Sean C. Morgan
Sweet Home Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 3437, marked its 75th anniversary on Jan. 9.
Richard L. DeNoyer, national commander of the VFW, last week announced the presentation of a Diamond Jubilee Award citation to VFW Post 3437 in recognition of the event.
“This is a very significant milestone for a VFW Post,” DeNoyer said. “This Diamond Jubilee Award recognizes dedication, determination, hard work and a lot of patriotism. And it recognizes 75 years of serving the needs of local veterans and their families and 75 years of service to the local community – and 75 years of contributing to the strength, power and influence of our national organization.
“In presenting this award, I send my sincere thanks and appreciation to the members of VFW Post 3437.”
The Sweet Home VFW formed on Dec. 17, 1943, 68 years ago, said Post Commander Jim Allyn, but it’s also the 75th anniversary.
That’s because the General Ulysses Grant McAlexander VFW Post of Lebanon merged with Sweet Home on March 2, 2010, Allyn said. The Lebanon club formed on Jan. 9, 1937, 75 years ago.
“They folded in the first part of 2010, and they wanted to consolidate with Sweet Home,” Allyn said. The national organization approved the merger, and the Lebanon club became part of Sweet Home.
“That automatically increased our age, from ’43 to ’37,” Allyn said.
The Lebanon club, which made its home at the American Legion Hall, had few members, and its auxiliary had already closed, Allyn said, but “we still have members coming over here for meetings.”
The actual presentation of the 75th anniversary certificate has not taken place yet, Allyn said, but he expects a state VFW representative will come to Sweet Home to present it.
The Sweet Home VFW is still going strong, he said. “I’d like to attribute it to the leadership. Without the leadership and camaraderie between our members, we wouldn’t be able to maintain it as well.”
The work the VFW does in the community and other projects keep the people active, wanting to participate and willing to help, Allyn said.
In addition to the VFW, the Vet’s Club also houses the VFW Auxiliary, the AmVets, the AmVets Auxiliary and the Sons of AmVets, Allyn said. All of those organizations work together closely.
“We all get along,” Allyn said. “Basically, all five organizations cooperate and work with everybody to be able to get the things accomplished like we need to.”
Any big gathering, such as the all-vets dinner, is divided among the organizations, who meet and work out details among themselves, he said.
The VFW is a nonprofit veterans’ service organization composed of combat veterans and those who are serving on active duty.
“The basic job that the VFW does is the health and welfare of veterans,” Allyn said. The Order of the Cooties is a VFW organization designed to visit veterans in hospital, cheer them up and occupy their minds.
The VFW organization helps veterans settle back into every-day life as best they can, Allyn said, and it also does a lot of work with injured and returning veterans, making sure they get all the help they need.
Allyn has been a member of the Sweet Home VFW since 1985, he said. “I just get a pleasure out of doing things for other people.”
He also belongs to the other organizations at the Vet’s Club.
“We have applications for all of the organizations here,” Allyn said. “Talk to anybody, and we’ll help decide which organization would be best.”
For information, contact the Vet’s Club at (541) 367-4435.