VFW Post 690

Happy Thanksgiving to all and especially to our deployed servicemembers

This week, VFW Post 690 and American Legion Post 90 partnered with 6th and 7th grade students of Ambleside School of Ashland to commemorate the 160th anniversary of President Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. The students recited the Walt Whitman poem "O' Captain My Captain" in addition to the Gettysburg Address and the Legion historian gave remarks on the significance of one of our nation's most famous war time addresses and the continued relevance of its meaning.

Last week, members of VFW Post 690 and American Legion Post 90 along with other veteran community members were invited to attend the Veteran Chapel put on by Ambleside School of Ashland. Our members enjoyed the program and appreciated the work put forth by the students to make the event so meaningful.

Thank you to Ashland Middle School for hosting a Veterans Day event today and inviting Chequamegon Veterans to attend.

On Monday Nov 13th, members of Chequamegon Veterans and Bad River Memorial American Legion Post 25 attended Veterans Day activities at Lake Superior Elementary School. Some of the guys started off by greeting the kids arriving off the buses then we were invited into the auditorium for some singing and drumming. Thank you Lake Superior Elementary for inviting us today.

Our Post commander was invited to speak at the Mellen School Veteran's Day program last Friday. It was a very good program led by the students. Good job to all involved.

Join us this coming Wednesday Nov 15th as the veterans of VFW Post 690 and our comrades from Kelly-Johnson American Legion Post 90 join with the students of Ambleside School of Ashland as we recognize one of the most famous presidential war time addresses in American history, the 160th Anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. There will be a short presentation by Ambleside students as well as the Legion Post historian on the address and the importance of its words even in today's society.

When: Wed Nov 15th 2023 1:15pm
Where: Mt Hope Cemetery on Sanborn Ave, Civil War Veterans plot

John is also a member of our post. He serves as our Post Judge Advocate as well as being an active member of our Honor Guard

A story on today about our team and the work we do.

https://www.wpr.org/uw-madison-team-identify-lost-service-members-soldiers-war

Post members have been busy attending veterans day events around the Chequamegon Bay area this week with more scheduled next week. Today, post members attended the community Veterans Day program at the Mellen school.

If anyone has photos of any of the other activities that Chequamegon Veterans have participated in please share them with us.

Make sure to attend and support the Honor Flight Northland fundraiser at the Neighborly Bar this Veteran's Day from 11 to 7.
Our post commander, Jason Janecek, and Walter Gurske of the Sons of the American Legion WI Squadron 90 recently sat down to talk with one of the organizers, Nikki Sprague.

Chequamegon Chat: Honor Flight Jason and Walter sit down for a chat with Nikki Sprague, who is one of the hosts of the upcoming fundraiser for Honor Flight Northland this weekend.Fundraise...

We are looking forward to help put on this program next summer.

COMMEMORATIVE EVENT AND DAY BY DAY PROJECT
To mark the 80th anniversary of the Normandy Landings on "D-Day", June 6, 1944, we are partnering with our friends at Marching Through History and local veteran's service organizations to add as many local stories from the Chequamegon Bay are of Wisconsin as we can to add a unique element to our program. It will be followed by a Day-by-Day History event following the campaign up until the liberation of Cherbourg and Caen on 20 July, 1944.

Forty years ago today. . . The greatest loss of life for the US Marine Corps since World War II.

in 1983, 220 Marines, 18 sailors and 3 soldiers were killed when a su***de bomber crashed into the Marine barracks in Beirut and detonated 21,000 pounds of TNT. It was the largest loss of life for Marines in a single day since Iwo Jima in 1945.

Rainy day for the annual Whistlestop marathon in Ashland today. VFW Post 690 was out and about during the day with volunteers helping the race come off successfully. We had about a half dozen members volunteering their time and several members running in some of the races. Congratulations to those members who finished their races and congratulations to all the entrants for putting up with the weather and completing their races. Shown are two of our post members helping at one of the road crossings. Good job to the Ashland Chamber of Commerce for another successful race day.

Youth Essay Deadline Quickly Approaching Time is running out for students wishing to participate in the annual Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen essay competitions. Open to eligible high school and middle school students, all entries must be received at a local participating VFW Post no later than Oct. 3...

Youth Scholarships If you are a democracy-loving high school student interested in a $30,000 college scholarship or a patriotic middle school student interested in winning $5,000, these scholarships may be for you.

Today is World Teacher Day, a day to acknowledge the work and dedication of those educators teaching our younger generations. The VFW recognizes the importance of teachers in our society and sponsors an annual Teacher of the Year Award. If you know of a teacher in our local area deserving to be recognized for their efforts in imparting patriotic values and educating our area youth in civic virtues, then contact our post and ask how to nominate that teacher for the VFW Teacher of the Year Award. Nominations due Oct 30th. See the accompanying link for more information.

Teacher of the Year Each year, the VFW selects elementary, middle, and high school teachers to participate in the Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher program. Learn more.

This weekend we held our annual VFW Day Dinner and it was also the resumption of our monthly Chequamegon Veterans potluck gathering. The last week of September marks the anniversary of the founding of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (1899) as well as the formation of our local post (1945). We had several special presentations.
Dan Mayotte , representing Camp Benesi, was presented a check by VFW Post 690 Commander Jason Janecek and American Legion Post 90 Commander Tom Henke. The money was the result of our summer brat fry fundraisers. Dan then gave an update on this past summer's Camp Benesi programs and plans for the future.
Past Dept of Wisconsin VFW adjutant David Green gave a presentation on the UW MIA Recovery & Identification Project and gave a firsthand account of his experience on the ground in Belgium for a recovery mission during 2022.
Northland College art instructor Lauren Duffy spoke about her Veterans of the Chequamegon Bay Area -Portraits of a Place art project. Past participant and Vietnam Veteran John Kovach gave a heartfelt testimonial on what her efforts meant to him personally.
Thanks to everyone who attended and especially to our guests for their presentations.

Woman Veteran of the Year Nominations Now Open!!!

​To complete the nomination form online click here: https://bit.ly/48fQwYZ

Starting in 2008, the WDVA has annually recognized women veterans who have compiled records of exemplary service as a military service member, a veteran, and an outstanding member of the community.

Veterans, family members, friends, veterans service organizations, County and Tribal Veteran Service Officers, other veterans groups, and those in the community are encouraged to submit nominations to be considered in this year's process.

The 2023 Woman Veteran of the Year will be selected by a panel based on a set of criteria.

Nominations will be accepted until October 13​, 2023. Questions about the nomination process should be directed to [email protected].

Currently at the Mellen gun show selling our remaining tickets. If in the Mellen area stop in at the Fire Hall and get your 2024 raffle ticket

Good job to Oxford VFW Post 6003 for their successful fundraiser for the UW Missing in Action-Recovery and Identification Project.

Make sure to tune into Northern News Now tonight at 10pm to catch Walter and Julian from the Ashland Sons of American Legion talking about their cannon restoration project and the rededication for Monday down at the Bandshell. Good job to the SAL on organizing the restoration project!

A member will be at the Chequamegon Veterans Center (211 6th St W) selling tickets from 1pm-3pm Friday 9/8. Stop on in if you still need to get yours

Tickets are going fast for the 6th annual Chequamegon Veterans Center 2024 gun raffle. Tickets are $50 apiece with only 350 tickets sold. One ticket is good for all 24 drawings. Send us a message if interested

Tickets are going fast for the 6th annual Chequamegon Veterans Center 2024 gun raffle. Tickets are $50 apiece with only 350 tickets sold. One ticket is good for all 24 drawings. Send us a message if interested

Our final brat fry fundraiser for the summer was a success. This summer all our proceeds went to Camp Benesi. Thank you to the Ashland community for your generous support of our fundraising. We'll be back out there next summer with more brat fry sales.