On Saturday, March 17, 2018, there will be the official unveiling of the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument at the Hawaiian Memorial Park in Kaneohe before the entrance to the Hawaiʻi State Veteran’s Cemetery.
The driving force behind this monument is Herschel “Woody” Williams, a Marine, an Iwo Jima Combat Veteran, and a Medal of Honor Recipient. Woody’s vision of honoring and paying tribute to these Gold Star Families “for their sacrifice of one of their loved ones has become a reality”. Mr. Williams is the sole surviving Marine from WWII, to wear the Medal of Honor. He is scheduled to attend this ceremony.
The Hershel Woody Williams Congressional Medal of Honor Education Foundation, was established in 2010 and is a charitable 501(c)(3), not-for-profit organization that pursues specific endeavors and goals through the vision of Medal of Honor Recipient Hershel “Woody” Williams. The Foundation encourages, with the assistance of the American public and community leaders, establishing permanent Gold Star Families Memorial Monuments in communities throughout the country and provides scholarships to eligible Gold Star Children. Its’ purpose is to honor Gold Star Families, relatives, and Gold Star Children who have sacrificed a loved one in the service of their country.
From The New York Times website
Even as consumers increasingly shop and compare prices on the web, one group of businesses remains slow to put cost information online: funeral homes.
The Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule requires, among other things, that funeral homes give prices over the phone and provide detailed, written price lists to customers visiting in person. But the rule, which took effect in 1984 and predates the internet, doesn’t require disclosure online.
There’s something mesmerizing about seeing a C-17 Globemaster III take flight! 😮
Learn more about the C-17’s Strategic Airlift Capabilities: https://t.co/lVFa1d5CWB pic.twitter.com/jJaQDzyijJ
— Airman Magazine (@AirmanMagazine) March 3, 2018
From the MarketWatch website
If you want to avoid becoming a repository for your parents’ possessions – without hurting their feelings – keep reading.
From the everyday Health website
Recently diagnosed with high cholesterol but not sure which foods help lower cholesterol and what’s off the table? A registered dietitian can be an invaluable resource, especially when it comes to managing your diet and high cholesterol.
MAJ Jeffrey Hickman is one of the fulltime public affairs officers at the State Department of Defense. He posted this story and video on the Adjutant General’s and his personal Facebook page.
At work, I get some weird calls, UFO sightings, noisy helicopters “over my house,” and “can I get the number for the public defender?”
So when I got a call about a guy asking if we had a lost and found, to see if we had his dog tags, I was curious. I asked, “I think we do, when did you lose them?”
He replied, “1968.”
Oh, boy, this is one of those “colorful” calls. As I spoke to him, he was mobilized with the Hawaii Army National Guard’s 29th Infantry Brigade in 1968 in support of the Vietnam War. He missed our 2017 Commemoration event for our Vietnam Vets.
So with the help of the 103rd Troop Command and the 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, the Hawaii National Guard welcomed back Spec. Tom Peterson originally in Troop E, 19th Cavalry, 29th Brigade, HIARNG.
Tom thought he was just going to pick up the new dog tags and get a tour of the new 29th IBCT building, but there was a formation there waiting for him. We also gave him two sets of dog tags, the pin from our 2017 Commemoration with TAG Mahalo, two 29th IBCT patches and a commander’s coin from current Commander, COL Roy Macaraeg.
Tom shared his story with the formation and let us know that he never received a welcome home when he returned from war. He did THIS day. It was a special moment and an honor to be a part of.
More photographs of this event
Video and photographs by TSgt Andrew Jackson
GREAT job by MAJ Hickman and everyone involved with this event
From the Kiplinger Magazine website
While we all must pay our fair share of taxes, being tax efficient simply means not making simple mistakes that can cause you to pay an unnecessary amount.
Tax planning is important no matter what stage of life you’re in, but the reality is that much more tax planning can be done after the paychecks have stopped than during your working years. Here are some simple rules and actionable steps you can take in retirement to keep your income taxes as low as possible, year in and year out.
From the Military.com website
Thousands of soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen are now eligible for the Humanitarian Service Medal for their disaster relief efforts in response to Hurricanes Matthew, Harvey, Irma and Maria, according to the service branches.
The eligibility requirements can vary among the service branches, and service members were advised to check with their superiors. For instance, the Army said that eligibility applied only to Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, and not to Hurricane Matthew.
A Retiree News follower send in this link to Anthony Bolante’s Facefook page. He served in the Hawaii Army National Guard for a few years before transferring to the Oregon Army National Guard.
Three significant events on his Facebook page: he got married in July 2016, is now the proud father of son Andrew, and he retired as a colonel in May 2017.
His comments that were posted with the photograph above:
Last flashback for Veterans & Remembrance Day 2015. I am eternally grateful for being mentored for two years in “Alpha Company” 193rd Aviation (Attack) as Aeroscout Platoon Leader by SP CW4 Ollie Kaloi, Commander CPT Jeffrey Protacio and studly platoon & Ross Hoopai, readiness NCO Russell Nakahara and my driver Harlan Fujioka).
Then, I was blessed with being given Command of “Chargin’ Charlie” Attack Company with then-1SG Vernon Nakasone for three years (1991-1993). Here are my “Charlie” boys around September 1993 including my wingmen, platoon leaders 1LT Carlton Eto/Attack and 1LT Dave Meehan/Aeroscout.
So many amazing Warrant Officers in this company that continued to mentor me especially CW4 Gustafson and COL>CW2 Tom Okimoto who was my copilot on more Heavy (red) & Light (pink) Hunter Team missions than I can count out of Wheeler Army Airfield and Pohakuloa Training Area on the Big Island (“Battle Position, HOLD HERE!”). Props to buddy Rayce Inamine for being my readiness NCO during those years.
Thank you all for your service with me Gentlemen! Please Tag the other guys in this photo if I missed tagging them. Thanks! #NeverForget — with Rayce Inamine, Vernon A. Nakasone, Eric K. Pacheco and Lincoln Ishii.
From the Investment News website
I’ve received several questions from financial advisers recently asking what will happen to their clients who claim Social Security this year after they have already earned more than the annual earnings limit.
You can register to receive an email every time there is a new post. In the “Follow Retiree News via Email” section and press “Follow”. On the next screen, enter your email address and press ENTER. Shortly, you will receive a confirmation email to your address from WordPress.com. You acknowledge the email and you are a registered reader.
After you compete this short registration process, you get a notification email every time there is a new posting. The email has a quick teaser of the posting, along with tags that indicate how the posting relates to special topics/areas. There is a direct link to the website (Read more of this post)
click on graphic to enlarge
Thanks to these Retiree News readers who registered to “Follow Retiree News via Email”: racer230, jkbono, Linda Rohlfing, thnuke, sfctorry, babygirlfl1942, subica
Edwin Hajime Takahashi, 83, of Honolulu, passed away February 10, 2018. He was a retired radio technician in the Air National Guard and an Army veteran. He was born in North Kohala, Hawaii.
He is survived by wife Vivian, sons Vince and Scott (Karyn), daughters Edie (Paul) Tsukiyama and Vicki (Rex) de Jesus, and 4 grandchildren; sister Shirley Kiyuna.
Private Services held.
Retiree News extends heartfelt sympathy to his family and friends.
click on photographs to enlarge
SMSgt Zandra Fox, 154th Force Support Squadron Superintendent is promoted the rank of CMSgt (E-9) on March 1, 2017 on board the Hickam C-17 before departing from Andrews AFB, Maryland headed home to Hickam AFB, Hawaii.
CMSgt Fox was shocked to be get her new stripes presented by MG Arthur Logan, The Adjutant General (right) and SMSgt Russ Goble (left) while CMSgt Al Fritz and CMSgt William Parker hold the American flag in the background.
The HIANG team was in Washington DC working functional program requirements with the Air National Guard Readiness Center (ANGRC) and visiting our congressional delegation to give updates on the Hawaii Air National Guard. The C-17 is being flown and operated by the 204th Airlift Squadron.
From the CNBC website
Retirement as we know it dates from a time when many Americans worked for one employer for decades, had a pension to fall back on and only lived 10 to 15 years after retiring.
Doing nothing after leaving the workforce might actually be bad for retirees’ physical and mental well-being.
Those who worked hard to build retirement savings during working years are now free to explore other activities, jobs and positions without worrying about the number on a paycheck.
