The post has served as both a place for veterans to meet with comrades in arms as well as helping Henryetta through baseball sponsorships, working with youth in schools and various other programs to help veterans with service-connected issues.That century of service will be honored Saturday morning at a special ceremony at 10:30 with an award from the national VFW headquarters.
Post commander Bill Goodner said the award was presented to Oklahoma state VFW commander Michael Merit this past summer at the state convention. Out of concern for COVID, Goodner said he did not attend that meeting. He will receive the award from District 7 commander Elizabeth Carter in a special ceremony prior to the start of the district meeting. This will be held at the American Legion headquarters on Frisco Avenue.
The original charter for the post hangs prominently in the meeting room bearing the names of the founding members.
They include: Patrick C. Kelly, Fred C. Mercur, Theodore Liles, George P. Craig, R.B. Williams, jr., Morris B. Tuck, L.W. Purcell, Walker Lehr, Sid Frnabarger, Eric Gillespie, R.E. Griffith, Leslie C. Hollman, John L. Riley, Don Cameron, David J.Ortman, W. Erle Wise, James C. Maxwell, John Rickman, J.R. Williams, James R. Sallee, John Brannon, William R. Mount and L.E. Malen.
Also, A.L. Bullock, A.M. Poppage, Claude S. Anderson, Franklin D. Murphy, Arthur H. Brizines, J.W. McClelland, C.D. Kelton, Lee Simmons, Thomas E. James. John E. Deckel, Robert L. Self, Edwin Montgomery, Ulysses E. Cooper, Claude V. Clan, Howell W. Casey and Benjamin A. Troutman.
Also, Dwight G. Gardner, Bruce Taylor, Carl W. Fellows, Edward F. Keys, Charlton C. Whittle, Raymond Byrne, Harry Reingold, Fred V. Sweet, Pete P. Ward, Ernest Reynolds, Rush Pippin, Mark Hugh V. Walls, Levi West, Millard M. Davis, W.H. Wren, John M. Gano, Maxwell L. Skelton, J.J. Flanagan, William J. Weber, Richard Crittenden, Pat Clark.
The post was originally located on Frisco Avenue in a large wooden structure that had a spacious meeting room as well as side offices and was visited by members and special guests alike over the years. Eventually the wood building was demolished and a metal structure put in its place.
As the years went by, attendance slowly dwindled leaving the organization in need of a scaled back meeting space.
About six years ago the Okmulgee County Health Department closed its office next to the football field and the building became the property of the city. That is when VFW members decided to leave their home of decades and leased the building from the city.
Goodner said membership has been declining to the point where the local post has about 90 people on its membership rolls.
“We know that we have lost our World War II veterans and many of our Korean War veterans,” he said. “Our Vietnam veterans are now getting up there in years and we would like to see those who have served in Iraq, and Afghanistan become members.”
To qualify for membership, a man or woman must be a U.S. citizen, either be a current service member or receive an Honorable or General under Honorable Condition discharge, and served in a war, campaign or expedition on foreign soil or in hostile waters.
“The VFW is a great organization and provides a great service to our veterans. We would like to invite everyone to become a member and especially attend the Saturday meeting when our 100 years as a post is recognized.”
The VFW meets on the second Tuesday or each month at 7 p.m.
