Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697
Ooltewah, Tennessee
FOR THE CAPTION HOVER YOUR MOUSE POINTER ON THE PHOTOGRAPHS BELOW AND CLICK TO ENLARGE THE PICTURE.
BELOW: Highlights from the 12 DEC 2019 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
BELOW: Highlights from the 14 NOV 2019 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
BELOW: Highlights from the 10 OCT 2019 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
Ooltewah (Tennessee) Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Post 1697 founded on 13 OCT 1994 with 33 charter members.
BELOW: Highlights from the 12 SEP 2019 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
BELOW: Highlights from the 08 AUG 2019 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
BELOW: Highlights from the 11 JUL 2019 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
27 JUN 2018: COMMANDER Lewis L. Szerecz, Ooltewah (Tennessee) Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697, thanking COMMANDER Dennis E. Smith, Desmond T. Doss American Legion Post 257 of Collegedale, for his part and that of the Legionnaires in the 2019 Flag Day Patriotic Celebration at Walmart Supercenter #3835 in Collegedale, Tennessee (see https://www.vfw1697.org). Marc Baker photo.
Assistant Webmaster Marc Baker has more pics of Flag Day 2019 donated funds disbursement to Veterans Memorial Park of Collegedale on https://www.facebook.com/vfw1697/!
14 JUN 2019: Crew from City of Collegedale Public Works (front row L-R) Randy Spencer, Jim Billers, Josh Cook, and Dwight Young; from Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697 (back row L-R) Phil Garver, James Durichek, Dave Turner, Marc Baker, Tim Morgan, Greg Hocking, Chuck Whidden, and Robert Brewer who replaced all the flags in the Veterans Memorial Park of Collegedale on Flag Day!
BELOW: Highlights from the 13 JUN 2019 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
BELOW: Highlights from the 09 MAY 2019 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
BELOW: Highlights from the 11 APR 2019 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
14 MAR 2019: Special event at Collegedale, Tennessee, Memorial Park, the first flying of the American Flag earlier that day on the newly installed flag pole.
BELOW: Highlights from the 14 MAR 2019 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
BELOW: Highlights from the 14 FEB 2019 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
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BELOW: Highlights from the 10 JAN 2019 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
10 JAN 2019: Josh Roe, Chattanooga WTVC News Channel 9, speaking to Members and Guests on Veterans and their stories in the Fuller Memorial Community Center of Collegedale, Tennessee, City Hall. (Supplied photo.)
BELOW: Highlights from the 13 DEC 2018 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
Virtuoso guitarist Wesley Crider was the featured guest on December 13, 2018, at the Christmas Program of Ooltewah (Tennessee) Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697 in Collegedale, Tennessee, City Hall.
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**https://anchoredscraps.com/2015/07/freedom-is- not-free-copyright-1981-by-kelly-strong/
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****http://www.wesleycrider.com/
BELOW: Highlights from the 08 NOV 2018 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
BELOW: Highlights from the 11 OCT 2018 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
BELOW: Highlights from the 13 SEP 2018 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
*Countryside Café: http://www.countrysidecafe.net/
8223 Mahan Gap Road
Ooltewah, Tennessee 37363
423-344-8646
**Times Free Press, Chattanooga, Tennessee:
https://www.timesfreepress.com/
BELOW: Highlights from the 09 AUG 2018 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
BELOW: Highlights from the 12 JUL 2018 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
BELOW: Highlights from the 03 JUL 2018 Independence Day celebration in Veterans Memorial Park, Collegedale, Tennessee.
BELOW: Highlights from the 14 JUN 2018 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
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9650 Leyland Dr. Ooltewah, TN 37363
**Find COMRADE Vernon Herod's Service Story here: https://www.vfw1697.org/service-stories/
***https://www.vfw1697.org/about-us/executive-council/ Link to Executive Council of Ooltewah (Tennessee) Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Post 1697.
BELOW: Highlights from the 10 MAY 2018 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
BELOW: Highlights from the 05 APR 2018 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
BELOW: Highlights from the 08 MAR 2018 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
BELOW: Highlights from the 08 FEB 2018 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
BELOW: Highlights from the 11 JAN 2018 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
*http://www.countrysidecafe.net/
8223 MAHAN GAP RD OOLTEWAH, TN, 37363 423-344-8646
BELOW: Highlights from the 14 DEC 2017 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
BELOW: Highlights from the 09 NOV 2017 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
BELOW: Highlights from the 12 OCT 2017 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
Ooltewah (Tennessee) VFW Post 1697 Veterans together with Hamilton County District 7 Commissioner SABRENA TURNER-SMEDLEY and MARK SMEDLEY on October 12, 2017, in Collegedale, Tennessee, City Hall.
BELOW: Highlights from the 14 SEP 2017 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
BELOW: Highlights from the 10 AUG 2017 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
BELOW: Highlights from the 13 JUL 2017 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
BELOW: Highlights from the 08 JUN 2017 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
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COLLEGEDALE TOMORROW FOUNDATION
BELOW: Highlights from the 11 MAY 2017 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
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BELOW: Highlights from the 13 APR 2017 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
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BELOW: Glimpses of the 07 APR 2017 annual State flag replacement effort at the Collegedale, Tennessee, Veterans Memorial Park.
07 APR 2017: View of the Collegedale, Tennessee, Veterans Memorial Park during the annual replacement of all fifty State flags. DONATIONS TO THE COLLEGEDALE VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK ARE APPRECIATED (STATE FLAGS AVERAGE $100 EACH); "OLD GLORY" IS $1,500!
07 APR 2017: Crew of Veterans assisting Collegedale Parks & Recreation replace all the State flags in the Collegedale, Tennessee, Veterans Memorial Park--top (L-R) Dave Turner, Owen Cook, Phil Garver; bottom (L-R) Chuck Whidden, Bob Brewer, Johnny Arp.
BELOW: Highlights from the 09 MAR 2017 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
*https://www.theghostsofthegreengrass.com/ Official Website of the Book and Author and Speaker J. L. "Bud" Alley.
BELOW: Highlights from the 09 FEB 2017 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
Ruth Anderson performing on Thursday, February 9, 2017, in Collegedale, TN.
BELOW: Highlights from the 15 JAN 2017 'Friends Local Author Series' in the Collegedale, Tennessee, Public Library.
Author’s autograph in 'The Ghosts of the Green Grass' by J. Lyles "Bud" Alley, © 2015.
Vietnam War veteran J. L. "Bud" Alley returned from the war with the Combat Infantryman's Badge, Silver Star, Bronze Star, Air Medal, Purple Heart, Presidential Unit Citation and other awards. His book, The Ghosts of the Green Grass, is an autobiographical narrative of the Second Battalion Seventh Cavalry on the bloodiest day of the Vietnam War, November 17, 1965. Bud and his wife are Signal Mountain residents and grandparents. He is an advocate for those who suffer from PTSD. (From http://myemail.constantcontact.com/January-newsletter.html)
BELOW: Highlights from the 12 JAN 2017 meeting of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1697.
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
24 MAR 2024.
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(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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