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ANNOUNCING the 2023 VFW Post 1697 Christmas Program on Thursday, 14-December-2023 at 6:30 PM in Founders Hall of Collegedale Commons featuring world-renowned virtuoso guitarist Wesley Crider you and your Family will not want to miss.  (Join us after supper as no catered meal will be served.)

HOLIDAY REMINDER: Bring your gift cards for the Samaritan Center to distribute to teenage clients in 2024.  THANK YOU.

Get your copy while available at the Collegedale (Tennessee) Public Library https://www.collegedalepubliclibrary.org/.

The Author is donating all proceeds to the Friends of the Library https://www.collegedalepubliclibrary.org/friends-of-the-library/.

Check out our https://www.facebook.com/vfw1697/ link:

Introducing our new Facebook admin, Bryan K. Hardy, whose contribution already broadens our Veterans' perspectives in our Communities and will inspire expanded Service to God and Country: Thank you, Bryan!

https://www.wdef.com/local-veterans-celebrate-flag-day/ links to Ms. Greer's interview reproduced here also:

Local veterans celebrate flag day

Ooltewah, Tenn. (WDEF) — Veterans celebrated flag day at Ooltewah Walmart by fundraising for new flags at Collegedale Veterans Memorial Park.

Flag day is celebrated every year on June 14. The holiday honors the American flag and commemorates the adoption of it back in 1777.

“Now if you were to ask me what the flag means to me and how important it is … when we lose, have lost fellow members, that’s the final thing that we lay on their casket,” previous Post Commander Jason Cobb said.

The American Legion Post 257 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697 raised funds for flags at the Collegedale Veterans Memorial Park.

“We respect it. And we do our very best to show people how to retire a flag properly,” American Legion Post 257 Commander Dennis Smith said. There was a ceremony held at 6 p.m. at Collegedale Veterans Memorial Park for the retirement of flags from the local area.

The event aimed to foster patriotism in the community and provide resources about how to get involved with the organizations.

“… It’s not just a piece of cloth. It’s a symbol of our nation, our country, and what it stands for… Freedom,” American Legion Post 257 Vice Commander Richard Eberly said.

http://americanflagfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Flag_Etiquette1.pdf

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2021 Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697 VOICE OF DEMOCRACY Winner Announced: 

VFW POST 1697

REGULAR MONTHLY MEETINGS

TAKE PLACE EVERY SECOND THURSDAY AT 6:30 PM

IN CHESTNUT HALL

OF COLLEGEDALE COMMONS

ON 4950 SWINYAR DRIVE!

Become a Member

Special Note of Appreciation:  Since the organizing of our Ooltewah (Tennessee) Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697 on 13-October-1994 the venue of our twice monthly meetings until now (14-October-2021) has been the Collegedale Municipal Building, for which we, the members of VFW Post 1697, express our deepest gratitude!

We also thankfully recognize the courtesy extended by the Collegedale Tomorrow Foundation for us to meet in Chestnut Hall of Collegedale Commons.

NEXT REGULAR MEETING:

THURSDAY, 14-December-2023

Reminder: Founders Hall in Collegedale Commons is the site of the annual Christmas Program of VFW Post 1697 at 6:30 PM (no catered meal).    Please bring your Gift Cards for the 2024 teenage clients of the Samaritan Center!

You can share selfies or other photos for posting online to info@vfw1697.org.  Thank you.  Please include a brief statement giving your permission and captions with the names of the people shown.  When posted these pictures will be credited to their author.

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WORDS FAIL WHEN HEARTS BREAK DUE TO THE DEPARTURE OF THE FIRST COMMANDER OF OUR POST   J. VERNON HEROD

WHOSE SERVICE TO GOD AND COUNTRY WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN, ACKNOWLEDGED RESPECTFULLY HERE.

FOR A FULLER REVIEW OF HIS PARTICIPATION IN VFW POST 1697 PLEASE REFER TO THE  Index of Names AND Service Stories AND Scans from our Post's Scrapbook.

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For the Honor Roll of our departed Comrades LINK HERE

Remember/review the unveiling of a new bronze statue of a female military person at the Collegedale Veterans Memorial Park on Memorial Day, May 31, 2021:

 https://www.vfw1697.org/veterans-memorial-park/

FOR THE CAPTION HOVER YOUR MOUSE POINTER ON THE PHOTOGRAPHS BELOW AND CLICK TO ENLARGE THE PICTURE.

Remembering Chattanooga’s Fallen Five

FOR YOUR INFORMATION:

Thank you for your support!

$825 was raised on Flag Day,

June 14, 2019, towards flags

flying in Collegedale

Veterans Memorial Park!

The 2019 FLAG DAY PATRIOTIC CELEBRATION on Friday, June 14, harks back to 1777 when the CONTINENTAL CONGRESS officially adopted THE STARS AND STRIPES as the Flag of THE UNITED STATES. Our commemoration--conducted jointly with Desmond T. Doss American Legion Post 257--will take place next to Walmart Supercenter #3835 off Little Debbie Parkway in COLLEGEDALE as a fund raiser for the flags flying in our VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK on Apison Pike. Those flags include THE STARS AND STRIPES and FIFTY STATE FLAGS that need replacing every year because they are flown around the clock. THIS WAY  THE PUBLIC WILL HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT OUR PATRIOTIC MISSION TO REMEMBER OUR VETERANS FROM EVERY STATE AND IN EACH BRANCH OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY WHO SERVED THEIR COUNTRY IN PEACE AND IN WAR.

https://newschannel9.com/this-n-that/recently-on-tnt/help-replace-the-flags-veterans-memorial-park

For three days …  after 50 years!

MARCH 27, 28, 29, 2017   MON TUE WED

Saluting a Hero

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY

HEADQUARTERS 1ST INFANTRY DIVISION

APO San Francisco 96345

GENERAL ORDERS                                                            5 December 1968

NUMBER   12782

AWARD OF THE SILVER STAR

1. TC 320. The following AWARD is announced.

BURNHAM, KENNETH A US56502296 (   - -   ) PRIVATE FIRST CLASS United

States Army

Company B 2d Battalion 28th Infantry

Awarded:         Silver Star

Date of Action:  13 October 1968

Theater:         Republic of Vietnam

Reason:          For gallantry in action while engaged in military

                 operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force

                 in the Republic of Vietnam: On this Date, Private First

                 Class Burnham was serving as a medical aidman with his

                 company on a reconnaissance in force operation seven

                 kilometers south of Phuoc Vinh Base Camp. As the

                 friendly force proceeded through the dense jungle, it was

                 suddenly subjected to intense small arms, automatic

                 weapons, and claymore mine fire from enemy bunkers which

                 caused numerous casualties. With complete disregard for

                 his personal safety, Private First Class Burnham

                 maneuvered through the hail of hostile rounds to the

                 point of heaviest contact and began assisting the

                 injured. While treating one casualty, Private First

                 Class Burnham was wounded in the leg. Ignoring his

                 painful injury, he dragged his comrade to a more secure

                 location. When Private First Class Burnham was seriously

                 wounded again, he continued to brave the aggressor

                 barrage raking the area and administered first aid to the

                 casualties until contact was broken. His exemplary

                 courage, outstanding professionalism, and selfless

                 concern for his companions were instrumental in saving

                 many soldiers’ lives, and significantly contributed to

                 the successful outcome of the encounter. Private First

                 Class Burnham’s unquestionable valor in close combat

                 against numerically superior hostile forces is in

                 keeping with the finest traditions of the military

                 service and reflects great credit upon himself, the

                 1st Infantry Division, and the United States Army.

Authority:       By direction of the President, as established by the

                 Act of Congress, 9 July 1918, and USARV Message 16695,

                 dated 1 July 1966.

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697 gratefully acknowledges the assistance of Dennis Smith, Commander of Desmond T. Doss American Legion Post 257, in explaining the Department of Veterans Affairs application process!

Apply for VA Health Benefits at http://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/apply/

Or apply for VA Health Benefits in person here:

Chattanooga Community Based Outpatient Clinic

(near Eastgate Mall)

VA OUTPATIENT CLINIC

150 Debra Rd Suite 5200 Bldg 6200
Chattanooga, TN 37411

Phone: 423-893-6500

HOW TO FILL OUT THE FORM REQUEST PERTAINING TO MILITARY RECORDS:

Complete SECTION I - INFORMATION NEEDED TO LOCATE RECORDS. and mark Question 6 NO.

In SECTION II - INFORMATION AND/OR DOCUMENTS REQUESTED check the DD Form 214 or equivalent box and All Documents in Official Military Personnel File (OPMF) box.  Under 2. Purpose: check boxes Personal and Other, explain:  Write in All Ribbons and Medals Authorized to be worn.

In Section III - RETURN ADDRESS AND SIGNATURE under 1. REQUESTER IS: check box Military service member or veteran identified in Section I, above.

Fill out 2. SEND INFORMATION/DOCUMENTS TO:  and 3. AUTHORIZATION SIGNATURE WHEN REQUIRED. 

Mail completed Standard Form 180 to:

National Personnel Records Center
(Military Personnel Records)
1 Archives Drive
St. Louis, MO 63138-1002 

Consult http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/standard-form-180.html for additional information.

OUR THANKS TO DESMOND T. DOSS AMERICAN LEGION POST 257 1ST VICE COMMANDER DENNIS SMITH FOR HIS GUIDANCE TO US!

View slides of the Collegedale, Tennessee VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK under the ABOUT US tab.