We are rapidly closing in on Armed Forces Appreciation Day, 3.0!
In fact, this April article is the last chance for me to hype it up. On May 18, American Legion Post 41 and our Veterans of Foreign Wars partners will host this event in Licking at the Intercounty Electric Auditorium, 102 Maple Ave,, at the corner of Maple and Main streets just north of Licking High School. This is a streamlined program; no military displays, no stage show, just the important Veterans Fair, health checks, Veterans Service officers, family assistance, prizes and the free picnic lunch! As in our previous AFAD events, there will be no charge for all veterans and their families.
Service Officers from the VA, Missouri Veterans Commission and our local veterans organizations have been invited with special attention for PACT Act, Mental Health Counselling, VA housing loans and final arrangements. If you need to meet with the VA or Missouri Veterans Commission, you should bring your DD-214.
Doors will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the free lunch will be available through the whole event – or until we run out of food.
Further along, Post 41 is planning to serve Freedom Dogs during Houston’s annual Independence Day Parade, to be held on June 29. All-beef high-quality hotdogs, chips and cold bottled water will be free to all comers before, during and after the parade, under the pavilion at the Lone Star Plaza.
By the time this article is published, our Funeral Honors Detail will have provided military honors for 88 departed veterans since we started three years ago.
Texas County veterans organizations:
•Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 473 meets at 6 p.m. on the last Thursday of each month at their Post Meeting Hall on Highway 63 north of Cabool.
•American Legion Post 559 meets at 6 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month at the VFW Post 6337 meeting hall in Licking. Post 559 has been revitalized by past members and will be looking for new ones.
•Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6337 in Licking meets at 5:30 p.m. on the third Monday of each month at its Meeting Hall on Main Street just south of Highway 32.
•Fleet Reserve Association Branch 364 meets at 2:30 p.m. every fourth Sunday of each month at the American Legion Post 41 meeting hall in Houston. The FRA exists to serve all veterans and active-duty members of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Coast Guard.
•Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7222 meets at 6 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month at their meeting hall just east of Summersville.
•American Legion Post 41 meets at 6 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month at its meeting hall on the west end of Chilton Oil Company in Houston, (just north of Pizza Hut.) Changes to membership eligibility now allow U.S. veterans of all branches and periods of service to join the American Legion.
Houston resident Robert E. Simpson is a retired U.S. Navy chief electronics technician who served from 1969 to 1990. Email gfjjkaa@gmail.com.