Nimui V. F. W. m m 24-30
Wm. H. Coffield Post]
Schedules Program
Each Day Next W eek
William H. Coffield, Jr., Post No.
9280, Veterans of Foreign Wars, will
join a nation-wide observance of Nat
ional VFW Week January 24 to Jan
uary 30.
A million and a quarter members
of this overseas veteran organization,
who earned their rights and privileges '
to membership of this unique group, ,
by seeing foreign duty in war time, be
lieve that the precarious years con
fronting America and other free na- ,
tions of the world, call for a rededica
tion of the principles of democracy
and fundamental objectives of their
organization.
The organization had its beginning
some 55 years ago when the Spanish-
American war veterans organized the
first units of what is today known as
the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the
United States. Those men did so with
a definite and far-reaching purpose in
mind. That purpose was bom of ne
cessity—-of compassion for their com
rades who had undergone unusual
hardships in America’s first major
war on foreign soil.
For those men who returned to their
homes, fresh from their triumphs on j
the field of battle, there was no bon
us, no nationwide chain of veteran!
hospitals, no government life insur
ance, no pension or compensation for
the disabled veterans or the families
of deceased veterans, and no veterans
educational program. Those volun
teers who had fought so gallantly on
hostile seas and strange lands, came
home to find that the American neo
pie were not greatly concerned about
the problems of returning veterans.
From the moment they were discharg
ed with $17.65 in their pockets, they
were on their own.
Those founders of the Veterans of
Foreign Wars were disturbed and
deeply distressed by this lack of con
sideration for their Comrades, most
of whom Were ill with tropical fever
er other disabilities so prevalent dur
ing those days. Rut. determined as
they were to do something about this
tragic situation, thev fnilv realized
that they could do little as individuals.
Only bv raising their voices in unison
could those “forgotten men” hope to ’
be heard by the people—and by the j
representatives in the legislative halls j
of their state and national capitols. [
Certainlv that is true today, when all j
peace-loving citizens should raise their i
voices in unison on the major prop- j
lems facing our nation.
Rut, there was another ana far!
more compelling and unselfish reason]
for bringing together of these SDan
ish-A meriean War veterans. It was i
inspired bv the experiences of the j
men who had fought our first full-1
sealed war bevond our own shores.j
That war against Spain was waged I
with inferior equipment, with food un- j
fit for human consumption; poor med-,
ical facilities, and with men who, j
though their courage was unsurpass-,
ed. were woefully untrained.
More than any other group of Amer-I
jeans. those founders of the V.F.W.
who had served under Teddy Roose
velt, General Irving Hale and Admiral
Dewev and others, recognized the
tragedy of being unprepared for war.
They were deeply conscious of the
suffering and losses in human lives
that an untrained and poorly equipped
army must endure.
There were leaders throughout the
nation who foresaw the need of such
an organization, who could sneak from
experiences that could never be gain
ed on the blackboard or on maneuvers.
That same basic idea spring up in
various parts of the nation in 1899,
all of which was later to become
known as the Veterans of Foreign
Wars of the United States.
Throughout the succeeding years,
the V.F.W. won the respect of the
American people as the “Gold Chev
ron” organization, because its mem
bers had earned the right to wear
“Gold Chevrons” or “Bars” on the
sleeves of their uniforms, as recog
nized by the United States as their
symbol of overseas service in times
of war, just as our Comrades have
earned them in far-off Korea for the
past several years.
The V.F.W. won the respect of the
people because of their continual fight
for a stronger America, and to sup
port legislation to help disabled and
needy veterans, and families of de
ceased veterans. Os course they al
ways worked unceasingly for such
other objectives to improve their com
munities, state and nation for which
Bill Perry’s Texaco Station
Edenton Furniture Co.
\
they served overseas to protect. |
For example, the 1926 National En-|
campment ~f the V.F.W. held in El
Paso, Texas, (he organization then!
adopted strongly worded resolutions
seeking the establishment of Univer
sal Military Training and to outlaw
Communism and other subversive doc
trines. Yet, many members of Con
gress and people all over the Nation,
ignored these mandates from combat
For It* 55 Year* of Sorvlco ~
msi Votoran
Vl (l\ (/f //y/ Hi* Dependents and The Notion
WE SALUTE
Dm Veteran, of Forrign Wan of th* U.S.
I 1 899-1954
.fSfV National V.F.W. Week
lanary 24 ■ 3D. 1954
f'* *
————— a— ■a—■
IF A V. F. W. MEMBERSHIP CARD COULD SPEAK, THIS I
IS WHAT IT WOULD SAY:
By James H. Basnight, Member of VFW Post No. 9280
“I am documentary evidence of your unselfish
ness—-your willingness to assist other veterans who
are less fortunate than yourself—because your mem
bership helps support the V.F.W. national rehabili
tation and welfare service program on community,
State and national levels.
“I am proof, beyond dispute, of your compas
sionate interest in the tragic plight of tie widows
and orphans of the men with whom you served in
the Armed Forces—because your membership is
supporting the V.F.W. National Home at Eaton
Rapids, Mich., and the V.F.W. fight for adequate
pensions for the nation’s widows and orphans.
“I am a testimonial that you did not discard your
love for America when you swapped your military
uniform for civilian garments—because your mem-
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Willie Spruill Soda Shop J. C. Parks Sinclair Service Station
W. C. Keeter and Ruth Porter, Agents Pilot Life Ins. Co.
THE CHOWAN HERALD, EDENTON. N. C.. THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 1954.
<1
j veterans, saying that they were mili-
I tarists or war mongers who were see- j
! ing a “Red” behfcd every bush.
In the United Stated theie a.t -,cw!
some 10,000 V.F.W. Posts and some,
*7.000 Ladies Auxiliary Chapters, com- 1
prising a total membership vs same 2,
million members. When the organiza- j
tion was chartered by Congress, the;
following reasons wera listed in the
Record: The purposes of this corpora
tion shall be fraternal, patriotic, his
itorical and educational; to preserve
| and strengthen comradeship among its
. | members; to assist worthy comrades,
to perpetuate the memory and history
| of our dead; and to assist their wid
-1 ows and orphans; to maintain true al
i legiance to the government of the
• United States of America; and fidelity
' to its Constitutions and laws; to sos
■ ter true patriotism; to maintain and
■ extend the inst hitions of American
, freedom; and to preserve and defend
1 the United States from all her enem-
ies. whomsoever.
j “Durii.t *ho week of January 24-30,
while we are ivr -dicating ourselves to
ithe noble nrinetpie' for which the
! V.F \V. and America ws* founded,”
oiy'i Til Pn>ry. mirnmnat. 'f Wm.
| H. Coffield. Jr . Pos‘. “let me say that
! the Veterans of Foreign Wars is hold
ing h’gh the banner of bornan liber
ty, of justice, of peace and under
standing among the free peoples of
the world. We are carrying on our
crusade that had its beginning 55
years ago. We ask no more of the
American people, including the good
people in Chowan County, than to
work with us —to play with us—to
pray with us—to die with us if need
he—to preserve the God-given herit
age of freedom and happiness and
peace.”
Mr. Perry hopes the observance of
National VFW Week will influence
all eligible veterans to join the local
VFW Post.
O 7
bership gives added strength to V.F.W. national
security policies.
VETERANS, OF j|t
1954 FOREIGN WARS
OF THE UNITED STATES
Xo. 1 October I, 1953
THIS CERTIFIES THAT JOHN DOE
Who Has Paid Dues to December 31, 1954,
Is a Member In Good Standing of
Wm. H. Coffield Post, No. 9280
LOCATED AT EDENTON, N. C.
JOHN DOE.
“I am witness to your continuing devotion to
the welfare of the United States —because your
V ,
National VFW Week Program
)
Following is the schedule of activities by Wm. H. Coffield Post, No. 9280,
’ Veterans of Foreign Wars, January 24-30 in connection with the celebration
of National VFW Week.
I Sunday, January 24—A1l VFW members are urged to attend the eourefc
of their choice and take someone along.
Monday, January 25, Community Service Day—All out effort will be
made to complete the March of Dimes campaign which is now in progress un
r der the direction of the VFW Post and Auxiliary and Degree of Pocahontas.
r Tuesday, January 26—Obligation meeting for all new members in Post
> 9280. All members are urged to attend.
“ Wednesday, January 27 —VFW Youth Activities Day. Sponsored by
I ladies of the Auxiliary.
Thursday, January 28, VFW National Home Day—The VFW is proud of
’ its home for orphans. The VFW Department of North Carolina is now build
* ing a cottage at the National Home Site in Eaton Rapids, Mich. Pictures of
■ the National Home and other interesting material is now on display in the
1 building formerly occupied by Tots & Teens.
Friday, January 29 —Americanism Day—All merchants are requested to
' display flags in observance of this day.
Saturday, January 30, VFW Open House Day—Wm. H. Coffield, Jr.,
1 Post, No. 9280, located on the old Hertford Highway, will be open to the pub
lic. Everyone is cordially invited to visit the home.
WHAT THE V.F.W. MEANS TO
THE OVERSEAS VETERAN
As a Comrade ...
There’s magic in the Cross of Malta emblem Os the
Veterans of Foreign Wars because it tells the world
that the wearer served overseas with the Armed
Forces.
It’s a symbol of a fellowship that exists only be
tween overseas veterans. They may have served in
Africa or Alaska, Italy or Iwo Jima, Saipan or Sicily,
Guadalcanal or Germany, but they speak the same
language—whether its Pidgin English or Fractured
French. There’s no tie between men that’s stronger
than the bond of war time experiences equally shared.
In the V.F.W. you will enjoy a bran a of comrade
ship that will prompt you to forget the things that
often keep other men apart—politics, wealth, social po
sition or petty rivalries.
SFor V.F.W. members—and the members of their
families—the social calendars of their V.F.W. Posts
offer satisfying friendships that seldom fail to stand
the test of time.
Veterans are Good Citizens! Be a V.F.W. Member
and be a Better Citizen! Join the V.F.W. Now!
VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS
OF THE UNITED STATES
Wm. H. Coffield Post 9280, Edenton
I ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■»■■»!
■ TELL ME HOW I CAN JOIN THE V. F. W. ■
I Name |
I Address R
Phone j
lb k.
membership helps support the V.F.W. program of
education in Americanism for all citizens.
"I testify to your faith in the basic principle that
the youth of today must be properly trained to
assume the duties of citizenship in the future—be
cause your membership helps the V.F.W. foster a
constructive youth activity program.
‘‘l am a symbol of your contempt for communism
and all other subversive doctrines—because your*
membership is making it possible for the V.F.W.
to fight these evils with unrelenting vigor on every
front.
“I certify that you are a civic-minded citizen, one
u- T „. displays an honest concern for the welfare of
all citizens—because your membership helps acti
vate V.F.W. sponsorship of a great variety of com
munity service projects.”
Bill Harris Pure Oil Service Station
Joe’s Drive-In P & Q Food Center
SECTION TWO—
Page Three