寧填補鄧燦業空缺。
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Approved to appoint Robert E. Lee, Esq. as the Post Legal Consultant for LY 2023-2024.
通過委任李羅伯特為本會本年度法律顧問。
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Approved a one-time $25.00 2023 transportation reimbursement for meetings and functions to all members with over 15 years of good standing membership status with the Lt. Kimlau Post (as determined by Post records as of June 2023). Deadline to claim the special reimbursement is December 31, 2023.
通過本年度會員出席會議車馬費，凡會員入會超過十五年者（以本會記錄為準），每人二十五元。此車馬費必須於本年十二月三十一日前領取，逾時作廢。 （詳情請 參閱本期附件）
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Approve to purchase a table at the Operation Warrior Shield’s Healing for Heroes dinner.
通過參加治癒英雄晚宴。
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Approve to host the 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony at 5:00 pm to integrate the Department Commander Visitation on the same day.
通過二零二三年“紀念九、一一”儀式下午五時舉行。
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Approve the authorization of Adjutant Gabe Mui and Assistant Adjutant Howard Chin to serve as Chase Bank Administrators for all Post Chase accounts.
通過委任梅本立幹事及陳煥寧助理幹事為大通銀行賬戶管理代表
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Approve to participate in the LMHA July 4th Parade.
通過本會參加下城美國國慶日遊行。
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Approve to a task force composed of staff members to come up with a suitable reimbursement for members and color guards participating in the Post parade.
通過由行政小組組成的委員會負責設計及決定合適補助本會儀仗隊參加遊行費用。
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News/Announcement/Gossip
The 2023-2024 Membership cards have arrived and ready for pick up. Members can remit the $25.00 membership dues by mail or in person. Members’ eligible (fifteen or more continuous membership years) for the Post 2023 Transportation Reimbursement can substitute this payment for annual dues and should consult the attached notice for additional information.
二零二三至二零二四年會員證已經開始分發（辦公時間，每日下午二時至四時），各會友請將二十五元會費以郵寄方式或親臨本會繳交。適合條件領取二零二三年會員出席會議車馬費會友可用車馬費代繳會費。
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Taps 仙逝會員
We are sad to report the following legionnaires have passed on to the Commander of us all post everlasting.
May Our Comrades Rest In Peace!
Goon Mee Lee 李冠美 (Apr 23) |
Arthur Lim 林 達 (May 23) |
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New/Transfer Members 新入會會員
There were one new member approved by the last General meetings
去年第四次會員大會及本年第一次會員大會通過接納下列四位新入會會員：
Get Ong Ng 伍 棟 傑 (Leg. Act. – Army) |
Joseph John Braskey (Gulf – Navy) |
Zachary Jonathon Iscol (Gulf – Marine) |
Jason Gerard Loughran (Gulf – Navy) |
Please join us to welcome the above new members. Hope to see all of you in future functions.
我們歡迎上述新會友加入我們的行列，更希望他們多參加本會各項活動。
We hope the above information will be of interest to you and we hope to hear from you soon. Let us know what we can do for you. Until we meet again, stay well!
我們希望這份簡訊，對你有所幫助，更希望在不久的將來，能得到你參予本會各種活動的回應。假如我們有任何可以為你服務之處，務請隨時提出意見。