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In The Community
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VFW Post 5077 Announces End to Fisher House Campaign
After nearly 18 months of fundraising activities, VFW Post 5077 has announced that they will cease active fundraising efforts on the "Fisher House in St. Louis" campaign on 11 November. The O'Fallon based VFW post began a campaign to raise $50,000 in March of 2008 and have so far raised $34,245.
The Fisher House in St. Louis is currently under construction at Jefferson Barracks. It is a lodge where family members of wonuded or injured military personnel can stay free of charge while they are being treated at John Cochran VA Medical Center.
Over the past year and a half, Post 5077 conducted numerous fundraising events. These included a fund drive and ceremony marking the 5th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, trivia night, Fisher House Day at the Missouri River Otters hockey game, corporate solicitations, and most recently a texas hold'em tournament.
The "Fisher House in St. Louis" campaign was the largest fundraising campaign ever undertaken by the O'Fallon VFW. The post and ladies auxiliary members are proud of the efforts they put forth to make this campaign a success, despite being short of the established goal.
There is still time to give and we can still make it. If you or your business would like to participate, please make checks payable to "Fisher House in St. Louis" and mail to: VFW Post 5077, attn: Fisher House, PO Box 126, O'Fallon, MO 63366.
For more information, you can visit the VFW Post 5077 website at www.vfwpost5077.organd click on the "Fisher House" link.
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2009 Public Safety Servants of the Year
Sheriff's Department - Corporal Ryan Reimer
O'Fallon Police Department - Michael Doerte, Sr.
O'Fallon Fire Protection District - Neil Fredrick
St Charles County Ambulance District - Laura Sicking
Teacher of the Year - Janet Studstill
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VFW 5077 Hosts Texas Hold'em Fundraiser - 3 October
The Fisher House in St. Louis was the center of attention this evening as VFW Post 5077 hosted a Texas Hold'em fundraiser. 51 players entered for a chance to win over $950 in prize money.
As part of the post's ongoing initiative, nearly $2,000 was raised for the Fisher House in St. Louis, bringing the post's total to just over $34,000.
Special thanks go to Bottoms Up Brewhouse for their sponsorship and their generosity. They donated $250 as part of their Wounded Warriors Day and donated beer for the tournament. In addition, Krey Distributing also donated $115 to the Fisher House.
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Post 5077 Featured During Military Appreciation Night at the Rascals - 19 August
Every year the River City Rascals baseball team hosts Military Appreciation Night. This year Military Appreciation Night was made even more special by the exclusive participation of VFW Post 5077 in its pre-game and 7th inning festivities.
First pitches were thrown by a VFW member representing each war from WWII to Operation Iraqi Freedom. WWII was represented by Mel Schneider, Korea by John Cummings, Vietnam by Lyle McPherson, Desert Storm by Lynette Lewis, Operation Enduring Freedom by DJ Mitchell and Operation Iraqi Freedom by Tommy Korth.
Our first Post Commander (1945-1946) and WWII veteran, Bill Salfen, was recognized for his service as a B-24 pilot and his sacrifice as a prisoner of war. The announcer asked all Iraq and Afghanistan veterans present at the game to come to the Rascals dugout where Bill handed each of them a VFW Welcome Home coin. What a special feeling it was for each of today’s veterans to receive such an honor from a member of the Greatest Generation.
VFW Post 5077 also had a recruiting and information table. Several applications were distributed as well as numerous pieces of information on PTSD and suicide prevention.
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Junior Girls of the VFW Forms! - 16 August
VFW Post 5077 continued its move towards a more family friendly post by installing a Junior Girls Unit on 16 August 2009. The Junior Girls Unit of the VFW is an officially chartered organization made up of over 2100 girls nationwide.
Jackie Davis, 9th District Ladies Auxiliary President, conducted the installation ceremony. She was assisted by Susan Calvert, 9th District Junior Girls Chairman and Tina Page, VFW Post 5077 Junior Girls Chairman.
The purpose of the Junior Girls is to support VFW Post 5077 programs and promote Americanism in the O’Fallon community.
Alisha Singleton was elected President, Karissa Page as Senior Vice President, and Rachel Speis as Junior Vice President.
The Junior Girls of the VFW are made up of daughters, sisters, and granddaughters of someone who is eligible for the VFW and between the ages of 5 – 16 years old.
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Post 5077 Dedicates Memorial - 11 July 2009 (Updated Story 14 Aug)
More than one hundred people turned out on Saturday to witness a memorial dedication ceremony for CPL Gunnar Zwilling who was killed during an ambush one year ago in Wanat, Afghanistan. VFW Post 5077 also named it's picnic pavilion in his honor.
At 4:30 in the morning on 13 July 2008, CPL Zwilling and 44 other members of his unit were ambushed by well over 200 Taliban fighters. Our troops defeated the Taliban despite being outnumbered, however nine soldiers lost their lives including CPL Zwilling. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
The entire project began late last year and really took shape when Mark Steiniger od Troop 972 took on the job as his Eagle Scout project. He was responsible for the planning, raising the funds, and the construction of the memorial. Mark is the grandson of Melvin Schneider, a World War II veteran and life member of the post.
During the ceremony, CPL Reed Grapes (who served with CPL Zwilling and was with him the day he died) presented Mark Steiniger a 173d Airborne Brigade coin and declared him an honorary member of the unit.
Gunnar's father Kurt, and his brother Alex, together unveiled the memorial to applause and much emotion. Alex Zwilling stated that the "opposite of courage is not fear, but love. And Gunnar loved the troops he served with so much that he gave his life for them."
State Commander Dave Morgan was the guest speaker and painted a picture of Gunnar living up to the ideals of the VFW. He reminded everyone that the VFW is an integral part of our community and that we exist not only to serve veterans, but also their families. His only regret, he said, "was not having the chance to meet CPL Zwilling."
You can view pictures of the ceremony by clicking here.
You can view a video story produced by The Scene by clicking here.
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Post 5077 Teaches & Recruits - 7 June 2009
The Greater St. Louis Area Boy Scouts held their annual flag retirement ceremony on 7 June at TR Hughes Ballpark in O'Fallon, MO. VFW Post 5077 was on hand with a Buddy Poppy display and general membership information.
Past Commander in Chief Jim Mueller and Post Commander Kevin Speis taught dozens of Boy Scouts the meaning and purpose of the Buddy Poppies. It was nice to see so many scouts wearing the Buddy Poppy on their uniform.
It was also nice to visit with so many veterans and hear their stories of service. Some were current VFW members, but most were not. So it was a great opportunity to recruit. Applications were given to Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom, Vietnam, and Korean War veterans.
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Naval Sea Cadets Awarded VFW Medal - 7 February 2009
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PO1 Jessica Meyer & PO3 Shaundell Tifft |
Post Commander Kevin Speis traveled to the Missouri Military Academy to present the VFW Medal to cadets PO1 Jessica Meyer and PO3 Shaundell Tifft. They are members of the newly formed John J. Pershing Battalion of the Naval Sea Cadet Corps. Both cadets have excelled in the performance of their duties as leaders of the battalion.
Cadets Meyer & Tifft represent the very best of the John J. Pershing Battalion. It is a great honor to present these awards on behalf of VFW Post 5077.
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29th Annual Community Appreciation Awards Banquet - 24 January 2009
Our 29th Annual Community Appreciation Awards Banquet was a great success thanks to the planning efforts of our VOD Chairman, Jim Mueller and our Ladies Auxiliary Chairperson, Pat Vogel. There were 200 in attendance to witness the presentation of many awards for scholastic excellence to our students and teachers and acts of selfless service and heroism to our first responders.
We were honored to have the chiefs of every law enforcement and ambulance division as well as several department level officers from the VFW and Ladies Auxiliary. Also in attendance were several elected officials from O'Fallon.
This year we had the honor of presenting three new awards. The first two awards went to O'Fallon Police Officer Steven Dougherty. He received the National Law Enforcement Officer Award and the National Life Saving Award. Janet Dauve, a teacher at Ft. Zumwalt North High School received the Teacher of the Year Award.
Special thanks also go to the O'Fallon Target Store for partnering with us and presenting gift cards to all of our student essay contest winners and the Teacher of the Year as part of their commitment to education excellence. It was refreshing to spend an evening celebrating the achievements of so many good people in our community.
To see pictures from our banquet click here.
For a list of Voice of Democracy / Patriot's Pen winners click here.
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VFW Post 5077 Hosts Trivia Night Benefit - 15 November
Nearly 300 people gathered together this evening to test their trivia knowledge while raising funds for the Fisher House in St. Louis. Trivia Night was held at VFW Post 5077. The event was organized by the VFW Ladies Auxiliary and featured 10 rounds of trivia on topics ranging from sports to Thanksgiving.
In addition to the trivia challenge, there were also 48 gift baskets that were raffled off. These baskets included items to suit a full range of individual tastes.
Over $5700.00 was raised for the Fisher House in St. Louis. The generosity of O'Fallon and the surrounding communities has been spectacular. Everyone had a wonderful time.
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Post 5077 Attends Fisher House Groundbreaking - 11 November
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Judy Northcutt, Carolann Osterloh, Kevin Speis, Pat Vogel |
A dream is closer to reality today as local officials and hundreds of veterans participated in a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a Fisher House at the VA Medical Center at Jefferson Barracks. This $5 million project will provide NO COST lodging for family members of veterans who are hospitalized for treatment of wounds and injuries. So far, $1.5 million of the $2.5 million necessary to complete the project has been raised.
VFW Post 5077 is currently on a $50,000 fundraising campaign for the Fisher House in St. Louis. You can click here to see how much we have raised and how you can support this important project.
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O'Fallon Honors Ladies Auxiliary - 25 September
Mayor Donna Morrow honored our Ladies Auxiliary for their faithful and continuous service to the city of O'Fallon and specifically for their contributions to the Annual Safety Town Program. Mayor Morrow presented a City Proclamation declaring 22-28 September 2008 as VFW Post 5077 Ladies Auxiliary Week.
Our ladies are special to our post and they are special to our city. CONGRATULATIONS LADIES!!
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Veterans of Foreign Wars
of the United States of America
VFW Post 5077
P.O. Box 126
O'Fallon
, MO
63366
636-272-1945
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Copyright ©2006 - 2010; All Rights Reserved
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