VFW District 8 Newsletter

CWO5 Randle M. Tolliver, USN (Ret)

Commander 

For veterans in crisis, the Veterans Crisis Line's number is "988” then press "1”.

Homebound veterans requiring assistance please contact any member. 

Veterans experiencing, or at risk of homelessness, please contact any member or the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at (877) 424-3838.

Buddy Check! Please call or go visit elderly or homebound veterans and see how they are doing and if they need help.

We are always looking to have veterans who are eligible and want to continue serving our community to join us. If you are interested, please contact any member or post.

One memory all veterans share is spending holidays far from home. Recognizing the uniqueness of Thanksgiving military leadership have always put in an effort to provide soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines with a proper Thanksgiving dinner regardless of where they might find themselves. This practice began during WW I, but it really took off during the Second World War and continues until today. 

Please support the annual Toys for Tots drive. The USMC and USMC Reserve program collects new unwrapped toys and distributes those toys to economically disadvantaged children at Christmas. You will find our TFT collection boxes in stores around District 8 so please give the gift of a new toy to bring the joy of Christmas to a child. 

For your information:

Veterans in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system can receive free vaccinations through the Community Care Network in-network retail pharmacies and urgent care partners. Just present a valid, government-issued ID.  

Veterans, their families and caregivers should contact their local VA for information about eligibility and how to apply for burial benefits. For more information, visit https://www.choose.va.gov/burials-memorials , or call 800-827-1000.

Our annual youth scholarships programs, Patriot’s Pen, and Voice of Democracy have concluded for this year, and the next step is District judging led by the District 8 Chairman Mr. Dan Brown of Post 5331 in Cedar Hill. 

To ensure packages for family or friends stationed overseas arrive for Christmas, the USPS has provided this guidance: For Priority and First-Class Mail, post by 9 December for all Air/Army Post Office (APO), Fleet Post Office (FPO) and Diplomatic Post Office (DPO) addresses with AE zip codes. 16 December for APO/FPO/DPO addresses using USPS Priority Mail Express (excluding zip 093).  

Local events: 

Next month District 8 Posts will hold their annual Pearl Harbor Day Remembrance Ceremonies. Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day honors the 2,403 service members and civilians killed in the Japanese attack. The time and place of these and local post meetings and other events are provided on each post’s Facebook site; come join us!

Post 2593 in Arnold is supporting the Foster Closet Organization with a new or gently used. fall/winter clothing drive for newborn to 2 years old. There is a donation box located in the Post clubroom lobby area. 

Every Wednesday, VFW Post 5896 is hosting an "all-you-can-eat” breakfast at 814 E Karsch Blvd, Farmington. Food service is 7 to 9:30 am and the cost is $8 and children under the age of 10 eat for free.

Every Saturday VFW Post 1831 is hosting a Shooting Match at 1651 Veterans Dr., DeSoto. Doors open at 10 am, practice at 11 am and shooting starts at noon. Clubroom will open for drinks & appetizers. For more information call (636) 586-9271.

On 6 December, VFW Post 5331 Auxiliary in Cedar Hill will host VFW Kids Christmas Store from 10 am to 1 pm. Santa will arrive at noon. Each child can buy tickets for .50 cents each max of 6 tickets and each child will have a personal shopper assistant. For more information call (314) 287-9237.

On 7 December, VFW Post 6660 in Reynolds County will hold their annual Pearl Harbor Day Remembrance Ceremony at the Reynolds County Courthouse. Event starts at 2 pm at 2319 Green St, Centerville.  For more information call (803) 924-0608.

Legislative news:

Folks, don’t wait for the new session to contact your state Senator and Representative to voice your support for Missouri veterans. Please voice your support to fully fund the Missouri Veterans Commission (MVC) with dedicated funding in the state budget, update the Real & Personal Property Tax exemptions for 100% service-disabled veterans, and to fight unaccredited companies (Claim Sharks) that prey on Missouri veterans. 

Now let’s talk a bit about our history:

162 years ago, the battles for Chattanooga were fought between 23 and 25 November 1863. These included the battles of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge.  After the Confederate victory at Chickamauga in September 1863, the Union army retreated to Chattanooga. Confederate General Braxton Bragg quickly laid siege to the city, cutting off access to supplies. President Lincoln ordered Major General (MGEN) Ulysses S. Grant to Chattanooga. Grant arrived in October, refortified the city, opening up a desperately needed supply line, and began maneuvers to lift the siege. The battle began on when Grant sent General Thomas, also known as the "Rock of Chickamauga”, to probe the center of the Confederate line. This simple plan turned into a complete victory when the Union troops captured Orchard Knob and the confederates retreated higher up Missionary Ridge. The next day, 24 November, Unions forces under MGEN Joseph Hooker captured Lookout Mountain. The Battle of Lookout Mountain, also known as the "Battle Above the Clouds”, set the stage for the Battle of Missionary Ridge. That attack took place in three parts. On the Union left, MGEN William Tecumseh Sherman attacked troops under Irish born MGEN Patrick Cleburne. In difficult fighting, Cleburne held the hill. On the right, Hooker advanced slowly from Lookout Mountain, but his attack had little impact on the battle. The Union success was at the center.  Soldiers on both sides received confusing orders but the Union attack on the Confederate center turned into a major Union victory. After the center collapsed, the Confederate troops retreated, and Bragg pulled his troops away from Chattanooga. The Confederates retreated to Dalton, Georgia, successfully fighting off the Union pursuit at the Battle of Ringgold Gap. Bragg resigned shortly thereafter, having lost the confidence of his army. The Union casualties were an estimated 5,800, while the Confederates’ were around 6,600. Bragg's defeat ended Confederate control of Tennessee and opened the invasion route to the Deep South for Sherman's Atlanta campaign of 1864. For more information, I recommend "The Chattanooga Campaign” by Steven E. Woodworth and Charles D. Grear. 

In honor of the victor at Chattanooga, Ulysses S. Grant: "my later experience has taught me two lessons: first, that things are seen plainer after the events have occurred; second, that the most confident critics are generally those who know the least about the matter criticized”.

Bulletin Board:

The VA one-stop telephone number is 1-800-698-2411 and press "0” for immediate assistance. The VA one stop website is VA.gov Home | Veterans Affairs .

For more for information concerning VA "End of Life” benefits and services see www.va.gov/initiatives/end-of-life-benefits/

Veteran employment opportunities!  Please visit https://news.va.gov/138283/hiring-veterans-job .

The Missouri Veterans Commission (MVC) one-stop Benefits and Resource Portal is (573) 522-4061 or www.veteranbenefits.mo.gov .

To pre-certify for burial in a Missouri Veterans Cemetery, apply at https://my.mo.gov/gsp?id=vcp_preapplication .  For information on burial eligibility, visit https://mvc.dps.mo.gov/cemeteries . 

The Missouri Job Center offers no-cost employment assistance for veterans and spouses. Contact (417) 257-2630 or visit jobs.mo.gov/vets.

To order military service documents such as a DD 214/Separation Document or Official Military Personnel File (OMPF), contact the National Archives, National Personnel Records Center at https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records, or call (866) 272-6272.