Posted: December 1, 2021 --- by Post Commander, Carl Christophersen

 

Since no one in our Post, for the past few months, is using Zoom to attend our VFW Post meetings, we have cancelled our Pro Zoom account. If things worsen on the COVID front, we will purchase a Pro Zoom account again.

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Posted: November 4, 2021 (3:30pm) --- by Post Commander, Carl Christophersen

 

Parl Guthie had the photo taken last night of the 18 members in attendance at our VFW meeting and put it on our Facebook page. For reasons unknown to me, I could not get that photo to successfully take on our web site page.                                                                                                    #      #      # 

 

 

Posted: November 4, 2021 (8:15am) --- by Post Commander, Carl Christophersen

 

VFW Post 3348 will be at the Shoreline Fred Meyer on Fri & Sat, Nov 5^th& 6^th (9:30a-5:00p) with Buddy Poppies & smaller American Flags. All proceeds go toward veterans in need. 

All of our VFW Post 3348 veterans, who will be there, are vaccinated. The VFW is authorized by the U.S. government to use the term "Buddy Poppy” to raise funds for it charitable programs. We typically make our own donations to such organizations as the following:

·       -  The Veteran Homes in Orting & Port Orchard

·       -  Shoreline Veterans Center (Compass Housing Alliance)

·       -  Gold Star Memorials

·       -  USO Northwest (SeaTac)

·       -  Fisher House Puget Sound (serving the Seattle VA Hospital)

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Posted: November 3, 2021 --- by Post Commander, Carl Christophersen

 

VFW Post 3348 Officers, Trustees and Members,

 

Our meeting tonight happens to be the 1-year anniversary of the passing of our Past Sr Vice Commander, Ken Christophersen who died of dementia. He first showed signs of his dementia in early 2020. He passed away one year ago today, in the front room of his house; his wife (Jan) had brought him home from Columbia Lutheran Home and had the VA deliver a hospital bed to the house.

 

Ken was a U.S. Army veteran, Vietnam, Purple Heart.

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Posted: October 27, 2021 --- by Post Commander, Carl Christophersen

 

VFW Post 3348 Officers, Trustees and Members,

 

Our meeting is next week @ Acacia on Wednesday, November 3^rd @ 7:00pm. Face Masks are required regardless of vaccination status. Dinner will be Thanksgiving with all the fix’ins  @ 6:19pm presented by Michelle. Unexpectedly, we have last-minute authorization to hold our Veterans Day Buddy Poppy event at the Shoreline Fred Meyer @ N 185^th St & Aurora on November 5^th& 6^th (Fri & Sat). Buddy Poppy Committee Chair, Tom Nasky, will be looking for volunteers at our meeting.

 

No one was ready for this but Tom Nasky pulled the rabbit out of his hat. We only have one store lined up; Thom will check on Thrashers Corner when he gets back in town. Since we are part way into discussions on donations based on the $10,000 grant we have, that will continue and if our Buddy Poppy event actually occurs, we will have more to add in our next meeting. Stay tuned.

 

 

Reportedly we will have some submissions for our VFW Youth Essay contests.

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Posted: October 20, 2021 --- John Johns by Post Commander, Carl Christophersen

 

I stopped by John Johns house since he had not been answering his phone. His wife (Donna) answered the door and said with her face mask on and through the screen "I cannot let you in. We can't take any chances. John has surgury for cancer spots on his face tomorrow."

 

I said "Other than that, how is he doing?" She said right now he is recovering from foot surgury but otherwise he is fine. He is fully recovered from his broken arm. I said "tell him hi". She said she would.

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Posted: October 9, 2021 --- Flu Shots by Post Commander, Carl Christophersen

 

Yesterday, I stopped by the Edmonds VA Clinic to ask about a postcard I had received from the VA Puget Sound Health Care System headlined by "Flu Shots coming to a facility near you in October". At the reception desk, I showed him the card and asked: "when will Flu shots be available here?

 

He adroitly pointed to the line that said "Flu Shots at Main Campus" referencing both the Seattle VA Hospitla campus and the Amreican Lake campus. I repeated my question. Then he said that they will be getting the actual Flu Shots at Edmonds in a couple of weeks BUT, he said, putting more intention into his words: "we are going to require an appointment to get a Flu Shot here".

 

I asked "can I get an appointment now?" He said "No, but you can in a couple of weeks". To which I replied: "Good to know. I will be back in a coupole of weeks.

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Posted: October 6, 2021 --- Post Commander, Carl Christophersen

 

As we sift through all the lies and fear and intrigue and divisiveness in what we today refer to as our society, all exacerbated by a plethora of competing news outlets, not to mention Facebook and the like, you may be interested in reading how this all started.

 

On our web site www.vfw3348.org; under "Login”, there is a "Members Only” option that takes you to some choices that you may find of interest. There are 22 parts called "First Principles” that takes you through some details that led up to today --- complete with many quotes from the likes of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison.

 

There are many parts because each one was confined to 2 full twists of your mouse wheel when scrolling each part --- to make it easier to confront. There also is a "Table of Contents” which may sublimate your viewing selections.

 

In addition, there is an educational aspect of our web site --- available to anyone --- even non-members. All in one place.

 

Under the "Programs” menu is the full text of the:

·       U.S. Constitution

·       27 Amendments to the Constitution

·       Declaration of Independence

 

Under the "Resources” menu is the full text of the:

·       Veteran Benefits & Assistance (by far the most popular menu on our web site)

·       Branches of the U.S. Government

o   Within which are the name & titles of key members of the Executive Branch

·       Timeline of who could vote (from 1776 until today)

·       Ranks of every Officer & Enlisted (for each of the 6 Military Branches)

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Posted: September 29, 2021 --- Post Commander, Carl Christophersen

 

I had my Pfizer booster shot a couple of hours ago. I have had no after affects.

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September 28, 2021 Update

 

ATTENTION COMMUNITY CARE PATIENTS:

To more efficiently serve you, our VA Puget Sound Community Care Customer Service Line (253-582-8440, ext. 64545, 206-277-4545 and 1-800-329-8387 ext. 64545) will temporarily have modified business hours October 1- 15. During this time, our Community Care Customer Service Line will be opened Monday-Thursday (8:30 a.m. through 4 p.m.) and closed Friday October 1 , 8 and 15.

 

During the modified business hours, Veterans may contact the National Office of Community Care Customer Contact Center @ 877-CCN-TRIW (877-226-8749) for information regarding referral status, claims questions, support with portal on TW.com and other general questions. Please note the National Office Customer Contact Center does NOT schedule appointments. Thanks for your understanding and patience as we take steps to improve your patient experience.

 

COVID-19 VACCINES:

COVID-19 vaccinations (first, second and third doses only; no boosters at this time) are available by appointment to Veterans, spouses, and caregivers at our main campuses: Seattle (Thursdays from 1 to 3 p.m. and Fridays 8 to 10 a.m.) and American Lake (Mondays and Fridays from 8 to 10 a.m.). VA Puget Sound is not offering walk-in vaccine appointments. Individuals should call 206-716-5716 to schedule a vaccine.

 

If you don't receive care at the VA, sign up here (https://www.va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine) prior to calling to schedule an appointment. It may be more convenient or faster to receive your vaccine in the community, Veterans can use Washington State’s COVID Vaccine Locator (https://vaccinelocator.doh.wa.gov/) to obtain the vaccine in the community at no cost.

 

ADDITIONAL (THIRD DOSE) VACCINES:

The CDC now recommends a third vaccine dose for certain groups of people with weakened immune systems who received either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Data shows that these groups of people are more at risk of serious, long-term illness from COVID-19. They may benefit from a third dose to make sure they have enough protection against COVID-19. At this time, we’re offering additional vaccine doses only for certain groups of people with weakened immune systems.

 

You may be able to get a third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine if any of these descriptions are true for you:

• You currently receive cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
• You have advanced HIV (meaning you have a low CD4 cell count) or you have HIV and aren’t on treatment at this time
• You received an organ transplant and take medicine to suppress your immune system
• You received a stem cell transplant within the past 2 years or are taking post-transplant medicine to suppress your immune system
• A health care provider has diagnosed you with a moderate-to-severe primary immunodeficiency (like DiGeorge or Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
• You currently take high-dose corticosteroids or other medicines that may suppress your immune system
• If your condition or medication isn’t on this list and you think you have a moderately to severely weakened immune system, contact your health care provider. They can tell you if you can get a third vaccine dose at this time.

 

If you received the Janssen (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine, the CDC doesn’t recommend another dose at this time.

 

BOOSTER VACCINES:

A booster shot is for people whose immune response may have weakened over time. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized a single booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine 6 or more months after completion of a primary series for specific people.  The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends booster shots for the highest risk populations (people 65 years and older, residents in long-term care facilities and people with underlying medical conditions that place them at higher risk for severe COVID infection). 

 

While we have received VA authorization to provide booster shots, we are finalizing our booster distribution plan and expect to offer booster shots to eligible Veterans at VA in the near future. In the interim, Veterans are encouraged to use Washington State’s COVID Vaccine Locator (https://vaccinelocator.doh.wa.gov/) to obtain the vaccine in the community at no cost.

 

Along with VA Puget Sound vaccine options, Veterans can access Washington State’s COVID Vaccine Locator (https://vaccinelocator.doh.wa.gov/) or VA Pharmacy finder (www.va.gov/find-locations/) to find vaccine availability in the community. For additional and updated information, please call the Vaccine Hotline at 1-800-329-8387, extension 64040 or visit www.va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine/booster-shots-and-additional-doses/.

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