The March American Legion Veterans breakfast was sponsored by the UCHS Navy Junior ROTC. The speaker was Master Chief Jacob Streufert, the Senior Naval Science Instructor (SNSI) at the school. A Senior Naval Science Instructor (SNSI) is a retired Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard commissioned officer certified by the Naval Service Training Command to lead a high school NJROTC unit. The SNSI is vital for building a, "strong foundation of citizenship within America's future leaders," by maintaining high standards of military bearing and teaching cadets personal responsibility.

Master Chief Streufert was a Fire Controlman in the Navy for 24 years. He controlled everything from radar, fire control systems, and computer systems to the Navy's most advanced missile system. Master Chief Streufert said, “My mission is not to get students to join the military. My mission is to provide them with guidance to become better people, citizens, and leaders, whether they take that to the military, college, or the workforce”. There are presently 34 cadets in the UCHS NJROTC.

Mark Cook, the Union County Veterans Service Officer (VSO), spoke about Veterans' benefits. Mark served in the West Virginia National Guard and was mobilized in support of the Iraq War. Union County is 5th from the bottom of Tennessee counties in awarding benefits to qualifying Veterans. Union County Veterans are simply not getting the support and respect they earned. The Union County Veterans Service Officer assists veterans, their family members, and survivors in obtaining federal and state veterans’ benefits they have earned through their military service.

Mark does not work for the Veterans Administration; he is a county employee paid by the Union County government and working for the Veterans in this county. He encourages Veterans to get in touch with him to discuss possible benefits or just to talk. His office is in the Union County Senior Center, and he can be reached at 865-661-7243. His email does not seem to be working well at this time.

According to the US Flag Code, when an American flag is worn, torn, or faded beyond repair, proper protocol is to remove it from display and retire it in a dignified manner. Flag Day on June 14th is the day that American Legion Post 212 observes to respectfully and ceremoniously burn all flags that are old, faded, or torn. If your flag looks weary, you may drop it off at the American Legion Hall at any of their scheduled events: the First Monday, second Saturday, or third Thursday of April, May, or June. It will be included in the ceremony. If you have any questions, contact Adjutant Norman Gillen at Adjutant@ALTNpost212.org