I did mention that our plans for Armed Forces Appreciation Day (AFAD) were tentative; our plan now is to have the event at the Intercounty Electric Auditorium just like last year.
As in year’s past, there will be state and federal veterans service officers to answer questions and assist with disability programs. Also, there will be a picnic meal provided free for all veterans and their families. Other organizations of interest to veterans will be represented; local banks with information about home loans, Texas County Health Department for medical screenings, Ozark Independent Living and area veterans’ organizations looking for new members. Armed Forces Appreciation Day will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 16. The Sponsorship Drive for AFAD starts on March 1 and ends April 15.
American Legion Post 41 desires to honor the dust-off pilots of Vietnam up to the present; these are the brave helicopter pilots who flew dust-off missions to rescue wounded and stranded troops from active battlefields. If any of these heroes live in Texas County, please contact our service officer so that we can provide special recognition, Glen McKinney, at 417-967-7119.
During Emmett Kelly Day in Houston, the Military Museum and the Texas County Genealogy Society will have displays on Grand Avenue in Houston. That is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 25. Come by and see what they offer!
Texas County area veterans organizations:
•Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 473 meets on the last Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at its post meeting hall on U.S. 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.
•Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6337 meets each third Monday of the month at 5:30 p.m. in Licking at their meeting hall on Main Street just south of Route 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.
•American Legion Post 41 meets at 6 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month at their 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.
•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.
Houston resident Robert E. Simpson is a retired U.S. Navy chief electronics technician who served from 1969 to 1990. His columns are posted online at www.houstonherald.com. Email gfjjkaa@gmail.com.