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 for 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, the VFW, is an organization of war veterans, our mission is to assist veterans, their families and to serve our local community.

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.

For your information:

A big shout out to VFW Posts 2426 Desloge and 5741 Leadington, who teamed to participate in the annual Desloge Labor Day weekend picnic, festivities and parade Well done!

Veterans, their families and caregivers should contact their local VA for information about eligibility and how to apply for burial benefits. Too often, no preparations are made and the families are left searching for the required documents and other information at the worst time. 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 are underway. Patriot’s Pen is open to 6th, 7th and 8th grade students and this year’s theme is "How Are You Showing Patriotism and Support for Our Country?” The Voice of Democracy audio-essay is open to students in grades 9-12 and this year’s theme is "How Are You Showing Patriotism and Support for Our Country?” Children who are home schooled are also welcome to participate. These programs promote civic responsibility, patriotism and help students develop a better understanding of American values and beliefs. For more information, please contact your local VFW Post, the District 8 representative Dan Brown at (636) 677-2892, or visit https://www.vfw.org/community/youth-and-education/youth-scholarships .

Local events:

The time and place of local post meetings and events are provided on each post’s Facebook site; come join us!

On 11 September, Post 2593 in Arnold will host an open to the public 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony. This event will start at noon at 2301 Church Rd, Arnold, MO 63010. This event will followed by a free post luck lunch.

On 11 September, Post 6947 in Bismark will host a public 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony starting at 4 pm. For more information call (573) 734-6456.

On 12 September, Post 3777 will present the acoustics of the "Scruffy Looking Nerf Herder” from 7-10 pm. For more information call (636) 937-5400.

On 13 September, Post 6660 in Reynolds County will host a free veterans breakfast and workshop from 9 am to 2 pm at 2315 Green St, Centerville. Breakfast will be served from 9 to 11Am. A VFW Veteran Service Officer (VSO) will be there to help veterans understand and apply for benefits to which they are entitled and are accredited to represent them to the VA. VAMC Poplar Bluff representatives will be there to answer medical benefits questions, and enroll you in the program. Mizzou Law Veterans Clinic will assist with discharge upgrades and the Missouri Veterans Commission to provide information on their services. Please bring all your documentation, especially your DD-214. If you need to get replacements, they can assist. That said, come anyway and they will get you started. For more information or if the veteran is homebound and cannot travel, please contact (573) 924-2382.

On 19 September, Post 2593 located in Arnold will host a Mike Bova Comedy Concert at 2301 Church Rd, Arnold, MO 63010. This event will raise money for the Post Relief Fund and the VFW Veteran Service Officer program. You can visit the Post or purchase tickets online at https://www.eventbrite.com/.../mike-bova-comedy-concert .

On 27 September, Post 3777 in Festus will be serving brunch starting at 10:30 am. Cost is $7.00 per plate and the bar will be open to purchase mimosas and Bloody Marys. For more information call (636) 937-5400.

On 28 September, Post 2593 will 4th annual Car Show at 2301 Church Rd, Arnold starting at 11 am.

29 September Post 1831 in DeSoto will be hosting their 7th annual American Graffiti Car Show to support the VFW and Spinal Cord Ward at Jefferson Barracks. In addition to the cool rides, there will be music and food. Vendor spaces are available at (314) 712-4411. For more information call John Gales at (314) 677-7700.

Legislative news:

Congress is back to work and please urge them to include the "Major Richard Star Act” language as an amendment to FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act to stop the "wounded veteran tax. Military disabled retirement for veterans with less than 20 years of service is reduced to offset any VA disability compensation. We thank Senator Josh Hawley for his support. Please contact www.schmitt.senate.gov / (202) 224-5721 and your Congressman / Congresswoman and ask for their support to voice your support.

Folks, Missouri veteran’s homes are vital our elderly and disabled veterans and they again face their annual funding crisis. The root cause continues to be lack of consistent funding. Without reliable funding, MVC is forced to defer critical maintenance and face the possibility of closing homes. The solution is a dedicated line item in the state budget. Don’t wait for the new sessions, contact your Missouri Senator and Representative Tony Harbinson not o voice you support.

Now let’s talk a bit about our history:

24 years ago, the world changed when the Islamist terrorist group "al-Qaeda” carried out four coordinated attacks against our homeland. On the morning of the 9/11, 19 terrorists hijacked four commercial airliners and used them to kill more than 3,000 of our people.

The terrorists crashed the first two planes into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center (WTC) in New York City. The first, American Airlines (AA) Flight 11, crashed into the North Tower and the second Flight 175, the South Tower. Both 110-story skyscrapers collapsed, destroying the WTC complex. The next two flights targeted Washington, D.C. The third flight, AA Flight 77, crashed into the Pentagon, causing the partial collapse of one of the five corridors. The fourth flight never reached the capital or the White House. Learning of other attacks, the passengers fought for control of United Airlines Flight 93. The hijackers crashed the plane in rural Pennsylvania, killing all onboard.

2,977 Americans died, thousand more were injured or had long-term health consequences, with $10 billion in damage. 340 firefighters and 72 police personnel were killed. It was the deadliest terrorist act in history and the CIA identified al-Qaeda as responsible.

Afterwards, knowing al-Qaeda operated from Afghanistan, we requested the Afghan government expel al-Qaeda and extradite its leaders. They refused and we invaded. We invoked Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty to fight al-Qaeda. As U.S. and NATO forces swept through Afghanistan, al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden disappeared. A decade later, on 2 May 2011, he was killed during a raid on his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. The war in Afghanistan continued for another eight years, when in February 2020 American and NATO troops left the country. The last U.S. armed troops left the region on 30 August 2021 and the Taliban returned to power.

I offer this from President George W. Bush who said "now, we have inscribed a new memory alongside those others. It’s a memory of tragedy and shock, of loss and mourning. But not only of loss and mourning, it’s also a memory of bravery and self-sacrifice, and the love that lays down its life for a friend―even a friend whose name it never knew.”

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 .

Veterans can no longer use usernames / passwords to access "My HealtheVet.” To regain access, you must create a new account at www.va.gov/sign-in-changes.

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.

The TRICARE Online (TOL) Patient Portal has been replaced by MHS GENESIS. See https://health.mil/Military-Health-Topics/Technology/MHS-GENESIS/

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. For more information, follow us at https://www.facebook.com/groups/967395123712841 or visit movfw.org

"Here to Serve”