Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697
Ooltewah, Tennessee
COMMANDER'S CORNER
VFW Commander-in-Chief congratulates Post 1697 on its 2023-2024 membership achievement:
Responding to public issues impacting Patriotism:
Independence Day 2019
Whose Flag?
How did the Flag of the United States end up with fifty stars today? It all began with the first Flag of our Country that in 1777 on June 14 had thirteen States
represented by thirteen stripes and thirteen stars. As more States were added to our Union, their stars became part of our Flag; the stripes remained the same to remind us of how many States we
started with.
When I say we, does that include you, my fellow American? Can any of us today repudiate our beginnings because the people and practice of those times were not perfect?
Their flaws are with us still, and so are their ideals.
Our American Flag, the “Stars and Stripes,” represents the hopes and fears, the aspirations and expectations of each Citizen. What is your America like? Are you
satisfied with your America? If not, what will you do? Will you work to make it better? America needs you!
Our Flag distills the past and points to the future, a future of your making, and mine. The “Stars and Stripes” belongs to all of us; at each stage, from thirteen stars
on to fifty today, it was and is and will be the United States of America.
--Lewis L. Szerecz, COMMANDER (2018-20)
Ooltewah (Tennessee) Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697
Webmaster Emeritus, vfw1697.org
Can you pinch-hit for the Webmaster by administering this Website as his associate.
Let me know at info@vfw1697.org -
appreciate it!
Website last updated
22 SEP 2024.
Want to Become a Member?
Visitor Counter
(Started 14 JUN 2012)
Visit the Veterans of Foreign Wars - Department of Tennessee at https://vfwtn.org/di/vfw/v2/default.asp
is a Poem dedicated to All Surviving Spouses of Our Post . . . please scroll to the bottom of the page link.
Special Notice
regarding Hospice services for Veterans: please go to 09 JAN 2020 in
A new excerpt, Pages 86-87, was added to Raymond C. Brown's SERVICE STORY from his book Hey, Got Time for a War Story?
Please scroll down to the bottom of page
Announcing our
new Webmaster, Aidan Melton!
After eight years it's time a new generation takes over. In fact, sixty years separate him and me, but age--whether old or young--is no barrier to creativity and patriotism. Aidan, you have lots of boosters, some you know and more you don't, yet. Congratulations on your new assignment to oversee
--Lewis L. Szerecz
NEXT UP: 12 DEC 2019 for more from Wesley Crider.
Wesley Crider, the world-renowned guitar virtuoso, played Christmas favorites on December 14, 2017, for us.
View them
Our new Facebook admin is Bryan K. Hardy - welcome aboard!
Announcing our Facebook page
formerly administered by Assistant Webmaster Marc Baker in friendly rivalry with this Webpage and its Webmaster in parallel but compatible tracks! Thanks, Marc, for your outstanding effort. We all applaud and appreciate you.
Marc, you did a fine job for us; we're sorry you moved away and wish you well, Comrade. We can't thank you enough!
For more on REBOOT COMBAT RECOVERY and FIRSTLINE RESPONDERS Trauma Recovery see 14 FEB 2019 in News and Events from 2017 on
J. VERNON HEROD, the first commander of our VFW Post 1697, shares his Service Story about World War II here.
Our thanks to the Scenic City Chorus who sang in their signature barbershop quartet style for a concert on 08 MAR 2018. Hear and see them here in proudly featured five videos!
Amazing how the music keeps coming! AMBERHOPE VELBIS is a performer extraordinaire who sings her original songs and arrangements while accompanying herself on the keyboard. She graced our Post on 11 JAN 2018 sharing her inspiring skill.
See Alan Blankenship's photographs from Vietnam with the US Army's 5th Infantry Division 1/77 Armor Scouts during 1969 and 1970.
Announcing a new page on our Web site, VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK, featuring news and views of this unique Collegedale, Tennessee, landmark.
Link here to our national organization!
Special link to our fellow Veterans in the local American Legion: http://collegedale-americanlegion.org/
See OUR PROJECTS for highlights from the 2013 and 2016 Armed Forces Day Parades and 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 Armed Forces Day Luncheons.
View the updates on our Site under NEWS & EVENTS FROM 2020 ON. Previous entries under NEWS & EVENTS 2017 TO 2020, NEWS & EVENTS 2014 TO 2016 and NEWS & EVENTS 2011 TO 2013 are tabbed at the top of each page.
City employees and Veterans teamed up to replace worn State flags in Collegedale (Tennessee) Veterans Memorial Park on Friday, 21 FEB 2014, Wednesday, 01 APR 2015, Friday, 07 APR 2017, and Friday, 14 JUN 2019.
Check out SERVICE STORIES from Veterans of our Post! COMRADES Raymond C. Brown, Bill Nutt, Noble B. Vining and J. Vernon Herod start us out, followed by as many as will consent to share their SERVICE STORIES to encourage new generations to serve and defend our Beloved Land.
Look back
to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post
1697
PHOTO ALBUM
SPECIAL EVENT: Flag Retirement Ceremony was conducted by Ooltewah, Tennessee Boy Scouts of America Troop 147 at Collegedale VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK on Saturday, 03 DEC 2011.
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