FRA BRANCH 126 NEWS FOR DECEMBER 2015
PRESIDENT
PRESIDENT WEST JAX
FRA BRANCH 126
JAMES J. THOMAS
FLEET RESERVE HALL INC
ALVIN D. ROBY
Phone 291-1575
Phone 264-6270
VICE PRESIDENT
UNIT 126 PRESIDENT
HERMAN ELROD
VERALYN THOMAS
Phone 655-2211
Phone 291-1575
SECRETARY
MARTHA KLINIKOWSKI
Phone 342-5032
BRANCH CHAPLAIN
Vacant
Phone 291-1575
TREASURER / EDITOR
MEMBERSHIP
EDWARD H. GRIBBIN
Phone 269-3845
WILLIAM T. KULIER
Phone 771-5237
ADDRESS ALL MAIL TO: FLEET RESERVE HALL, 7673 BLANDING BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32244-5111
BRANCH WEB SITE:
HALL TELEPHONE: (904) 771-2126
www.westjaxfrabranch126.org
DECEMBER 2015 EDITION
NOTICE: The items or opinions published in the Branch 126 Newsletter are those of the contributor of that
particular article, and not necessarily that of the Editor, FRA Branch 126 Inc., or the Fleet Reserve Association.
DECEMBER 2015
Wednesday
Sunday
Monday
Monday
Thursday
Thursday
Sunday
Friday
02 Dec 1930
06 Dec
07 Dec 1930
07 Dec
10 Dec noon
17 Dec 2000
20 Dec 1400
25 Dec
Branch Board of Directors meeting
Hanukkah begins at sunset
West Jax Inc Board of Directors meeting
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
Unit meeting and Christmas gathering (page 3)
Branch Meeting
Family Christmas “Covered Dish” Dinner (page 3)
Merry Christmas
JANUARY 2016
Friday
01 Jan
Happy New Year!
Monday
04 Jan
1900
West Jax Inc Board of Directors meeting
Wednesday
06 Jan
1930
Branch Board of Directors meeting
Monday
11 Jan
0830
AARP Driver Safety Course (page 3)
Thursday
21 Jan
2000
Branch meeting
AARP Driver Safety Program Course
This year the course will be a one day class held on on Monday, 11 January 2016 from 8:30am to 3pm.
Bring a brown bag lunch. Coffee and water will be provided and cold drinks
are available for 50 cents.
You have to attend all day to get credit for the course. The cost is $20.00 per
person or $15.00 if you are an AARP member. You must bring your AARP
membership card in order to get the $15.00 discounted price.
Certificates of completion will be mailed to you approximately two days after
the course. A Sign-up sheet is posted on the Bulletin Board in the Hall.
The Korean War Veteran’s Association meets at the Branch Hall on the 4th Tuesday of each month. The
hall opens at noon and the meeting starts at 1300. The POC is Shipmate Henry Moreland at (904) 3842031.
Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday and Happy New Year from your newsletter crew!
Jack Elrod, Ed Gribbin, Johnny Johnson, Bill & Flo Kulier, Al Peter,
Al Roby, James Thomas & LAFRA RVPSE Veralyn Thomas.
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FRA BRANCH 126 NEWS FOR DECEMBER 2015
THE PRESIDENT’S CORNER
JAMES J. THOMAS …….…291-1575
aquaspaceventure@aol.com
The 2nd event was the Branch and Unit participation
in the Jacksonville Veterans Day Parade on
November 11th. It was a great parade and great
weather for that very special day of remembrance.
(The parade photo is on page 6.)
Food Baskets
The ladies of LA
FRA Unit
126 will be making
up
baskets of food
to be
distributed to the
needy
for Christmas. Bins
have
been set up in the
Branch
Home for your
donation of
canned goods and staples.
The deadline for your Christmas food
basket donation is at the Family Christmas
Dinner on 20 December.
So please bring a Christmas Basket item to
the Christmas Dinner along with your
Covered Dish. Santa may be watching you!
TRICARE Surpasses Two Million Flu Vaccines Given
Through Retail Pharmacies
The Defense Health Agency (DHA) wants to
remind beneficiaries that when the weather starts
to cool, it means that flu season is here again.
TRICARE makes it easy to get your flu vaccine at no
cost from more than 45,000 participating retail
pharmacies.
Getting the flu vaccine every year is the most
effective way to lower your chances of getting the
flu. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) recommends that everyone six months and
older get a flu vaccine every year. Serious cases of
the flu can lead to hospitalization and even death.
The elderly, young children and people
with serious health issues are at a higher risk
for getting the flu. TRICARE covers two forms of
We just had two great events that the Branch
participated in during November. The first event
was our attendance at the Fleming Island High
School NJROTC Veterans Appreciation Dinner on
November 10th. The cadets provided a great dinner
with entertainment from a local grade school. The
final portion of the night was a flag presentation to
a special veteran from each attending veteran’s
groups. Our special Shipmate was Past Branch
President (1960) Paul Hetz. (pictured below)
the flu vaccine-the flu shot and Flu Mist. The CDC
recommends a normal flu shot for everyone aged 6
months to 64 years of age. There is a high dose
version for those older than 65. Flu Mist is for those
between the ages of two and 49 years old, but not
pregnant women.
If beneficiaries choose to get the flu vaccine in a
retail pharmacy, they must make sure to get it from
the pharmacist. Some retail pharmacies now include
medical clinics, but if
someone other than a
pharmacist (like a nurse,
doctor
or
physician's
assistant) administers the
vaccine, TRICARE may not
cover it. TRICARE also
covers vaccines from a
beneficiary's primary care
doctor. Depending on the
TRICARE plan, there may be
copay for the office visit.
Active
duty
service
members need to follow
their service policy for
getting and reporting
vaccines.
Questions? Give me a
phone call or send me an
email.
Yours in Loyalty,
Protection and Service:
James J. Thomas
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FRA BRANCH 126 NEWS FOR DECEMBER 2015
BRANCH ACTIVITIES
James J. Thomas …………... 291-1575
The West Jax Fleet Reserve Hall Inc
President’s Corner
Al Roby ………………………….……………264-6270
1. Monday 7 December 2015 We will
have a Pearl Harbor Remembrance
Ceremony at the Branch Hall starting to at
1330 followed by a movie in the Hall.
1. The Medical Equipment locker: We
have many wheel chairs
loaned out with a few
available for check out at
this time. These are high
demand items so please be
sure to bring them back as soon as you are done
with them. We also have a good supply of canes,
crutches, potty chairs & assorted equipment to
loan out. Call Shipmate Johnson at 771-1736 or Al
Roby at 264- 6270.
2. THURSDAY, 10 DECEMBER 2015
The Ladies of Unit 126 have invited the
Shipmates of Branch 126 to attend the
Ladies monthly meeting commencing at
noon. This will be a Christmas get together
with the Ladies of the Unit providing light
refreshments. Mark your calendar for this
traditional event!
2. The Back Lot:
History: Many years ago now deceased
Shipmate Cal Blansit contracted to remove a large
mound of dirt from area work sites including Taco
Bell; Shipmate Neal Bell
was in the Hauling
Business; the end result
was 320 loads of top soil
being added to the swampy Branch lots on
Blanding Blvd. Cal suggested in June 2001 that if
the State condemns our property for the Blanding
road widening that we could sell 300 loads of top
soil at $100 per load.
Currently: We have just now fenced in the back
lot at the Hall to keep it from being used by
unauthorized vehicles and as a 2nd layer of
protection for our trailer.
3. SUNDAY, 20 DECEMBER 2015 There will
be a Covered Dish Christmas Dinner
starting at 1400, for members and
their families. Bring a covered dish
with enough food for your family plus
a few more. There is no charge for
this event. We will supply the Ham,
Turkey, Coffee, Iced Tea and
condiments.
Santa Claus will not be attending
this years dinner!
Use caution when turning into the road to
the Hall as we have a new neighbor who has
expanded his used car business with many
cars parked alongside the road.
3. Election of Officers Nominations for
the West Jax Fleet Reserve Hall Inc Board
of Directors were held
during the Branch meeting of
19 Nov and remain open until
elections are held at the
Branch meeting of 17 Dec
2015.
Contact Shipmate Thomas 291-1575 if you
can donate a few hours a month helping to
maintain the Branch Home and grounds.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah,
Happy Cuanza and Happy New Year
from your Branch Board of Directors:
James J. Thomas, Jack Elrod, Martha
Klinikowski, Bill Kulier, Clinton “Bud”
Attebery, Ed Gribbin, Al Peter, Donald
Rodely, Al Roby, Donald Walsh and
Elmer Wine.
Al Roby
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FRA BRANCH 126 NEWS FOR DECEMBER 2015
IN MEMORY OF OUR DEPARTED SHIPMATE
Senior Shipmate SF1 Courtland B. Stilwell, USN, retired, age 88,
an FRA Shipmate since 1950, reported to the Staff of the
Supreme Commander on 24 October 2015. He joined the Navy in
1944 and served 20 years of active Naval Service. Following the Navy he
worked at rework facility for several years and later did 20 years at a pulp
mill as a welder and pipefitter.
Shipmate “CB” Stilwell joined the FRA with while stationed as a Navy hard Hat Salvage Diver in Key
West, Florida. He later transferred to Branch 91 and a few years later to Branch 126 where he diligently
worked in a number of positions for a great many years.
He spent a several years as President of West Jax FRA Hall INC and a great many years as Chairman of
the Branch Blood drive. He served on the Board of Directors for over 20 years and was the 1 st Branch
Shipmate of the year.
He towed the float in multiple parades and was very involved in Branch functions and activities.
His coordination with the Moose, FRA Branch 91 and 126 led to the formation of the Branch 126 medical
equipment locker that earned him an FRA National Award. Placing this write up under a big Flag reminds us
that he sold a tremendous number of American Flags. If he was driving down the road and saw a tattered Flag
flying at a company or a home, someone was in for a lecture and many purchased a replacement Flag from
the Branch.
He and his wife manned the kitchen and cooked a great many dinners at the Branch Hall. He was a good
Shipmate and we were fortunate to have him as a Branch 126 Shipmate!
Shipmate Stilwell was predeceased by his wife of 63 years, Marcia, in November 2014. He is survived by a
son, 2 daughters, and grand and great grandchildren.
Shipmate Stilwell was laid to rest with Military, Moose and FRA Honors in Jacksonville Memory Gardens in
Orange Park, Florida. FRA Honors were conferred by Branch President James Thomas and Shipmates Ed
Gribbin, Paul Hetz, Johnny Johnson, Martha Klinikowski, Bill Kulier, Al Peter, Donald Rodely and Donald
Walsh.
Important Notice for TRICARE® Beneficiaries Taking Select Maintenance
Medications
Beginning October 1, 2015, a change in federal law requires you to refill
prescriptions for select maintenance drugs through TRICARE Pharmacy Home
Delivery or at a military pharmacy.
If you’re getting these drugs now at a network pharmacy, you need to switch. If
you don’t switch, you’ll pay 100% of the cost. This change doesn’t apply to active
duty service members.
Please call Express Scripts at 1-877-882-3335 if you are unsure if you
prescriptions are affected by this important change.
Social Security. If you take Social Security when you turn
62, you’ll get 25 percent less than if you wait until you turn 66. If you
wait until 70, you’ll get 32 percent more than if you took your
benefits at 66, and 76 percent more than you’d have gotten at 62.
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FRA BRANCH 126 NEWS FOR DECEMBER 2015
TRICARE Young Adult Program Update - Premiums for the Military Health System’s benefit
plan for adult children between 23 and 26 years old have been announced. The premiums for
TRICARE Young Adult (TYA) program will increase on Jan. 1, 2016 to $306 per month for TYA
Prime, and $228 per month for TYA Standard. “Offering the option to have young adults covered
under these plans falls in line with what all Americans are able to do with their adult children under
the Affordable Care Act,” said Mary Kaye Justis, director of the TRICARE Health Plan. “We want
to make sure those wanting this coverage know all the facts as they go into the open enrollment
season for health care plans in this country.”
The Bagpiper As a bagpiper, I play many gigs. Recently I was asked by a funeral director to
play at a graveside service for a homeless man. He had no family or friends, so the service was to
be at a pauper's cemetery in the Nova Scotia back country.
As I was not familiar with the backwoods, I got lost and, being a typical man, I didn't stop to ask
for directions.
When I finally arrived …. an hour late, I determined that, apparently the funeral service staff had
evidently finished and left, because the hearse was nowhere in sight. There were only the diggers
and crew left and they were eating lunch. I felt badly and apologized to the men for being late.
I went to the side of the grave and looked down and the vault lid was already in place. I didn't
know what else to do, so I started to play.
The workers put down their lunches and began to gather around. I played out my heart and soul
for this man with no family and friends. I played like I've never played before for this homeless
man. And as I played "Amazing Grace", the workers began to weep. They wept, I wept, we all
wept together.
When I finished, I packed up my bagpipes and started for my car. Though my head was hung
low, my heart was full. As I opened the door to my car, I heard one of the workers say,
"I never seen anything like that before, and I've been putting in septic tanks for twenty years."
The Treasurer & Editor Speaks:
I have been the Branch newsletter editor for the past 18 years or so and the Branch
Treasurer for the past 6 years. It just now occurred to me that I never placed anything
from the Branch Treasurer in the newsletter; Until Now!
In October 2015 FRA Branch 126 donated $100 each to the USO, K9’s for Warriors, and
Navy/Marine Corps Relief. In November we donated $75 to Wreaths Across America. These
expenses were authorized by the Branch Board of Directors and voted by the membership. A
complete listing of Branch income and expenses is located on the Bulletin Board in the Hall.
This is my last newsletter for 2015 and this is the 3rd writing of this page. I started out writing about
the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and how DFAS will be sending us a Form 1095 in January so we
have proof that we have Health Insurance as most of us have Tricare and many also have Medicare.
However, the subject just got too complicated as we now have Veteran’s in FRA and they may not
be under Tricare.
In the November newsletter I said that you would need to send your Form 1095 in with your tax
return. Now it appears that most of us will not be required to do that. Turns out this subject is way
too complicated for a newsletter.
Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday and Happy New Year to all! Bill Kulier
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