2024 September Newsletter

American Legion Lt. B. R. Kimlau Chinese Memorial Post 1291

Legion Year 24 – 25 Newsletter No. 2

紐約華裔美國退伍軍人會會務簡訊

www.ltkimlau.com

September, 2024

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.

We’re excited to share that planning is already underway for our 80th-anniversary celebration next June! As a tradition, every five years since our 50^th Anniversary, we’ll be publishing a commemorative journal to highlight our Post’s rich history and accomplishments. This year’s journal will be extra special as we mark this significant milestone. To make this celebration a success, we need your help! We’re forming a dedicated planning committee to coordinate the festivities, and we encourage you to get involved. Whether you have experience in event planning, historical research, or simply a passion for our Post, your contributions are invaluable.

We’re inviting all members to submit articles, viewpoints, and commentary for the commemorative journal. Your personal or military experiences, historical recollections, and reflections on life in the USA or within our Post community will help us create a truly memorable publication. To add a visual element to the journal, please share your military-related photos. We may select some of these images to be featured in the final publication. Our 80th anniversary is a time to honor our past and look forward to the future. By working together, we can create a celebration that reflects the spirit and camaraderie of our Post.

The 106th New York Department Convention was held in Niagara Falls. Convention delegates unanimously elected U. S. Navy veteran Keith Koster of American Legion Adirondack Post 70 in Saratoga Springs to lead the Department of New York in 2024-2025. Commander Koster served as an electronic warfare technician aboard the USS Suribaci during the 80s and retired after 33 years working in the Xerox Corporation. Commander Koster is a cancer survivor and an avid mountain climber, who has climbed all 46 Adirondack peaks to commemorate the American Legion Centennial in 2019. His current mission is to climb the highest peak in all 50 states and to display the “Be the One” banner at the top, which he has already began and completed several of them. Commander Koster designated the Department of New York Temporary Financial Assistance Program and Be the One suicide prevention as his special projects for 2024-2025.

National Commander Daniel Seehafer summed up his year as national commander is a resounding success. He said the past year we have purpose and relevance to carry on the Legion’s missions. He praised legionnaires for doing the hard work and thanked them for the first time in in a long time that the Legion achieved 100 percent membership. He said it’s not just 100%, we have recruited over 115,000 new members. He also praised Legionnaires for their efforts in conducting Buddy Checks on their fellow veterans and he is proud that last year’s Consolidated Post Reports revealed that 1,090,000 veterans were contacted through our Buddy Check program. He provided impact and the power of the Legion’s Be the One veteran suicide prevention program – one he witnessed firsthand during a visit to Tennessee early in his tenure. He said, that is purpose and relevance, that the American Legion is changing lives and saving lives.

Commander Seehafer targeted both of the Republican and Democratic candidates running for the office of U.S. president. Neither candidate chose to appear at the Legion’s annual convention, He sarcastically ask the questions and let’s send a life-changing and life-saving message to our presidential candidates. Asking his questions one at a time, Commander Seehafer first addressed former President Donald Trump. “Mr. Trump, if you truly want to make America great again, don’t ever forget to make our veterans great, too,” he said. Without great veterans, there’s no greatness in America. Commander Seehafer then turned his attention to Vice President Kamala Harris. “Vice President Harris, I hear you – just like my delegates do – we hear you talk about joy and democracy on your campaign trail,” Seehafer said. “But you too, don’t you forget about who defended and who continues to defend that democracy, in some cases giving that ultimate sacrifice for so that all Americans can enjoy freedom.” He encourage we must VOTE, we must elect the leaders that we believe will best represent veterans, defense, Americanism and youth – our Four Pillars. He said The American Legion is nonpartisan; we endorse no candidate and no political party. But we do endorse America. We endorse our military. We endorse the interests of our veterans.

Newly elected National Commander James A. LaCoursiere Jr. addressing delegates to the 105th American Legion National Convention at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans and pledged to continue to maintain the mission of the organization’s Be the One veteran suicide prevention program, and raise funds for the Veterans & Children Foundation. “You don’t fix something that’s not broken,” he said, referencing the work done before him by Past National Commanders James Troiola and Daniel Seehafer. “We’re going to maintain the course and follow the consistency that has been set.”

Be the One “is a very meaningful and personal program to me. Be the One, is not a slogan, not a catch phrase. It’s not just something that looks nice on a billboard, but rather a direct mission statement. Far too many veterans have lost their lives due to suicide, as well as our active-duty troops and members of military families. The American Legion, are about changing lives and saving lives.’ He said together, we can reduce the veteran suicide rate and destigmatize the issues of mental health, we want to train and educate members within our great organization and in our communities about what the Be the One mission is all about.”

U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Russel L. Honoré gave an inspirational speech of “To live is a privilege” and received thunderous applauds and numerous standing ovations from the convention delegates. Speaking in the no non-sense tone and language that every service members are familiar with, he said a privilege that’s been paid for by previous generations. We can never forget to remind Americans that the freedom they enjoy is a damn privilege paid for in the blood of our veterans. Everybody that served in uniform ought to be respected for giving them the freedom to do the s**t that they do, even if we don’t agree with it. Gen. Honoré spoke from the heart on freedom, the VA, parenthood, grandparenthood and suicide prevention. His remarks were spoken with seriousness, humor and expletives that reiterated why he was the general to serve as the Joint Task Force Katrina. He said, we’ve got thousands of soldiers in Asia and in Europe. And the rest of America is getting ready for g*****n football season. Most of them could give a s**t less. Are you with me? To live free is a privilege. You own this information. You remind them of that.

Addressing the 105^th 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 said, record-breaking enrollment and disability claims volume since the PACT Act of 2022 became law has produced the need for likewise record-breaking funding and a bigger budget to keep pace with growing health-care demand. He also thanked the Legion taken the lead to initiated the Buddy Check program, He said the VA has followed the Legion’s lead with their own Buddy Check Week last October and will have their second one this October.

It has been twenty-three 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. Past Commander, Hon. Randall Eng conducted the remembrance ceremony of the 9/11 event. The 9/11 remembrance was attended by the Department of Family Leadership; Commander Keith Koster; Auxiliary President Kimberly Quick, Detachment Commander Gaither E. Espey, New York State Senator Brain Kavanagh, New York State Assembly-member Grace Lee and Lester Chang, New York City Councilman Christopher Marte, CCBA President, our very own Past Commander Antonio Chuy, Lin Sing Association President Kenny Leung, New 5^th Precinct Captain Kengming Chang 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。

本會自六十週年紀念以來，每五年出版一本富有紀念性的週刊，以記錄五年內的各項活動及成就，今年適逢八十週年，這是一個歷史悠久的重要里程碑。為了使這次慶祝活動成功，本會已通過成立籌備委員會負責出版紀念週刊及策劃一切慶祝活動，但如此一個重要的慶典更需要你的支持與幫助，無論你在策劃及歷史研究有豐富經驗或者只擁抱著熱情為本會慶典提供一點貢獻，請與本會聯絡。

為了充實八十週年紀念週刊內容，希望你能提供一些有關本會歷史，個人觀點及論文，你個人退役後生活或你的軍旅經歷，你的感想及回憶，或你對美國及社區生活的反思。為了週刊能達到圖文並藐，請你分享有關你服役期間的照片，籌備委員會可能挑選其中一些照片刊登。本會八十週年紀念應為過去的成就宣揚，亦是展望未來的時刻，透過共同努力，舉辦一場體現我們堅固友誼的慶祝話動。

第一百零六屆紐約州總會年會在尼加拉瀑布城舉行，大會代表一致選出來自上州薩拉託加、斯普林斯服役海軍的基思、科斯特擔任二零二四至二零二五年紐約州主席，科斯特主席是一位癌症倖存者，也是一位熱愛登山的愛好者，他在二零一九年攀登了所有四十六座紐約州高峰藉此紀念美國退伍軍人會百年紀念。他志願將攀登美國五十州的每一個高峰，並在峰頂展示「自當重任」旗幟，他已經開始這個任務並完成了攀登數個州的高峰。他今年服務目標是盡力提升臨時資源援助計劃及支持「自當重任」行動。

美國退伍軍人總會主席丹尼爾、西哈弗總結了他任主席一年取得的巨大成功，他說，過去一年我們有目標和相關性來執行使命，他讚揚各退伍軍人的辛勤努力，感謝他們在這一年會員率達到百分之百，這是十數年來未見的成果，我們今年招募新會員超過一萬一千五百名，這是各位會員努力及值得我們自豪的。而且據去年各會所在每年會務綜合報告表中統計對退伍軍人聯繫次數竟然高達一百萬次。他對退伍軍人會的「自當重任」的重大影響力提供了一次個人體驗，他目睹一名退伍軍人因「自當重任」而改變輕生初衷，這就退伍軍人會的使命，改變生命並拯救生命。

全國總會主席西哈弗顯然對今年兩位總統候選人不重視退伍軍人年會不重視，選擇不參加今年年會而表示不滿意，他諷刺地對他們提出了問題，向兩位總統候選人指出退伍軍人會的使命是改變生活及拯救生命。他逐一提問，首先向前總統川普發問「川普總統，如果你真的想讓美國再次偉大，就永遠不要忘記讓我們退伍軍人也變得偉大，沒有偉大的退伍軍人，就沒有偉大的國家。」西哈弗主席隨後將注意力轉向副總統賀錦麉「賀副總統，我和我們的代表都聽到你在競選過程中談論到歡樂和民主，但你也不要忘記誰捍衛了及繼續捍衛民主，他們甚至作出最終的犧牲以便所有美國人都能享受自由。」西哈弗主席鼓勵我們必須投票，必須選出最能代表退伍軍人爭取利益，加強國防，發揚美國主義和照顧青少年，這不正是美國退伍軍人會的服務四項宗旨嗎？退伍軍人會不支持任何候選人或政黨，但我們支持美國，支持軍隊，支持對退伍軍人爭取更好的福利。

當選為第一百零五屆全國退伍軍人會主席詹姆斯、拉庫西埃在紐奧良市舉辦的全國年會上表達將繼續維持「自當重任」為其任內施政使命，以及為退伍軍人和兒童基金會籌集資金。他強調前兩任主席推行的政策做得非常之好，沒有理由去修復沒有損壞方針。他將遵循及致力維護已定下行政措施，拉庫西埃主席說「自當重任」對我是一個非常有意義的，這並非一句口號，也不只是宣傳品，而是美國退伍軍人會的施政方針，我們明瞭到太多退伍軍人，現役軍人及其家屬輕生。美國退伍軍人會致力於改變生活和拯救生命，我們要深入了解及思考如何對這些存有輕生念頭的人施與幫助，令他們取消輕生念頭這就是「自當重任」使命。

美國陸軍中將拉塞爾、奧諾雷發表了「活著是一種榮幸」的勵志演講，贏得了與會代表的雷鳴般掌聲和無數起立鼓掌。他用每個軍人都熟悉的嚴肅語氣和語言說，這是前幾代人付出的代價的特權。我們永遠不能忘記提醒美國人，他們所享有的自由是我們退伍軍人用鮮血換來的特權。每個穿著制服服役的人都應該受到尊重，就是因為他們美國公民才得到做自己喜愛的事的自由，即使我們不同意他們所的所作所為。他演講中提及了退伍軍人人事部及防止退伍軍人輕生問題等等。他以嚴肅、幽默，並帶有髒話，重申了為什麼他是擔任颶風卡特里娜聯合特遣部隊的將軍。他說，我們無數名士兵駐守在亞洲和歐洲。美國公民卻重視美國式足球球季即將開實賽而全神觀注，他們對退伍軍的付出全然不理。你同意我嗎？自由生活是一種特權。您擁有此資訊。你提醒他們這一點。

美國退伍軍人事務部部長丹尼斯·麥克唐納在第一百零五屆美國軍團全國代表大會上致辭時告訴出席代表，在軍團的支持下，我們為退伍軍人提供的福利比我們國家歷史上任何時候都多。他表示，自二零二二年國會通過「承諾解決綜合毒物問題」法案成為法律以來，入學率和傷殘索賠量創下了紀錄，因此需要同樣破紀錄的資金和更大的預算來跟上不斷增長的醫療保健需求。他也感謝美國退伍軍人會率先啟動了退伍軍人聯繫計劃，他說退伍軍人管理局跟隨美國退伍軍人會的腳步，去年十月舉辦了自己的退伍軍人聯繫週，並將於今年十月舉辦第二次活動。

今年是九一一恐襲二十三年，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二十三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。今年燭光追掉會由本會前任主席伍元天法官主持，參加社區人士眾多，州参議員卡凡諾，州眾議員李榮恩，鄭永佳，市議員馬泰，中華公所主席朱超然，聯成公所主席梁漢本，新五分局副局長張耿明等社區人士，紐約州退伍軍人總會主席，州婦女會主席和州子弟部主席等。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。他們中的大多數人仍然對這一可怕事件產生了揮之不去的影響。

1. Post Activities 會務

The following motions were approved during the June 30, 2024 General Meeting:

本年六月三十日第一次會員大會通過下列各項議案:

1. Approved the Lt. Kimlau Post 1291 2024-2025 budget plan.

通過本會二零二四至二零二五年度預算。

1. Approve new members of the “Post Scholarship Committee” (Harvard Tang, Yuek C. Moy and Mimi Wang) for the LY 2024-2027 term. The remaining two year term vacated by Antonio Chuy will be fill be Henry Wong. from LY 2024-2026.

通過本會獎學金委員會新成員 – 鄧遐勳、梅若松、王咪咪，二零二四至二零二七年。黃偉生填補朱超然空缺，任期為二零二四至二零二六年。

1. Approved new members of the “Post Compliance Committee” (Arvin Chin, Yuek C. Moy and Don Yee) for the LY 2024-2027 term. Bo Chen to fill the position vacated by Antonio Chuy.

                通過本會順從法令委員會新成員 – 陳毓堂、余超俊、梅若松，三人任期為二零二四至二零二七年。陳波填補朱超然空缺，二零二四至二零二六年。

1.       Approved to appoint Robert E. Lee, Esq. as the Post Legal Consultant for LY 2024-2025.

通過委任李羅伯特為本會本年度法律顧問。

1. Approved a one-time $30.00 2024 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 2024). Deadline to claim the special reimbursement is December 31, 2024.

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），每人三十元。此車馬費必須於本年十二月三十一日前領取，逾時作廢。

1. 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。

1. Approve to host the 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony at 5:00 pm to integrate with the Department Commander Visitation on the same day.

通過二零二四年“紀念九、一一”儀式下午五時舉行。

1. Approve to participate in the LMHA July 4^th Parade.

通過本會參加下城美國國慶日遊行。

1. Approve to establish the 80^th Anniversary Planning Committee and charged to publish a commemorative journal and celebratory activities.

通過成立慶祝八十週年籌備委員會及全權負責出版紀念週刋與一切慶祝活動。

1. Approve to honor retired Chinese Secretary David Lam with the Honorary Life Membership Award.

通過頒發榮譽終生會員獎給退休中文書記林善群。

2. News/Announcement/Gossip

The 2024-2025 Membership cards have arrived and ready for pick up.  Members can remit the $30.00 membership dues by mail or in person. Members’ eligible (fifteen or more continuous membership years) for the Post 2024 Transportation Reimbursement can substitute this payment for annual dues and should consult the attached notice for additional information.

二零二四至二零二五年會員證已經開始分發（辦公時間，每日下午二時至四時），各會友請將三十元會費以郵寄方式或親臨本會繳交。適合條件領取二零二四年會員出席會議車馬費會友可用車馬費代繳會費。

3. 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!

4. New/Transfer Members 新入會會員

There were three 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三位新入會會員：

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。

THE STAFF   本會行政小組仝人敬啟

Thomas Ong鄧燦業

Kenneth Wong黃建中, Hon Pun Chan陳漢斌, Wilem Wong黃伯聰

Gabe B. Mui 梅本立, Howard Chin 陳煥寧 

Ping Wing Chu朱炳榮, Wan Y. Tam 譚煥瑜

Do You Know

We Will Celebrate Our 80^th Anniversary In 2025

The Post Will Publish a Journal to Commemorate This Special Event

And We Need Your HELP!

WANTED

1. Articles – Historical recollection, suggestion and commentary (past, present and future)….related to our Post

2. Articles – Personal experience (humor or otherwise) while in the armed services or life in the USA

3. Pictures – About military or Post related activities

4. Any comic, art works that are of good taste

VOLUNTEERS WANTED

No Pay, No Benefits, No Vacation

But….we promise lots of hard work and fun – You can tell us what you like to do or

We can assign you a task.

We need all the help we can get to pull this off.

This will be a TEAM effort

Please be part of the TEAM!

Interested or For More Information

Contact Historian Mimi Wang, Adjutant Gabe Mui, Commander Thomas Ong

本會第八十週年紀念特刊籌備委員會

本會通過編印明年本會紀念八十週年特刊暨其他慶祝活動，現已開始切實進行，因此特向全体會員廣泛徵稿，務求盡量充實特刊內容，爭取盡善盡美，藉此增加本會之聲譽。此實在有賴各會員共同努力參與其事。

茲將徵稿條例以及所須要之題材，資料等詳列如下：

一    凡具有本會歷史性之文章，例如本會始初籌劃組織之沿革以及成立後所經歷的犖犖大事。

二    對本會成立八十年之回顧與前瞻。

三  對本會將來發展之建議。請詳列所建議之步驟與計劃。

四    從軍期間個人觀感。

五    服役期間所遇的趣聞趣事。

六    文藝園地，凡詩詞歌賦，小品文，雜文，時事論文，旅行遊記等等。

七                       各種活動相片，只限在軍中服役或與本會有關並具紀念性之精選為主（用完後原相奉還）。

八    會員如有繪畫，書法，封面或圖案設計，漫畫等專長者，歡迎提供協助。

凡提供八十週年特刊發表之文字，特刊編輯委員會有刪改權，不願者請事先聲明為要。最後再請各會友踴躍投稿或惠賜廣告。另外編輯委員會誠徵義務工作人員，有興趣者請與編輯委員會王咪咪會歷，或梅本立幹事，或鄧燦業主席聯絡。

Important Dates to Remember (September 2024 – December 2024)

本會二四年九月至二四年十二月會議及活動日程表