VFW District 8 Newsletter
CWO5 Randle M. Tolliver, USN (Ret)
Commander
For veterans in crisis, the Veterans Crisis Line's number is "988” then press "1”.
Homebound veterans requiring assistance please contact any member.
Veterans experiencing, or at risk of homelessness, please contact any member or the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at (877) 424-3838.
Buddy Checks! Please call or go visit elderly or homebound veterans and see how they are doing and if they need help.
The next VFW District 8 meeting and yearly convention will be on Sunday May 3rd at 1:00 pm. The address is 600 E. Woodlawn Dr. Park Hills, MO 63601. Every Post must be represented, and all members are encouraged to attend. There will also be zoom access at the posts. More information will be provided via Facebook and to the post commanders. Uniform of the Day for is standard VFW meeting attire. Meeting objectives are to review Post & District Status and do VFW Business, discuss Community Outreach opportunities, discuss partnership opportunities with other organizations. The big item is to accept final noms for and elect the 2026-2027 CDR, SrVCDR, JrVCDR, QM, and 3yr Trustee. Also, eat good chow and swap sea stories.
We are always looking to have veterans who are eligible and want to continue serving our community to join us. If you are interested, please contact any member or post.
For our comrades who want to continue serving their communities but no longer have a VFW post, VFW District 8 has the answer; the establishment of a VFW Detachment to have a presence in the community without the burden of maintaining a post. The Det would be in the community, do VFW business and outreach as an element of the parent post. If you are interested, please contact (573) 924-2382.
Legislative news:
We are making some progress, but we still need folks to contact your senator and representative to voice your support for several pieces of legislation to support Missouri Veterans.
The House voted 152-2 to pass HJR 115 to place a constitutional amendment on the November 2026 ballot to provide ‘Disabled Veterans Property Tax and Homestead Exemption” for 100% service-connected disabled veterans. The issue is now back with the Senate as SJR 88. The Veterans community also supports HB 2535 would fund property tax relief for certain disabled veterans, Purple Heart recipients, and Gold Star spouses. HB 2535 has cleared committee.
Additionally, HB 3029, "The Veterans Benefits Protection Act”, has also cleared committee. This bill will protect veterans from unaccredited "Claim Sharks” predatory business practices. It will enforce federal VA standards, prohibit charging for initial claims or pre-appeal fees, require clear disclosures and prohibit unauthorized access to veterans VA data. Please call Rep. Jonathan Patterson, Speaker of the House at (573) 751-0907 and Representative Alex Riley, the Majority Floor Leader at (573) 751-2210 and tell them to schedule HB 2535 and HB 3029 for floor vote asap and to support the bills.
Concerning Claim Sharks, we are opposed to Section 42.028 of Senate Bill 974. We support the rest of the bill, but this section would effectively legitimize "Claim Sharks” business practices. . Please contact your representative to voice your opposition of Section 42.028.
Finally, we are still pushing to fully fund the Missouri Veterans Commission (MVC) with a stable funding solution. The MVC manages the seven Missouri Veterans Homes, six cemeteries, and numerous veterans’ programs.
At the federal level please support the "Major Richard Star Act” (H.R. 2102 and S. 1032) to stop the reduction of medically retired veteran’s Department of War retirement pay is to offset their VA disability compensation. These are fundamentally different benefits, earned for different reasons, yet Congress refuses to act. We thank Senator Hawley for co-sponsoring the bill. Please contact Senator Schmitt, at (202) 224-5721, and Congressman Smith at (202) 225-4404 and ask them to do the right thing.
You can find your representative at https://house.mo.gov/legislatorlookup and your senator at https://www.senate.mo.gov/LegisLookup
Also, please support the "Major Richard Star Act” (H.R. 2102 and S. 1032). Today, medically retired veteran’s Department of War retirement pay is reduced to offset their VA disability compensation. These are fundamentally different benefits, earned for different reasons, yet Congress refuses to act. Please thank Senator Hawley who is a co-sponsor, but call Senator Schmitt, at (202) 224-5721, and your Congressman / Congresswoman and ask them to do the right thing. You can find your congress person at https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative .
Local events:
The time and place of these and local post meetings and other events are provided on each post’s Facebook site; come join us!
Every Tuesday, Post 5331 in Cedar Hill host "Veterans Coffee Talk” at 9 am at 1 Lynn Lane in Cedar Hill. If you have questions or would like more information, please call EverTrue @ (314) 446-2539, Col. (retired) Ted Hodgson @ (314) 221-2096 or Mark Newton @ (636) 222-3521.
Every Wednesday, Post 5896 is hosting an "all-you-can-eat” breakfast at 814 E Karsch Blvd, Farmington. Food service is 7 to 9:30 am and the cost is $8 and children under the age of 10 eat for free.
Every 3rd Sunday of each month, Post 6516 in High Ridge will host "Meat Shoot” at 2220 Gravois Rd, High Ridge. Rain or shine, shooting starts at noon. Ages 12 and up are welcome and they provide shells. Nothing smaller than a .678 choke tube and no scopes, optics, bull barrels. For mor information call (636) 677-1772.
Post 6660 and VFWA 6660 are performing an environmental cleanup project across Reynolds County to remove and properly dispose of metal, tires, and other debris from along state and county roads, creeks, and with the cooperation of the owner’s, private property. In addition to the aesthetic value of removing such material from our forest and roadways, metal waste can leach into the soil and adjacent waterways, causing soil contamination. A lot of folks rely on wells for drinking water and to water stock. These pollutants can affect groundwater. Please contact (803) 924-0608 or (573) 924-2382 if you have material to remove.
On 2 May, Post 5331 in Cedar Hill is hosting American Championship Wrestling (ACW) at 1 Lynn Lane in Cedar Hill, MO. Doors open at 5 pm, first bell at 6 pm. Admission is $10 for front row and $6 for general admission. You can purchase tickets at the door or online at acwtheshow.com.
Now let us talk a bit about our history:
190 years ago, the Army of Texas, commanded by General Sam Houston, decisively defeated the Army of Mexico forces under the command of General Antonio López de Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto on 21 April 1836. The battle was the final and decisive battle of the Texas Revolution and was fought, in present-day La Porte and Deer Park, Texas, the 800 Texans engaged and defeated the Mexican army of over 1,500 in a fight that lasted just 18 minutes. General Santa Anna, who was also the president of Mexico, and General Martín Perfecto de Cos both escaped during the battle. Santa Anna was captured the next day and Cos on April 24. After being held for about three weeks as a prisoner of war, Santa Anna signed the peace treaty that dictated that the Mexican army leave the region, paving the way for the Republic of Texas to become an independent country and eventually the 28th state on 29 December 1845. For more information I recommend "Eighteen Minutes: The Battle of San Jacinto and the Texas Independence Campaign” by Stephen L. Moore
I offer this from Sam Houston following the victory at San Jacinto, "Texas will again lift its head and stand among the nations."
Bulletin Board:
The VA one-stop telephone number is 1-800-698-2411 and press "0” for immediate assistance. The VA one stop website is VA.gov Home | Veterans Affairs .
For more for information concerning VA "End of Life” benefits and services see www.va.gov/initiatives/end-of-life-benefits/
Veteran employment opportunities! Please visit https://news.va.gov/138283/hiring-veterans-job .
The Missouri Veterans Commission (MVC) one-stop Benefits and Resource Portal is (573) 522-4061 or www.veteranbenefits.mo.gov .
To pre-certify for burial in a Missouri Veterans Cemetery, apply at https://my.mo.gov/gsp?id=vcp_preapplication . For information on burial eligibility, visit https://mvc.dps.mo.gov/cemeteries .
The Missouri Job Center offers no-cost employment assistance for veterans and spouses. Contact (417) 257-2630 or visit jobs.mo.gov/vets.
To order military service documents such as a DD 214/Separation Document or Official Military Personnel File (OMPF), contact the National Archives, National Personnel Records Center at https://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records, or call (866) 272-6272.
For more information, follow us at https://www.facebook.com/groups/967395123712841 or visit movfw.org
"Here to Serve”
