Dear Chaplains and Commanders,

Hope you are doing well and enjoying serving and ministering to Veterans and their families.

My Latest Article: What to do When Someone Leaves Your Post

Attached is my latest article dealing with the responsibility of Chaplains when someone leaves your Post.

National Chaplain of the Year Award

Attached is the information sheet pertaining to the National Chaplain of the Year Award for 2019-2020. Please email your submissions to our National Chaplain, Rev. Jim Jenkins at kschaplain@att.net. His full contact information is included at the end of the information sheet. Deadline is April 1, 2020.

My goal is to eventually have this award presented by the National Chaplain on the floor at the National Convention.

Online Reporting System for Chaplains

A special shout-out to those who file their Chaplain’s Report each month. Thank you for the work you do and for faithfully filing reports. For those who are not familiar with the reporting system, simply click on this link and it will take you directly to the reporting system. VFW Chaplains are encouraged to report their activity at the end of each month using this reporting system. Once you submit your report you will receive an email containing the data you submitted. That email can then be forwarded to your District Chaplain, State Chaplain, or Department if your state has a reporting system in place. It can also be forwarded to your Post and included in the Post Community Service Report.

Again, to submit your Chaplain’s Report please use this link. Don’t forget to hit SUBMIT at the bottom of the form.

National Chaplain Event Planned for May 15-17, 2020

The weekend of May 15-17, 2020 is our National Chaplain Weekend. Save the date and plan to come to Gettysburg, PA. We will check in Friday evening and have dinner together. Then on Saturday, May 16 (Armed Forces Day), we will have a special guided tour of the Battlefield highlighting the role of Chaplains in the Civil War. On Saturday evening, there will be a dinner and program at VFW Post 8896 in East Berlin, PA honoring our National Chaplain, Rev. Jim Jenkins and his wife Eva.

Here is a brief excerpt about one Civil War Chaplain. During the U.S. Civil War from 1861-1865, Father William Corby became famous for his absolution of the Irish brigade at Gettysburg in 1863 as they went into battle. Shortly after this absolution many Irish soldiers would be cut down, but in the mercy of the Lord, they died with the sacramental comfort of the Roman Catholic Church. This act is still commemorated by a statue of the absolution at Gettysburg National Battlefield. Father Corby later became president of Notre Dame and wrote a memoir of his three years in the Civil War which is still in print titled Memoirs of Chaplain Life: Three Years in the Irish Brigade with the Army of the Potomac. {ref}Corby, William, and Lawrence Kohl. Memoirs of Chaplain Life. New York: Fordham University Press, 1992.{/ref}

Check with Funeral Homes in your area

Several funeral homes here in PA have begun to advertise they offer Veterans discounts on all services. In addition, some state they offer a free metal casket to deceased Veterans or a $600 credit toward any upgrade of casket. Keep in mind this offer is part of their advertising and marketing plan and could be a blessing for some families. Check with funeral homes in your area and find out what they offer for veterans.

Resources for Chaplains

The Chaplains Handbook: The Chaplains Handbook can be accessed by clicking on this link: https://www.vfwpahq.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/2018-0710-Revised-Chaplains-Handbook_-3.pdf It is also posted on the VFW National Website https://vfworg-cdn.azureedge.net/-/media/VFWSite/Files/MY_VFW/Training-and-Support/Member-and-Officer-Training/Chaplains-Handbook.pdf?la=en&v=1&d=20180801T143458Z

Patriotic Cards: The Lynn Card Company (https://www.lynncard.com/) has very nice Patriotic Cards www.patrioticcards.com (Get Well, Sympathy, Thinking of You, Thank You, and Christmas)

Other Resources: There are other resources available to help you in your ministry on my Chaplain’s Page at the PA Department Web Site – vfwpahq.org Just look under District/Post Tools and you will see Chaplain’s Guide. Here is the direct link: https://www.vfwpahq.org/districtpost-tools/chaplains-guide/

If you have something that would benefit others in our network, please send it to me.

Blessings as you serve,