News

Mid-Winter Conference Brings Comrades and Essay Finalists to Yakima

Congratulations to our essay winners who all performed amazingly at the state level! The Voice of Democracy finalists and the Patriot’s Pen winner were recognized at a banquet Jan. 21 at the end of the VFW Department Mid-Winter Conference in Yakima.


Our Voice of Democracy winner, Annika Trippel (pictured below left), won at the district level and went on to place FOURTH PLACE at state!


Our Patriot’s Pen winner, Ciara Fitzgerald (pictured below right), won at the district level and won FIRST PLACE at state! She’ll go on to compete at the national level — best wishes Ciara!


Our Youth Essay winner, XiaoTian O’Donohue, won at the district level and won FIRST PLACE for all fourth grade finalists in the state.


Congratulations again to Annika, Ciara and XiaoTian for their outstanding efforts. Thank you for honoring veterans through your words and actions! We are immensely proud.


About the conference, Comrade Commander Teeter said, “Thank you to my motivated post comrades — Randy Brock, Mark English and Joe Fitzgerald — for tagging along and brainstorming how we can improve Ballard-Eagleson VFW Post 3063 so that we continue to evolve as a community institution for veteran camaraderie and assistance.”


Post Comrades Continue Wreaths Across America Tradition

On Dec. 17, Post 3063 provided an honor guard that included Comrades Joe Fitzgerald, Harold Rodenberger, Bill Griffith, and Dan Stokke at the Sons of the American Revolution-sponsored Wreaths Across America event at Lake View Cemetery. Pam Wolfe (left), an Army veteran, played Taps after the honor guard performed a three-volley salute. It was a cold morning but people young and old turned out to honor our fallen veterans.

Holiday Party Brings Youth to Post through Essay Contest, Scouts

Folks at the post’s holiday social Dec. 16 experienced joy and full bellies after eating Chef Kay’s wonderful beef tenderloin dinner. The scene was set with decorations courtesy of our Navigator’s Troop 309 scouts, who decked the hall with snowflakes, posters and watercolor painted bookmarks.


Before we feasted on dinner, our essay participants received certificates, prize money and medals and the winners recited their essays. This experience always reaffirms one’s confidence in our youngest generation! BRAVO kids! Both winners won the district contest as well and are going on to compete at the Department (aka state) level.


Voice of Democracy: #1 Annika Trippel (also District 2 winner); #2 Conor Fitzgerald; #3 Tommy Daniels; #4 Kiley Fitzgerald. Patriot’s Pen: #1 Ciara Fitzgerald (also District 2 winner); #2 James Daniels. Youth Essay: #1 XiaoTian O’Donohue (also District 2 winner)


Santa and his helper made a surprise appearance during dinner and gave gifts to the kids in attendance, which filled the room with even more cheer.


Thank you to everyone who came out to enjoy each other’s company. We also had a number of take-away meals because of the many viruses in circulation. Thank you for the continued support and to our kitchen team for flexing to a dynamic situation.