Each year at Apple Blossom, you may see an entry in the Grand Parade with an outpouring of community volunteers carrying banners with the face of a soldier, marine, sailor, airman, or guardian on them. These are the Washington State Fallen Heroes Banners – each one memorializes a post-9/11 service … More Fallen Heroes have become an Apple Blossom Tradition

Each December on the second Saturday, the mission of Remember, Honor and Teach, about the lives and sacrifices of our veterans, is carried out by volunteers across the nation as part of National Wreaths Across America Day. Local events coordinate wreath-laying ceremonies with the main event at Arlington National Cemetery. … More Wreaths Across America in the Wenatchee Valley

We have again partnered with Home Depot (HD) to complete a project for a veteran in the valley funded by a generous donation from the Home Depot Foundation. Project planner and HD Assistant Manager, Mick Ball, put together a well versed and experienced team of 6 volunteers to tackle this … More Another project with Team Home Depot

On 18 Dec 2001, a joint resolution (Public Law 107-89) was approved by Congress designating September 11 of each year as “Patriot Day“, a day of remembrance to honor those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks of 11 Sept 2001, and those who’ve lost lives since then to … More Patriot Day – Sept 11

The 3rd Annual Wenatchee Valley Veteran’s Picnic was held on August 30th at Walla Walla Point Park. This joint picnic, hosted by VFW Post 3617 and American Legion Post 10, is open to all active duty military, first responders, and of course veterans and their families. This year, we saw … More 3rd Annual Veterans Picnic a Success!

In something that has become a sort of annual tradition for our Auxiliary, we spend a few days each year offering coffee, snacks, and friendly conversation to travelers making their way over Stevens Pass that decide to stop at Nason Creek Rest Area. We don’t charge for these treats, but … More Refreshments and Conversation at Nason Creek Rest Area

The community and local veterans gathered on 7 August 2024 at Pybus Public Market to honor recipients of the Purple Heart, a distinguished military decoration awarded to individuals wounded or killed in combat. The ceremony featured the Presentation of Colors by our VFW Post and American Legion Post 10, and … More We are Proud to be a Purple Heart Community

Earlier this year, the East Wenatchee Police Department (EWPD) moved to its new location at the corner of Simon St and Rock Island Rd in East Wenatchee. One thing that was missing at their new facility was a flagpole. In a project started by the East Wenatchee Rotary, in conjunction … More Flagpole Dedication at East Wenatchee Police Station

Armed Forces Day. Memorial Day. Flag Day. Independence Day. Labor Day. Veterans Day. As Americans, we celebrate dozens of patriotic holidays throughout the year, especially during May which is Military Appreciation Month. And while many of these holidays are clear enough on their purpose and intention, a few can get … More Memorial, Armed Forces, and Veterans Days – Understanding the Difference

Last December, we lost a true comrade and our friend Larry Strozyk. When I arrived at this Post in 2005, Larry was the face of our organization. He had all the answers to questions I was asking about our Post operations, veterans outreach, community involvement, even down to how we … More Remembering Larry Strozyk

On Saturday, March 23rd, the Auxiliary members of the Wenatchee Valley VFW will be accepting donations of durable medical equipment (DME) like wheelchairs, walkers, canes, shower aids, bed tables, and toilet risers. We are collecting items that are vital to our community members as they transition from a hospital stay … More Auxiliary Hosts Hospital Equipment Drive for KC Help

The 2024 Department of Washington Mid-Winter Conference will be taking place at the Wenatchee Convention Center on January 18-21. This is an event where VFW Post and Auxiliary members from across the state of Washington gather to give and receive training, to provide state-level committee updates, and to honor our … More State VFW Conference comes to Wenatchee

[Editor’s note: since original publication of the below story in our November 2023 newsletter, members of the Post and Auxiliary submitted names to the Jeep Committee and by May 2024 the name Annabelle had been selected as the favorite.] VFW Life Member and Vietnam veteran Jack Pusel, wearing his Navy … More Meet Annabelle, our 1957 Willys U.S. Navy Shore Patrol Jeep

In November of 2021, Wenatchee High School (WHS) received approval from the United States Airforce to offer an Air Force Junior ROTC (AFJROTC) program starting in August for the 2022-23 school year. Not only is this program the first of its kind in the Wenatchee Valley (the nearest ROTC program … More Supporting the new WHS Air Force Junior ROTC program

On April 17th, our Post & Auxiliary joined with other patriotic citizens as we gathered to wish Mr. Fred Holsonbake of Wenatchee a happy 100th birthday with a car parade in front of his home. A lineup of police cars and fire trucks led the parade with the Wenatchee High … More Parade for Sgt Fred Holsonbake

Quilts of Valor are patriotic quilts that are lovingly crafted by volunteers and gifted to a Veteran or Service Member. The mission of the Quilts of Valor® Foundation is to cover Service Members and Veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor. Since 2003, over 350,000 Quilts … More Quilts of Valor presentation

Our Auxiliary is constantly working on some new project and staying busy serving our veterans and our community. In the last few months, the Auxiliary has: There will be plenty more opportunities for our Auxiliary and Post members to connect and do good for our local community, veterans and their … More Updates from the Auxiliary

Is everyone doing what I am and breathing a sigh of relief that Christmas is over? Hopefully the snowy weather will be over soon too – I am really looking forward to Spring. I hope everyone had a nice Christmas and Happy New Year. We hosted our annual Veteran’s Christmas … More Auxiliary President’s Letter – Jan 2023

Did you know we have an accomplished vocalist in our midst? Post Chaplain, Douglas County Veteran Service Officer, and Air Force veteran Sarahbeth Simonson has been known to sing when she’s not busy helping friends, family, and community members in her free time. On many occasions, both for our Post … More A Star Amongst Us

This Veterans Day, we honor every man and woman who has proudly worn the uniform and bravely defended our nation while protecting its people from the evils of this world. Every American, no matter where they live or what they do, reaps the benefits of their service. Friday, November 11th … More Veterans Day message from our Post Commander

Our friend and buddy Nick Hamburg passed away suddenly on September 28th after fighting an infection for the last couple months.  Nick was born in Everett on January 31, 1983 and moved with his family to Wenatchee in 2005.  Shortly after moving here, I met Nick at a Mike Utley … More Passing of Nick Hamburg

The Wenatchee Valley VFW Post 3617 has received 2 cemetery plots in the Veterans Section of Evergreen Memorial Park, East Wenatchee. The current market value of each plot is approximately $8,000. The cost of transfer of ownership will be approximately $200 per plot. Each plot may be further divided into … More Veteran Cemetery Opportunity

The Post has been busy for the past month with constructing ADA access ramps for veterans.  Utilizing funds from a Home Depot Foundation Grant, we were able to build a couple ramps during the month of August. The first project was to provide access from the residence floor level to … More ADA Ramp Projects

As happens every summer, stuff grows. And the “stuff” (including weeds, trees, and the occasional yucca plant) all around our parking lot was no exception. So on a not-too-hot Saturday in late August, a couple of our dedicated Post and Auxiliary members came together to clean things up. Jennifer, Parrish, … More Cleaning up around the Post Home

Gunnery Sgt. Arthur Summers was 27 when he was shot and killed while fighting Japanese soldiers in the 1943 Battle of Tarawa. For 76 years, his remains were lost on a small island among hundreds of missing Marines. A non-profit group that specializes in finding missing service members recovered his … More Gunnery Sergeant Arthur Summers Laid to Rest