By Bruce Tarleton, Commander, VFW Post 1894
The Missouri VFW District 6 Convention was held at the Golden Valley VFW Post 1894 in Clinton this past Sunday, May 1st. Representatives from VFW Posts and Auxiliaries from as far away as Osceola, Slater, Drexel, and Lincoln were present. District 6 quarterly meetings are rotated between the 22 posts within the district. The May Convention marked the end of the VFW year, and included elections and installation of Officers for the 2022-23 term.
The Convention was kicked off with a Spaghetti dinner prepared by the Post and Auxiliary. It followed with a joint Post-Auxiliary meeting. Vickie Garcia, District 6 Auxiliary President, recognized Lincoln Post 5925 Auxiliary for raising the most funds for the Change for Children relief drive of the VFW National Home for Children.
Chester Jones of Clinton, District 6 Commander, and Bruce Tarleton of Calhoun, Clinton VFW Post 1894 Commander, awarded Jennifer Umland, Post 1894 Adjutant a VFW Meritorious and Distinguished Service Award for her volunteer work each year in coordinating and placing flags at the graves of veterans at Englewood Cemetery for Memorial Day.
Commander Tarleton then asked for Post 1894 Auxiliary President Penny Tarleton of Calhoun, Auxiliary Treasurer Cheryl Castilow of Tightwad, and Post 1894 Honor Guard Commander Dan Larue of Clinton to join him in honoring Jennifer Umland for her service as a volunteer Nurse with the Samaritan’s Purse Organization. Adjutant Umland has voluntarily deployed in the past to New Jersey during hurricane Sandy, Kenya, Bangladesh, Iraq, and most recently to the armed conflict in the Ukraine. Adjutant Umland was presented with a Citation, a Bronze Legacy Life Membership, and a beautiful all metal wall art display to honor her service with the US Army 101st Airborne “Screaming Eagles” Division.
The District Post and District Auxiliary then split up for separate meetings where new business included elections for the new term. Aydogan Girgin of Windsor VFW Post 2610 was elected the new District Commander. Clinton VFW Post 1894 had 3 members elected to District positions: Bruce Tarleton as District Junior Vice Commander, Chester Jones as District Quartermaster, and Eric Williams of Butler as a District Trustee.
In the District Auxiliary meeting Patricia Harvey of Post 3118 Auxiliary from Pleasant Hill was elected District President. Clinton VFW Post 1894 Auxiliary had one member, Cheryl Castilow, elected as District Junior Vice President, and was named Chairman of Veterans and Family Support committee.
Golden Valley VFW post reported that they had met all requirements for All State recognition, and are one of two Posts in the District to meet all requirements for All American recognition.
Both meetings were closed with the installation of the new District Officers. Royce Kelb of Lincoln VFW Post 5925, Missouri Department VFW Senior Vice Commander and prospective Department Commander for 2022-23 performed the installation ceremony for the District 6 VFW officers. Kathline Vest, a member of the Lincoln VFW Post Auxiliary and a past District 6 President performed the installation of the District 6 Auxiliary Officers.
