Service Member's Corner

January 2024 Update

Commander's Comments:


Happy New Year Post 186 family!   Bring on 2024...!


I am filled with anticipation about the opportunities that lie ahead to support our veterans, their families and our communities in this new year. 


I am very thankful for our 2023-24 Executive Committee which includes: 


Robert Dela Cruz      1st Vice Commander 

Gerald Chang            2nd Vice Commander 

Kent Wong                Adjutant

Tony Chinn                Sergeant at Arms

Darsie Dela Cruz   Financial Officer

Frank Gregory           Chaplain


Each has shared their wealth of knowledge, passion to serve and countless hours of labor to make Cathy Post 186 both viable and relevant to our veterans, community and youth. 


Together with all of our members, both new and long-serving, we will continue to make an impact on the lives we serve.  Thank you for your dedicated service. 


Blessed by all of you,


Haydon Mar

Commander

Cathay Post #186


ATTENTION ROTC CADETS:  We welcome you to our January 24, 2024 Post Meeting.  Join us and hear interesting briefings by Brigadier General Oscar Hilman, U.S. Army (Retired) and Dr. Theresa Cheng, Founder of Everyone For Veterans.  Before the session, enjoy a FREE Korean BBQ dinner.  Please spread the word with your fellow cadets and join us for this great opportunity to learn about Cathay Post #186 and our mission of "Veterans Strengthening America."  


To help us plan the amount of food needed, please RSVP to University of Washington U.S. Air Force Cadet Zac Dea at zacdeadet910@gmail.com.   Label Subject:  "ROTC Night RSVP"

Scholarship opportunities are available for members and their families of Cathay Post #186.  For details and the application package, visit our website: www.CathayPost186.org.

The deadline for applications is Sunday, February 4, 2024. We appreciate your attention to this.

Cathay Post #186 Scholarship Committee


Throughout the 2023 Season of Giving, your generosity truly shined. Numerous individuals embraced our donation matching challenge, contributing generously. After matching and rounding up your donations, we are pleased to present the final totals:

Northwest Asian Weekly Newspaper wrote a nice article about our ACRS Food Bank distribution.  Click HERE to read the article.  

Our heartfelt thanks for your immense generosity and volunteer spirit.

Season of Giving Facebook Posts: 
- Wreaths Across America
- ACRS Food Bank Chicken Distribution 

We are pleased to introduce the following veterans who have joined the Cathay Post #186 family...


After being featured in the American Legion Department of Washington Weekly Operational Highlights dated December 22, 2023, we were honored to receive positive feedback from Walt Tanimoto, State Surgeon, VFW Department of Washington and VFW Post Commander #6785.

Walt shared his remarks...

"Well done Cathay Post 186!  Your holidays activities are reflective of the American Legion mission, vision, and values!  Happy Holidays!"      

Walt....we appreciate your friendship and your encouragements.  

We've ordered a dozen of these embroidered Cathay Post caps.  Cost is $20.00 each.   Please let Adjutant Kent Wong know if you would like to purchase one.  Thanks. 

Rice Collection Update:

In December, we collected 64 pounds of rice for our local food bank.  We plan to continue this initiative throughout 2024. Please consider donating a bag of rice to each of our meetings.  Every contribution, regardless of size, makes a difference. Your kindness plays a crucial role in aiding community members facing food insecurity.

"Veterans Strengthening America"       

ACRS Food Bank Helper:  ***Ongoing High Need***  

Help the most revisited food bank in King County serve culturally familiar food to those in need.  The Asian Counseling and Referral Service Food Bank needs help with:  Prepping grocery bags for delivery; Assembling and packaging food; Loading and unloading food into delivery vehicles; Supporting with organization and light cleaning within the facility; (Fridays and Wednesdays) Handing out food to clients.  Volunteer for a 3 hour shift.

These DOD photos are to remind us of all our brave men and women who are serving and training to be at peak combat readiness.  Pictured above is a U.S. Marine Corps officer candidate (Josh Mar) at Quantico, Virginia.   

Veterans Helping Veterans

Free "handyman" help for Cathay Post veterans and widows of former members on minor home repairs.  If you have any minor home repairs needs, please contact us for a free assessment.

We are NOT licensed, bonded or insured experts.  But we are willing to assist with minor installation of home safety devises such as hand rails, grab bars, change high ceiling light bulbs etc.

Please email Adjutant Kent Wong if you have a potential project for our team.  Thanks.    

Veterans Helping Veterans! 


PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS:   

Attend the USPS Lunar New Year Year of the Dragon Stamp First Day of Issue Dedication Ceremony. Click here for more information

 

Cathay Post #186 is excited to sponsor a Evergreen Boys State delegate.  Please help us promote Evergreen Boys State!  We will select a "rising senior" of the highest quality to ensure a successful Boys State session.   If you know a student that is interested, please tell them to check out the information posted at the Evergreen Boys State website at www.evergreenboysstate.org.  Selection will be managed by our Scholarship Committee.   


Evergreen Boys State is held from Sunday, June 16 through Saturday, June 22, 2024 at the Warm Beach Conference Center in Stanwood, Washington.

American Legion’s Oratorical Contest is on March 23-24, 2024 at Moses Lake, Washington.

Application must be received by the chairman not later than February 4th in order to qualify to participate in the March contest.  Click HERE for more information.  


American Legion Multiyear Membership is Here


Eliminate the yearly hassle of remembering to renew your American Legion membership by taking advantage of the new multiyear membership available to current and potential members. Legionnaires needing to renew for 2024 or veterans joining the organization for the first time can lock-in a three-year membership by visiting legion.org/renew or legion.org/join. 

We Are "Foo Dogs" - Guardians & Protectors!


Cathay Post #186 members are "Guardians and Protectors" of AMERICAN VALUES and PATRIOTISM!  


Which means we advocate for upholding and defending the United States Constitution, equal justice and opportunity for everyone and discrimination against no one, youth education, responsible citizenship and honoring military service by observing and participating in memorial events.

U.S. Marines with I Marine Expeditionary Force board a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 361, Marine Aircraft Group 16, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, during a Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation as part of Exercise Steel Knight 23.2 at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, Dec. 2, 2023. The MCCRE consisted of a tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel exercise, high-altitude aerial refueling, aviation delivered ground refueling, and external lift exercises to ensure HMH-361's operational and combat readiness before deployment. Steel Knight 23.2 is a three-phase exercise designed to train I MEF in the planning, deployment and command and control of a joint force against a peer or near-peer maneuver capabilities of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jackson Rush)

Tax Deductible Donations

"VETERANS STRENGTHENING AMERICA"
Cathay Post #186 is making a positive impact.  Here are a few examples:

You can help us achieve our mission with a tax-deductible donation.

To donate cash, you can send us a check made payable to "American Legion - Cathay Post #186".  If you want your gift used for a specific purpose by indicating that purpose either in the memo line or in a letter to us.

Contact us if you want to add a bequest in your Will.   We can help you include language in your will or trust specifying a gift be made to Cathay Post #186 as part of your estate plan.

Donations to American Legion Cathay Post #186 are Tax Deductible:

If you have any questions about donations, please contact Cathay Post Adjutant, Kent Wong. 


Submit Your Intent to File a Claim

The Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022 (PACT Act) is the biggest expansion of Veteran health care and benefits in generations. VA encourages all eligible Veterans and survivors to file a claim — or submit their intent to file a claim — for PACT Act-related benefits now. If you notify VA of your intent to file before Aug. 10, 2023, you may be able to get retroactive payments to Aug. 10, 2022, when the PACT Act became law. Learn how to let VA know of your intent to file.  Go to:  https://www.va.gov/resources/your-intent-to-file-a-va-claim/

BE A MEMBER OF CATHAY POST #186 

& THE AMERICAN LEGION


The American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness. It is the nation's largest wartime veterans service organization, committed to mentoring youth and sponsorship of wholesome programs in our communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting strong national security, and continued devotion to our fellow service members and veterans.

The American Legion's success depends entirely on active membership, participation and volunteerism. The organization belongs to the people it serves and the communities in which it thrives.


If you have served at least one day of active military duty since

December 7, 1941 and were honorably discharged or you are still serving active military duty honorably, you are eligible for membership with The American Legion.


Come to our meeting and check us out.  If you want to join the Cathay Post #186, please contact Adjutant Kent Wong and he can sign you up.    

Let's make a difference in our Community, State and Nation.    

"Veterans Strengthening America"