VFW District 8 Newsletter
CWO5 Randle M. Tolliver, USN (Ret)
Commander
For veterans in crisis, the Veterans Crisis
Line's number is "988” then press "1”.
Homebound veterans requiring assistance please
contact any member.
Buddy Checks! Please call or go visit elderly or homebound veterans and
see how they are doing and if they need help.
The VFW is an organization of war veterans, and our
mission is to assist veterans, their families and to serve our local community.
To promote Americanism and be a voice for veterans in Washington, and Jeff City
where we advocate for veterans, service members and military families. We
support veterans of all wars in matters of government compensation and pension
claims, hospitalization, and other issues.
The District 8 School of Instruction (SOI) for the 2026-2027
year will be Saturday 11 July at 11 am at VFW Post 5896. The address is 814 E
Karsch Blvd, Farmington. All Post
Commanders, Quartermasters and Benefits Advisors are required. Post Senior and
Junior Vice Commanders and all District officers are highly encouraged to
attend. If a required officer cannot attend, they must coordinate in advance
with the District Commander. If you have questions call (573) 924-2482 or email
cdrdist8@movfw.org.
The 127th VFW National Convention will be held July
25-29, 2026, at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center in Reno, Nevada.
Veterans News
SCAM ALERT! There is a new scam targeting
veterans. It involves them sending fraudulent postcards claiming you or your
spouse are entitled to "extra VA benefits” regardless of your VA disability
rating. Don’t fall for it. These scammers claim to be the VA and pressure you
to contact them ASAP, or within five days. If you call them, they will try to obtain
personal information. Never give this information over the phone or on the
internet.
The VA has launched the new "VA Partial Claim
Program” to help veterans with financial problems avoid home foreclosure. It
was authorized by the "VA Home Loan Reform Act” of 2025. It works like this: Mortgage
servicers identify Veterans who are in default and might qualify for the
Partial Claim Program. This is one of several options to help veterans keep
their homes. Veterans having difficulty reaching a resolution with their
mortgage servicer can contact VA at (877) 827-3702, option 6. For more
information, please visit https: lgy.va.gov .
Legislative news:
Many Missouri’s veterans are deeply disappointed that
for the 8th straight year Jefferson City bureaucrats and political maneuvering
prevented the citizens of Missouri from deciding if ‘Disabled Veterans Property
Tax and Homestead Exemption” for 100% service-connected disabled veterans
should be approved. Many veterans and
supporters contacted Gov. Kehoe's office, requesting a special legislative
session to place HJR-115 on the November ballot. He took no action and with the 3 July filing
deadline for constitutional amendments, this issue is effectively dead this
year. Remember this next year.
Please contact Senator Hawley at (202)
224-6154, Senator Schmitt, at (202) 224-5721, and Congressman Smith at (202)
225-4404 ask them to support but modify the "Take
Care of America’s Veterans Act,” (H.R.9237/S.4744). This legislation includes many items we have
fought for, including the "Major Richard Star Act, but there is a serious
problem. To pay for those benefits,
congress would reduce disability compensation for certain issues to offset the
cost. They need to find a funding solution that does not come at the expense of
veterans and their families.
Local events:
The time and place of these
and local post meetings and other events are provided on each post’s Facebook
site; come join us!
Every Tuesday, Post 5331 in Cedar Hill host
"Veterans Coffee Talk” at 9 am at 1 Lynn Lane in Cedar Hill. If you have
questions or would like more information, please call EverTrue @ (314)
446-2539, Col. (retired) Ted Hodgson @ (314) 221-2096 or Mark Newton @ (636)
222-3521.
Every Wednesday, Post 5896 is hosting an
"all-you-can-eat” breakfast at 814 E Karsch Blvd, Farmington. Food service is 6
to 9:30 am and the cost is $10.
Every
Saturday until October, St Francois County Post 2426 will host a VFW Market from
9 am until 2 pm at 399 W. Oak St in Desloge. For more information call (573)
431-3915.
On 3 July VFW
Big River Post 5331 in Cedar Hill will host their Annual 4th of July event.
Festivities start 11:00 am at 1 Lynn Lane in Cedar Hill. For more information
call (636) 274-5001.
On 4 July, Post 6660 and VFWA, Post 6660 and VFWA, in
cooperation with other civic organizations are supporting the Reynolds County
4th of July Celebration. Fun includes music, food, kids’ activities, booths, parade
and fireworks. Fun start at 3 pm, the parade at 5:30 pm, leading up to the
ceremony and fireworks at dusk.
On 5 July Post 1831 in Desoto will hold a Craft Fair at 1651
Veterans Drive in Desoto. For more information call Jacklyn at (573) 860-8226.
In this, the final installment of the events leading
to the Declaration of Independence, let’s review where we were last week: the Second
Continental Congress had approved the wording of the Declaration of
Independence, proclaiming
our independence from Great Britain, and it was published on 4 July 1776. At that time, General Washington and
most of the American army had marched from Boston to defend New York City. On 9 July, General Washington ordered his men
to assemble to hear the new Declaration. Most of Washington's army was
inexperienced and he believed that the Declaration would inspire his men to
stay committed to the fight. Before the
Declaration was read, the troops heard a statement by Washington. The troop’s spirit soared; they were now
fighting for the birth of a new nation. The ideas presented by the Declaration
of Independence would help Washington keep his volunteer army together through
some of the most difficult moments of the war.
I offer this quote Thomas Jefferson about the 4th of July.
"Let the annual return of this day forever refresh our recollections of
these rights, and an undiminished devotion to them."
Bulletin Board:
The VA one-stop telephone number is
1-800-698-2411 and press "0” for immediate assistance. The VA one stop website
is VA.gov Home | Veterans Affairs .
For more for information concerning VA "End of
Life” benefits and services see www.va.gov/initiatives/end-of-life-benefits/
Veteran employment
opportunities! Please visit https://news.va.gov/138283/hiring-veterans-job .
The Missouri Veterans Commission (MVC) one-stop
Benefits and Resource Portal is (573) 522-4061 or www.veteranbenefits.mo.gov .
To pre-certify for burial in a Missouri Veterans
Cemetery, apply at https://my.mo.gov/gsp?id=vcp_preapplication . For
information on burial eligibility, visit https://mvc.dps.mo.gov/cemeteries .
The Missouri Job Center offers no-cost
employment assistance for veterans and spouses. Contact (417) 257-2630 or visit
jobs.mo.gov/vets.
To order military service documents such as a DD
214/Separation Document or Official Military Personnel File (OMPF), contact the
National Archives, National Personnel Records Center at https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records, or call (866) 272-6272.
For more information, follow us at https://www.facebook.com/groups/967395123712841
or visit movfw.org .
"Here to Serve”