Under the leadership of Doug Iles, VFW Post 392 Commander, along with Senior Vice Commander Steven Graves, and Junior Vice Commander Hipolito Camacho, and along with the rest of the Officers, Trustees, and Committee Chairs, Auxiliary, and most importantly, all the volunteers that gave selfishly of their time and abilities to complete the great number of projects, tasks, and recruiting efforts to allow Post 392 required to be completed to achieve this distinction, we are most proud to announce that VFW Post 392 has been recognized as not only an All-State Honor Post, but an All-American Post for the 2015-2016 operational year. A special congratulations to Commander Iles for his selection as the Captain of the All-State Team! Thank you to each and every person that made the efforts needed to allow us to achieve these awards.  

Good Day Post and Auxiliary Members,

     At Zero Dark Thirty Saturday April 23, 2016 Old Dominion University NROTC Hampton Roads, Old Dominion AROTC Monarch Battalion, Princess Anne and Lands Town High Schools respective Navy and Army ROTC and NJROTC students lined up in preparation to render honors to WWII and KOREAN WAR veterans as they walk to awaiting buses that will transport them to Washington, DC to visit various War Memorials. VFW members and Riders were present also providing much needed support.

   The VFW Riders escorted Buses from Virginia Beach Departure Point (Regent University) to Dale City, Northern Virginia.  Despite the rainy morning and a late notice change to our departure point the presence of the University ROTC and High School NJROTC students was remarkable.  It was a superb showing of support and I can tell you from an inside the bus perspective they all looked great rendering honors standing along the roadside as the buses departed following the VFW Riders.  It was well received by all the “Greatest Generation” Veterans.

  Landstown High School’s Color Guard and Princess Anne’s great turn out, as always, was well received and for this mission it was no different.  Many of the veterans also commented on the presence of our University ROTC students stating how lucky we are having our country's youth take up the call to defend the cloth of our nation.  The veterans were very proud of them all. It is very gratifying seeing them continuing to come out supporting this very important and meaningful departure event.

  As many of you know Honor Flight is a national organization that takes WW II and KOREAN WAR VETS to Washington, DC to visit their WAR MEMORIALS built in their honor.  I served as "Obie's" Guardian (see photos) and it was a remarkable and very interesting trip. As I mentioned it rained early on but cleared up nicely in the end. We visited the WW II MEMORIAL, USMC "IWO JIMA" MEMORIAL, KOREAN WAR MEMORIAL, ARLINGTON'S TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER and had DINNER at a Knights of Columbus Hall in Arlington.

  The Southside Departure Ceremony takes place twice a year (Fall/Spring) and is also joined by several civic and veteran organizations. Honor Flight Historic Triangle Virginia (HFHTVA) is a Williamsburg-based non-profit organization established in October 2008 with one goal: To take every World War II, Korean War and terminally ill veteran in the Hampton Roads and Richmond areas that is able and has not visited the World War II Memorial built in their honor on a charter bus day trip to Washington, DC.  There is no charge to the veterans as they paid for it through their dedicated service to our great nation more than sixty five years ago. HFHTVA is a hub of the National Honor Flight Network, which was founded in 2005 and has over 130 hubs throughout the United States.  They have taken over 160,000 veterans to the memorial as of November 2014.

Click on the image for a full size view of the photos below.

Very Respectfully,

Mike Barea (breeze)

CAPT, USN (Ret)

VFW-392 Member

Honor Flight Southside Coordinator

Honor Flight Guardian

Norfolk Office: (757) 893-6144

Cell: (757) 647-6876