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VETERANS of FOREIGN WARS of the UNITED STATES
Lambert-Wright-Roy, VFW Post 8661
P. O. Box 1416 - Conifer, Colorado   80433

BILL TAYLOR, Commander     BOB CLEMENTS, Quartermaster
(303) 816-0241                             (303) 838-7831
   
   General Meetings Are Held On The Third Wednesday Of Each Month At 1930 hrs at the Post Home, Highway 285, Shawnee
  Volume:  24

                  DECEMBER 2002

Edition 6


POST CALENDAR

Dec 1  Country Breakfast - Shawnee - 0730-1130
Dec 10  Staff Meeting - Commander's Office - 1830
Dec 15  Christmas Party - Farmers Union - Drawing for
 Life Membership
Dec 25  Merry Christmas!
Dec 31 Happy New Year!

    DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to:  Jacqueline Armstrong, Richard Bryant, James Flanagan,
David Fruechtenicht, Lowell Gilbert, Bob Harrison, Alvin Holloway, Arthur Johnson, Donald Klein, Mark Newton, Dave Orozco, Dennis Pilgard,
Ken Risberg, Dennis Shary, Kent Shaulis,
Kevin Verkuil, and Arthur Whitman.
      If we don’t list you in your birth month, we don’t have your birthday recorded. Call your Quartermaster.

LIFE MEMBERSHIP RAFFLE

Continuous members who have paid their 2003 dues are entered into our Life Membership drawing. One will be awarded at our Christmas Party on 15 December.

VETERANS DAY RAFFLE

The Veteran's Day Raffle was completed on 11 November at 1500. Mark Hodder of Bailey won the 30/30 Marlin. Bob Neville of Shawnee won $200. Mike Soucek of Lakewood won $100 (in lieu of dinner). 

TURKEY SHOOT

The  Turkey Shoot was cancelled due to weather. Another is planned.

POPPIES

Poppy presentations garnered $2,944.92. Well Done!


VETERAN'S DAY 2002

On Veteran's Day we performed our memorial ceremonies at Horn, Webster and Shawnee . That afternoon we were treated to a Veterans' recognition at Fitzsimmons Middle School .

On 12 November, Elk Creek Elementary School put on their annual Salute to Veterans. We were honored by the reception at both schools, in addition to being chosen to Post the colors.

LADIES AUXILIARY

Dear Auxiliary Sister,

    November has been a busy month.  Hope you all got out to vote. 
     The Auxiliary worked hard on several projects. We had a funeral dinner for a Post member and good friend Don Gilbreath.  A special Thank You to Pam Clements on that. She cooked a great meal.
    We had a lot going on Veteran's Day weekend including a Buddy Poppy Drive , cemetery services, and programs at three schools.
    Chapel Hour was on Nov. 24. Hope you were there.
    At our November meeting we had our membership drawing.  Congrats go to Carolyn Harttshorn on winning the $50 prize for paying her dues before Oct. 31.  Thank you Lou Tidd, District 8 President, for pulling the name out of the hat.
     Invitations are being sent out for the Post Christmas Party. The Auxiliary party will be our next meeting (Dec. 10).  We will trim the Community Center Christmas tree. Bring a small gift for exchange and a Secret Sister gift if you have one. We will have a potluck dinner as well.  Thls is one of the fun thlngs the Auxillary does; so don't miss it. Hope to see you there. 

Ginnie Marlin, Auxillary President

 

  COMMANDERS LETTER 

 


TAPS: DONALD O'NEIL GILBREATH, 60

     Donald O'Neil Gilbreath died at his home in Bailey , Colo. Nov. 1. He was 60. Don was born in Denver , July 1, 1942 to Erma (Shultz) and Wright E.. Gilbreath. He is survived by his children Shawn, Shannon (Wes) Ewing, Lakewood ; Shad (Jenny) of Golden; two grandchildren, Danielle and Tyler of Cedaredge; sister Mickie of Lakewood; brother Steve of Breckenridge; and fiancee Janet Day of Conifer.

     Don attended school in Lakewood and Evergreen, where he lettered in football, wrestling and track. Following a year in college, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, attaining the rank of 1st Sgt., 28th Infantry, Black Lions, "B" Company. He served as Instructor of Rescue Diving and firefighter for West Metro Fire Department, Lakewood . He was a long-standing member of Asbestos Workers Local #28 and ranched in Cedaredge , Colo. Don was an involved member of VFW Post 8661 in Bailey, having served as Jr. Vice Commander as well as District Chairman of the "Voice of Democracy" Program for Platte Canyon,. Evergreen and Conifer High Schools. His civic pride extended to the Lions Club in Bailey, for which he volunteered many hours for fund-raising efforts. As an award-winning archer and avid outdoorsman, he employed his keen eye and considerable talents as a photographer to chronicle the wildlife, people, and natural beauty of his beloved Colorado.  

     Graveside services were presided over by the Colorado VFW Honor Guard and Post 8661 Honor Guard. The Ladies Auxiliary of Post 8661 at the Post in Shawnee sponsored a celebration of Don's life.

    Contributions may be made to the Donald O. Gilbreath Memorial in care of VFW Post 8661 in Bailey, or the Bailey Lions Club.

COMMANDER'S COLUMN

Dear Comrades,

This has been a very trying year. Even though I became an All State Commander plus have gained many new comrades, I couldn't have done it without the help of the whole Post. One comrade was very inspirational part of this Post, for he was the Post photographer and VOD Chairman. For we will miss you dearly, Don, Rest In Peace. 
     Thank you all for coming out in force at last meeting, for we had twenty-six members show up. This Post is going to see many great things happen because we now have the members and the commitment to meet our goals. Our goals are to help veterans in this area and their families.
     This newsletter will probably arrive after the Dec. 1st breakfast, so I thank you all for showing up! Try to make a commitment to make the Holiday Party at the Farmers Union on December 15th.

Happy Hollidays

Bill Taylor, Commander

Please come out and help us lead the Parade in Conifer on December 7th Pearl Harbor Day in Aspen Park.  Meet at the Aspen Park Shopping Center at 11:00 a.m.

 

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