Veterans Affairs

The American Legion Post 335 had their Christmas dinner on December 5th, with Leo Renaud cooking some of the juiciest and best tasting turkey around. Along with the turkey we had loads of good homemade side dishes and plenty of good company.

Judge Ryder and his wife, Diane were guests with Judge Ryder reading a letter to the Army News thanking our troops for their service.

The American Legion is raffling off a Remington Model 700 BDL Springfield 30.06 rifle with a Nikon Monarch 3X12 scope. Tickets are $5. per ticket or 6 for $25. and may be purchased from Karen Sendowski at Buffalo Sporting Goods or from most American Legion members. We also have spreader bars for dressing out deer for $15. and these can also be purchased at Buffalo Sporting Goods. Proceeds from these will go to support our Adopt a Unit program.

If you would like to bring a toy for our Christmas for our soldier’s families you can drop them off in Centerville at Judge Ryder’s office. We will be taking the toys to Fort Hood on the 21st.

Be sure and drive by the courthouse in Centerville and see how beautiful the American Legion and Boy Scout Troop 6335 have decorated it. The Boy Scout Troop is also making beautiful wooden crosses with flag holders on them to be put on veteran’s graves.

The Vietnam Veterans of America #991 (VVA) and their Associates (AVVA) had their meeting on the Dec. 12, again with lots of good food. One of our veterans that was down on his luck already and recovering from surgery, had his hot water heater blow up. Upon hearing of this the VVA stepped in and bought the old soldier a water heater and installed it for him.

The AVVA donated a Christmas tree, decorated in red, white and blue for the VA clinic in Palestine and this will be an annual event. Many of the patients there have expressed their appreciation for this tree and say it has really cheered them up. The AVVA adopted a unit in Afghanistan and now they are home for Christmas with their families.

December 10th the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) had their Holiday Dinner.... more good food! And it's just so hard to resist, I want to sample everything.

This year the van drivers were invited to share their Holiday Dinner. Even though the drivers are volunteering to drive the DAV's van most of them are not DAV members. They are just people that want to help our veterans.

And by the way, we can always use more drivers if anybody out there would like to help. No special license is required, just a desire to give something back to these men and women that have been so willing to give their lives for us.