2023-2024 Odessa City Guide Page 38 Organizations Veteran organizations Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 5675 was first established in 1899 in Columbus, Ohio, and was chartered in Odessa in 1946. Group meets on the third Wednesday of the month at the post home on 40 Highway. Commander is Brad Schwantz and service officer is Bob Woodruff, (816)230-3286. Annual events include the VFW Breakfast on the second Saturday of each month, Memorial Day service, Fourth of July activities at the post home and co-sponsorship of Dyer Park fireworks, MIA-POW balloon release, B.H. Milby Fishing Derby, Otis Kirts Memorial Fish Fry, VFW/AL appreciation picnic, Puddle Jumper Days booth, military funeral honors team, Canteen, blood drives, assistance with the Auxiliary Poker Run. VFW Auxiliary was established nationally in 1919 and was chartered in Odessa in 1946. The group hosts many annual events including Fourth of July activities at the post home and co-sponsorship of Dyer Park fireworks, children’s Patriotic Art contest, Buddy Poppy Drive, Puddle Jumper Days beer garden, poker run fundraiser to benefit the Veterans Community Project Tiny House Project and the Veterans Assistance League, coffee and razor collection for the VA Hospital in Kansas City, cancer grants, Queen of Hearts 50/50 drawing, Voice of Democracy and Patriot Pen essay contests, Halloween Costume Party for children, Smart Maher citizenship education award, Easter Egg Hunt, joint Christmas party with VFW, Adopt-A-Family at Christmas, Adopt-A-Highway quarterly trash pick-ups, bake sale at VFW fish fry, military suicide awareness billboard and military funeral honors team. The Auxiliary meets on the second Sunday of every month. Patty Corbett is president. AMVETS National Headquarters was founded in 1944 by an act of Congress. Odessa’s chapter was formed in 2009. Annual event is a Puddle Jumper Days drawing. Money raised is donated to veterans hospitals and organizations and to assist local veterans. Group meets on the second Thursday of each month at the Odessa branch of Trails Regional Library. For more information or to join, Ron Roland, 816-977-7142 or Stephen Durrill, 816-633-0336, may be called.
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