It is award season and while there are celebrities out there looking for their EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards) we all know hardworking dedicated members of our Posts, Auxiliaries, and communities who keep their heads down and don’t seek recognition. Now is the time to thank them!
Recently I announced two new National Awards for which I need recommendations: VFW JROTC Cadet of the Year, and VFW Employer of the Year. The Commander in Chief is also looking for a National VFW Member of the Year. Department Headquarters needs all nominees for these new awards my March 31, 2024. The criteria and submission forms can all be found on the Department Website, www.vfwco.org.
But don’t forget about our legacy awards, such as Salute to Service (due March 15), Scout of the Year (due April 1), and the Safety Awards (due date extended to April 1). Likewise, submit all your Community Reports prior to the March 31 cut-off date. Meeting these due dates allows Department to prepare everything for presentation at the State Convention in June.
I recently read in one of the Chairperson’s Guides that “VFW awards don’t cost, they pay - BIG dividends.” Likewise, recognition should extend beyond National and Department awards and include more than just Post and Auxiliary members. That is why I encourage all Posts to consider becoming Certifying Organizations for the Presidential Service Awards and “recognizes exceptional volunteers whose work makes real and sustainable differences in (our) communities.” These awards are reasonably priced and can pay off by raising awareness to the outside volunteers’ project, enhancing the profile of the VFW in that community, and bringing in new members to our Posts and Auxiliaries.
Lastly, I want to congratulate our celebrities: the Voice of Democracy and Patriot Pen winners. Good luck to those who advanced to the National judging phase, and a heartfelt thank you to Post 9644, Chairman Todd Van Sant, and Chef Rachel Rodgers for all their hard work to put on an outstanding banquet.
Here is to a strong finish to the VFW year and setting the stage for an even better year for Senior Vice Commander Carol Thomas.
Semper Fi,
John Keene
Department Commander
Department VFW Auxiliary President
Spreads Festive Cheer Across Colorado
Comrades, Brothers and Sisters,
At last, the long-promised Suicide / Depression Awareness and Prevention Resource is available for your use -- please see attached pdfs. This is the result of collaboration between the Colorado VFW and Auxiliary, and the Colorado Office of Suicide Prevention. This resource may also be used by the DAV, the American Legion and the Wounded Warriors within the State of Colorado to assist their members that might be experiencing difficulties.
The mobile version of the pdfs can be downloaded to your phone (see instructions below) or the Z fold version can be printed for distribution to your members. The advantage to downloading it, is that you can expand or enlarge it to make it easier to read. When it is downloaded to your phone, it is immediately available at any time that you wish to review it or might immediately need it. We are still working to get this printed on card stock, but no date is available on that at this time. The important emergency numbers to remember are 988 and 911 -- do not hesitate to use them if you need to aid someone that is in trouble.
How to download to your phone:
- For iPhone users click on the Suicide Prevention Info - Mobile pdf to open it, then tab the "Share" button and swipe to "Books" to add the file to your library.
- For Android users click on the Suicide Prevention Info - Mobile pdf to open it, then select Print. Select the dropdown menu and tap Save as PDF. Pick your preferred location for your PDF and press Save.
Please do not hesitate to email or call if you need any additional information. I am still available to make presentations on this subject at your Post if you wish. Thank you for your patience while we all waited for the completion of this project.
Phil Reinpold
Department VFW Auxiliary President
 Suicide Prevention Info - Mobile | [Version for Mobile Phones] | 541 kB |
| Suicide Prevention Info - Z Fold | [Version for printing] | 3019 kB |
The American flag has a long history, and the members of our organization have spent nearly as long defending and honoring our nation's most iconic symbol of freedom. Whether you're looking for the historic details of how the U.S. flag came to be, or the rules and regulations that encompass her daily flight, we're here to ensure you can find the information you need.
Displaying the Flag
On Same Staff: U.S. flag at peak, above any other flag.
Grouped: U.S. flag goes to its own right. Flags of other nations are flown at same height.
Marching: U.S. flag to marchers right (observer's left).
On Speaker's Platform: When displayed with a speaker's platform, it must be above and behind the speaker. If mounted on a staff it is on the speaker's right.
Decoration: Never use the flag for decoration. Use bunting with the blue on top, then white, then red.
Salute: All persons present in uniform should render the military salute. Members of the armed forces and veterans who are present but not in uniform may render the military salute. All other persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart, or if applicable, remove their headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart.
Over a Street: Union (stars) face north or east depending on the direction of the street.
Half Staff: On special days, the flag may be flown at half-staff. On Memorial Day it is flown at half-staff until noon and then raised.
Announcing digital delivery of the Colorado Veteran!
You can now subscribe to the digital version of the Colorado Veteran, the periodical from the Department of Colorado VFW. Just click or scan the QR code below and fill out the form. We promise that we will not sell or use your information for any other purpose. See the attachment below for instructions.
| Veteran Subscription Instructions | [ ] | 888 kB |
"What Are the Greatest Attributes of Our Democracy?"With the Olympic Torch in my hand, standing at the base of the Parthenon, overlooking Athena's city, I felt connected to 2,500 years of What makes the perfect government? For the entirety of civilized human history, societies have tried to answer this question. Direct democracy sprouted early on in Athens but was unable to amass enough power and lands to withstand the Romans, whose representative democracy was miles ahead of its time until its lack of constitution allowed popular leaders to transform the government to a dictatorship. The notion of a constitution first arose in 1215, when King John signed the Magna Carta, a novel idea that sparked the first Enlightenment. It was during this Enlightenment era that thirteen British colonies successfully staged a revolution against Great Britain with the goal of creating the closest thing to a perfect government they could. The first draft of a new American government became the Articles of Confederation. The Articles were the spawn of a nation extremely fearful of central power; under the Articles, the Federal Government could not levy taxes, declare war, regulate trade, or create any foreign policies without the agreement of each and every state. Less than ten years after its enactment, a rebellion in Massachusetts, Shay Rebellion, exposed the extreme danger of the weak, clunky government formed by the Articles. As a response the Shay Rebellion, delegates from all thirteen states met in 1787 for a second try. In this second draft, the Founding Fathers looked back on historic mistakes. They separated the legislative, executive, and judicial branches to spread power equally and prevent a repeat of the Romans. They created a government that could respond efficiently to any issues, countering the problems of the Articles. They improved the voting system, creating a electoral college to prevent an overload of votes and giving the nation an ability to expand, a power that Ancient Athens never had. Combined, these political inventions formed the most advanced political system the world had ever seen. So, with all these ingenious solutions, a small article hidden in the middle of this revolutionary document is easily overlooked. Consisting of only one paragraph, the fifth Article of the Constitution is simple and unremarkable. When two-thirds of Congress agree to propose an Amendment to the Constitution, and that amendment is ratified by three-quarters of State legislatures, the Amendment is treated as an addition to the Constitution. Unless the amendment removes the representation of an unconsenting state of levies a tax on any state. Straightforward, Uncomplicated. Yet it is quite possible the most incredible and farsighted article in the entire Constitution. All civilizations make mistakes. The Song Dynasty neglected its military. The French monarchy abused their absolute power. A state ability to learn from these mistakes is what makes a civilization successful. After the Mongols invaded the Song Chinese, Zhu Yuanzhang found the Ming dynasty, which focused more on their military to prevent future invasion. Following the French Revolution and the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte, those at the forefront of the Bourbon Restoration made the clear choice to become a constitutional monarchy instead of restoring the absolute monarchy that caused the revolution. It is obvious to the human mind to correct known errors. The genius of the Fifth Article comes in the fact that it allows for the correction of unknown errors. In 1787, very few knew that, eventually, women’s suffrage would become a national movement. Thanks to the Fifth Article, a woman’s right to vote came into being with almost no conflict whatsoever. In 1787, a poll tax seemed so similar to British rule that the founding fathers did not even consider that it would eventually have to be banned, but when the necessity arose, Congress simply had to pass the 24th amendment. The Fifth article provided Abraham Lincoln with a stable, established platform to abolish slavery that allowed him to focus on merely convincing a Republic to abolish it instead of having to restructure the entire government. Both the French and Chinese underwent large, bloody affairs before seeing any change. Conversely, the U.S. has amended itself 27 times 247 years, only descending into national conflict once. The U.S. has endured two and a half centuries of the most turbulent times in history, witnessing some of the most drastic social, political, economic, technological, and military changes humanity has ever seen. The reason we have been able to do this, to survive through a civil war, through not one but two world wars, through a Great Depression, through the invention of the most destructive weapon even known, is our nation’s adaptability. We have seen many challenges. There are issues we are still tackling. And we will face new threats. But because of our nation’s fluidity, we will overcome anything the world can throw at us, and like so many before us, we will continue to strive towards a perfect government. Noah Lorenz |
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Are you in a financial bind because a pipe sprung a leak? A utility bill drained your budget? Did you have an unexpected repair on a vehicle you use to get to work? Emergencies happen with no regard to your paycheck or monthly expenses.
Colorado Veteran VFW Foundation grants of up to $500 are available to Post and Auxiliary members on a one-time basis for the purpose of meeting an essential basic need for utilities and/or health care. Grants are not made for items that are discretionary in nature (“wants”), and are made on a first come, first serve basis.
Some of the requirements have been updated. For instance, the grants are available only to Post and Auxiliary members now. You or someone authorized by you to assist can apply directly to the Department. Grant applications are available online at the Department website vfwco.org. Or you can call: 303-421-1630. Of course, in some cases this may be just a stopgap. When more financial help is needed, referrals to other resources are available.
Colorado VFW Foundation Board of Directors
You haven’t been feeling like yourself or you are going for your annual checkup, or you have found something somewhere that shouldn’t be there. Sounds pretty routine until you get the diagnosis that you have Cancer. Doesn’t make any difference what kind, what stage, where it is, your age. You have Cancer! Now the change in your life and pocketbook starts.
It has been said that insurance pays the bills. If you are very lucky that may be true. Many of us have private insurance or Medicare Advantage that have an out of pocket yearly maximum or copays which can be substantial for the average person. No one has a Cancer savings account.