Springville Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #9499 was established in 1954. They meet the first Wednesday of each month at 7:30 pm in the Springville Veterans Memorial Building in Springville, Ca.
Springville VFW Post #9499 is looking for new members, and especially young men who have served in recent (And even current) “campaigns” such as: Persian Gulf, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Afghanistan, to name a few.
To join Springville VFW Post #9499, you may contact Frank Wittick at (559) 539-3910, David Eshelman at (559) 539-3989, or Don Smith at (559) 539-3459. They will be able to help you with your questions and clarify the eligibility to join their local Post.
Eligibility to join a VFW Post: The fundamental difference between the VFW organization and other veterans organizations, and one in which they take great pride, is their eligibility qualifications. VFW welcomes all who meet their eligibility criteria. You need to be a citizen of the United States, have been honorably discharged from or are currently a member of the armed forces of the United States. It’s through service to this country that all our membership has earned their elite status. If you have received a campaign medal/ribbon for overseas service; served in a combat zone, served 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days in Korea; or have ever received hostile fire or imminent danger pay, then you’re eligible to join the VFW ranks. Your discharge papers or other official military records must reflect your campaign medal and/or show clearly that you served in a particular theater of operations that would qualify you for membership.
Our local VFW Post #9499 preforms many services to our community that many of our residents may not be aware of or may have noticed but weren’t aware of who did it, such as: The United States of America flags that can be seen on the sidewalks of Springville on special “Flag” days and/or other occasions. This past year, these flags were also displayed on several occasions in honor of several local “Fallen Soldiers.” Other services our local VFW Post #9499 offers to the residents of our community is the use of a limited number and types of medical equipment, such as: Wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, bathroom shower seats, etc. Anyone in our community needing these supplies can contact Frank Wittick at (559) 539-3910, Don Smith at (559) 539-3459, or David Eshelman at (559) 539-3989 and they will be happy to assist you. Also if you have medical equipment you would like to donate, such as these listed above, call any of these men as well. There is NO COST involved to use these items, but the Post will gladly accept monetary donations.
Each year, the Sunday nearest December 7th, the Post hosts a Pearl Harbor Day Memorial Breakfast in honor of our brave men and women who sacrificed their lives for our Nation and for our freedom. The Post cooks up a traditional military breakfast; Scrambled eggs and cream gravy over toast. (Commonly known as: “SOS.”) and the hall is decorated with military memorabilia. Breakfast for 2018 will be held on December 9th from 7 am until 12 noon at the Springville Veterans’ Memorial Building.
VFW Post #9499 also sponsors each year an essay contest: The Patriot’s Pen – A Youth Writing Contest, open to all 8th graders of Springville Union School. Essays must be no less than 300 words and cannot exceed 400 words and should be submitted to VFW Post #9499, along with the completed Patriot’s Pen entry form no later than the November 1st deadline. Awards are given in cash.
VFW Post #9499 also offers scholarships to Porterville College to returning Veterans desiring to return to college to further their education.
VFW Post #9499 works closely with Porterville American Legion Post #20 when the need arises to honor fallen soldiers at funerals and memorial services.
The above is a result of an interview with Frank Wittick of Post #9499.
NEW: Springville VFW Post #9499 website: www.SpringvilleVFWPost9499.org