Local veterans to host VFW 100th anniversary celebration

Veterans across Iowa are celebrating the 100^thanniversary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) in Iowa. The public is invited to help celebrate on Saturday, Aug. 28. The daylong event, hosted by the Garner VFW Post 5515, will be held at the Hancock County Fairgrounds at Britt.

Admission is free. The day’s activities include an auto show from 11-2 p.m. Registration is at 8 a.m. Awards will be announced at 3 p.m. There will be food, merchant vendors, inflatables for the kids, and music.

For people with disabilities the VFW will have golf carts to assist with transportation around the facility.

American Bombshells

A special treat will be a performance by the “American Bombshells” at 6 p.m. American Bombshells is singing group with a modern twist on the Andrews Sisters (a popular singing group during the 1940s). According to their website, the American Bombshells are on a mission to serve and honor military veterans, first responders, and their families with their unique patriotic programs. The program is free to the public.

A fireworks display will cap the evening.

All-American Honors

The August 28 celebration in Hancock County is one of several held across Iowa in 2021. 

State VFW Commander Michael Braman explained how Post 5515 was selected host the event. In 2019, the Edwin Jante VFW Post 5515 made All-American Honors.

“This is the highest honor received as a Post in the VFW,” Braman said. “To receive All-American honors, the Post must be active in their community, promote VFW programs such as Voice of Democracy and Patriots Pen Essays (Youth Scholarships), Teacher of the Year, and have membership growth.”

“I personally asked Post Commander Herman Robinson if his post would like to host one of the 100 year celebrations,” Braman stated. “He agreed, and this will end up being the largest event to date for the 100-year Anniversary for the VFW in the State of Iowa,”

 “This is a huge honor for Post 5515 especially considering the fact that we were in 100 percent in the effort of changing the way people think of the VFW and recruiting,” said Herman Robinson, Post Commander at Garner.

Robinson emphasized, “this event is for the community to come out with their families and celebrate the occasion with us.”

VFW Changing Image

Chartered by Congress in 1921, the Veterans of Foreign Wars lobbies on behalf veterans issues and has a wide range of programs to assist veterans. 

The organization is working on changing the perception that the local VFW Posts are just a bar, according State Commander Braman.

 “However that is not what the VFW is about,” he said.“We offer youth scholarships to students in middle school, and high school. We offer a Sport Clips Help a Hero Scholarship to service members and veterans.” 

The UNMETT Needs Program offers financial assistance to service members and families who are affected by a current deployment.

While COVID-19 slowed some activities, VFWs across the state were still able accomplish community service by donating 41,117 volunteer hours.

“My goal is to have a 10 percent increase in community service across the state this year,” Braman said.

The organization is taking steps to attract younger veterans. Two ways of doing this are by encouraging local VFW Posts to create their own social media page and partnering with other organizations in their communities.

“We are encouraging VFW Posts to make it family friendly. A lot of the younger veterans have young kids and they do not want to come to a bar. So we have to change to attract the younger veterans in these areas.”

In addition to Commander Braman, Past State Commanders Russ Saffell, Darryl Blasberg and Carol Whitmore plan to attend, as well as Brad Whitmore, National Legislative Chairman for Iowa and Michael Young, 5^thDistrict Commander and State Legislative Chairman.

“I am looking forward to attending this 100 year celebration,” he said. “I am excited to meet everyone in attendance and I would encourage everyone to come out and help us celebrate 100 years of the Veterans of Foreign Wars serving our veterans and service members across the State of Iowa.”