VFW Post 1697 Celebrates 30th Anniversary

Bryan K Hardy - 10/13/2024

Collegedale/Ooltewah, TN (October 10, 2024) – The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697 celebrates its 30th Anniversary of Chartering.  Originally Chartered on October 13, 1994, VFW Post 1697 Officers, Members, Family, and Friends will celebrate this historic milestone during the regularly scheduled October Community Meeting on October 10, 2024. Six of the fifteen Past Post Commanders will discuss the outstanding record of service to the community, Veterans, and to the Nation over the past 30 years.

Thirty-three applicants who met the membership criteria certifying they were a (1) U.S. Citizen or U.S. National, (2) had honorable service in the Armed Forces of the U.S., (3) service entitling a recognized campaign medal of the U.S. government, or received special pay for duty subject to hostile fire or imminent danger, or 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days of service in Korea as set forth in the VFW Manual of Procedure organized themselves in accordance with Section 201 of the National Bylaws and Manual of Procedure, and applied for a charter of a Post of the Veteran of Foreign Wars of the United States to be located in Ooltewah, TN. Having met all application criteria and being recommended for approval by the Department of Tennessee District 3 Commander and the 1994-1995 Department of Tennessee Commander, Sydney Brown, were approved for Charter as Ooltewah Post 1697 by the 1994-1995 VFW National Commander-in-Chief, Allen F. "Gunner” Kent.


The charter members of Post 1697 desired to participate with other VFW Posts in preserving the memory of the sacrifices of all Veterans for freedom around the world while having a unique quality about the Post: Community. Over the past 30 years this quality has been achieved and observed through active impacts in the community. Some of the Post’s activities directly relating to the Veterans and Community include visiting Veterans and Families in local assisted living facilities and hospitals, supporting the Samaritan Center through food and donation drives, sending care packages to deployed Service Members, assisting widows and housebound members, adopting and supporting Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) programs at Central, East Hamilton, and Ooltewah High Schools, bringing awareness to SportClips Haircuts’ Help a Hero Campaign. Lasting impact activities bringing patriotic awareness to the community include donating the flagpole monument at Collegedale’s City Hall, Flag Retirement ceremonies and flag donations to the Veterans Memorial Park of Collegedale, Memorial Day honors to Veterans buried in local cemeteries, Veterans Day and 4th of July ceremonies. VFW Post 1697 was an early and enthusiastic supporter of the Veterans Memorial Park of Collegedale with several members having served on the park’s committee and members continuing to volunteer with its upkeep. 





As VFW Post 1697 enters its fourth decade, it does so with enthusiasm and renewed dedication to the same objectives that the founding members supported decades ago - to honor those who over the years have sacrificed for the freedoms that we enjoy daily and to positively impact our local community.


Originally meeting at the Collegedale Municipal Building, the post moved to its new home and current location on October 14, 2021 to Chestnut Hall at The Commons in Collegedale. Facility use is graciously provided by the Collegedale Tomorrow Foundation. Veterans and community members are welcome to enjoy dinner and fellowship at the Post’s Monthly Community Meeting the second Thursday of every month at 6:30 PM in a family friendly, smoke and alcohol free environment.


Congratulations to Post 1697 for 30 successful years of living the Veterans of Foreign Wars motto "NO ONE DOES MORE FOR VETERANS”! 




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About the VFW: The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. is the nation's largest and oldest major war veterans organization. Founded in 1899, the congressionally chartered VFW is comprised entirely of eligible veterans and military service members  from the active, Guard and Reserve forces. With approximately more than 1.5 million VFW and Auxiliary members located in nearly 6,000 Posts worldwide, the nonprofit veterans service organization is proud to proclaim "NO ONE DOES MORE FOR VETERANS” than the VFW, which is dedicated to veterans’ service, legislative advocacy, and military and community service programs. For more information or to join, visit our website at vfw.org.


IN-COUNTRY

A satirical reflection by Author/Artist Phil Fehrenbacher

Phil enlisted in the Army in 1965 where you served for years in Vietnam.  He became a graphic designer and has worked for the state of Oregon for 26 years.  He retired in 2003 and started the Cartoon "In-Country".  The cartoons reflect his experiences during his tour of duty in South Vietnam.


There is a new cartoon everyday.