Comrades, Auxiliary members, and friends of Post 8555,
September asks a great deal of our memory, and it gives us a great deal of work to do. This month we mark twenty-five years since the attacks of September 11, 2001. We pause on National POW/MIA Recognition Day for every American still unaccounted for. On the 29th we celebrate the birthday of the Veterans of Foreign Wars itself—127 years of veterans looking after veterans. Those observances are not museum pieces. They are the reason this Post exists on Houston Street in Poth.
I am pleased to report on our District Post inspection. All required documents were present, reviewed, and approved by the District Junior Vice. That result belongs to the officers, trustees, and members who keep the books, the membership files, and the hall in order. Thank you. Inspections are how District 20 confirms that a Post is fit to serve veterans and to represent the VFW in its town.
District 20 has a full calendar this fall, and Post 8555 should be in the room. Saturday, September 19, is District Training at VFW Post 4815. Saturday, September 26, Post 9174 hosts Steak Night at Lackland from 3:00 to 7:00 PM. Thursday, October 8, Mission ND San Antonio is at IBC Bank on Loop 410 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM for veterans and service members; RSVP is required. Thursday, October 15, Broken Warriors Angels holds a Health and Wellness Fair in San Antonio at 9:00 AM. On Saturday, November 5, District Training is hosted here at Post 8555 in Poth. Voice of Democracy, Patriot’s Pen, and Teacher Award packets turn in at Post 4676 on Saturday, November 14, from 3:00 to 6:00 PM, with Post entries due October 31. Sunday, November 15, is the District bowling tournament. Saturday, November 28, is the District 20 Joint Meeting at Post 8541 at 10:00 AM; the Commander, Senior Vice, and/or Junior Vice should attend. Saturday, December 5, District 20 holds its Christmas Party at Post 9186 from 5:00 to 11:00 PM. That party is a District event. Our Post gun raffle drawing is a separate Post event the same date, time still to be announced.
Our general membership meeting is Monday, September 14, at 7:30 PM at the Post hall, 715 Houston Street. Guests are welcome. If you know a veteran who served overseas or earned a campaign medal, bring them. A DD-214 is often enough to start the paperwork that night. Family members can ask the Auxiliary how to join. Sunday, October 4, we serve the Fried Chicken Dinner from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM; tickets are $15. The Auxiliary hosts Lotteria at the Post on Sunday, September 27. Food distribution continues on the first Wednesday of the month; be at the Post at 8:00 AM if you can help set up.
I am proud of this Post. Come to the meeting. Bring someone with you. Let us keep the faith with those who never came home, and with those who still need us here in Wilson County.
Thank you for all you do.
In comradeship and service, Johnathon Farrell Commander VFW Post 8555 Wilson County Memorial Post