Cascade Warbirds is pleased to announce that they are to host the B-17 Aluminum Overcast at the Museum of Flight in Seattle in June. The local group, which supports historic military aircraft, has received notice from the EAA that the beautifully restored Boeing bomber which formed the backbone of US airpower in WWII will be beginning an international tour season on the West Coast this year.
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 “We have asked the EAA which owns and operates the B-17 and to bring the airplane in on a very historic date:  D-Day, the sixth of June, the date of the Allied invasion of Europe in WWII,” said Squadron Commander Ron Morrell.  “The airplane will be conducting several flights a day on the weekend of June 10th through the 12th for people to experience the sensations of a trip back in time.  Afterward, the plane will be open to the public for ground tours.”
  
“Now is a good time to start thinking about what can be a really exciting start to summer,” Morrell said.  “Anyone interested in flying on this magnificent historic aircraft can find details on the EAA website (click here). This is also the place to pre-book a flight at the best price instead of waiting until the airplane arrives.”

To learn more about the Cascade Warbirds, click here.

The 32nd Street Singers are celebrating Spring with a free concert of greatest hits. Featuring a fabulous set of show tunes, Americana, songs of the British Isles, spirituals and choral classics that everyone will love. Performing warm 8-part harmony blend, special solos and quartets, and wonderful musical accompaniment.
 
Wednesday, May 11th

• 7:30pm
• Historic VFW Hall - 1836 72nd SE Mercer Island
• The VFW Hall is on the North end of Mercer Island, just across from the classic and storied Roanoke Inn. Google Maps
• FREE

Click here to download flyer.

American Legion Post 234 members Chris Szarek and Ray Gopher attended the Edmonds Community College POW-WOW on Saturday 5/7. This is an annual event. For more information, click here.

Representative David Jolly has introduced H.R. 4640, the Veteran Suicide Prevention Act.  If enacted, this bill would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to complete a review and report of the deaths by suicide of all veterans under VA care during the five-year period preceding enactment.  This review would include the following: 
 

• the total number of veterans who died by suicide;
• a summary that includes age, gender, and race;
• medications that were prescribed to, and found in the systems of, veterans at the time of death, and a summary of diagnoses that led to the prescribing of such medications;
• the number of instances in which each veteran was concurrently on multiple medications prescribed by VA;
• the percentage of veterans who were not taking any medication prescribed by VA;
• the percentage of veterans with combat experience or trauma;
• a listing of VA facilities with markedly high prescription and patient suicide rates;
• a description of VA prescribing policies; and
• recommendations to improve the safety and well-being of veterans under VA care.

 
The bill would require VA to report to Congress the extent to which veterans who died by suicide were being prescribed medications carrying "black box" warnings.  It would also mandate VA to report prescribing policies related to black box medications.
 
Please write your Representative today to urge co-sponsorship and enactment of this bill. As always, thank you for your advocacy in participating in the Commander's Action Network.