VFW Post 10904 in Manchester, Tennessee, hosted its annual Vietnam-era Veterans Honors Dinner on March 28. Now in its seventh year, the dinner’s purpose is to recognize Vietnam veterans and to treat them as they should have been treated when they returned home from Vietnam.

The Vietnam-era veterans in attendance were told:

-“Thank you for your service;”
-“Your cause was just;” and
-“Welcome home.”

The gathering was held at Manchester’s Coffee County Veterans Building, which is shared by the VFW, DAV and American Legion. More than 100 guests were present. Lloyd Smith, a local musician performed songs from the Vietnam period.

A 10-foot projection screen showed the 1967 Bob Hope Christmas Special featuring Raquel Welch and other celebrities touring Southeast Asia. Several of the veterans in attendance fondly remembered seeing the show when they were there nearly 60 years ago.

VFW Post 10904 Quartermaster Howard Thompson served as the emcee. Thompson was a first lieutenant with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and is a Vietnam veteran.

He read a letter of gratitude from a former South Vietnamese refugee who later started a business. Part of the letter stated: “Back then, I didn’t grasp the nuances of politics, and I really didn’t care to. What I knew for sure was these brave soldiers, representing the United States, stood by our side against the Northern Vietnamese communists … risking their lives for our lives and liberty. That’s how I saw them then … that’s how I continue to see them now.”

VFW Post Commander Kimberly King said it is important to recognize Vietnam veterans especially as they were not recognized when they came.

“I’d say eight years ago, when we came up with this idea it was to pay honor and respect to our brothers and sisters who served in Vietnam,” King said.

To learn more about activities hosted by VFW Post 10904, visit https://www.vfwpost10904.com.

This Checkpoint article was submitted by G. Lamar Wilkie, VFW Post 10904 Senior Vice Commander and Adjutant.

A VFW Post in the Land of 10,000 Lakes held a special ceremony to commemorate Vietnam War veterans for National Vietnam War Veterans Day in March.

As reported in Virginia, Minnesota’s Mesabi Tribune, emotions ran high at VFW Post 4456 in Gilbert, Minnesota, during a moving tribute for the area’s Vietnam War veterans. Attendees were amazed by the display of respect shown to Vietnam War veterans in attendance and the war’s KIAs from the region.

“The whole thing was something I’ll never forget,” said VFW Post 4456 Auxiliary member Candace Barshaw, according to the Mesabi Tribune. “The emotion was so strong.”

National Vietnam War Veterans Day was first observed in 2017 after then-President Donald Trump signed the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act. Prior to this, Minnesota’s first Vietnam War Veterans Day was in 2008 after then-Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty issued a proclamation, making Minnesota one of the first states to recognize the day.

Held under the flapping shade of the U.S. flag, VFW Post 3137 members in Isle of Palms, South Carolina, hosted a community gathering for their semi-annual retirement of old and tattered flags on April 6.

Against a picturesque view of the shimmering Atlantic Ocean, the ceremony opened with remarks from Post 3137 Commander Bo Stallings, followed by an invocation from Post Chaplain Carol Truslow. The ceremony also included the National Anthem by Post member Joe Houdek, which preceded the Pledge of Allegiance and the raising of the U.S. flag during the playing of To The Colors.

More than 100 flags were properly retired during the ceremony by veterans, Auxiliary members and other members of the community. Among those who helped retire flags were local Boy Scout Troop 15 and Troop 20, who also demonstrated the proper way to fold the flag, celebrating the flag as an emblem of the U.S.

Post 3137, dubbed “The Post on the Coast,” provides a receptacle for community members to dispose of worn flags at their entrance along Ocean Boulevard. They encourage all who have worn flags to dispose of them there, allowing for a proper retirement.

A VFW Post in San Diego accepted help from its community when it needed a new refrigerator after the Post’s had broken. When the original stopped, volunteers at the Post were in the process of cooking hundreds of meals for displaced flood victims.

During an interview with CBS 8 in April, volunteers told the news station that the Post’s main industrial refrigerator stopped working and that they were accepting donations for a new one. After the story aired, VFW Post 7420 Commander Livy Lazaro told CBS 8 that “everyone just started calling and blowing up our phone.”

CBS 8 reported that the Post received $3,000 in donations from across San Diego County. VFW Post 7420 Commander Livy Lazaro said to the TV station that his Post’s mission is not complete until “everyone is taken care of.”

On April 2, VFW Post 7420 told CBS 8 that it was providing 400 meals daily. In January, historical levels of flooding hit the military town. Many families were displaced and in need of meals. VFW Post 7420 members and volunteers immediately started preparing hot meals for flood victims in shelters and hotels. And even when the refrigerator stopped working, volunteers did not.

“We are going to be here until the families don’t need us anymore,” VFW Post 7420 Quartermaster Johnny Odom told CBS 8.

On March 18, VFW Post 637 Operations Manager and VFW Auxiliary Department of Virginia Guard Cara Buckley led a ceremony paying tribute to 12 fallen female war heroes at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond, which has more than 12,000 names on its wall.

The ceremony hosted several dignitaries, which included VFW Department of Virginia Commander Gary Adams, as well as Virginia’s Auxiliary President Victoria Butler and National VFW Auxiliary President Carla Martinez, who each gave remarks laden with heartfelt gratitude in honor and respect of the 12 female fallen war heroes.

“These remarkable women displayed unmatched bravery and dedication in their service to our country,” Buckley said of the 12 women, which are made up of nine World War II veterans and three from the Global War on Terrorism.

The large-scale event included Post and Auxiliary members from across Virginia, many of them belonging to Posts 637, 9808,7059,3150,1115 and 12202. These six VFW Posts and their Auxiliaries contributed to the ceremony by performing the national anthem, crafting a profound invocation and paying homage to their former female comrades.

The ceremony was punctuated by the reading of the 12 names, which were solemnly recited aloud as white roses were laid in their honor by VFW and VFW Auxiliary female veterans in respect for their sacrifices and unwavering courage.

As a centerpiece to the ceremony, Buckley posthumously honored Post 637 member Steve Cochran by displaying the battlefield cross he constructed prior to his passing. The cross, according to Buckley, serves as a reminder of resilience, honor and the remembrance of these fallen heroes’ contributions to women in the service.

“Let us never forget the profound impact these heroes had and continue to honor their legacy of valor and resilience,” Buckley said.

The 12 fallen female war heroes are:

2LT Eva Virginia Ageon – WWII – Botetourt County – Army Nurse Corps

CPL Betty Walker Driskill – WWII – Prince Edward County – WAC

2LT Nancy Holden Hedges – WWII – Charlottesville – WAC

PFC Leslie Denise Jackson – GWOT – Richmond – Army- Iraq

1LT Elenora Payne Jones – WWII – Lancaster County – Army Nurse Corps

2LTJoan Windsor Nourse – WWII – Fauquier County – WAC

SGT Caryn Nouv – GWOT – Newport News – Army -Afghanistan

PFC Nan Sue Porter – WWII – Richmond City – WAC

CPL Naoma L. Ridings – WWII – Arlington

ENS Elizabeth Irene Seay – WWII – Fluvanna County – WAVES

Apprentice Seaman Ruth Harrow Stone – WWII – Middlesex County – WAVES

CW5 Sharon T. Swartworth – GWOT – Alexandria – Army – Iraq

Submitted by Cara Buckley, VFW Department of Virginia Auxiliary Guard

Over the past five years, a VFW District in Virginia has made it its mission to support a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a haven for veterans with PTSD and their families.

Virginia’s District 11, based in the heart of the commonwealth, has donated a total of $215,000 to the Boulder Crest Foundation, a nonprofit organization that offers programs free of charge to veterans who deployed to war zones from any generation or conflict. The latest donation took place in November, when members of District 11 presented $42,000 to the foundation.

Alexander Thymmons, commander of Virginia’s VFW District 11, said that the District does not donate the funds on its own behalf, but for the VFW as a whole, saying that VFW “changes the lives of veterans” for the better.

“This wasn’t just a financial contribution,” said Thymmons, who medically retired as an Army major. “It symbolized a profound dedication to the welfare of those who have served.”

Thymmons said that organizations such as the Boulder Crest Foundation are important for the veteran community and help those “to regain self-worth” in their lives outside of the military.

“The Boulder Crest Foundation is a beacon of hope for many of our nation’s veterans,” said Thymmons, a former intelligence officer. “Not only was Boulder Crest founded by a former service member, but the people also leading the program have gone through it and have seen the significant changes the program brought to their lives.”

Thymmons said that District 11 throughout the years has raised money for the Boulder Crest program through its Valley Veterans Ride for Heroes, a cycling event in the Shenandoah Valley. The event, hosted by a dozen VFW Posts in the area, garnered about 150 cyclists last year.

A ‘PATHH’ TO GROWTH
The Boulder Crest Retreat in Virginia is a 37-acre resort in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Founded in September 2013 by Ken Falke, a retired Navy master chief petty officer and explosive ordnance disposal technician, Boulder Crest’s approach to helping military members, veterans, first responders and their families is based around the concept of “post-traumatic growth.” The foundation guides veterans and their families to transform life crises or traumatic events into the pillars of strength and resilience.

Boulder Crest provides visitors with the chance to complete the Warrior PATHH (Progressive and Alternative Training for Healing Heroes) program. It is based on post-traumatic growth. This is defined as a veteran making positive psychological changes based on struggles with trauma.

The 90-day journey is led by combat veterans dedicated to connecting and supporting those transitioning from the military into civilian life. The program uses education to help participants understand post-traumatic stress and provide ways to alleviate it.

The Boulder Crest Foundation has a secondary location in Sonoita, Ariz. For more information about the Boulder Crest Foundation, visit https://bouldercrest.org.

RIDING FOR VETERANS
This year’s Valley Veterans Ride for Heroes, according to Thymmons, will rally under the banner “Veterans: Not Just a Number.” He said that this theme is deeply personal to every veteran and serves as a reminder that behind every statistic, “there’s a story, a life lived and sacrifices made.”

Thymmons, who said he has faced his own battles with PTSD, supports the Not Just a Number Act (S. 928), a bill he said “brings humanity to the forefront” of the veteran suicide crisis.

“This is not just another piece of legislation – it is a call to action,” said Thymmons, a veteran of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. “It demands that the secretary of VA provide a detailed, empathetic analysis of veteran suicides and push for better data and understanding of the crisis. This is about seeing the person behind the uniform and about changing how we as a nation approach this heartbreaking issue.”

Learn more about 2024’s Valley Veterans Ride for Heroes at https://www.valleyvetsride4heroes.com.

This article is featured in the 2024 April issue of VFW magazine, and was written by Dave Spiva, associate editor for VFW magazine.

More than a year after the Bataan Death March’s last remaining World War II survivor passed away, the city he called home for more than 56 years renamed its municipal airport after him.

Led by VFW Post 6271 in Benson, Arizona, more than 300 attendees gathered outside of the newly named Benson Municipal Airport/Paul Kerchum Field to honor the memory of Benson’s own American hero on Jan. 27.

In a ceremony that included 14 members of the Kerchum family, as well as dignitaries from across the Grand Canyon State and the VFW Department of Arizona, many spoke of the larger-than-life Kerchum, who died just shy of his 103rd birthday on Dec. 17, 2022.

“Just over a year ago, we simultaneously mourned the loss of and celebrated the life of our own hometown hero,” Benson Mayor Joe Konrad said in the opening speech. “He shared his story with us every Memorial and Veterans Day, and in spite of the atrocities that he endured, Paul Kerchum rose above adversity, persevered and spent a lifetime making this world a better place.”

A life member of Post 6271, Kerchum’s intimate account as a POW and survivor of the infamous Bataan Death March was well-known among his fellow VFW members. Many of these veterans said they often walked away with a new perspective on their own service.

For Post 6271 Judge Advocate and District 7 Commander Dennis Bringham, who spearheaded the ceremony on Jan. 27, what most stood out about Kerchum was the kind of survivor he was.

“By human nature we are all survivors, but it is how we accomplish this that sets us all apart,” Bringham said. “His upbeat attitude and demeanor is one of the things that made him unique as a survivor. He had every reason and right to be a bitter and angry person, but he was not.”

Wishing to have known him longer, Bringham’s speech carried the themes that appeared throughout the rest of the speeches from several other keynote speakers that included Air Force Col. Scott Mills from Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona, as well as Army Col. John Ives, a garrison commander at Fort Huachuca in Arizona.

When speaking of Kerchum, who retired after 29 years in the Air Force with the rank of chief master sergeant, Mills added perspective to the importance of the renamed Benson Municipal Airport/Paul Kerchum Field.

“In renaming this airport, we give it a profound sense of symbolism, symbolism that will echo far beyond this runway,” Mills said. “This name not only commemorates Chief Kerchum, but it commemorates all of the collective strength of those who have served, and those who are still serving today.”

Mills’ speech segued into Ives’ remembrance of Kerchum, whose speech at New Mexico State University in 1997 resonated with cadet Ives before he himself would embark on his own military journey.

“I was blessed to hear him speak at New Mexico State University when we called ourselves the Bataan Battalion,” Mills recalled. “He and two other veterans spoke on the terrors of those days and imparted lasting messages of hope, toughness and glorious victory.”

Mills then reflected on what that speech means today now that he is older and wiser, having experienced deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Qatar, Korea and Nigeria.

“Now that I am older, his willingness to share his experiences served a deeper meaning, his presence served as an inspiration and now his departure serves as a cold reminder that the greatest among all of us must pass,”

Mills said. “And, so, we will consistently remind ourselves of this hero by naming this airport after this great man, Chief Master Sgt. Paul Kerchum.”

Following Mills, the event concluded with some recollections by members of the Kerchum family, who spoke of Kerchum, the family man. From talking about his early life during the Great Depression to his fooling his mother into signing a permission slip to join the Army in 1938, the stories of young Kerchum and later the father and grandfather flowed.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the monument bearing the biography and namesake of the Benson airport was unveiled, and the guests were encouraged to attend a reception with food and drinks at Post 6271, where the dining facility was first renamed the Paul Kerchum Hall on Memorial Day 2023.

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

When VFW Post 3343 Commander Brian Moore sat down to calculate how much his Post and its Auxiliary had donated in 2023, the figure sent him back to the calculator.

Between January and December of last year, the Post in Clyde, Ohio, donated $158,799 out of its charitable checking account to several organizations, schools, local government and programs geared toward making its community a better place.

“I subtracted and added everything several times to make sure the numbers were right,” said Moore, an Air Force veteran who served in South Korea in 1988. “We are a very active Post always
looking for ways to help in the community, but I myself was astounded.”

The Post in Clyde, about 75 miles west of Cleveland, relies on its membership of more than 300 and an Auxiliary of 400 to raise money by keeping active in the community and participating in events
and fundraisers throughout the year.

Since Ohio legalized electronic instant bingo in June 2021, the majority of Post 3343’s donations to the community have since stemmed from the revenue of pulltab tickets and machines played by its
VFW and Auxiliary members.

“The licensing states that we have to maintain a separate checking account for our electronic proceeds to use for charity,” Moore said. “We always want to make sure we shine in the community,
and through our membership remaining very active, we have been able to raise large sums of money to donate locally.”

‘MAKING AN IMPACT’
In 2023, the Post donated to several scholarship funds, area schools, youth clubs and organizations, police and fire departments, VFW’s Unmet Needs program for military and veteran families, and many others. This included $10,000 to the Big Nut Scholarship fund for those who attend Ohio State University, $12,000 to the local chapters of the Boys and Cub Scouts, as well as $4,000 toward Toys for Tots and $5,000 among the three local winners of VFW’s Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen contests.

For their charitable work around the community, Moore added that his Post has garnered positive feedback from many local residents in Clyde. According to Moore, the gratitude from members in the community of 6,321 residents is palpable.

“The mayor is a friend, and he has thanked me personally for what we have been able to do,” Moore said. “Together with my wonderful officers and Auxiliary, I know what we have been able to do
has had and continues to have a positive impact in our community.”

VFW Post 3343 also started 2024 by giving the Clyde fire and police departments $10,000 each during the first week of January, which will be used for much-needed equipment for the first responders, according to Moore.

“Annually, we give them something,” Moore said. “I talked with the chiefs and got a feel for any special needs they might have. The police department bought new cameras and safety equipment, and the fire department needed more security.”

The Post on April 19 also is sponsoring a two-day, 100-mile run by Moore’s son, Clifford. He is an Auxiliary member and veteran who on Veterans Day is known around Clyde for treating veterans
to free dental appointments at his practice. The run, dubbed “Hometown Run For Heroes,” is a cause to raise money for PTSD and suicide prevention and awareness.

“Like I said, we are a very active Post,” Moore said. “I believe we are one of the best Posts in Ohio and what a VFW Post should aspire to be.”

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

Around the world, more of VFW’s nearly 5,800 local Posts are offering yoga programs to help veterans and community members experience improvement in their physical and mental health.

The VA reports on its website that yoga is one of the “evidence-based complementary and integrative health (CIH) approaches” offered as part of a veteran’s medical benefits package when deemed “clinically necessary” by his or her care team.

“Based on literature review, these approaches were found to be safe and have sufficient evidence of benefit to be recommended as appropriate components of care for the veteran population,” according to VA.

And it is not just beneficial for the veteran population. Community members also can take advantage of these yoga offerings at discounted rates, with money going to help local vets, and, at some Posts, the classes are offered for free.

“The low price of the yoga classes makes it very affordable and covers the cost of professional cleaning of the carpet in the hall where the classes are conducted,” said Kevin Calnan, commander of VFW Post 7272 in Bellingham, Mass., about 30 miles southwest of Boston. “The profit is deposited into the Post relief fund. It helps provide a revenue stream we wouldn’t normally have. That revenue gives us the ability to help veterans or to support other community organizations. This provides us with a positive footprint within the community.”

Pricing for the 60-minute yoga classes at Post 7272 ranges from $7.50 to $10. Lower rates are for people who commit to doing more classes. The $10 rate is for one class only and payable at the door.

Since September 2021, when the Bellingham yoga program began, nearly $5,000 has been raised for the Post to help local vets. More than 120 people have taken the classes.

“Yoga at the VFW is a win-win for me and our vets,” said Sabrina Grancio, a frequent attendee. “It’s why I do it, and I like the participants.”

Other Bellingham residents are taking advantage of the classes, too.

“I’m thrilled by the sense of community support at the VFW,” Elle Taran said. “I’m connecting with local veterans and making amazing new friends along the way.”

A VFW Post in The Lone Star State also offers yoga classes.

“Our yoga classes are free for veterans and senior citizens and are part of a wellness program that we are trying to accomplish,” said Marcey Phillips, commander of District 17 in Texas and VFW Post 4709 in Conroe, Texas, north of Houston. “The participants absolutely love the classes, and they love the teacher who helps each student work to their full potential and gears the exercises to each student’s abilities. That inclusiveness makes it easy for people to keep coming back.”

Phillips adds that the classes enhance a healthy lifestyle.

“I feel that one of the largest benefits of offering our yoga program is helping to combat the ‘smokey bar’ stigma that the VFW has,” Phillips said.

‘BENEFITS… ARE AMAZING’
Calnan says yoga classes also promote VFW within the community.

“Another hope is that the community members who participate will support the VFW in other ways like at the Buddy Poppy drives or renting the hall,” Calnan said. “Any event or activity at the Post is its lifeblood. In my opinion, Posts need to be engaged with the community. If we can offer positive experiences to our members and make the Post a place people want to go, it’s a win-win for the community and our members.”

A VFW Post also is a comfortable place for a beginner to learn the practice, according to one Bellingham resident.

“I would not have even tried yoga if I had to walk into a high-end yoga studio,” Ed Baker said. “At the VFW, I don’t feel like I’m being judged. The benefits I get from this weekly class are amazing, [such as] mental discipline, breathing techniques [and] finding space in my own head to just calm down and relax.”

Calnan adds that his Post is “blessed” because one of the Post members, Dave Dunbar, is a yoga instructor.

“He is willing to give back and help veterans through the VFW 7272 Bellingham Post,” Calnan said. “We are very fortunate to be in that position and make a little cash while we do it.”

Tara Castonguay, a wife and mother of two in Bellingham, learned about Post 7272’s yoga classes from a Facebook post. Her only obstacle to attending, she said, was finding someone to accompany her.

“I originally saw the Facebook post many months before I joined,” Castonguay said. “I was trying to convince someone to go to motivate me. Eventually, I was lucky enough to get one of my daughters to come along.”

‘A BONDING EXPERIENCE’
Castonguay added that she and her daughter were “super happy” with the atmosphere of the group.

“We were very comfortable and thoroughly enjoyed it,” she said. “When we got home, we were talking about how much we enjoyed the class and how great we felt. I was able to convince my Navy retired senior chief husband to join us for the next class. Shortly after that, we convinced our 16-year-old daughter to come.”

Castonguay said that beyond the health benefits of yoga, it is mentally stimulating as well.

“It is a bonding experience for the family because the four of us go together,” she said. “Once there, it is relaxing, and the mood is set as soon as we walk in. Once class starts, it is a mind/body experience. We have an amazing instructor, and he even makes it fun for novice yoga students.”

If you are interested in finding out more about yoga, try checking out this website: https://www.myhealth.va.gov and search for “yoga.” You’ll find an explanation of why you should try yoga, how
you can recharge with yoga and an article titled “Pain? Try yoga.”

Additionally, The Veterans Yoga Project is a nationwide effort to promote yoga to veterans. Check it out at https://www.veteransyogaproject.org. You’ll find free yoga classes, both online and in-person, and learn about yoga. There also is an opportunity to participate in yoga teacher training.

The Veterans Yoga Project’s goal is to make mindful resilience techniques available to veterans. To accomplish this, several training programs for those wanting to teach in their community with sliding-scale scholarships are available to cover the cost of the program.

You also can check with your local VFW Post to find out about yoga classes that might be offered there.

This article is featured in the 2024 April issue of VFW magazine, and was written by Dave Dunbar. Dunbar is a Navy veteran who served in the Vietnam War. He is a Life member of VFW Post 7272 in Bellingham, Mass., and leads the yoga program there. He has taught yoga classes for 18 years at sites around Boston and the commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Through the VFW’s National Military Assistance Program (MAP), members of VFW Post 8273 in Frisco, Texas, helped feed more than 2,500 active-duty troops and their families on March 3.

The Post co-sponsored a “Family Day” event in honor of the 301st Fighter Wing at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Fort Worth, Texas, supplying 11 pallets filled with a variety of drinks, snacks and desserts.

“We were thrilled with the turnout,” Post 8273 Commander Shenna Lawless said. “The opportunity to support the 301st Fighter Wing’s Family Day was provided by 1st Sgt. Kenny McMillen, a life member of our Post, and we seized it enthusiastically. Thanks to MAP, we were able to contribute significantly.”

Through the use of national VFW programs like MAP, which has helped sponsor events supporting more than 2.3 million service members and their families since 2005, VFW Posts like 8273 have cultivated relationships with their local military communities.

From “Family Day” events to deployment and welcome home ceremonies, festivals and holidays, the MAP program is a valuable asset for all VFW Departments and Posts to use in order to build on their presence among active-duty troops.

“Participating in events like the Family Day for the 301st Fighter Wing is crucial for us,” Lawless said. “It offers a unique chance to connect with service members and share the mission and benefits of the VFW, reinforcing our commitment to supporting them.”