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:
The next meeting of the VFW Department of Missouri Council
of Administration will be held on October 10-12, 2025, at the Resort at Lake of
Ozarks 3076 Bagnell Dam Blvd, Lake Ozark Missouri. All members are encouraged
to attend.
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
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
On 20 September
Post 1831 in Desoto will be hosting their annual POW/MIA Remembrance Ceremony
to honor all those who have sacrificed. A light luncheon will follow. The event
starts at 10 am at 1651 Veterans Drive, Desoto.
On 26-28 September, Post 6660 in Reynolds County
will be at the Reynolds County Fair. A Post Information Officer will be
available to help veterans apply for benefits that they have earned. The PIO
will take your information & refer you to an accredited VFW Veteran Service
Officer (VSO) who will contact you and can represent you to the VA for free.
Please bring all your documentation, especially your DD-214. Any veteran who is
eligible and wants to continue serving our community, bring your DD-214 and they
will start your journey. For more information please contact (573) 924-2382.
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 27 September, VFW Post 3777 in
Festus, will be holding a meat shoot. Registration fee is $20.00 and starts at
1pm, shooting at 2pm.
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 House lawmakers have approved
the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act. Unfortunately, the $893
billion defense authorization bill did
not include the "Major Richard Star Act” language as an amendment to stop the "wounded
veteran tax. Now the Senate will debate the bill. When that is completed and
the senate votes, congress will begin conference work to develop the final bill
later this fall. We thank Senator Josh Hawley for his support. Please contact Senator
Eric Schmitt (www.schmitt.senate.gov / (202) 224-5721) to urge ending the reduction of military
disabled retirement for veterans with less than 20 years of service is to
offset VA disability compensation.
Missouri veteran’s homes are vital our elderly and disabled
veterans and they again face their annual funding crisis. The root cause is 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 Senator Jamie Burgers and Representative Tony Harbinson not to voice
your support.
Now
let’s talk a bit about our history:
86 years ago, Germany, governed by Adolf Hitler and his National
Socialist German Workers' Party (NAZI), invaded Poland after falsely claiming Poland
was persecuting ethnic Germans living in Poland. After a phony Schutzstaffe
(SS) attack on a German radio station, Germany launched a "retaliatory”
campaign. The operation "Fall Weiss” (Case White) began at 4:40 AM on 1 September
led by Luftwaffe JU-87 B "Stuka" dive bombers. Germany deployed 60 divisions (~ 1.5 million troops),
2,000 tanks supported by 1300 bombers and fighter planes in this invasion. This
was the new German "Blitzkrieg” (lightning war) tactic of achieving surprise and
attacking with concentrated fast-moving armored units supported by overwhelming
air power. Even though Poland’s lack of political will and late mobilization left
its army vulnerable, the Poles fought tenaciously and inflicted serious
casualties on the Germans. Bravery aside, the lack of modern arms and equipment
told and the Polish army was defeated within weeks. German units quickly broke
through Polish defenses and advanced on Warsaw in a massive encirclement attack,
reaching the city on 8 September. Britain and France, as Polish allies, declared
war on Germany on 3 September, but took no action. To make matters worse the
Soviet Union, citing the 23 August 1939 Nazi-Soviet Pact, invaded Poland from
the east on 17 September. The Polish government fled the country that same day.
Warsaw sustained heavy damage during the siege, and surrendered on 28 September. The last Polish military resistance ended on 6
October. World War II had begun. For
more information, I recommend "Case White: The Invasion of Poland 1939” by
Robert Forcz.
I offer this from Sir Winston Churchill concerning Arthur Neville
Chamberlain. Chamberlain was the British
Prime Minister 1937 to 1940 and his foreign policy of appeasement to NAZI
Germany led by Adolf Hitler led to WWII. This is Sir Winston’s opinion of chamberlain’s
appeasement policy "appeasement is feeding the crocodile, hoping he will eat
you last.”
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”
