Ken Titcomb, Peg Duenow
President Peg Duenow introduced our speaker Lakeville Rotarian Ken Titcomb.
Ken shared some interesting history of the Lakeville VFW (Veterans of Foreign War) Post 210.
Lakeville VFW Post was chartered on September 21, 1919, as the 210th VFW Post in the US and 7th in the State of Minnesota. The post was named for 2 Lakeville Brothers, Oscar and John Soberg, who were both killed in the line of duty in Europe during WWI. The Cross of Malta is the emblem of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and is 1,000 years old.
Some history of Lakeville's VFW Post:
- John F. DeKiere, Lakeville Train Station Manager, was the first commander of the post
- 51 Civil War veterans listed Lakeville as home when total population less than 600
- 1922 - Yellow Ribbon Community with Argonne Farms hosting 30 severely disabled World War I veterans
- 1936 – First Post Home opened
- 1946 – Memorial Day “Tour” VFW & Legion Tradition Started
- 1964 – Club & Lakeville social center opened
- 2014 – Lakeville Club closes bar/restaurant
- 2018 – Lakeville Post 210 Donated $70,00 back to community
- 2019 – Lakeville Pan-O-Prog –– July 8 – July 14, 2019
- Vietnam Memorial Wall
- USO Tour Show
- Hasse Hall of Heroes – Displays honoring our local veteran heritage
- Freedom Rock dedication at Veteran’s Memorial Aronson Park
- Military History Displays
- Schedule of Events: https://lakevilleveterans.com/#c16684ed-7616-4f95-a66e-262b39562cc6
In addition to the events their goal is to endow 3 special gifts to Lakeville.
- Scholarship to fund Patriot’s Pen and Voice of Democracy Programs in our schools
- Endow relief fund for Lakeville area Veterans in crisis
- Bring a Freedom Rock to Lakeville
Community help is needed: Sponsors, volunteers, support of their communication campaign
Save the Date: The VFW’s 100th Anniversary year will conclude with a special Gala at Brackett’s Crossing on Saturday, September 21, 2019 with special entertainment and both state and national speakers.