Donations sought for community veterans

Wahkiakum VFW Post 5297 operates in Cathlamet. There are currently 62 members in the Post. We have about 273 veterans listed in Wahkiakum County. We believe there are many more veterans living within Wahkiakum County who have not contacted us, and we would like to hear from you.

Our Post seeks donations to help local veterans and their families in need, to make donations to local causes, and to recognize and make cash awards to local students and first responders. We have donated to various local and veteran causes such as Girl Scouts, National Veterans Children’s Home, Wahkiakum County Search and Rescue, Cathlamet Fire Department, Cowlitz Stand Down for Veterans, Heroes of the Ballpark (attended by hospitalized and disabled veterans), Honor Flight (for WWII, Korea, and Vietnam veterans), Northwest Battle Buddies (service dogs for combat veterans), Veterans Homeless Fund, USO, Special Olympics, and VMS (Veterans and Military Support).

We are heavily involved with our local schools. We recognize and make cash awards to winners of the Voice of the Democracy essay program for grades 9-12, Patriots Pen essay program for grades 6-8, and Youth Essay program for grades 3-5. Each year, students are given patriotic themes to write about. The essays are evaluated and judged, and winners receive recognition and cash awards. All essay winners move up to District and State. The Voice of Democracy and Patriots Pen winners move up to national competition level where they are recognized and, sometimes, awarded scholarship awards. We recognize and provide a cash award to a local teacher for the Teacher of the Year competition. From there, winners go up to district, state, and national levels. We educate our local youth about patriotism and respecting the flag. Prior to each Memorial Day Ceremony, we sponsor a middle-school class to come out and plant American flags on veteran gravesites while teaching them about the importance of the special day. We participate each year in the Veterans Day Ceremony hosted by Wahkiakum and Naselle high schools and share our experiences with the students.

We facilitate working with veterans in accessing the Wahkiakum County Veterans Relief Fund. If a veteran contacts us and needs funds to help pay for utility bills, fuel, food, personal items, rent, funeral assistance, prescription medicine, medical transportation, or the cost of building or purchasing required accommodations for handicap or aged veterans, we complete an assessment of the situation and initiate a claim to access those county-controlled funds. The county funds have limits, and we can help with supplementing those funds from our Post relief account.

We refer all veterans to the appropriate agencies to get help with navigating through the Veterans Administration to get their benefits and entitlements. We participate in ceremonies honoring our veterans and those who have fallen.

We are supported by the VFW Auxiliary, made up of veteran spouses and family members. They help with fundraising, special events, and logistics. Our primary fundraising comes from donations from the public, our annual year-round poppy distribution, and various raffles conducted during booth operations.

Public donations have been waning, and we are in danger of reducing our monetary support for the Voice of Democracy, Patriots Pen, Youth Essay, Teacher of the Year, Public Servant, local and veteran’s programs. We rely on donations to manage these programs. We are encouraging your support by donating to Wahkiakum VFW Post 5297.

You can mail your donations to Wahkiakum VFW Post 5297, 80 North Welcome Slough Road, Cathlamet, WA 98612. Your donations are very much needed, and they are tax deductible. If you have any questions about the VFW, please contact Post Commander Bill Tawater at 360-849-4151 or by email at vfwpost5297@outlook.com. Thank you.