The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1096 was established on November 24, 1945.

The charter was signed by 69 local heroes, including Medal of Honor recipient Lt. Garlin Murl Conner.

Since that time, 74 years ago, Post 1096 has continued to serve its local veterans and the surrounding community.

For years Post 1096 provided the only baseball/softball field in the county, hosting an uncountable number of games and practices for the local youth.

This field was also used for the beginning of the local little league organization.

The Post began having a bicycle derby for the local children in 1989, and has been able to continue this tradition until last year. These bicycle derbies have allowed local children to gather at the Post, win trophies for their hard work and receive free bicycles that the Post has given away by drawings each year.

During the more active times at the Post, hosted Easter egg hunts, Halloween parties and fishing derbies for the local children. For several years the Post was used as the local kindergarten center for the county.

Over the years Post 1096 has also been able to make numerous donations to local emergency organizations.

The Post has provided bullet proof vest, hand held radios, life jackets, ETC. Post 1096 has also made numerous monetary donations to local school programs and hosted several constructive writing competitions.

We hope to revive Post 1096, allowing it to once again be a benefit to our community. Allowing us to give support where it is needed and to assist others in our area.

To be eligible for membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States are those that have received a campaign medal for overseas service, have served 30 consecutive days or 60 non-consecutive days in Korea, or have ever received hostile fire pay or imminent danger pay.

If you’re eligible and interested please contact Post 1096.

One of our first actions is to re-establish the VFW Auxiliary. The Auxiliary has changed over the past few years.

Those now eligible are husband/wife, widow/widower, father/mother, grandmother/grandfather, sons/daughters, grandsons/granddaughters, and brothers/sisters of persons who were or are eligible for membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.

If you’re eligible and interested please contact Post 1096.

More information can be found on our Facebook page, VFW Post 1096.

There are several historical pictures on our page and we will continue to update and add events onto that page. We will also have a link that will allow donations to be made directly to our Post, and there is also contact information to personally make donations or to find out additional information.

The Post is in need of any donations possible at this time, due to numerous repairs needed to our facilities.

After the Post building is in working order we will also be renting out a portion of the building for birthday parties, family gatherings, etc.

Also, please see our ad in this week’s newspaper regarding our Buddy Poppy drive this Saturday, May 25, 2019 in Albany.

These officers were sworn in at a ceremony held at the Post Monday afternoon by District Senior Vice Commander Allen Withers.

Jason Warinner- Commander • Trent Groce- Senior Vice Commander

Matt Aaron- Junior Vice Commander • Odell Marlow- Quartermaster