Notes from the Adjutant's Desk

Hello to all. I'm your new Post 3 Adjutant, Steve Fowles. 

The office hours will remain the same, Tuesday and Thursday 10AM until 12PM. If there is an occasion where you need to reach me after hours, I can be reached at 617-407-1841. Leave a phone number, your name and a brief message and I’ll return your call as soon as possible.

Membership is currently at 870 paid members for 2026. This is 92.75% of our goal of 938. We still have around 50 2025 members who have not renewed for 2026. You can see that even if we successfully renewed all the 2025 members, we would still fall short of our goal. It isn't too late. You can stop by the office or renew online if that makes it easier. You can use a debit card or credit card. 

In the past year, we have lost about 60 members to Post everlasting. We can’t do much about that. What we can do is recruit new members. If you know someone, who has served at least one day of active military duty since December 7, 1941, and was honorably discharged or are currently serving honorably, they are eligible to join The American Legion. Let’s sign that someone up! See the special offer for new members later in this newsletter.

We will be honoring our members who have continuous membership in The American Legion of 50, 60, and 70, years in April. This Summer we have selected a young man and a young woman who will attend Junior Law Cadet Training at the Nebraska State Patrol Training Academy in Grand Island. 

We only had 8 boys apply for Boy’s State from Lincoln this year. Last year there were 21.  There were 37 girls who applied to Girls State. Post 3 is going to sponsor 4 boys, 40&8, Voiture 103 is going to sponsor 1 boy and 1 girl, the Club Board is going to sponsor 1 boy and 1 girl, Bethany Lions are going to sponsor 1 boy and 1 girl, two Knight of Columbus Councils are going to share sponsorship of 1 boy, Squadron 3 of the SAL is sponsoring 2 girls, and Chapter 3 Riders are sponsoring a girl.

And I can’t forget our monthly meetings which are held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, except in August. They are held at the Elks Lodge #80, 5910 S 58th St. The Elks have a light meal for around $10.00 starting at 6:00. The meeting starts at 7:00. I hope to see you there.

Steve Fowles   

Post 3 Adjutant 

The VA is currently requesting Veterans to update their VA Identification Cards. If you receive a notice from the Department of Veteran Affairs, you can update your VA ID card while in the Clinic. You will need to bring some form of a State issued ID, like a Driver’s License, etc.

The Lincoln CBOC can always use bus passes or gas cards. Gift cards can be used to buy clothing, coats, etc., as the needs come up during the year.

There will be a “Veteran Health Fair,” at the Lincoln CBOC, Thursday May 28th. More details to come later.

Flu shots and Covid shots are now being given for those with appointments, walk-ins, or through urgent care. If you have an appointment, you will be asked if you wish a flu or covid shot, or to update any other vaccines that show up as overdue on your VA Health records. If you do not have an upcoming appointment, call your local clinic to schedule one. Covid shots are being given by appointment only. 

If you receive a statement from the VA for Co-payments, remember that most CBOC do not have finance offices. If you have a billing question, you need to call the number that is listed on your statement. Mail payment to the address shown on your statement. You should find a finance office at most of the VA Hospitals, but they may have limited hours. This is true for the Omaha VA hospital.

Currently there are no mask requirements at VA clinics and hospitals. Masks are available for those who wish to wear them at the front doors of the clinics.

Express Care is a walk-in service, for those who wish to have a nurse check out minor items. Times might be different at your local clinic, so give them a call and see if they offer this service. This care is available to those who might wish to see a VA nurse without an appointment during normal hours. The Lincoln Clinic treats 300 a month as walk-ins.

With the signing of the PACT act, more veterans have become eligible for services, not only for those who served “boots on the ground”, but anyone who has served since the Gulf War. 

If you have any questions, call your local county, or state service officer, or registered VSO. It only takes a few minutes to see if you might qualify for a new increase, or a new VA disability rating. 

Veteran Affairs web sites are great places to visit. You can find out the latest information affecting Veterans. You can track claim status, file for travel pay, view your VA account, payments received, or Co-pay owed. You can make the Co-pay payments online, etc.

My HealtheVet site allows you to set up an account where you can view you VA medical records, track your meds, order meds, or contact your VA medicals providers. It is a quick and easy way to see notes on your latest appointment and track your upcoming appointments.

The Lincoln Clinic does not currently have an Advocate on site. If you need to talk to an Advocate, you will need to contact their office by phone. There are numbers to call, based on your question, posted on the door of the Advocate Office in the Lincoln Clinic

The Lincoln CBOC is trying to fill open staff positions, podiatrist, including a NP or nurse to provide foot care for Veterans in the Lincoln area.

There are many ways to serve veterans. The VA system has need of volunteers. The local clinics or hospitals can always use volunteers for Greeters or Escorts.

The VA can use more volunteers at your local clinic or hospital. You can volunteer to help veterans in a local clinic or hospital, or a veteran home. They can always use a monetary donation, or you can donate activities bags for younger kids to have when they come to the clinic or hospital with a parent for their appointments. 

Hours given by the volunteers are credited with saving the VA Health at Omaha, Lincoln, and GI an equivalent of 25 full-time staff employees. This is based on an hour of service being credited at the rate of $31.50 dollars per hour.

A food drive to collect food items for our homeless veterans in our area is still ongoing. Items requested are shelf ready, power bars, easy to open items (pull tabs), etc. Please do not bring in food items that are past their expiration date as they just must be thrown away. A can opener would be nice. 

There are few requests for food items that need to be cooked, such as canned vegetables, baked beans, etc. Other items that our Homeless Veterans could use are hygiene care items. They should be the small size that would fit easily into a backpack. Volunteer Services has a list of the most requested items. In Lincoln, they can be reached by calling 402-486-7938 or texting Ty.Andrews@va.Gov.

Only trained service animals should be brought into a VA Health clinic or hospital. Trained service animals that qualify under DAV requirements are always welcome. Other pets do not qualify and should be left at home.

Thanks for your service to your fellow Veterans and thanks for your service to this great country.

Ed Schnabel

American Legion Rep

For the Lincoln CBOC