From honoring the legacy of its namesake, Robert Jack, to starting modern initiatives such as a monthly hiking program, a 100-year-old VFW Post in Arkansas continues to carry on Post traditions of community service and fellowship.

Founded on Feb. 13, 1925, VFW Post 1322 in Van Buren, Arkansas, is the oldest VFW Post in the state and in recent years has flourished into a hub for veterans and their families. Van Buren, a suburb of Fort Smith, is in western Arkansas near the Oklahoma state line.

Post 1322 Commander Matthew Hicks said that members focus on community activities, which he said has led to more engagement.

“We’re going into our third year with a project called Operation Daily,” said Hicks, currently a medic with the Army National Guard. “We now have our building open every day. Folks can come in, have a cup of coffee, eat a donut, play some games, watch TV, use one of our computers or have conversations with others. This Post is a community center – not a canteen.”

‘A CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE NATURE’
Hicks said that one of the Post’s priorities is the Hiking for Mental Health program, which was established in 2019. He said it allows veterans to connect with nature and build camaraderie among other hikers. Hicks said that each month, hikers meet at the Post and then carpool to a hiking location.

“Arkansas is under rated when it comes to the beauty of the state,” Hicks said. “We don’t do hard hikes, so people of all ages are welcome to come, even if they are not veterans. We make sure everyone gets a chance to experience nature in their own way and deal with whatever thoughts they have.”

Other Post 1322 initiatives include donating to the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program, flag retirement ceremonies and adopting two Van Buren cemeteries – Gill Cemetery and Gracelawn Cemetery. Volunteers laid nearly 1,000 wreaths at the cemeteries in December.

“Public fundraising campaigns helped us purchase those wreaths,” Hicks said. “We laid them at the headstones of four of the Post’s founding members and all the other service members in those cemeteries.”

‘IT’S AMAZING WHAT THEY’VE DONE’
Hicks attributed the longevity of the Post to its strong community ties and active involvement. He added that if it were not for a few of the Post’s older members “holding it together,” the facility and its contribution to the community would not be here in the present day.

Korean War veteran Robert Layes was one of those members. The Navy veteran, who served aboard the USS Kearsarge (CVA-33), said the Post is a “completely different place” now that younger veterans have joined.

“It’s amazing what they’ve done with the place,” said Layes, who served from 1950 to 1954. “I don’t get to go as much anymore, but I still participate sometimes.”

Layes, 93, added that he appreciates newer members for growing the Post into what it is today.

“I am very proud to be a VFW member,” Layes said. “Our Post has changed for the better, and I’m happy it has.”

This article is featured in the 2025 March/April issue of VFW magazine.

When members of VFW Post 1828 and their families gathered at the Veterans Memorial in West Plains, Missouri, to commemorate the 33rd anniversary of the end of Operation Desert Storm last year, it marked an historic first for the “Show-Me State” Post.

Led by Gulf War veteran and Post 1828 Junior Vice Commander David Scott Buennemeyer, the ceremony on Feb. 28, 2024, honored the poignant stories of two pilots from his unit who were killed in action. It also included the recitation of the names of 10 Missourians who made the ultimate sacrifice.

“I feel our war is the modern forgotten war, much like the Korean War,” said Buennemeyer, a retired Air Force master sergeant who led a ground combat unit during Desert Storm. “It is a story that I believe has been eclipsed by the Iraq and Afghanistan era, but there is so much to remember about the significance of our war.”

Buennemeyer, who served during the Gulf War with Echo Flight of the 50th Security Police Group out of Hahn Air Base in Germany, decided to organize Missouri’s first Desert Storm ceremony following his arrival to the state in 2022.

A former District 9 commander for the VFW Department of Illinois, Buennemeyer participated for nearly a decade in the state’s annual Desert Storm Remembrance ceremony, which takes place each February at the Illinois State Capitol Rotunda in Springfield to commemorate its 17 service members killed in combat.

“I was involved with state political leaders and state veterans’ affairs leaders at every ceremony for over eight years,” said Buennemeyer, a former member of VFW Post 5506 in Marseilles, Illinois. “I also held annual Post and District-level Desert Storm ceremonies at the Middle East Conflicts Wall Memorial in Marseilles, the only memorial built while the wars were being fought.”

Buennemeyer believes the inaugural ceremony last year, which was concluded with a rendition of Taps by Post 1828 Commander Dan Brown, also provided others in the state with a model for how Posts and towns can honor and celebrate their Gulf War veterans.

Buennemeyer intended to host a second annual ceremony at the Veterans Memorial in West Plains this Feb. 28. As of the completion of this article in January, his goal was to expand public coverage and invite state VFW leadership, congressmen and senators.

“I want my new state to know and honor the sacrifice of its citizens and to hold annual remembrance ceremonies,” Buennemeyer said. “We can never forget each and every person who paid the ultimate price. We need to read their names out loud and remember them.”

This article is featured in the 2025 March/April issue of VFW magazine, and was written by Ismael Rodriguez Jr., associate editor for VFW magazine.

VFW Post 4337 in Inverness, Florida, is being led by a husband-and-wife team. Post Commander Jesus (Joe) Acosta and Auxiliary President Lorinda (Lori) Acosta lead the Post and its Auxiliary in community endeavors.

A Vietnam veteran, Joe was based at Long Thanh North from 1969-1971 with the 210th Combat Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Brigade. He joined the VFW in 1977 while he was stationed in Lawton, Oklahoma.

Now in his third non-consecutive term as Post commander, Joe said having Lori serving alongside him has been the easiest term thus far.

“During our morning breakfast, we just chit-chat about how we can help each other’s organization,” said Joe, who has been married to Lori for seven years. “But we respect each other’s position. The Auxiliary is always willing to assist and lend a hand with planning, promoting and with the execution of our events. In reality, they are our cornerstone.”

Lori, who joined the VFW Auxiliary in 2020, was an EMT with the Flanders Fire Department Rescue Squad. She was one of the many who responded to the Twin Towers on Sept. 11, 2001.

As the immediate and past Post Auxiliary president, she said serving next to Joe has been nothing but positive.

“We trust each other in decision-making for the betterment of the Post and membership of both organizations,” Lori said. “If there are problems, we work together to resolve any issues. The role of the Auxiliary is to help our veterans to the best of our ability.”

Among the many Post activities, the Auxiliary support is weekly bingo, food drives, potluck dinners and representing the Post in the Buddy Poppy contest at the fall conference.

“In general, the Auxiliary members are here to be a helping hand whenever we can be of service,” Lori said. “Or a friendly shoulder or ear if someone just needs to vent.”

The duo channels the membership’s efforts in providing scholarships to high school students, recognizing first responders and helping needy veterans who need a hand up. Most of all, Joe said, they “delight in the camaraderie” of the VFW community.

“Members of the VFW join to mingle with people who understand them and respect those boundaries,” Joe added. “On the other hand, the people who join the VFW Auxiliary join as a tribute to their spouse or a loved one who has endowed them with the privilege of membership.”

Joe is quick to commend his wife, a two-time cancer survivor, for being an inspiration to other women who are just beginning their own cancer journeys. He said Lori plays softball and has been a bowler for 26 years, including competing twice in Reno, Nevada, in the national championship games.

“A significant milestone for our Post was the conversion to a non-smoking establishment,” Joe said. “Despite nay sayers stating otherwise, our Post is thriving and is a hub of camaraderie.”

This article is featured in the 2025 March/April issue of VFW magazine, and was written by Janie Dyhouse, senior editor for VFW magazine.

VFW Post 6445 in Harlem, Georgia, held a blood drive in celebration of January’s National Blood Donor Month.

The event was held at the Harlem Branch Library Jan. 25, in an RV from The Blood Connection, who the Post partnered with for the event.

“We are thrilled with the outcome of our mobile blood drive event,” VFW Post 6445 Jr. Vice Commander Timothy Saari Jr. said.

This was the first blood drive the Post has held, and the event exceeded their expectations. They collected 23 units of blood, which will go to those who are undergoing surgery, treatment for cancer, other medical conditions and more.

The Post shared that the outcome of the event proved the importance of blood donations and how passionate the community is to help others in need.

“Our members and the Harlem community came together to make a real difference in the lives of others,” Post Commander Erik Averill said. “We’re proud to support this cause and look forward to continuing our community service efforts.”

Post 6445 is dedicated to supporting veterans, military families and the local community through various outreach programs and this blood drive is just one way they have done so.

Post 6445 is planning to host another blood drive later this year and will hold a blood drive every January for National Blood Donor Month.

This article is featured in the 2025 March issue of Checkpoint. If you’re a VFW member and don’t currently receive the VFW Checkpoint, please contact VFW magazine at magazine@vfw.org.

VFW magazine continues its “Destination Post Series” this month. The series will feature 125 VFW Posts located in sought-after tourist destinations. Featured VFW Posts are those that make a real difference in the communities in which the Posts are located. This month’s article takes VFW magazine to two coastal cities in Georgia and South Carolina.

Renowned for its rich blend of art, history and antebellum architecture, the charming city of Savannah, Georgia, exudes a unique sense of permanence that extends to its large veterans’ population. At the heart of this community stands VFW Post 660, as much a fixture of the city as the Spanish moss and blooming pink azaleas that decorate the cobblestone squares.

Chartered in 1932, Post 660 comprises more than 400 members from 23 to 94 years old, ranging from post-9/11 veterans to those of the Vietnam and Korean wars. This blend of generational wisdom and unity has established the Post as a significant presence in the community, demonstrated through its monthly events and fundraisers, volunteer efforts, partnerships, and provision of food and clothing for those in need.

With an active Auxiliary, Riders Group and Military Order of the Cootie, the Post offers its members and visiting veterans ample opportunities for engagement and camaraderie.

“We strive to maintain an atmosphere of openness and inclusion within our veterans community,” VFW Post 660 Commander Charles Fillyaw said. “Whatever your background or current situation, we want all veterans to know they are welcome here.”

For Fillyaw, the southern hospitality and warm decorum his membership extends to all who visit Post 660 is a source of personal pride, tied to why he joined in 2018.

“I had just lost my best friend, and I really needed to be around veterans,” Fillyaw said. “When I walked through the doors of Post 660, I got exactly what I needed. Since taking over as commander, I have welcomed everyone who walks through the door. The members of the Post and Auxiliary all do the same thing. That, to me, is why our Post is so special.”

Located on the outskirts of Savannah and hiding along the shade cast by tall oak trees and Spanish moss, VFW Post 660 also has become a hotbed for Hollywood producers to film anything from slapstick comedies to dramas to cult classics.

Since 2016, Post 660 has been part of the backdrops for six major motion pictures to date, including Adam Sandler’s “The Do-Over” (2016), “Galveston” (2018), “Peanut Butter Falcon” (2019) and “Halloween Ends” (2022), as well as the recent releases of Tyler Perry’s “Divorce in the Black” (2024) and Clint Eastwood’s “Juror #2” (2024).

“Every time these films come out, they recreate their sets inside our Post, and we always get to keep part of the set intact at our Post as part of our history,” Sr. Vice Commander Justin Howe said. “They can range from small items to major renovation projects. It’s all very cool and draws in movie fans from all over the place, especially movies with cult followings like ‘Halloween.'”

THE POST ON THE COAST
Up the coast is the location of VFW’s next featured Post. Sitting less than 20 minutes from Charleston, South Carolina, lies the Isle of Palms, home to VFW Post 3137.

Nestled at the heart of this beach community, along the red cobblestone of Ocean Boulevard and surrounded by skinny palm trees and large pastel colonial houses of different colors, Post 3137 boasts a membership of more than 1,500 members.

With military landmarks such as Joint Base Charleston, the Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum, the Vietnam Experience Exhibit, and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and Museum nearby, Post 3137 often serves as a hub for camaraderie.

“Because of these veteran-friendly attractions, our Post serves many visiting comrades from other Posts, as well as active-duty soldiers stationed close by,” VFW Post 3137 Commander Bryan Brooks said.

Open to the community, VFW Post 3137 Quartermaster Clayton Johnson believes what makes his Post special is the balance between work and play, between service and respite.

From volunteering at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in Charleston to sitting on a beach chair, watching the turquoise Atlantic and listening to the faraway sound of bands playing along the beachfront bars, Post 3137 offers a unique duality.

“Post 3137 redefines your perceptions of who and what the VFW is,” Johnson said. “You will find fresh beach air and beachfront views, but most importantly, you will find a unique connection among
its veterans, young and old alike, and the opportunity to serve a vibrant community and build true, genuine relationships.”

The Post also provides an array of opportunities for its members to bond, from large dinners to frequent morale and welfare-boosting events and pre and post-deployment gatherings for active duty, Reserve and National Guard units in the area.

“Whether you come to the Post to relax and cheer on your favorite football team, enjoy our monthly fish fry, or have some quiet time by the flag overlooking the beach with the sound of waves crashing in the background,” Brooks said, “our Post offers a variety of experiences for its members.”

This Destination Post Series article is featured in the 2025 March/April issue of VFW magazine, and was written by Ismael Rodriguez Jr., associate editor for VFW magazine.

The Department of Maryland VFW Auxiliary recently donated $6,000 to the Veterans Affairs Maryland Health Care System.

The Salisbury Independent reported that the donation will benefit veterans throughout the “Chesapeake Bay State” by providing things such as creative arts resources, transportation services, adaptive sports equipment, holiday gifts, supplies for new and expecting mothers, and equipment for inpatient care units.

Veterans who receive care at the Baltimore, Loch Raven and Perry Point VA Medical Centers will be directly supported by this donation.

Jonathan Eckman, director of the VA Maryland Health Care System, told the Salisbury Independent that the Department of Maryland VFW Auxiliary donation will allow the health care system to provide enhanced services and programs to veterans and serves as a reminder that veteran patients’ military service has not been forgotten.

More than 58,000 veterans in Maryland are supported by the VA Maryland Health Care System.

This article is featured in the 2025 January issue of Checkpoint. If you’re a VFW member and don’t currently receive the VFW Checkpoint, please contact VFW magazine at magazine@vfw.org.Article submitted by Madeline Mapes, a freelance writer based in Kansas City, Missouri.

This winter, VFW Post 6291 has served as a warming center for the Murray, Kentucky, community when temperatures drop below 30 degrees.

Post 6291 Commander Richard J. Owens said the Post opened as a warming center in January for 20 days in conjunction with local emergency management officials.

He said during that time the Post served nearly 100 people, 22 of which stayed there 24 hours a day. The 22 people were served a minimum of two meals a day and everyone was welcome to winter necessities.

According to The Herald Ledger, the Post provided blankets, clothes, pillows, shoes, warm food and a place to sleep for those in need.

Owens said they distributed more than $40,000 worth of cold weather essentials to community members during those 20 days.

“We call our Post a family, and we all come together as a family to look after one another,” Owens added. “We took an oath to serve our country, and that oath never died.”

The Post will open as a warming center in the future on an as-needed basis when temps drop.

This article is featured in the 2025 February issue of Checkpoint. If you’re a VFW member and don’t currently receive the VFW Checkpoint, please contact VFW magazine at magazine@vfw.org.Article written by Madeline Mapes, a freelance writer based in Kansas City, Missouri.

Members of VFW Post 2076 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, hosted their 24th annual Groundhog Day celebration by welcoming residents from the VA Hospital in Butler, Pa., on Jan. 26.

Since its inception in 1999 – only canceled twice during the COVID-19 pandemic – Post 2076 has welcomed veterans from the VA, treating them to tours of the Punxsutawney Area Historical and Genealogical Society, the Punxsutawney Weather Center, and then back to the VFW for a lunch featuring beef stew and a visit with Punxsutawney Phil at Gobbler’s Knob.

Butler VA Medical Center’s recreational and creative arts therapist, Marc Conti, praised Post 2076 as a prime example of a resource in the community that can be used without the aid of alcohol, according to a press release by the VA.

“There are no temptations or triggers there to set off those who are being treated for addiction,” Conti said, adding that he appreciates the Post does not sell liquor at their canteen.

According to the press release, the highly anticipated therapeutic trip provides education, fun, and camaraderie for VA residents who find that they can have a good time while remaining sober. Plans for next year’s trip, which will be about a week before Groundhog Day, are already in the works.

Origins of Groundhog Day

Brought over by German settlers in the 1700s, they, of the Christian faith, believed that clear skies on Candlemas Day meant a long winter, while cloudy skies meant an early spring.

Facts About Punxsutawney Phil

• The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club was organized in 1899.
• Members of the club care for Phil and his family at a space next to the Punxsutawney Memorial Library.
• The Inner Circle is a group of members who wake Phil from his burrow and announce his prediction.
• In 1886, Clymer H. Freas, the city editor of the Punxsutawney Spirit Newspaper, proclaimed Phil the official weather forecasting groundhog.
• Phil’s full title is “Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators and Weather Prophet Extraordinary.”
• Phil is now a celebrity, with thousands of visitors from around the world watching his prediction at Gobbler’s Knob.
• If Phil sees his shadow, it’s an omen of six more weeks of winter.
• If Phil doesn’t see his shadow, spring is coming.

VFW Post 4561 members in Cresco, Iowa, raised more than $3,000 during their annual cancer benefit breakfast event this January.

The fundraiser ran from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with proceeds going towards the local Howard County Cancer Association, as well as the Post 4561 Auxiliary Milz Cancer Grant.

Post 4561 Quartermaster Alice Abbott told local news outlet KIMT3 about Auxiliary member Jessie Milz and her husband’s mission to create the Post 4561 Auxiliary Milz Cancer Grant to honor Milz’s memory and help other community members with cancer.

Both cancer funds, according to Abbott, will help with the cost of transportation for cancer patients in the community.

“We noticed that we had local people that were suffering from cancer, and the funds were needed here,” Abbott told KIMT3 in Cresco. “We just split it between the two organizations.”

The cancer benefit breakfast hosted 227 guests and helped raise $3,164.

This article is featured in the 2025 February issue of Checkpoint. If you’re a VFW member and don’t currently receive the VFW Checkpoint, please contact VFW magazine at magazine@vfw.org.

For the past two decades, members of VFW Post 3746 have conducted monthly cleanups around their community in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

They are often seen hauling trash bags along the sides of roads and highways in their VFW gear, infrared vests and smiles, joined by dozens of children and adults recruited to help beautify their city of more than 75,000 residents.

“This is important to us because the VFW is about assisting veterans and their families, but also assisting its community,” VFW Post 3746 Commander John Thorne said. “This helps maintain a proactive view of the VFW in our community.”

Post 3746 volunteers have collected tons of trash along the roads and highways since beginning this initiative in 2005. They devote a weekend each month to gathering trash for a minimum of two hours and two miles, which sometimes runs longer and farther.

According to Post Quartermaster Grady Meeks, these cleanups are often coordinated with Rock Hill sanitation services, which pick up stockpiles of trash rounded together by Post 3746 members along the road.

“When doing community pickup in the city, we put the trash in bags and leave them for the city to pick up,” Meeks said. “If we are working in the county, our members will collect the trash and take it to the city dumpsters ourselves.”

To achieve this task each month, Post 3746 members recruit volunteers from local schools and JROTC programs near and around Rock Hill, as well as through word of mouth around the city.

This proactivity in recruiting and working closely with the community bodes well for Post 3746 and the image it continues cultivating within its community. According to Post Trustee Willie Williams, these efforts by his fellow Post members never go unnoticed.

“The community always responds by helping with the cleanups,” Williams said. “They also always let us know how much we mean to them through their continued support of our programs and activities.”

This article is featured in the 2024 January/February issue of VFW magazine, and was written by Ismael Rodriguez Jr., senior writer for VFW magazine.