February 25 the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Post 6143, celebrated 75 years of service to veterans.
The local VFW was formed February 25, 1946, “having been submitted in due form by veterans who have served honorably in the Army, Navy and Marine Corps of the United States of America in wars, campaigns and expeditions.”
The first meeting of the new VFW Post 6143 was at a local downtown location, which did not become a permanent home. When Lockstone Funeral Home built a new building, the VFW Post purchased the old Lockstone building, where they still have meetings twice a month on the first and third Tuesday.
“This post started in 1946 and has been to three or more different locations. Lockstone built their new building and from what I’ve heard they sold it to VFW for $1. It was deteriorating quite a bit and we had people that weren’t even veterans come and help clean the place up,” VFW Post 6143 Commander Jimmy Pitzer said.
Since inception, the scope of Veterans’ involvement has increased however veterans still care about veterans and do multiple tasks and programs to support each other.
Pitzer said some of the things the VFW does is have numerous events including a bingo at the Oklahoma Veterans Center – Clinton Division. Pitzer said due to COVID-19 having events and meeting twice a month has been difficult.
Foreign war women and men veterans interested in supporting other veterans, veterans’ centers and hospitals, providing scholarships to high school and middle school students, supporting the National Home for Children, being involved in numerous community support programs can contact Pitzer at (580) 772-4386 to be a part of Veterans Who Care about Veterans.