Today is Friday, April 25.
The Pony Express opened in April of 1860. Messages were carried by horseback over the prairies, plains and mountains. Pony Express stations were placed at intervals about 10 miles apart along a route because that is the maximum a horse can go at full gallop.
The rider carried a small mail pouch that held about 20 pounds of mail, and he switched to a fresh horse at each station. Riders could not weigh more than 125 pounds, and included in that weight was a revolver, horn, water sac, knife and bible. It took about 25 days to travel 600 miles. The drivers were changed every 100 miles.
Riders were paid $100 a month. Now we have the U.S. Postal Service. First class postage is going up one cent on May 12. It will now cost 43 cents to mail a letter.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars can be traced back to 1899, when Veterans of the Spanish American War (1898) and the Philippine Insurrection (1899-1902) founded local organizations to secure the rights of veterans and benefits for their service. Many returned home sick and wounded, and — because there was no medical care or veterans benefits for them — they were left to care for themselves. These veterans banded together and formed what has become the VFW.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars mission is to “honor the dead by helping the living.” Annually, the VFW contributes 13 million volunteer hours, and provides $2.5 million in college scholarships to high school students every year.
When veterans file for their claims for service-connected disabilities, they usually list the apparent injury and overlook the secondary injuries they suffered.
Maybe an airborne ranger who did too many jumps not only suffers from bad hips but also a weak spine or bad knees. These secondary conditions are evident in veterans receiving compensation for type II adult onset diabetes from exposure to Agent Orange. Secondary conditions can and should be claimed for possible additional benefits.
Department Service Officers are available to assist fellow Legionnaires in obtaining VA compensation benefits they are entitled to receive. Members can contact the American Legion Veteran Administration’s Chicago Office by calling (312) 980-4266.
They have 24-hour voice mail, or you may write to the American Legion, Room 106, 2122 W. Taylor St., Chicago, IL 60612. Pretty soon, Poppy Day will be here. Help support the VFW and buy a Poppy.
The City of Chicago “Rat Patrol” was out this week. The Department of Streets and Sanitation placed poison bait in burrows in the alleys, parkways and other public property. They say the war against rats won’t be effective unless everyone pitches in.
All garbage should kept inside tightly closed garbage bins. In my alley, kids are always taking the cans and using them for soccer goals. The cans are all over the place. Early in the morning people go through them, break open the bags, and get the garbage all over the alley while they look for aluminum cans.
They also recommend that you not put out bread or seeds for the birds because these attract rats and pigeons.