I remember writing something like this in April last year.
Armed Forces Appreciation Day 2026 will be 16 May, 1000-1400 (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) at the Intercounty Electric Cooperative Auditorium on Maple Street in Licking. Veterans attending will receive one of our new ball caps celebrating our nation’s 250th year.
As in years 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 of charge for all veterans and their families. It will be deluxe hamburgers, all-beef hot dogs, chips and bottled water. I’ll be slicing the tomatoes, onions and lettuce myself!
There will also be a coffee-canteen with snacks. Every veteran will receive a ticket for the drawings on the half-hour for silver dollars and other prizes. Tickets will be on sale for a queen-size patriotic quilt stitched by one of the church ladies at Raymondville.
Organizations of interest to veterans will be invited, including local banks with information about home loans, the Texas County Health Department for medical screenings, Ozark Independent Living and area veterans organizations. Hopefully, all of the veterans organizations listed below will have tables of their own; they are always looking for new members. Again, Armed Forces Appreciation Day will be 16 May 2026, 1000-1400. We’ll have banners set up pointing the way to Intercounty auditorium.
Electric wheelchair donated
American Legion Post 41 was recently able to provide a donated electric wheelchair to a disabled veteran. The other veterans groups here in Texas County have similar items available; if you have a need for such equipment, contact one of the veterans organizations at the AFAD event, or call our service officer Glen McKinney at 417-967-7119.
Texas County area veterans organizations
- American Legion Post 41 meets at 1800 on the second Thursday of each month at the meeting hall on the west end of Chilton Oil Company in Houston (just north of Pizza Hut).
- Veterans Of Foreign Wars Post 473 meets on the last Thursday of each month at 1800 at the Post Meeting Hall on Highway 63 north of Cabool.
- Veterans Of Foreign Wars Post 6337 meets each third Monday of the month at 1730 in Licking at the Meeting Hall on Main Street just south of Highway 32.
- Fleet Reserve Association Branch 364 meets at 1430 every fourth Sunday of each month at the American Legion Post 41 meeting hall in Houston.
- Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7222 meets at 1800 on the first Thursday of each month at the 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.