After retiring from the United States military, I joined VFW Bremen Post 2791 in October 2008 with one goal in mind — to continue serving veterans and my community.

Shortly after joining, I was asked to take over leadership of the Honor Guard and bring it up to military standards. I accepted that responsibility with pride. To us, honoring a veteran is not just a duty — it is a sacred commitment. Our Honor Guard strives to attend every veteran’s funeral of which we are notified, ensuring no comrade is laid to rest without military honors.

On Flag Day, our members visit local cemeteries to place and replace flags on the graves of fallen veterans, conducting small ceremonies at each location to ensure their sacrifice is never forgotten.

November has become what we proudly call "Veterans Month.” During this time, our Honor Guard visits thirteen local schools and three retirement homes to participate in Veterans Day ceremonies, educating students and honoring those who served. We also take part in the community Veterans Day ceremony at Veterans Park, reinforcing our visible presence and commitment to the community.

In June 2012, I was elected Senior Vice Commander, serving three years with a primary focus on recruiting and strengthening our membership. At the same time, I continued overseeing the Honor Guard to maintain the high standards we had established.

In June 2015, I was elected Commander and served for three years, including two years continuing to supervise the Honor Guard. During my term, I made a clear commitment: our Post would become more active, more visible, and more engaged than ever before — both within the VFW and throughout our community.

Our members answered that call.

Under our leadership, the Post expanded its outreach in several meaningful ways:

· Extended the dates of our highly successful Lenten Fish Fry, increasing both community participation and Post support

· Presented awards for excellence to the top two students at local elementary schools, recognizing young leaders early

· Increased visits to local retirement homes to ensure veterans and seniors felt remembered and appreciated

· Began transporting veterans from retirement homes to the Post for weekly donuts, fellowship, and camaraderie

· Created a replica of the Battlefield Cross memorial to be displayed at local and village events as a powerful symbol of sacrifice

Everything we accomplish is made possible by the dedication of our members and volunteers. They donate their time, energy, and resources to ensure our events are successful and our mission continues.

I am proud of what we have built at VFW Post 2791 — not just a Post, but a place of honor, respect, service, and community.