Many local groups have been featured recently in the Forks Forum winning awards … Forks Elks and the Bogachiel Garden Club, to name a couple.
Our local VFW also just returned from a state convention and they also won a bunch of accolades — one includes the Forum!
— Christi Baron, Editor
Members of the Forks VFW, Fletcher-Wittenborn Post 9106 recently attended their state convention in Bremerton. The most prestigious of these awards was the first place citation for the featured article in the Forks Forum.
The interesting thing about this award was the editor, Christi Baron, was called last February to verify the article was published. Once she agreed that it had been published, she was sworn to secrecy until it was awarded. Once the delegation returned to town, Christi was notified Forks had won first place — against all other newspapers and VFW posts in the state.
It was only then she could reveal the secret she had been keeping the past four months!
The members of the VFW were also recognized for their efforts to youth for their scholarship essay contests and the scouting program, along with a second place in the Annual Post Newsletter competition. This competition is between the 100-plus posts in Washington state.
The VFW Auxiliary, family members of our Veterans of Foreign Wars, were diligent in their service this past year earning them first place honors for legislative actions and community service. They also were awarded second place in Americanism, thanks to a very successful Family Freedom Festival held last March.
Awards continued with placing third in both Veterans and Family Support and Hospital.
“This past year has been very busy and productive,” incoming Auxiliary President Janet Hughes said. “Last year at convention we did not place in any of the categories.”
This upcoming year there is focus on more service to Veterans, Americanism and the community.
Both the VFW and Auxiliary plan to continue the Family Freedom Festival; however, they will move it to January 2019. In addition, they have added a Readers Theater for the Fourth of July along with Red, White and Blue Bingo.
Active members are the key to any organization, and like many other organizations the VFW and Auxiliary are always looking for more who qualify for membership. Any combat veteran is eligible for membership in the VFW.
The oldest local veterans include Oscar Fields and Chuck Archer, who served our country in World War II. Others represent Korea, Vietnam, the Cuban Missile Crisis, Iraq and Afghanistan.
The easiest way to learn about the VFW is by attending Comrades and Coffee, held every Thursday morning at 7 a.m. Come when you can and enjoy comradeship from those who have been in your boots.
Family members must prove their veteran served actively in a combat zone to join the Auxiliary. That veteran need not be a VFW member.
Families who have someone currently serving in the military who is activated to Iraq or Afghanistan can become members of the Auxiliary the second their foot hits the ground in the war zone. There is always much to do — many hands make for light work.
For more information about eligibility, call Janet Hughes at 360-640-1401.
The VFW Post has been in Forks since 1947 and members live each day with their motto: “No One Does More for Veterans.”
